Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Dirty Oscars Annex (Tacoma, Wash.) • Highland Tavern (Denver, Colo.). This trip Guy's hitting the road for joints taking childhood favorites to a gourmet level. in Tacoma, the neighborhood spot turning out pork shoulder tacos, elk sliders and tater tots stuffed with parmesan cheese. And in Denver, the old-time bar going all-out homemade on the tater tots, the pork rinds and a monster pastrami sandwich.

The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder (Toronto, Ont., Canada) • Chili John's (Burbank, Calif.) • Sidecar (Philadelphia, Pa.) This trip Guy's hittin' the road for some scratch-made comfort food. In Toronto, the smokehouse kicking burgers and fried chicken up a notch and turning a traditional BLT on its head. In Burbank, Calif., the family-owned chili-serving spot with a name dating back a century. And in Philadelphia, the three-story gourmet bar food joint crankin' out clam chowder with gnocchi and a regional fry favorite.

This trip Guy's checkin' out the combos that make some local hangouts a hit. In Denver the double-duty corner bar smoking pork for its biscuits and topping pizzas with the bounty of the county. And in Scottsdale, Ariz., the husband-and-wife team fusing their Mexican and Mediterranean roots for some standout Southwest dishes, like breakfast enchiladas and french toast with red wine rosemary syrup.

South Philadelphia Tap Room (Philadelphia, Pa.) • St. Francis (Phoenix, Ariz.) This trip Guy's digging into some dishes like mama made, if she had a wild imagination. In Philadelphia a very special guest hits the kitchen with Guy for fried PB&Js and tacos that start with the head of a pig. In Phoenix the farm-to-table spot dishin' out a dynamite pork sammie and cooking everything from pizzas to pancakes to meatballs in its wood-fired oven.

This trip triple "D" goes triple "P" with some standout veggie and meat dishes. In Phoenix the tattooed, trained chef putting her spin on chiles and a regional pork dish. And in Toronto the decades-old bohemian joint servin' up sticky Asian pork ribs and a Canadian staple.

This trip Guy's meeting some masters of meat. In Compton, Calif., the Texas-inspired barbecue joint smokin' pork ribs and putting smoked turkey necks in the collard greens. In Denver the beer and pizza joint whipping up a unique bowl of mac 'n cheese and topping pizzas with beer braised brisket. And in Philadelphia a restaurant veteran serving up all kinds of fresh 'cue, from the chopped brisket sandwich to a Vietnamese-inspired pork belly sandwich.