Lobster Roll  @ The Clam Shack
If you only eat one lobster roll while you are in Maine, make it The Clam Shack’s award-winning lobster roll from this tiny shack situated on the edge of the bridge connecting Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. The Clam Shack’s traditional lobster roll is a marriage of fresh local lobster, clarified butter and mayonnaise on a bun. It’s such a simple food, yet so difficult to perfect, which is why locals and tourists flock to The Clam Shack to satisfy their cravings. There are a few reasons why The Clam Shack is the best. The lobster is purchased locally daily and cooked in salt water. Kept in large chunks, the lobster is drizzled with butter and sandwiched between a buttery toasted hamburger bun spread with mayonnaise. The Clam Shack is open seasonally in the warmer months.

Blueberry Ice Cream @ Downeast Ice Cream
Nothing is more satisfying than an ice cream cone on a sunny summer day, and Downeast Ice Cream offers locally inspired flavors in giant waffle cones. Located right in the center of the action on Boothbay Harbor, Downeast Ice Cream is a convenient place to take a break from sightseeing. The most famous flavor is the blueberry ice cream made with fresh Maine blueberries. There are two things to know before you order. The portions are big and they are a cash-only operation.

Mashed Potato, Bacon and Scallion Pizza  @ OTTO
Otto Pizza serves up creative pies from a handful of locations in Portland, but the Congress Street shop with Enzo, a neighboring wine bar (where you can dine on Otto pizza) is the original. The menu does not change often, since it is painted on the wall, so you can always count on getting the Mashed Potato, Bacon and Scallion Pizza. It’s topped with a generous amount of cheese and tastes like a loaded baked potato. You can stop in for a slice to go, or order a whole pie and stay to eat. If you want pizza in Maine, Otto is the best there is.

Duck Fat Fries @ Duckfat
This cozy and casual restaurant on Portland’s trendy Middle Street is famous for its Belgian fries crisped in duck fat. When it comes to the fries, you have several decisions to make. You can choose from garlic mayo, lemon herb mayo, truffle ketchup, horseradish mayo and Thai chili mayo. You can really go for it and order the poutine with local cheese curd, duck gravy and chives. You can even add a sunny-side up egg on top. The fries are addictively good and there is no wrong way to eat them. All of the options prove to be delicious.

Macaroni & Cheese @ Crave
Chef Landon Ganstrom is a genius when it comes to taking classic favorites and making them better than you ever thought possible. Case in point: the macaroni and cheese. Crave's version has been called “The Most Life-Changing Macaroni and Cheese in America” by Esquire magazine and has won Critic’s Choice “Best Mac and Cheese” and the Charleston Mac Off six times in a row. Available as an appetizer ($10), Chef Ganstrom combines cheddar, Parmesan, mozzarella and cavatappi in a way that is unique and familiar at the same time. The sleek and upscale-casual atmosphere of Crave is perfect for a date night dinner, business lunch or brunch with friends on the dog-friendly patio. Stop by at happy hour and take advantage of the bar menu, which features exclusive items like crispy risotto tots ($7), a double Crave burger ($11) or build your own fries ($3). Anything on the menu is sure to please and is perfect for diners with dietary restrictions, as many of the menu items can be made gluten-free or paleo-friendly.

Country Fried Steak @ The Rarebit
The Rarebit is kind of like an upscale ’50s diner that is underrated in Charleston, but serves quality Southern cooking at its best. Diners pack its long marble-topped bar and green-and-black plaid booths to tuck into comfort classics ranging from patty melts to chicken and waffles. And speaking of best, they've got the best country fried steak in town (or maybe the world). Skillet fried, battered steak with buttermilk pepper gravy is served with creamy mashed potatoes and green beans ($15). Try it with a side of their mac ‘n’ cheese ($3.5) and you won't be disappointed. The bar is equally popular. Bartenders craft such cocktails classics as the Sazerac and the Corpse Reviver, while house-made ginger beer tops the bar’s signature Moscow Mules served in iconic copper mugs. And for those late-night post pub crawls, they serve breakfast all day, every day.

Soy Sauce Thick Noodle @ On Lee Noodle
When you find a tiny noodle shop that is still running a thriving business after 50 years, you suspect it must have something pretty special. You can’t go wrong with any of their fishcakes or the beef brisket noodle soup from their menu. But if you are going to try just one thing from this place, it simply has to be the lo mein (which is soup and noodles served separately, so you can eat them alone or do some noodle dipping). In particular, the soy sauce “lo cho” (lo mein but using thick egg noodle) and request both fish cake slices and beef brisket on top. You might think that their brisket is rather on the lean side, but never fear. Together with the al dente fish cake and the noodle, it’s a winning combination! Also, though it’s a bit offbeat, their simple toast and butter is highly recommend by locals. Made with thick bread, perfectly toasted with a layer of rich butter, I would be surprised if you can find a better one anywhere.

“Shí Liu” chicken @ Lok Hau Fook
In the ‘60s and ’70s, when Kowloon City was the hub of Chiu chow cuisine in Hong Kong, Lok Hau Fook was favored by influential characters from politicians to triad leaders. Movie scenes were even filmed here. While it’s somewhat quieter since the airport’s relocation in 1998, Lok Hau Fook is still the place to go for authentic Chiu chow food. Among the restaurant’s classic dishes is the mixed braised platter (pork, goose, duck, tofu and more), oyster pancake, and Chiu chow fried thin-rice noodle. It’s also well-known for its superior broths – so it might be worth trying its shark’s fin soup. Whatever you do, don’t miss the Shí Liu chicken, one of Lok Hau Fook’s signature dishes. Inside these little parcels you’ll find finely chopped chicken, Jinhua ham, Chinese mushroom and bamboo shoots. Each one is hand-finished with a chive tie.

Pie de Chocolate @ Cook Market
This chocolate pie is the one to die for in Caracas. Its delicious, buttery and flaky baked crust is topped with an exquisite dark chocolate cream. The chocolate is dark but not too bitter and full of fruity flavors. Cook Market is a takeaway gourmet store, where ceviches, pasta, seafood and meats always seem to be prepared with grandmother recipes. There are three small tables where you can enjoy a coffee or a fresh lunch.

Passion Fruit and Coconut Breakfast Panna Cotta @ Elk Espresso
Elk Espresso wins friends, first of all, for being a world away from slick modern cafés of Broadbeach. Once an unremarkable shop, it is now a minimalist shopfront overseen by the stencil of a giant elk standing in splendor on the distressed paint wall. There’s a rough but timeless elegance that says “I dare to be different.” The well-chosen eclectic menu is rustic and retro with a modern twist. Changing with the seasons, brunch standouts include a completely gluten- and dairy-free passion fruit and coconut breakfast panna cotta with granola, summer fruits and cinnamon yogurt. Whether you stop in for an early morning breakfast, leisurely brunch or a decadent afternoon tea, Elk has a welcoming charisma all its own, calling you off the beach to the fern forest beyond.