You can smell the sizzling beef from NFA Burger the moment you swerve into this Atlanta Chevron parking lot. By noon, the line’s already winding past aisles of gum and chips. Of course, the NFA Burger Chevron isn’t your typical station—it’s spotlessly clean, shaped like a barn, and even features picnic tables out back where you can eat or wait for your food. And the beef patties really are excellent— the burger’s halo is thin with a crunchy edge and peeks out beneath a pillowy bun.

One of Houston’s most intimate sushi omakase counters is located inside of a townhouse that’s also a couture clothing store. There are no signs to tell you where to enter, but there is a server waiting to welcome you in (if you have a reservation) with a glass of bubbles. The menu changes seasonally and has a focus on dry-aging techniques. There’s no magic act here, no smoke-and-mirrors entertainment. Just a thoughtful omakase in a building where you can also buy $1000 patchwork jeans.

To get to Alpen Rose, you’ll have to ring the bell the front door of this Philly steakhouse that’s sandwiched between two much flashier Center City restaurants. Once you’re in, you’ll almost immediately forget you're on one of the most chaotic strips in Philly. The narrow, dimly lit restaurant looks like it was decorated by a librarian who opened a speakeasy, complete with chandeliers, cushy brown leather booths, and shelves of vintage tomes.

Tucked into an alley between a bookstore and hair salon, this industrial 10-seat space could easily be confused for a casual brewery or warehouser. But this hidden sushi spot actually has the best laid-back omakase in Seattle, with excellent pieces of quality fish and minimal dressings or toppings. There are three different cuts of tuna and a sweet spot prawn that you’ll probably have popped into your mouth before anyone can remind you to “chew it slowly.”

You can get several of life’s perfect treasures at this Home Depot in Queens: a workhorse drill driver, a flat-top grill, and a snappy sausage sandwich from Rocco’s in the parking lot. This food stand is an IYKYK situation—you’re equally likely to see day-workers scarfing down gooey cheesesteaks and influencers cataloging their plant haul at the picnic tables outside.

This Italian steakhouse in LA exudes Old Hollywood glamor, down to its secrecy. Located in the basement of The Georgian Hotel, you’ll have to buzz a mysterious doorbell and put a privacy sticker over your phone camera before you’re seated. And the moody space with red walls and black leather booths feels like you might bump into someone preparing for their audition in a Damien Chazelle movie.

This speakeasy is inside of Moon Palace Express, a takeout spot in Chicago with solid soup dumplings. One step into the “kitchen” and you’re transported into a narrow dark room with neon accent lights, like you’re in a scene from Tron. The food menu is short, but highlights include zesty mapo fries and a pork cutlet sandwich with tonkatsu sauce—both of which go great with one of their unique cocktails like an Old Fashioned made with Chinese five-spice.

Going to The Cleat is a bit of a mission because of its location inside a Florida state park on the southern tip of Key Biscayne. However, it is incredibly worth it to find one of the best waterfront bars in Miami. The view is hard to describe without using cliche adjectives like breathtaking, especially at sunset. The Cleat has a very Keys vibe, occasional live music, and every seat in the house provides a view of Biscayne Bay you’d normally have to purchase a $300 bottle of vodka to enjoy.

Lots of people come to neon-filled Wakuda in Las Vegas to splurge on a 16-ounce, dry-aged ribeye before spending a night out on the Strip. But there’s also a six-seat hidden omakase room that only does weekend seatings. You’ll need to reserve your spot and your meal will cost a few hundred bucks, but when you arrive, the staff will walk you past the regular dining room and straight through a steel door where you’ll be greeted with Champagne or cognac.

The first few times we tried Le Comptoir Du Vin in Baltimore, we kept missing the front door. As you walk up the stairs and into a tiny foyer, it feels like you're about to walk into someone's apartment rather than a restaurant. But once inside, you’ll find a low-lit French spot that’s good for a special occasion or just a weeknight dinner of small plates with a date. The chalkboard menu changes regularly, and one of our favorite pastimes is checking the restaurant’s Instagram for updates.