29 Touristy Spots in America That Are Actually Good

I've seen all these either mentioned or reviewed here, good Roadfood places.
 
 
http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/11/touristy-places-that-are-actually-good-in-america.html?ref=se-bb4

Hot Doug's (Chicago) »
Shake Shack (NYC) »
Leon's or Kopp's Frozen Custard (Milwaukee) »
Peter Luger (NYC) »
Cafe du Monde (New Orleans) »
Neptune Oyster Bar (Boston) »
Tartine (San Francisco) »
Puka Dog (Hawaii) »
Al's #1 Italian Beef (Chicago) »
Langer's Deli (Los Angeles) »
Graeter's (Cincinnati) »
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack (Nashville) »
In-N-Out »
Pike Place Market (Seattle) »
Arthur Bryant's Barbeque (Kansas City, MO) »
Primanti's (Pittsburgh) »
Layfayette Coney Island (Detroit) »
Katz's Delicatessen (NYC) »
Kruez's Market (Lockhart, TX) »
Pink's Hot Dogs (Los Angeles) »
Ferry Plaza (San Francisco) »
Zingerman's Delicatessen (Ann Arbor) »
Frank Pepe Pizzeria (New Haven) »
Tomasita's (Santa Fe) »
Clam Box (Ipswich, MA) »
Drago's (New Orleans) »
Pamela's (Pittsburgh) »
Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington D.C.) »
Ted Drewes (St. Louis) »
 
Okay, I've been to a few.  I'd go back to Cafe du Monde every day if I could.  The others, not so much or at all.
 
I think because of the press some of these places get that you might want to try them at least once so that you'll be able to judge for yourself.... or say that you were there.
 
I'd add The Big Texan to the list.  I was there last June and would go back if in the area.  Not the best, but fun.
 
You have an In n Out in Santa Clarita...  what do you think?

I've been to 10 on the list and would not hesitate to re-visit any of them. 

I've been to some and would not hesitate to go to any of them at least once, maybe more. A good list I'd say.

I prefer Fatburger, although it's more than twice as expensive.  We have a 5 Guys which I really don't like, I'm not sure why.  Some really good burgers can be had for around $4-$5 at either Cousins or Brothers, locally owned burger joints.  Another really good burger is at the Tailgate, a dive bar.  A bigger than 1/2 pound patty and over a half pound of fries for $8.00.

A good list for sure.  I've been to some of these and they're all good but I've found others to be as good.  I'm going to Santa Fe this week and do not feel compelled to stop at Tomasita's because there are so many other great restaurants there as well.  I like discovering my own places.

My Santa Fe friend passed away a few years ago at age 93, he loved Tomasita's, went at least once a week and they treated him like a king. I have gone a number of times with him but that said, now that he has passed, I don't think I'd go back.  There are so many good restaurants in Santa Fe at all levels.

Considering the number of regional locations, I hardly consider Graeter's a touristy spot. (Same with In-N-Out.) Shake Shack is pretty good as far as "quick" burgers go, but there's nothing quick about it when you have to stand in line for 45+ minutes at lunch.

C'mon. There's a Graeter's here in Gahanna and Gahanna, the Herb Capital of Ohio, certainly is a Mecca for tourists. Why just the other day I saw a car with an out of state license plate parked in the local Kroger store lot.

How in the world is Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville touristy?

buffetbuster


How in the world is Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville touristy?

Well, there's the hot tub and the sand volleyball courts, and the miniature golf and the concerts.

Michael-
Those must be out back!

Been to 9 0f 27. Agree with BB that prince's is not touristy.

I've been to In n Out and thought it was okay. Nothing special. I'd go back but only because I couldn't believe how "Nothing special" they were.
 
Zingermann's was awesome.
 
I'd add The Rondezvous in Memphis to that list. Still great (at least, last time I was there 10 years ago) but seems to be taken for granted these days.
 
DT

The only way I think an INO Burger is truly memorable is, if it's made "animal style". Otherwise.........
 
 

I'm surprised Bobcat Bite didn't make the tourist list.

Very surprised that Durgin Park in Boston didn't make it , yet that tourist trap
Katz's Deli did
 
 

This is a stupid list, there are 100's of food places, in these areas that are crowded with tourists. That is part of the reason why the tourists are there. Things to do, places to eat = places to visit

I have been to 17 (18, if you count both Leon's and Kopp's) and the only one I am pretty sure I won't be going back to any time soon is Arthur Bryant's.
 
Durgin Park and Rendezvous (mentioned above) could absolutely be added to this list, but so could Jestine's in Charleston and the White House in Atlantic City.

I've only been to four of them -- Ted Drewe's, Frank Pepe's, Al's, and Cafe du Monde.
 
Would return to any of them, in principle, though I confess I didn't go to Cafe du Monde when I was most recently in NOLA last September -- I went to Cafe Beignet on Royal Street, instead. 
 
Guess I'll need to surrender my Roadfood card. 

I've only been to one, Pike Place Market, but I would go all the time when I lived in Seattle. Well, most of the time I was just walking through the market on my way to Kell's for a Guinness and a pasty.

I totally agree with wanderingjew about Durgin Park. Its one of the top tourist spots in one of the top tourist locations in Boston. Heck, I think the only Bostonians that ever go there is when they have to take a friend or relative from out of town that comes to Boston.