In an episode of “The Layover,” Bourdain called Le Dôme Café a “classic with a capital C," and stated, "If there are two things you do in Paris, this is one of them."
On his first show, “A Cook’s Tour,” Bourdain calls Oklahoma Joe’s — now Joe’s Kansas City— “the best barbecue in Kansas City, which makes it the best barbecue in the world.”
In the episode, Bourdain devours brisket, pulled pork, and ribs, noting that each bite is of a "quality that meets the high standards even of Kansas City natives."
Despite his constant global traveling, Bourdain had a few spots he would return to time and again, like Ganbara in San Sebastián, located in Spain’s Basque region.
Ganbara’s welcoming staff — whom Bourdain befriended over the years — serves traditional Basque tapas, called pinchos, along with fresh seafood, and cold beer.
Located in Quebec City, Le Continental was one of Bourdain’s favorites. The celebrity chef said, "Le Continental is the kind of place about which I am unreservedly sentimental."
According to Bourdain, the restaurant serves up “classic, unironic cuisine Ancienne, meaning dishes you haven't seen since, like, forever," along with French seafood classics.
While German cuisine is often overlooked, Bourdain was a fan, and he particularly enjoyed Brauerei zur Malzmühle, a hybrid brewery and restaurant in Cologne.
The restaurant serves up the traditional flavors of the region, like himmel und erde (heaven and earth), made with sausage, fried onions, mashed potatoes, and applesauce.