In OKC,

For burgers, 2 places:
1) Nic's Burgers--for onion burgers, which is a traditional OKC recipe which came about during the depression, where cooks would save hamburger by using fried onions as filler in burgers.
http://www.eataroundokc.com/nics-gri...oklahoma-city/
2) S&B Burger Joint--more traditional burgers and sliders, very creative combinations
http://sandbburgersokc.com/

For BBQ:
1) Iron Starr BBQ--calls itself "urban" BBQ. It's sort of upscale, very unique, extremely well done BBQ.
2) Leon's BBQ or Bedlam BBQ--tossup between these for your more traditional paper-towels-on-the-tables sort of joints.

For steak:
1) Red Prime--(pretty upscale, last time I went it was about $150/plate), steaks are excellent, 40-day dry aged. Sides are exquisite. They have a halfway decent happy hour as well.
2) Cattleman's--this is a more classic restaurant. It's more than 100 years old, which is significant since OKC was only settled in 1889, located in the middle of the stockyards. Their meat is wet-aged according in a process they claim is a secret. If you're brave, try the lamb fries (which are battered and fried testicles from steers).
http://www.cattlemensrestaurant.com/

Most unique:
Bobo's Chicken
This is a food truck which parks on lot at NE 23rd Street & MLK in OKC and is open up (not dependably) around 9PM and is open well into the night. Expect long lines. If you're travelling and don't know the city very well, this is in a very sketchy part of town, there have been shootings, but nothing random. They serve either fried chicken wings, fried catfish or fried shrimp. Go for the chicken. It comes with honey and rolls which I'm pretty sure are fried. The chicken is smoked and fried.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/46/15151...-Oklahoma-City

We also have a number of unique localvore type things popping up. Our whole food scene is getting fairly trendy as of late.

The frosting on those cupcakes is too much for me; I always eat them without it.

Although I have to disagree with Yankee Doodles, the best sweet potato fries are from Veggie Grill.

Ok...so I'm posting for recommendations in downtown Chicago, since I'll be going there in a few weeks :)

The best ANYTHING in my hometown is cooked by my mom. Too bad for the rest of you!

I'll start a war but I don't think you can beat Giordano's for Chicago style pizza. Sausage & mushroom or spinach & mushrooms. Order less than normal unless you can store leftovers.

I haven't made it to Sprinkles yet even though I work at Fashion Island. I'm looking for recs for best Lebanese and Persian restaurants inOC or LA. Good Lebanese is worth the drive!

The BEST BBQ joint in L.A. is Philip's BBQ.

Ended up there one day after a meeting in a part of town I'd never been. It was amazing.

One of my kids worked at Sprinkles. We got freebies. Not a frosting lover

I was a huge Giordano's fan, but I think the quality has gone down lately. If I'm downtown, I'll go to Uno's; if I'm on the Northside, Malnati's; Southside, Beggars.

We spend a lot of time in Greektown, too. We're a Parethenon family; my husband likes the Greek Isles. Both are good (the Parthenon's better, though).:)

I'll second Lou Malnati's for pizza in Chicago - there are two locations in downtown Chicago, one in Lincoln Park, and locations in many suburbs. I would suggest that you have Chicago-style pizza at more than one place! :)

IMPORTANT FYI: not all suburban Malnati's locations are sit-down. Visiting out-of-towners get very disappointed arriving with family and being told "this location is take-out only" (not even my Dad knew his local Malnati's did not have sit-down).

Thanks for the reminder! I always go to one location and it is sit-down, so I forgot about this. :)

Hilarious!

And oh, so true.

If you're ever in Nashville and want a really amazing popsicle, head to Las Paletas in the 12South neighborhood.

Two sisters who moved to Nashville from Mexico make both ice cream based and fruit based pops, and they're incredible. I'm an ice cream junkie, and I have only deviated to that side of the menu once - for an avocado pop (amazing).

The plain fruit pops are just that good. My favorites are grapefruit, watermelon or raspberry lime, but I've never had one I didn't love.

And I'll cast my deep dish vote for Lou Malnati's in Chicago, but then, my heart truly belongs to Superdawg.

Chicago
-best pizza to me is Giordano's, but I haven't been in a few years
-best place to eat after you've had a few too many: WEINER CIRCLE!!!

You really also should try Ed Debevic's just for the experience

Bloomington (aka IU)
-best pizza hands down is Mother Bears
-best Thai food I've ever had at Siam House
-also amazing: the fries at Farm, ice cream at Jiffy Treet or Chocolate Moose

The Detroiters are failing by only addressing Coney dogs.
Pizza- Buddy's (several locations) and second best.. Pizza Papalis, Greektown, Detroit
Burger- Miller's in Dearborn
Mexican- Mexican Town, Xochimilco or El Zocalo (equally good)
BBQ- Slows Bar BQ, Detroit
Custard- Bob Jo's- Wyandotte
Italian- Too many to mention. Any family owned place on the east side or downriver is excellent, honestly. We have lots of Italians
Perogi- Polish Village Cafe, Hamtramck (we have lots of Poles also!)