Our first stop is PLāYT Restaurant & Bar where upscale Southern food with a California twist shines in Hayward. Then it’s off to Xingones in Old Oakland, a beloved pop-up run by two Oakland chefs who passionately prepare the foods they grew up eating, like chicken and waffles and street tacos. Finally we end in San Francisco’s Mission District at Stonemill Matcha, a minimalist Japanese cafe with extensive sweet and savory offerings and expertly crafted matcha beverages.

Out in the wide-open space of low-key Livermore, hyper-seasonal California cuisine gets the star treatment at the stylish Range Life. Across the bay in Millbrae, Royal Feast serves critically acclaimed Sichuan and Tangia cuisine, including the best Peking duck outside of Beijing. Finally, in Oakland’s quiet Montclair neighborhood, Daughter Thai Kitchen explodes with festive energy centered around next-generation southern Thai dishes and a colorfully dream-like ambiance.

Our show is all about breakfast, the most important meal of the day! You’ll feel right at home at Concord’s Big Country Kitchen, a woman- and veteran-owned spot serving Southern favorites and featuring a whole table of hot sauces. Then it’s off to Castro Valley, for colorful, inventive morning treats like cookie dough waffles and giant mimosas at Denica’s Real Food Kitchen. We finish it all off at an Oakland institution that’s been serving all-day eggs and homefries for the past 46 years. Decorated with napkin art and old fashioned aprons, you can’t miss the one-of-a-kind atmosphere at Mama’s Royal Cafe.

Check, Please! Bay Area Kids reviews Kura Revolving Sushi (Cupertino), Agrodolce Osteria (Berkeley), Burmatown (Corte Madera)

In San Francisco’s Noe Valley, Mamak cuisine shines at Mahila by Azalina’s, a triumphant Malaysian restaurant helmed by acclaimed chef Azalina Eusope. Eastwards in Hayward, fresh and healthy Vietnamese fare paired with classic French pastries delights at Le Paradis. Finally, the search for upscale, Italian comfort food ends in Hayes Valley with freshly-made pasta at A Mano.

We begin at San Francisco’s Crustacean where Vietnamese flavors have been perfected in a secret kitchen by three generations of the An family. Then, we head north to Yountville for masterfully-crafted Puerto Rican cuisine. With a hyper-seasonal menu that changes daily, the passion is palpable at Protéa.

From Season 8, we start at Turtle Tower Restaurant, a Northern Vietnamese phở establishment in San Francisco’s Richmond District, where richly spiced broth and house-made noodles steal the show. Next, from Season 13, it’s off to Oakland's Temescal, where an eclectic hometown spot serves expertly crafted cocktails and a market-driven California menu at Copper Spoon Cocktails and Kitchen. Finally, from Season 10, we fly to Papillon Restaurant in Fremont for a romantically-lit, fine dining treasure that delights with Old World classics like flambéed cherry jubilee and escargot.

Up in Yountville, impeccably-precise sushi, famous fried chicken sandwiches, and other modern California classics are served with a smile at R+D Kitchen. Next, in San Francisco’s Dogpatch, fluffy beignets take on a starring role in Just For You Cafe’s Americana brunches. Finally, at Rice Barn Thai Eatery & Wine Bar in Vacaville, creative takes on Thai classics and a family-friendly atmosphere greet you with “Welcome home!”

For a meal unlike any other, we start in a Richmond warehouse for a multi-course, farm-to-table communal dining experience at Anaviv’s Table. Then, tucked away in an El Cerrito stripmall, Larb Thai Food & Tapas concocts traditional Issan-style delicacies that are hard to find in the Bay Area. For our final course, we head to Mister Jiu’s in San Francisco’s historic Chinatown, where chef Brandon Jew celebrates Chinese cuisine with seasonal California ingredients and upscale sensibilities.

Check, Please! Bay Area KIDS Special: It’s time for another trip to the kid’s table! Up north in Windsor, a programming whiz kid savors the hallmarks of Southern comfort food at Sweet T’s Restaurant + Bar. Next, a second-generation Check, Please! guest reviews his Berkeley spot that’s been serving French brunch for the past two decades: La Note Restaurant. Finally, after competitive swim meets, there’s nothing a young swimmer would rather eat than creative soul food blending Cajun and Asian flavors at Oakland’s Magnolia Street Wine Lounge & Kitchen.

This week, we celebrate teachers with three teacher guests! First up, the flavors of the Amalfi coast bloom at a cozy pizzeria in Danville: Locanda Ravello. Next, Oakland’s Cafe Umami is the perfect spot for nourishing grain bowls crafted by a former microbiologist and brimming with fermented flavor. The final course: seasonal and sophisticated offerings at Walnut Creek’s welcoming Main Street Kitchen.

Check, Please! Bay Area KIDS Special: For our first course, an avid reader strikes gold with fresh bites and stunning views at Treasure Island’s Mersea. Next up, a tennis champ hits an ace with rich khinkali and khachapuri at Bevri, Palo Alto’s first Georgian restaurant.

First, let’s take a stroll through North Beach for Neapolitan pizza at Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar, which translates to “cheese maker” in Italian. Then, we may have died and gone to noodle heaven at Soba Ichi, where handcrafted soba noodles are made onsite with traditional practices.

This week, it’s all plant-based plates for our vegetarian guests! In San Francisco’s Mission District, Curry Up Now dishes out fast-casual Indian street food in funky packages: fried ravioli, sexy fries, and loaded burritos. Then, we devour fried falafel and freshly baked pita made from imported Israeli dough at Sunnyvale’s Falafel Stop. Finally, in South San Francisco, sisig, lumpia, and other Filipino classics are given the meatless treatment at Nick’s On Grand.

Our season finale begins in West Oakland with central Texas barbeque meets Italian delicatessen. With a beer garden, pinball machines and games, Stay Gold Deli has something for everyone. Then, we head to San Francisco’s Sunset District for expertly crafted brews and tasty bar bites. Outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds drop their surfboards and bikes for a seat at Sunset Reservoir Brewing Company. Finally, we journey to San Francisco’s Financial District for a turn-of-the-century-inspired American tavern experience. Tyler Florence’s famously flaky popovers and fried chicken satisfy travelers and locals alike at Wayfare Tavern.