Gavin's guide, on SPOT
Where Guy Fieri Ate in the Desert
8 spots · Palm Springs, United States
Eight Coachella Valley stops filmed across multiple episodes of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives between 2017 and 2022. The valley eats better than its reputation, mostly because the people who work the resorts have to eat somewhere: chicharron en salsa and pollo en pipian at El Mirasol, a porchetta sandwich and arancini at an Italian deli, quesabirria tacos and torta ahogada, latkes and brisket at a Palm Springs deli counter. One crepe operation in Palm Desert is filling them with barbecue chicken and cheesesteak.
#1
El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana
Palm Springs · Mexican · $$
Felipe Castaneda's shaded patio appeared in season 35, episode 17 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2022. The chicharron en salsa, simmered until the pork skin goes soft, and the pollo en pipian, thickened with pumpkin seed, were the two dishes made on camera. Neither is what the desert usually hands a visitor.
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Chicharron en salsaPollo en pipian
#2
The Real Italian Deli Sogno Fatto
Palm Desert, Palm Springs · Deli · $
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives put this Palm Desert deli in season 35, episode 15 in 2022, an hour of sandwiches and oversized burgers. The porchetta sandwich was the headline, built on herb-rolled pork sliced to order, with the arancini going alongside. Bread comes out of the oven daily, which is the whole reason the sandwich works.
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Porchetta sandwichArancini
#3
Grill-A-Burger - Palm Desert, CA
Palm Desert, Palm Springs · New American · $$
The Country Club Drive plaza got its segment in season 26, episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2017, an episode of burgers, beef and barbecue. Two builds went on camera: the Buddha, stacked with teriyaki and pineapple, and Devil's Revenge, which earns its name through layered chiles. Order by how much you want to feel about it afterward.
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Buddha burgerDevil's Revenge burger
#4
Gabinos West
Palm Springs · Sandwiches · $
This counter shared its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives hour with El Mirasol, season 35, episode 17, shot across the Coachella Valley in 2022. The barbecue chicken crepe and the cheesesteak crepe were the two on screen, a creperie's logic applied to American fillings. Daytime hours only, so make it lunch.
Order this
BBQ chicken crepeCheesesteak crepe
#5
Pablos Tacos & Beer
Indio, Palm Springs · Mexican · $
Season 35, episode 14 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives went coast to coast in 2022 and made the detour out to Jackson Street. The quesabirria tacos and the torta ahogada were the orders, the second a birote roll drowned in thin chile de arbol sauce until the crust gives up. Use a fork and forgive the plate.
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Quesabirria tacosTorta ahogada
#6
Wilma & Frieda's Cafe
Palm Desert, Palm Springs · Breakfast · $$
Season 26, episode 16 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives split its time between islands and desert in 2017, and the desert half came here. The breakfast tarts and the short rib melt were what got made, comfort cooking nudged a little upmarket. Expect a wait in season, when the whole valley seems to eat breakfast at once.
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Breakfast tartsShort rib melt
#7
Chula Artisan Eatery
La Quinta, Palm Springs · Mexican · $$
Season 35, episode 13 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives ran from chicken to chiles in 2022 and stopped in La Quinta for the green chile Monte Cristo, a sandwich that sounds like a dare and eats like a classic. The chilaquiles went on camera with it. Breakfast runs late here, which the desert rewards.
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Green chile Monte CristoChilaquiles
#8
Sherman's Deli & Bakery
Downtown, Palm Springs · Deli · $$
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives came through Palm Springs in season 26, episode 12, and Sherman's answered with the beef and latkes, brisket stacked between two fried potato pancakes instead of rye. The turkey pastrami got its own turn on camera. The bakery case on the way out is not optional.
Order this
Latkes and brisketTurkey pastrami
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