The Best Eats
Last updated August 13th 2019

This is a list of my favorite places to eat in various cities around the world along with a short description of the place or what I like there. All restaurant names are linked to their website, or if they don’t have one, their Yelp page for more information.
I mostly made this for friends and family who ask for recommendations of things to go in these places when traveling I end up just giving them a list of places to eat instead.
“Mark […] probably has a pretty skewed perception of what food is supposed to taste like. After all, this is the guy who’s eaten meat he picked out of the trash” — Food & Wine Magazine, July 2017
San Francisco, CA
Samovar Tea Lounge
All their teas, hot or cold, are fantastic. The matcha shake is particularly great on a hot day.
Plow
The lemon ricotta pancakes and house sausage are phenomenal.
Los Panchos
Best Pupusas in the USA.
Bi-Rite Creamery
My go-to is the Dainty Gent Sundae. Honey lavender ice cream, hot fudge, blood orange olive oil & maldon sea salt. Add whipped cream, trust me.
Pizzeria Delfina
Saffron arancini to start and a Panna pizza. Perfection.
Eats
Only open for breakfast. My go-to is the Waffle Bacon. All the juice here is fresh squeezed.
Hot Cookie
Cookies are always fresh. Nothing better than a hot Snickerdoodle cookie.
Humphry Slocombe
The Secret Breakfast ice cream is unlike anything you’ve ever had.
Memphis Minnie’s BBQ
Best pulled pork on the west coast.
Japanese Tea Garden
Super chill place to enjoy some tea and snacks. Costs $9 to get into the Tea Garden however, and you still need to pay for what you buy.
Outerlands
My favorite weekend brunch spot. Everything is good. They open at 9, but show up at 8:20 and put your name on the list — trust me.
La Taqueria
My favorite taco spot in SF. Get it “el dorado” style (crunchy taco wrapped in a soft shell).
The Melt
Cheap, quick grilled cheese. So so good.
Patxi’s Pizza
Surprisingly great Chicago style pizza in San Francisco
Straw
A very tiny carnival themed restaurant with one of the most bonkers menu I’ve ever seen. All the food here is awful for your arteries but amazing for your soul.
Trader Vic’s
A little pricey but this Polynesian inspired restaurant is incredible. I highly recommend the steak if you’re a meat eater. And don’t leave without trying multiple tiki drinks.
Happy Donuts
What appears to be an average donut shop on the edge of Chinatown is secretly very, very good. I’ve had many donuts here and they were all fantastic.
Hunan Home
Really fantastic old-school Hunan style Chinese food, right in the heart of Chinatown.
Washington, D.C.
Lupo Verde
The Cacio e Pepe is other worldly. Also, the free bread they bring to your table is insanely addictive.
Georgetown Cupcake
I don’t like cupcakes. Well, I didn’t think I did until I went here. Don’t play it safe with your flavor choices!
Le Diplomate
The steak frites was amazing. The Martinique Rhum Punch is the best mixed drink I’ve ever had in my life. They only get better the more you have.
Ice Cream Jubilee
Flavors change up constantly here. Be adventurous! They let you try samples.
Boston, MA
Regina Pizzeria
Only the location in The North End. I mean it. Do not visit any other location, it’s licensed garbage. Get a plain cheese pie (and a topping, if you must).
Galleria Umberto
Get here early, they close when they run out of food (around 2pm). Get the Sicilian slice. No, get two. Okay, two and a rice ball.
Bova Bakery
Skip Mikes Pastry and get your cannolis here. No lines, and it’s the best cannoli in Boston.
Santarpio’s
Solid pizza out in East Boston. Don’t forget to get the steak tips too!
Rino’s Place
This place only has 11 tables and doesn’t take reservations so you’re in for a long wait, but it’s worth it. Absolutely incredible Italian food here.
Southern Proper
Excellent southern food here. I came here for brunch and it was fantastic. I recommend “The Hojo”.
Chicago, IL
Lou Malnati’s
As a New Yorker, I didn’t “get” deep dish until I visited Lou Malnati’s. There’s a time and a place, and that time and place is as soon as you get to Chicago.
Portillio’s
Italian beef sandwich “dipped”, chili cheese dog, chocolate cake shake and then whatever else you think you can still shove inside of your stupid fat face.
Green Street Smoked Meats
You’re going to want to try everything. Good luck.
New Orleans, LA
The Ruby Slipper
Get the Chicken St. Charles and a mimosa. Also, you’re in New Orleans so you can take an extra mimosa to go, so do that.
Jimmy J’s Cafe
Biscuits and gravy, yes please.
Cafe du Monde
You kind of have to stop here for beignets. Hop on the to-go line, it’s way quicker.
Red Gravy
This is an Italian restaurant that serves really unique breakfast combinations (they close at 2pm).
Baltimore, MD
Bond Street Social
Great place to come with a group of people. It’s a sharing menu, so all the plates are small and are picked at amongst your group. The chicken and waffles are the best I’ve ever had.
Woodberry Kitchen
Local, seasonal menu that changes every few weeks. The food here is crafted with incredible care and very flavorful. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful.
The Charmery
Tiny little ice cream spot that, given the lines in the evening is quite popular. I tried a bunch of different flavors and my favorite is “Saturday Morning Cartoons” which tastes like the bottom of a cereal bowl.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Van Stapele Koekmakerij
They sell one thing. The best cookie in the world. It’s a gooey fudgey thing with a marshmallow-ish center. You want it.
Lo Stivale d’Oro
Honestly the best Italian restaurant i’ve ever been to in my entire life. It’s run by an Italian woman with her mother and son and I cannot recommend it enough. Try the lasagna and a prosciutto pizza.
Paris, France
Le Saint Regis
While in Paris I never stepped foot in a restaurant that so perfectly captured the essence of Paris as this place did.
Le Relais de l’Entrecote
They serve Steak Frites and nothing else. The butter herb sauce they pour on top is straight crack. Try the house wine!
Barcelona, Spain
Federal Cafe
Trendy hipster spot filled with lots of locals. Really solid breakfast option if you’re in the neighborhood but don’t go out of your way.
Granja Dulcinea
I had the churros, drinking chocolate, catalan cream, and rice pudding and it was all absolutely bonkers. Amazing dessert spot.
Caelum
This is a super special spot. A lot of the items here are made by nuns in the local monasteries. Enjoy some cakes, pastries and cava. Ask to be seated downstairs in the dungeon.
Da Greco
Fancy Italian restaurant with incredible food. It’s absolutely gorgeous inside, especially up on the 3rd floor. Reservations are recommended unless you show up right when they open.
Brunch & Cake
Healthy breakfast options. Bright, colorful food (which is highly Instagrammable, if that’s your thing). I recommend the ricotta & oat pancake and a multifruit smoothie!
London, UK
The Rum Kitchen
Excellent Jamaican spot with amazing jerk chicken and excellent drink menu.
The Diner
This is very American of me, but I loved this place. They also happen to serve the absolute greatest cream soda in the history of cream sodas.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Barrachina
They claim to have invented the Piña Colada. Whether or not that’s true, they’re really good, and not sweet like their American counterpart. The Chicken Breast Manchego is crazy good.
Señor Paleta
Pretty great paletas (ice pops). Go down the street and eat them in the park!
La Bombonera
Absolutely beautiful restaurant. Came here for breakfast, it was excellent. Note: They don’t have English menus here.
Toronto, Canada
Wanda’s Pie In The Sky
Excellent pies! I had the Sour Cherry but they all looked so incredible.
Rasta Pasta
Sincerely perfect Jamaican food.
Phuket, Thailand
Kan Eang @ pier
Absolutely gorgeous outdoor restaurant with great good. The wait staff will not let you pour your own water. Go at night!
Willemstad, Curaçao
Pirate Bay
Pretty chill spot on the beach. Good food, great drinks.
Rome, Italy
Antico Forno Roscioli
An incredible bakery serving up all kinds of baked goods but the real winner here is a pizza with thinly sliced potatoes, rosemary and olive oil on top. The best snack in Rome.
Florence, Italy
Ara: E Sicilia
Arancini is an Italian stuffed rice ball. I eat a lot of them, and I can tell you the ones they sell are absolutely incredible.
Trattoria 13 Gobbi
A beautiful restaurant serving up incredible food. Highly recommend the super simple bowl of rigatoni with sauce and buffalo mozzarella. It was the most memorable dish I had during my time in Italy.
Osteria Santo Spirito
Cacio E Pepe is my favorite pasta dish ever and this restaurant, hands down, has the best I’ve ever had. I tried a few other dishes here and everything was incredible.
Naples, Italy
Da Attilio
There’s a lot of pizza in Naples, but Attilio Bachetti is a master of his craft. Everything here is amazing, but my personal recommendation is the “Carnivale” pizza.
Osteria Donna Teresa
Mom & Pop owned restaurant with no menu. You get a choice of soup or pasta, then a choice of fish or meat. Super special place that reminds me of my grandma’s Sunday dinner.
Pintauro
Sfogliatelle is a staple of Naples. It’s a pastry filled with orange flavored ricotta and Pintauro serves them up fresh, warm, and delicious.
