If you know anything about restaurateur and TV personality Guy Fieri, you know he’s got a taste for big flavors that won’t break the bank. The self-proclaimed “Mayor of Flavortown” has ventured to Austin many times for his Food Network TV show, “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” (aka “DDD”), to give his flamin’ hot seal of approval to local restaurants.
Now, we’re leading the tour. Here are all the local spots that Fieri has visited on “DDD” — so far — based on when they first appeared on the show.
Maria’s Taco Xpress
Austin first appeared on “DDD” when Fieri visited this local taco spot in a May 2008 episode. The verdict: The pork tacos are a must-try — they’re so good they were also mentioned in Triple D’s “Pork Hall of Fame” roundup.
Casino El Camino
This restaurant earned a feature in 2008’s “Burgers and Dogs” episode, where the 12-ounce patties took center stage. This time, Fieri’s dish of choice was the blazing buffalo burger.
Magnolia Cafe
In the 2008 episode titled “Not What You’d Expect,” Fieri found out why this long-standing Austin cafe has been a beloved breakfast destination, and he was blown away by the gingerbread pancakes.
The Green Mesquite
Fieri noshed on another mouth-watering dish when he visited this barbecue destination in 2009’s “BBQ & More” episode. During his visit, he helped prepare the restaurant’s popular chicken fried steak.
Counter Cafe
A 2012 episode led Fieri to this restaurant on his quest for “Big Time Flavor.” During his trip, he dug into the scratch-made chicken burgers and quail.
Note: Counter Cafe has changed its location since being featured on Triple D.
Foreign & Domestic
The 2012 episode “Belly Up” took Fieri to this community-focused restaurant where he got a taste of the cheesy popovers and shellfish dishes.
ONETACO.
Fieri put this Austin taqueria on his map for its Mexican flavors. In 2019, he stopped by during the “‘Round the World Roundup” episode — and despite the restaurant’s name, he tried more than one taco.
SLAB BBQ & Beer
This barbecue + 1990s hip-hop fusion restaurant caught Fieri’s attention during the “Sandwich Showcase” episode in 2019. He helped build an “El Jefe” — the restaurant’s unique spin on a brisket sandwich.
Boteco
This Brazilian food truck caught Fieri’s attention thanks to a recommendation from Matthew McConaughey. The “Southern to South American” food was more than “alright, alright, alright,” especially standout items like the pao de queijo sandwich.
Home Slice Pizza
This New York-style pizzeria may have appeared on 2019’s “A Taste of Italy” episode, but it was the Austin flavor that really made it noteworthy. The South Congress spot stood out for its unique, by-the-slice offerings and classic pies.
Pieous
The 2019 episode “Mega Meat and Sweet Treats” featured this pizza + sweets shop; you’ll have to watch it to see if Fieri was there for the desserts or the pastrami.
Closed restaurants
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” debuted nearly two decades ago in 2007. Some local restaurants have closed since being featured on the show, but their flavors are immortalized thanks to Guy Fieri’s visit.
- Luke’s Inside Out — This food truck appeared in 2012’s “Streamlined Sammies” episode and closed in 2022.
- Noble Pig Sandwiches — Duck pastrami called Fieri’s name during 2012’s “Serious Sandwiches” installment, but the restaurant closed in 2019.
- Valentina’s — This Tex-Mex barbecue spot sizzled during 2019’s “Whole Lotta Comfort” episode, though it closed in 2024.
- Holy Roller — Fieri rocked out at this punk-themed restaurant during 2019’s “Sandwich Showcase.” It put on its final culinary performance in 2020.
Now, it’s your time to get your grub on. Use this map to help take your own Fieri-approved foodie tour.
