Ice Cream @ Salt & Straw
No line is too long when you are in the mood for the city's best ice cream. Salt & Straw serves its classic flavors -- Pear and Blue Cheese, Aberquina Olive Oil, Stumptown Coffee and Burnside Bourbon, Freckled Woodblock Chocolate, and Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons -- year round while offering monthly seasonal flavors that keep everyone wondering what's next . What was once served one scoop at a time from a small push cart now draws crowds that wrap around the block at all three Portland locations AND the newest spot in Los Angeles.

Hashbrowns @ 900 Grayson
The most amazing and heavenly crisped potatoes you've ever tasted. I was riveted by the well seasoned and satisfyingly crunchy crust which I found utterly addictive.

Yonsei Oyster @ Hopscotch
Hopscotch is an upscale diner serving seasonally inspired cocktails and regional American food with a Japanese sensibility in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood. Among its amazing menu: a briny oyster topped with sea urchin and salmon roe drizzled with citrus soy ponzu.

Italian Sub @ Ventimiglia Italian Foods
Ordered with the seemingly explicit title of "hot hard Italian," this sub has layers of fresh sliced charcuterie, cheese, shredded lettuce and (optional, but really not) hot giardiniera. The roll has a wonderfully thick crust that makes a mess with each bite. One is enough for two, but why would you do that?

Pulled Pork Banh Mi @ RE BBQ
Bob Perye, owner of RE BBQ, operates out of a food truck he calls "The Beast." And Bob has a penchant for Asian cuisine. In a brilliant move, he took his incredible slow cooked, smoked pulled pork and stuffed it in a glorious banh mi, along with mayonnaise, pickled daikon and carrots, fresh cilantro and jalapeño. Smoky, spicy and creamy inside a crusty, chewy roll, this sandwich is truly magnificent.

Loukoumades with Tomato and Feta @ Loukoumelo
In ancient Greece, deep-fried dough balls called loukoumades were served to winners of the Greek Olympics. But at Loukoumelo, a dessert shop specializing in the traditional Greek dessert, you don’t have to be a medal winner to enjoy one of the fried dough puffs. While loukoumades with honey are a traditional Greek treat, their savory version is something new and delicious. Fans highly recommend the crispy, airy and savory puffs with tomato and feta cheese, or the mushroom and blue cheese loukoumades. They are something special.

Chargrilled Duck @ Aroi Cork Asian Street Food
Pronounced (aroy), which means delicious or tasty, this casual dining venue serves locally sourced ingredients and fresh herbs and spices with no chemicals or additives. The chargrilled duck, served with Thai green vegetables and tamarind sauce, is perfectly cooked and a joy to eat. Go ahead, go overboard on the sides. Don’t pass up the fish cakes, full of flavor in their own delicious sauce; superb crispy duck rolls; and a small stack of the crispiest chicken wings.

Double Awesome @ Mei Mei
Mei Mei (which means "little sister" in Chinese) is a sibling-run restaurant reinvented from the family’s popular food truck. Featuring locally sourced, creative Chinese-American cuisine, Mei Mei was named Eater Boston's Restaurant of the Year and listed on Boston Magazine's 50 Best Restaurants. Chef Irene Li, nominated as a James Beard award semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year, creates such award-winning dishes as The Double Awesome. A traditional Chinese scallion pancake is turned into a great breakfast sandwich (or wrap) by filling it with two runny eggs and garlicky pesto sauce. Make it triple awesome by adding locally-sourced bacon.

Sea Bass Fillets on Caesar Salad @ Fish Kitchen
This family-run business prides itself on a menu that is almost all locally caught fish and shellfish. Fish Kitchen focuses on three elements: freshness, simplicity and quality. Fish are served simply: skin side up with a variety of butters or sauces on top or on the side. Specials change daily. For a superb example, order the Sea Bass Fillets.

Tacos de carne  @ Taqueria Gonzalez
“Los mejores tacos del centro histórico” shrieks the sign, and apparently they are, indeed, the best as there always is a huge crowd gathered at this corner. Try the longaniza, a spicy and not-so-fatty sausage. You can augment your tacos with nopales, beans or various colorful salsas.