“Peruvian fancy-but-not-too-fancy restaurant in a classic Melbourne alleyway location. Everything on the menu is great.”

“Buzzing but warm and welcoming quintessential Melbourne brunch spot in quiet North Melbourne neighborhood.”

“Go for the Melbourne alleyway vibes, stay for the Melbourne bagel brunch.”

“Melbourne is a city that is so serious about its coffee that in 2008, when Starbucks tried to expand there, the city told Starbucks to shove it. This café is a prime example of Australia’s high coffee standards.”

“Belgium-waffle-and-baguette institution in iconic location. Make sure you get something with the French pickles.”

“My fun go-to café on a famous lane full of cafés, serving inventive bagel sandwiches.”

“Fancy-but-not-too-fancy modern Australian Indian cuisine. Perfect for a date or celebration.”

“Fun open-air bar in the middle of a river with decent snacks and city views.”

“A Melbourne institutional open-air rooftop bar overlooking the city, with burgers and a unique beer selection.”

“Could not get a more Melbourne experience than this café in an alleyway, up the stairs, and also home to a leather craftsman, shoemaker, barber, and jeweler.”

“Melbourne is a Vietnamese food paradise, and this is the pho place they go to.”

“Melbourne is a Vietnamese food paradise, and this is the banh mi place they go to.”

“If you’re looking for some home-cooked Malaysian flavors, you can’t beat this neighborhood student favorite.”

“The best Malaysian kolo mee noodles in the city.”

“Chicken rice is on every block in Singapore. Finding the ones that rise above the rest can be tough. This is one of them. The short lines here are a bonus.”

“Tucked away in a temple, it’s a great meeting spot for teh tarik, coffee, and kueh, the famous Peranakan dessert cake.”

“Don’t let the touristy exterior fool you. This is a legit place for local-style coffee, teh tarik, half-boiled eggs, and kaya toast.”

“Get your still-traditionally-made teh tarik and kaya toast, and save some room for the coffee-rubbed ribs.”

“Excellent Kuala Lumpur–style roast duck and pork.”

“The best place for authentic local sambal pomfret and chili crab in authentically low-key open-air seating.”

“Twenty-four-hour place for roti prata and mamak Indian eats.”

“Congee specialists with great tofu almond jelly as a bonus.”

“This is my go-to place to bring important show business types when I need a classy but accessible place with a can’t-miss menu. Seriously, you could just close your eyes and randomly pick anything on the menu, and it would still be great. There’s even a charming backyard outdoor-dining space. And their method of cutting chicken wings in half for convenient eating should be the standard way to serve wings. And try the whole fried fish.”

“For that only-in-New-York experience, bring your out-of-town friends to this great bagel diner with heritage and a modern-classic New York aesthetic. Even if you don’t like bagels, the menu has other stuff, like fish fingers, matzo ball soup, omelettes, seltzer on tap, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Just be warned: Getting a table here is pretty impossible even if you have a blue tick on IG, so go during off-peak hours.”

“This is another one for the out-of-towners looking for a classic New York slice and the full grab-and-go, greasy, eating-on-the-street experience. Cash only, obviously, and beware of imitators.”

“Australian brunch is rightfully starting to gain a reputation of being a delicious way to spend a lazy weekend morning. Think Californian-style commitment to fresh produce and gourmet takes on familar staples, but instead of a mandatory booze session, it’s world-class coffee and juice.”

“It’s kind of surprising how great New York sushi is, considering that freshness is the main ingredient and all the produce has to be shipped in. But Sushi by Bou not only figured out the taste, they figured out the format, with $50 30-minute sushi omakase courses in a trendy speakeasy environment. Another typically New York get-in-and-get-out (but have a great time) experience in multiple unique locations.”

“Check out this New York institution just outside of Chinatown if you want some legit world-class comfort food congee, or just great execution on Cantonese Chinese dishes in a roomy and instantly familar setting.”

“Another relative newcomer to the New York restaurant scene that has quickly established itself, not just for its hip and consistently updated menu of delicious Vietnamese comfort food but also for giving back to the Asian American community by feeding the less fortunate in the neighborhood.”

“Whenever I’m in an unfamiliar town and I’m looking for a late-night, high-protein comfortable place to eat, I always google ‘yakitori.’ This particular warm, upmarket, Michelin star–awarded authentic Japanese yakitori place will make you rethink how great simple, stripped-down BBQ chicken skewers can taste when done by true masters of the craft.”

“This inventive and delicious modern spin on sushi is downright addictive. Fresh ingredients in unique combinations on rice and wrapped in crisp seaweed just hits the spot every time. As a bonus, experience the healing powers of their warm Japanese clam soup.”

“A fancy but accessible upmarket Chinese fusion restaurant in beautifully renovated Chinese art deco–style surroundings, Chinese Tuxedo is right in the heart of NYC Chinatown. It’s the site of the first Chinese Opera House in New York City, and the place where I filmed my second Netflix stand-up comedy special, Ronny Chieng: Speakeasy. Oh, and the food and cocktails here are top-notch, too, with a hip downstairs bar if you’re just looking for a place to hang out.”