Finding Flavortown: 26 Missouri spots Guy Fieri has visited and 6 we think he should try

Flavortown isn't so much a place as a state of mind.

Guy Fieri, the self-appointed and forever mayor of Flavortown, knows it when he sees it. During his 16-year — and counting — run as the host of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," the righteous restaurateur has found Flavortown all across the United States. Especially in the Show-Me State.

To date, more than 25 Missouri joints have made Fieri take notice and offer his "dynamite" seal of approval. His list is heavy on Kansas City and St. Louis hotspots — before we get to those, we have a few suggestions for bomb-dot-com tasty restaurants that would welcome Fieri to shut the front door in Columbia and Springfield.

Three Columbia restaurants worth Guy Fieri's attention

Diner: Imagining Guy Fieri visiting Columbia's Broadway Diner (22 S. Fourth St.), it all makes perfect sense. A local institution with more than 50 years of history; a good-natured, generous main character in proprietor Dave Johnson; and many, many ways to eat chili. Who wouldn't want to watch Fieri stick a fork into The Stretch or learn firsthand about a Matt's Dilemma? https://www.broadwaydinercomo.com/.

Drive-In: Columbia's most iconic drive-in is Mugs Up (603 Orange St.). A zip burger — with cheese, of course — and a root beer would offer Fieri a chance to hold court on classic Midwest comfort food.

Dive: It feels diminishing to call Cafe Berlin (220 N. Tenth St.) a dive, but the funkalicious vibe of Columbia's beloved brunch spot would no doubt appeal to Fieri. It's easy to imagine him raving over the flavor combination in an order of apples and sausage, or giving some love to Sam Johnson and the crew about the way they conceive vegetarian options like the tempeh Reuben. https://www.cafeberlincomo.com/.

Three Springfield restaurants that would be at home on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Diner: What could appeal more to Guy Fieri than a Double Whammy from Casper's Diner? The longstanding establishment recently moved to a new location (937 S. Glenstone Ave.) but the interior retains much of the '70s charm present at its former Walnut Street spot. Casper's has been known for its chili and hamburgers since 1909. https://www.caspersdiner.com.

Drive-In Local specialty: Aside from Sonic, Springfield has a woeful lack of drive-ins for a city on Route 66. Instead, we think Fieri should stop at the birthplace of the town's beloved cashew chicken: Leong's Asian Diner (1540 W. Republic Road). Winner winner, cashew chicken dinner. http://www.leongsasiandiner.com.

Dive: Wood-paneled walls, dim lights and live music paired with dishes like lobster grilled cheese and soft-shell crab eggs Benedict are part of the charm at Lindberg's Tavern (318 W. Commercial St.). Fieri could find plenty to rave about at the historic spot. https://www.lindbergsbar.com/

As for the spots Fieri's spotlighted in the past, most don't require much of a detour off Interstate 70.

Anthonino's Taverna (St. Louis)

Address: 2225 Macklind Ave.

Cuisine: Greek and Italian comfort food

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 15, Episode 10

Website: https://anthoninos.com/

Banksia Bakehouse (Kansas City)

Address: 109 W. Ninth St.; 4800 Main St.

Cuisine: Australian bakery

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 30, Episode 10

Website: https://banksiabakehouse.com/

BB's Lawnside BBQ (Kansas City)

Address: 1205 E. 85th St.

Cuisine: Barbecue

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 8

Website: https://bbslawnsidebbq.com/

Blue Koi (Kansas City)

Address: 1803 W. 39th St.

Cuisine: Chinese

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 12

Website: https://bluekoi.net/

Cupini's (Kansas City)

Address: 1809 Westport Road

Cuisine: Italian

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 9

Website: https://www.cupinis.com/

Danny Edward's BBQ (Kansas City)

Address: 2900 SW Boulevard

Cuisine: Barbecue

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 7

Website: https://www.dannyedwardsblvdbbq.com/

Dressel's Public House (St. Louis)

Address: 419 Euclid Ave.

Cuisine: American farm-to-table

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 15, Episode 12

Website: https://www.dresselspublichouse.com/

Espino's Mexican Bar and Grill (Chesterfield)

Address: 17409 Chesterfield Airport Road

Cuisine: Mexican

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 0, Episode 61; Season 15, Episode 13

Website: https://espinosmexicanbargrill.com/

Extra Virgin (Kansas City)

Address: 1900 Main St.

Cuisine: Tapas

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 30, Episode 12

Website: https://www.extravirginkc.com/

Grinders Pizza (Kansas City)

Address: 417 E. 18th St.

Cuisine: Pizza

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 0, Episode 45; Season 1, Episode 3; Season 2, Episode 11; Season 32, Episode 2

Website: https://grinderspizza.com/

Guerilla Street Food (St. Louis)

Address: Roaming food truck

Cuisine: Filipino

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 15, Episode 8

Website: Closed in April 2022, as per Riverfront Times

Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout (Kansas City)

Address: 549 Gillis St.

Cuisine: American, "a soup 'n sandwich joint" with a twist on old favorites, according to the episode synopsis

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 10, Episode 1

Website: https://happygillis.com/

Iron Barley (High Ridge)

Address: 3367 High Ridge Boulevard

Cuisine: Varied, with unexpected takes on the tavern dining experience

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 3, Episode 4

Status: Closed in 2022, per its Facebook page

Kansas City Taco Company (Kansas City)

Address: 520 Walnut St.

Cuisine: The restaurant bills itself as a "non-traditional urban taqueria"

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 30, Episode 9

Website: https://kctacocompany.com/

Klubb Krokstrom (Kansas City)

Address: 3601 Broadway Boulevard

Cuisine: Scandinavian comfort food

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 30, Episode 13

Status: Klubb Krokstrom closed in 2019

Mama's 39th Street Diner (Kansas City)

Address: 3906 Waddell Ave.

Cuisine: Mexican and American

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 3, Episode 1

Website: Closed

Pigwich (Kansas City)

Address: 20 E. Fifth St.

Cuisine: All things meat-related: Burgers, barbecue, fried chicken, sandwiches and more

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 31, Episode 1

Website: https://pigwich.com/

PotPie (Kansas City)

Address: 904 Westport Road

Cuisine: Classed-up comfort food with, of course, pot pies

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 13

Website: https://kcpotpie.com/

Smokin' Guns BBQ (North Kansas City)

Address: 1218 Swift Ave.

Cuisine: Barbecue

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearances: Season 1, Episode 2 and Season 9, Episode 10

Website: https://smokingunsbbq.com/

Succotash (Kansas City)

Address: 2601 Holmes St.

Cuisine: Breakfast and lunch specialties

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 18, Episode 9

Website: http://www.succotashkcmo.com/

Swagger Fine Spirits & Food (Kansas City)

Address: 8431 Wornall Road

Cuisine: Gastropub

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 9, Episode 11

Website: Closed in 2014, per the Swagger Fine Spirits & Food's Facebook page.

Sweetie Pie's (St. Louis)

Address: 4270 Manchester Ave.

Cuisine: Soul food

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 3, Episode 2

Status: Closed by 2022, Sweetie Pie's may be coming back this year, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Brick (Kansas City)

Address: 1727 McGee St.

Cuisine: Pub food

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 0, Episode 67; Season 10, Episode 5

Website: https://www.thebrickkc.com/

The Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen (Webster Groves)

Address: 34 S. Old Orchard Ave.

Cuisine: Cajun and Creole with barbecue

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 0, Episode 67; Season 16, Episode 1

Website: https://www.hwy61roadhouse.com/

The Shaved Duck Smokehouse (St. Louis)

Address: 2900 Virginia Ave.

Cuisine: Barbecue

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 15, Episode 11

Website: A pipe bursting in December 2022 closed the restaurant indefinitely, according to St. Louis news station KSDK

YJ's Snack Bar (Kansas City)

Address: 128 W. 18th St.

Cuisine: Owner David Ford brought back and made recipes from his trips around the world.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance: Season 3, Episode 5

Website: YJ's closed in 2019

Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter @aarikdanielsen.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia, Springfield restaurants that should be on Guy Fieri's map