Top Ten Favorite Restaurants in the Whole Entire World

Here is a list of my top ten favorite restaurants in the world entire world. This is a very hard list to make since there are so many great places out there. Still, I feel like I did a decent job narrowing down my faves here. Fast food restaurants do not count as I have already created a list for that. These are only sit-down restaurants. In other words, only places where they bring the food to you. This is only my opinion.

#10 India Palace (Kaiserslautern, Germany) - When I lived in Germany, I noticed a ton of Indian restaurants. I guess a lot of them immigrated to Germany and opened restaurants to make a living. Like all types of food, there are good Indian restaurants and there are bad ones. India Palace was the closest Indian restaurant to our house in Kaiserslautern, so we visited it often. I'm pretty sure the owner/waiter began to recognize us every time we came in. I love to order my curry spicy and I remember having to tell him the first time that I want it really spicy. He got all excited and was like, "Okay!" I miss this place a lot.
Cam recommends: Lamb Curry.

#9 Palomino (Seattle and Bellevue, WA) - Palomino is probably the fanciest restaurant you will find on my list, and I wouldn't even say that it's that fancy. Maybe when I say this, I am referring to the price. The food is expensive, but worth the price you pay, IMO. Palomino is a 8-restaurant nationwide chain that is influenced by Italian cuisine, but is not what I would call a full-fledged Italian restaurant. The food is amazing with some very creative dishes. It's a great place to take a date.
Cam recommends: The Gorgonzola Waffle Fries are one of the best appetizers in the world. Other than that, you can't really go wrong with any of their entrees. Their Pizza is good and so is their Pasta selection.

#8 Curry House CoCo Ichibanya (Japan and Hawaii) - I don't think there's a form of curry that I dislike. Red curry, yellow curry, green curry... I love them all. Yellow curry is one of the most popular dishes in Japan and could be considered the national dish. It is consumed in my household via a dried mix on a monthly basis. Japanese curry restaurants are hard to come by around my home, so I appreciate CoCo's when I visit Hawaii. I think both times I've gone, I've eaten there twice. Can't get enough.
Cam recommends: Spicy Beef Curry or Spicy Stewed Chicken Curry.

#7 Pastini Pastaria (Portland area, OR) - Portland is filled with tons of great restaurants, but the one place we find ourselves at every time we visit is Pastini Pastaria. The food is fresh and made from local ingredients. The best thing about it though is that it's not overpriced like some Italian restaurants can be (*cough* Olive Garden *cough*). Most dishes are under $10 and contain quite filling portions.
Cam recommends: The Chicken Fettucine Alfredo and Baked Ziti.

#6 Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen (Kailua, HI) - The only breakfast place to appear on my list, Boots and Kimo's has the best pancakes in the world. No contest. Their Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes are to die for. The mac nut sauce is incredible. I have no idea what's in it or how they make it, but I swear that it's liquid crack. To visit Oahu and not go here is a travesty in its own right.
Cam recommends: Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes, of course!

#5 Schnitzelhaus (Kaiserslautern, Germany) - I don't think I ever appreciated schnitzel until I went to Schnitzel Haus in Germany. The restaurant was almost literally right outside the base gates and my friend Steve and I went there at least 3-4 times per month. The texture and breading of their schnitzel was perfect. Just a squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt and it was ready to go. I miss this place dearly. P.S. I have no idea who that girl in the picture above is as it is not my picture.
Cam recommends: Plain Schnitzel with Pommes Frites.

#4 Maharaja (Homburg, Germany) - I was pretty close to never going to this restaurant when I was stationed in Germany. I was invited to a birthday dinner that a co-worker had and Maharaja was the restaurant of choice. As I mentioned earlier, I've liked Indian food for most of my life, but I had never realized all of the flavors I was missing until I ate at Maharaja. The food there is incredible. One of my Indian friends said that the food there reminded him of his mother's cooking. Going off of that statement, I'm eager to say that the restaurant is extremely authentic. I envy all of fantastic Indian restaurants that Germany has, though it does have some crappy ones, too. I have yet to find anything even remotely close here in WA state.
Cam recommends: Tandoori Chicken.

#3 Pagliacci Pizza (Seattle area, WA) - I've had a lot of great pizza in my more recent years, but none have been greater than Pagliacci. Everything about their pies is perfect. Most of the ingredients come from local or regional areas. I think the most amazing part of it is the crust. I don't usually look forward to eating the crust of pizza like I do with Pagliacci's. It's amazing. I could eat this multiple times per week.
Cam recommends: Pepperoni Pizza. You will not regret it.

#2 Peking Wok (Federal Way, WA) - Peking Wok resides in my hometown of Federal Way. I used to go there all the time with my parents and I still make the short drive over there occasionally these days. Peking Wok is not your typical Chinese restaurant. Alright, so yes, you are still going to find fried crab wontons and orange chicken (I've never understood these dishes), but you'll also find some truly authentic Chinese food. And I've been to China! Lately, when I visit, I've been seeing the place get less and less crowded and that makes me sad. Places like this are disappearing only to be replaced by Panda Express. Peking Wok deserves to flourish.
Cam recommends: Starting off with a cup of Hot and Sour Soup and then Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu.



Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for...

#1 - The Sizzler - Sike!

#1 Szechuan Noodle Bowl (Seattle, WA) - This should come as no surprise for people who know me. Whenever I talk with someone about local restaurants, I always mention Szechuan Noodle Bowl because it is absolutely my favorite restaurant in the whole entire world! Noodle Bowl not only specializes in noodles, but a variety of other Chinese dishes as well. The food is so fresh and it tastes authentic and delicious. If you live in the Seattle area and you have not visited this place, please do me, yourself, and your tummy a favor. For more, you can read my very in-depth review on my noodle blog.
Cam recommends: Szechuan Beef Noodle Bowl with Green Onion Pancakes. *drool*

Runners-up:
I cannot end this post without mentioning two restaurants that barely missed making this list.

Cheddar's - Cheddar's is along the same style of neighborhood chain restaurants like Applebee's, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, T.G.I. Fridays, etc. However, I think they have the best food selection and their prices are very affordable. Bethany and I used to go there often when we lived in San Angelo, TX. I'm pretty sure you can only find this restaurant in the South, which is a shame because I think it would do well anywhere.

Hob Nob Hill - On our most recent vacation, we visit San Diego and chose to eat at Hob Nob Hill after seeing it featured on the Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. The food is fresh and quite amazing. The atmosphere is so unique and quirky; it's difficult to describe. Maybe old folks' home mixed with fancy hotel restaurant, mixed with diner, mixed with chateau mansion. I know, I confused you, but trust me when I say that it's totally worth checking out.