What do hot dogs, wagyu beef, and grilled sturgeon have in common? They were all vying for the title of “Best Bite in Town” on a new Food Network show featuring the city of Davis.
Led by celebrity chef Guy Fieri, “Best Bite in Town” pits dishes against one another to determine which is truly the best in town. While in Davis, hosts Noah Cappe, Tiffani Faison, and Jet Tila visited six local restaurants and food vendors and sampled some of their most popular dishes:
Handheld Sweet and Savory Pies. Handheld chicken pot pie made with sous vide chicken and house-made gravy; peach galette with local peaches and locally made peach jam.
Hikari Sushi & Omakase. Fishbowl with yellowtail, navel orange, house-made ponzu, sesame oil, cashew nut, salmon roe, and edible flower petals; A5 Wagyu nigiri with pickled wasabi rind and truffle powder.
The Hotdogger. House-made Thai chicken sausage with kaffir lime leaf, Thai basil, and Thai chilis; Chicago dog with celery salt, banana peppers, and a pickle.
Sudwerk Brewing Co. Grilled fish & chips with locally raised sturgeon, house-made tartar sauce; Reuben with Märzen-brined pastrami and house-made thousand island.
Tommy J’s Grill & Catering. The Aggie Jam Burger with maple brown sugar bacon jam, blue cheese spread, and Cajun mayo; tri-tip Philly with pepper jack cheese and chipotle mayo.
Zumapoke & Lush Ice. Chasing the Dragon bowl with spicy ahi poke, garlic shrimp, pepperfin poke, jalapeño, and chili oil; Big Kahuna sandwich with sous-vide Kalua pork, mac salad, Maui onion chips, and spicy mayo.
The chefs narrowed it down to three top picks: The Hotdogger’s Thai chicken sausage, Sudwerk’s grilled fish & chips, and Hikari’s Wagyu nigiri. At an event filmed last summer at Central Park in Davis, judges sampled each dish and chose the winner: The Thai chicken sausage from the Hotdogger.
Father-son owners Ivan and Tad Franks (yes, Franks!) received $5,000 plus a $5,000 donation to their charity of choice. They chose to donate to Davis Community Meals and Housing, which supports low-income families and the unhoused community.
Stop by the Davis Farmers Market to taste creations from The Hotdogger, Zumapoke & Lush Ice, and Handheld Pies.
Catch “The Best Bite in Town” on the Food Network, Max, Discovery Plus, YouTube TV, or other premium streaming services.
