Wimpy's Grill, Durham, North Carolina

Had the Garbage Burger, onion rings.
June 2013 at lunchtime on Friday




Burger was excellent, very messy.
Onion rings were nothing special.
There is no place to sit anywhere, had to eat in the car.
Took a while to get our food, it was $23 for two of us for burgers, rings, fries and drinks.

You order from a window within an enclosed porch, and then wait there for your food from another window.   I guess originally the window was outside and they enclosed it.

Very busy, in a neighboorhood near some industrial stuff.   Definitely not fancy.  Lots of working guys with trucks eating here.   People were friendly and we didn't feel out of place.

Backyard BBQ Pit, Durham, NC

http://www.sweetribs.com/backyard-bbq-durham-rtp-nc-restaurant-menu.html

5122 NC HWY 55
Durham, NC 27713

Ate dinner here in late June 2013, around 730pm.

This place is borderline rural, next to a transmission place.

Inside is pretty low end tables, and the wall are decorated by being written all over.  While this seems like it might be OK, the end effect is the place looks like a Men's room at the ballpark.

Didn't see the open pit, maybe it is out back.

You file past the counter and they serve your order into styrofoam, then you sit down.  The guy at the counter was busy and multitasking.  They seemed to expect regulars to know what they wanted.  However they were willing to work with us.  They were out of pork BBQ, so we had chicken.    Sweet NC BBQ style.  Pretty good but not spectacular.   They were out of a lot menu items by the time we got there.

Staff was friendly, other patrons were well behaved collection of normal people.  There was a constant line of about 6 people deep the whole time we were there.   Felt safe but the opposite of fancy.

Meh, if I lived here I might go once in a while, but it wasn't great and it was a dive.

Iguanas, San Jose, CA

Iguanas

330 S 3rd St

San Jose, CA 95112

http://www.burritozilla.com

Hit this place about 8pm on a Wednesday night in April 2013

It is in a semi-urban middle of the road area in San Jose.  Parking was tough, took a couple laps.  The area was busy and there were lots of young people around.  The place was filled with what looked like college kids.  The food was pretty cheap.  We got a Carne Asada burrito, nacho fries and a chipotle chicken regular taco.   We didn't eat it all, which is rare.  That and two drinks was $20.   Tables are plain, the place is bare, mostly clean but not fancy.   Like I said, geared to feed college kids.   You order at the counter and get your food after 10 minutes or so.  There were some seats outdoors but it was too cold to sit there.  We sat inside.  We didn't have to wait in line and there were plenty of tables.

My son liked it more than I did.  Plenty of food, not bad, but not thrilling.

Henry's Hi-Life, San Jose California

301 W St John St, San Jose, CA 95110
http://www.henryshilife.com/

Went on a Monday night around 8pm in April 2013.
This place was in semi urban San Jose, near an underpass.  Neighborhood looked perfectly safe.  Places to park on the street all around so didn't stray too far.   It was half sports bar and half restaurant.  It looked clean and thriving.  Better than most of the Man v Food locations for sure.   Clientele were middle class of all ethnicity.   This place is kind of pricey so no wonder the customers were not homeless.    Strangely you order by the doorway below, then wait in the bar.   After a while they call you and you sit down to your salad and bread.  It still took a while for the entree to come.  Food was quite good, we had baby back ribs and chicken combo.  Plenty to eat, brought home leftovers.  Spent $65 for two meals and two sodas, granted we ordered one of the more expensive things on the menu.     I'd go back and recommend it to others.

Chaps Pit Beef, Baltimore, MD

5801 Pulaski Hwy  Baltimore, MD 21205

www.chapspitbeef.com




Hit this place about 6pm on a Sunday night in March 2013

The neighborhood is an industrial working class area in eastern Baltimore. A little rough around the edges, with an adult entertainment bar right across the highway.   Chaps is a tiny place in the parking lot, smaller than I thought it would be.   It is nothing fancy but it was clean and well cared for.  Seemed totally safe in the daytime. It was busy and a line of 3 to 6 people was steady at the window.  You order your food from a window, and they call it out from another window.  It took about 10 minutes to get our food.  They had a grill and were cooking and slicing the meat right where you could see them. Staff was polite and obviously very familiar with their fare.   This is a very casual place, doing a lot of both takeout and eat here business.  No wait staff.  Styrofoam containers, do it yourself.   They had some tables and picnic tables inside and some outside seating (too cold for that in March).   Staff and clientele was people of all shapes, sizes, ages and races.  No place is integrated as well as Baltimore.  People are just people and you respect them all.

Order from this window

Kitchen window hands you your food

We had the "Richwich" which was an Adam Richman themed sandwich with beef/corned beef/ turkey and sausage.   The meat was well cooked and good tasting, but needed sauce or horseradish which was set up at various pumping stations.   Cheese fries were a bit soggy and overly cheesy flavored, but still good.  Rice pudding for desert was yummy.

I recommend this place for very casual dining or takeout.  Prices were good for meat that was way better than fast food. It is clean, fast, and friendly.  Paid cash, not sure they take cards.

Sorry about the lousy photo, forgot to take an outside photo until we were driving away.

Fran's Hamburgers, Austin, TX

South Congress Ave, Austin TX

Authentic looking original drive in, with some Austin flair.  Nothing fancy.  The building and furniture were pretty low budget and time worn. It was way past time for them to mop the floors.   Definitely a little under clean.

Lunch on a Friday in late Feb 2013.  It was about 1100 to 1130 and the lunch rush was just starting.  The place went from just about empty to full while we were there.   The clientele was mostly guys of all ages.  Looked like a working class, regular guy clientele who probably ate there regularly.   Stand in line and order the burger at the counter and they call your number in a couple minutes.

Had a bacon cheeseburger and onion rings.  My son had a cheeseburger and fries.  The bacon cheeseburger was all the way with mustard.   The lettuce and tomato were good, the burger was dripping with "juice" and was quite good.   You could say it was kind of greasy.   The onion rings were good but tasted a bit like it was time to change the fryer oil.  The two of us spent $16 total and got more food than we could eat.  Burgers come in three sizes and we got mediums.



Looks like a drive up, but the roof is just parking spaces now.




Inside is pretty time worn and hamburger jointy.

Stepping Stone Cafe - Portland, OR

2390 NW Quimby St  Portland, OR 9721

Went for breakfast in Feb 2013



Located in a nice residential neighborhood on the edge of Portland.
This was a diner style place.   It was busy but we didn't have to wait.

It was much cleaner and newer than many of the dives that show up on this show, but it was definitely a home brew decorated diner.   Staff was very friendly and attentive.  I'd recommend it.

We got the "mancakes" that were on the show.  They were good pancakes, and very large.  Full stack was $8.  But they were just pancakes and there was a lot of better and more interesting things on the menu.

Voodoo Donuts - Porland, OR

Visited in Feb 2013.

Very funky and local.  Busy with young people buying donuts.  We got a voodoo dozen for 12 which included some of the most unique donuts I've ever seen.  Fruit loops and oreos.    The donuts were excellent, very sweet though.

Neighborhood had some strip joints and homeless people around.   The donut shop has lots of double entendre signs up.  Open 24 hours and only takes cash.  No place inside to eat, but some tables were outside.  If you like eating in the rain.   A fun experience, recommend it.

We went twice, and the second time carried the donuts back on the plane.  People stopped us and asked to see the donuts and we saw others carrying them too.  Voodoo donuts are a big deal.

BUNK sandwiches - Portland, OR

211 SW 6th Ave

Visited at lunchtime in Feb 2013, about 2pm.

This place is tiny.  A lunch counter and cash register and maybe 10 seats wedged in.  It is a bit funky and local.   How do I say it, it is "homey".   Most of the place is the food prep area.  Not fancy at all.

Staff was very nice and chatted as they prepped the food.  It was not busy when we were there, which was late for lunch.  They are only open to 3pm.  We ordered at the counter, paid and got our sandwiches within 10 minutes total.   The neighborhood is downtown and I had to pay to park in the garage next door for $9.75.    We walked a few blocks afterwards and the neighborhood seems a bit dodgy.

Had the pork cubano sandwich.  It was excellent.  The sandwich was not huge but it was big enough.

Knucklehead Hot Dog Diner - Sacramento, CA

7456 Foothills Blvd
Ste 13
Roseville, CA 95747


(this is not my picture, forgot to take one)

Visited in November, December 2012 and January 2013 in the evenings each time.  Tried to go in Feb 2013 but went on a Monday night, and they are closed on Mondays.  :(

This is now a favorite stop when I'm in town.  Been there three times and they recognize me now and say hi.

This is a hotdog place in a strip mall.  Run by some local guys.  They have several concoctions that are basically made of hot dogs, chilli, french fries, onion rings.  It's good but bear in mind that it is just hot dogs.

The furniture is a bit patchwork and it is decorated with three stooges posters.  You order at the counter and pay and they bring you the food.   There are families and kids.    A bit funky but suburban.   It is clean and the guys put a lot of care and attention into the place.

Prices are cheap.  You have to struggle to spend $10/person.

Had the cowboy and the bear.  Both were good.

Jim Denny's - Sacramento, CA

816 12th St
Sacramento, CA 95814

Visited twice, November 2012 and December 2012

This place is a trip.  It is a tiny house in the middle of downtown.  It looks like it was decorated in 1956 and not changed since.   Furniture was very well worn.  Took a little nerve to walk in and sit down.  Did I say it was tiny?   The building is divided in half by a lunch counter.  Customers on one side with a few stools along the other wall.  The whole place seats 12 people MAX.    Chairs were duct taped and the grill was only big enough to cook one order at a time.

We got the hubcap pancakes with spokes.  For 12.99 a piece we each got a pancake the size of a trash can lid that was 2 inches thick.  Bacon and scrambled eggs on top.  We are big eaters and I only ate 1/3 of it, my son ate about half.     Next time we went back I got the regular pancakes and couldn't finish the either.

It is only open wed-sun for breakfast and lunch.  Prices are really cheap.  Wait staff was colorful and friendly and seemed to know the locals who came in.   You sit shoulder to shoulder with the other customers and get to know them.

The Salt Lick - Austin TX

3600 Presidential Blvd, Austin, TX 78719
Visited twice in October 2012 and again in Feb 2013


Only got a picture of the Tshirt I bought.  Forgot to take photos.


This place is way out in the middle of nowhere south of town. It is a major tourist draw and is set up to accommodate large groups. It is an upscale countrified place. Clean and modern, you eat on big wooden tables and benches. They sell T shirts and souvenirs.


First time we went on Monday night, we walked right in the wrong door and were seated immediately. When we went on Thursday we went in the front door and were given a beeper and had to wait an hour+.


Food is all meat meat meat. It was very good. People BYOB. We had soft drinks.


Live music, bocce ball and some gardens to walk around.


Wait staff was very friendly and talkative both times.


We had the all you can eat. I was surprised that we were allowed to bring home our leftovers and had enough for another meal. We spent $25/person plus drinks and tips. Second time we had dessert too, cobbler. Awesome.


Went again in Feb 2013. Wait was only about 15 min on a wed night. THis time the service was in the smaller building next door which was kind of loud. Food was still good. Two people with desert drinks and tip we spent 60.


If you go to Austin you have to go to this place. Hopefully you can go on a quiet night, the wait is a bit much.

Juan In A Million - East Austin - Austin, TX

2300 E Cesar Chavez St  Austin, TX 78702

Visited in October 2012

I had the Don Juan Taco, which is a huge breakfast taco of eggs and potatoes.  It was a lot of food for cheap.  My son had regular tacos.   Food was OK but not really that exciting.  Prices were cheap.  The restaurant was well worn and booths were old.  Server was friendly but busy and didn't pay much attention to us.   Had trouble getting drink refills.

The neighborhood was a bit working class, it is east of the main downtown area and had a rehab clinic.  We walked around with no problems both at night and in daytime.   It took two tries to eat here, because I didn't notice that it is only open for lunch and it was closed at dinnertime.   We were there about 11AM on a Friday and it was packed.  We didn't have to wait.   Pay at the register when you are done.

Fun, different, but I wouldn't go there again.

Round Rock Donuts - Austin, TX

106 W. Liberty
Round Rock, TX
http://www.roundrockdonuts.com/index.html

Visited in October 2012 and twice in Feb 2013.

Hit this place about 9AM on a Friday.   There were a few people in line.  We got a couple of the regular glazed donuts and one each of the texas sized donuts that fill an entire donut box.  We brought them home on the plane.  The place was clean and modern.  Staff was friendly.  Donuts were fantastic.  I'll have to say the best donuts I've ever had.   Sat at picnic tables out front.  Highly recommend.

Repeat visits once on a Thursday at 7AM and again on Friday around 10AM.   Friday was getting pretty busy.  Line of cars in the drive thru.