I'm a self described foodie. When I travel I love to try the inexpensive joints were locals congregate. Here are some of my favorite spots that come to mind.
Los Tacos No. 1 (NYC) - There's a reason every time I go there's a line all the way outside. Whether it's for lunch or dinner expect to make the line, but the wait if worth it. Food is fresh and very good. Hands down, the best taco spot I've been to.
Bon Gout (Little Haiti, Miami) - Service is good. Food is great. And prices may be the best part. Platters are probably the best way to go. It'll allow you to try different foods for about $15. If this spot were anywhere else besides Little Haiti, it'd be talked about by every foodie down here.
Hole in the Wall (Roatan, Honduras) - Not a restaurant per se, but more like a bar. Location is half land/half barge at the bottom of where mountain meets water. Only way to visit this spot is by boat. If you're a visiting tourist without your own boat don't fret water taxi's are available. Live music, cold beer with great views. A must try if you're ever in the area.
Dominick's (Little Italy, Bronx) - I've never been to Italy, but this place definitely made us feel as if we were in Sicily somewhere mingling amongst the mob. No menus. Servers come to your table and spew out (with an accent straight out of a Godfather movie) the menu off the top of their heads. Food is fantastic, some of the best Italian cuisine I've ever had.
Lung Yai Thai Tapas (Little Havana, Miami) - Best Thai food in the 305 hands down. There are always lines, so come early. Food is fantastic. Love the place. Only thing that keeps me from going more often is the wait.
The Daily Catch (North End, Boston) - This is truly a hidden gem. Great sicilian-style seafood and pasta joint. Kitchen is visible from dining area, so you can see them cook your food from your table. Not very big and another spot where there's usually a wait, but definitely well worth it.
Cook Out (NC, GA, TN) - I'll put this place up against any fast food spot in America. You can enjoy a hearty meal for less than $5. Known for the BBQ and shakes, it's their burgers and quesadillas that I jump on every time I go. Trust me, y'all will thank me for this one.
Gene's Po' Boys (New Orleans) - In a city known for it's po-boys, this was the spot I always ate at when in NOLA. Although it's about a 10 minute drive from French Quarter, I knew it was a great spot when I saw afterwards that Jay-Z, Beyonce, Drake and even the Simpsons were served here. After 50 years in business, was sorry to hear that it closed last year.
My boujie more upscale spots are Joe's Stone Crab (South Beach), Smith & Wollensky (South Beach), Seaspice (Miami), Acme's Oyster House (French Quarter, NOLA), El Portal de la Carnes (Honduras), Peche (New Orleans), and The Forge (Miami Beach).