Road food: Best of the West

The West was made for road trips, so start your car and bring your appetites, said Sunset. We’ve focused on some popular driving routes and put together a list of the best places to eat along the way, whether the house specialty is the area’s juiciest steak or a “new-wave” road-food treat like a Thai crispy rice salad.

Rock Springs Cafe Rock Springs, Ariz. This 1918 establishment “knows how to do classic road food right,” so it’s no surprise that Phoenix residents often make the 45-mile drive for a table. “The mesquite-smoked pork ribs are “fall-off-the-bone succulent” and the chicken and biscuits “wholesome yet indulgent, like what you’d get at a really good church supper”. Still, don’t miss the Jack Daniel’s pecan pie. 35769 S. Old Black Canyon Hwy., (623) 374-5794

Renu Nakorn Norwalk, Calif. Just off I-5 between Los Angeles and Disneyland sits the “best Isaan-style Thai restaurant in the country.” The catfish larb or the jackfruit stir-fry salad will “sear your eyebrows.” For a “calmer” but still tasty meal, opt for the sour sausage, crying tiger beef, or fried catfish. And be sure to try the crispy rice salad called nam kao tod. 13019 E. Rosecrans Ave., (562) 921-2124

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Go Fish Vancouver The best way to find this tiny sea-blue shack is to head for the fishing boats moored on Vancouver’s False Creek and look for the long line of customers hungering for peerlessly fresh fish spiced up with big-city flavors like chipotle crema and wasabi mayo. The Salmon Tacone, “an elegant cone-shaped fish taco,” is the must-try here. 1505 W. 1st Ave., (604) 730-5040