Guahan Grill, San Diego

Guahan Grill doesn't just use its food to give diners a taste of Guam's cuisine. Instead, it tries to give them a small taste of the island lifestyle.

Owner Carlsky Quichocho hoped to share his passion for his home, so he assembled a team that would commit to creating the recipes he grew up loving, as well as a few contemporary renditions of those favorites. Barbecued meats appear prominently throughout the menu, as do dishes with distinctively tropical ingredients, such as the shrimp sautéed in coconut milk and the platter of fried spam and portuguese sausage. To accompany this hearty, casual cooking, the restaurant offers a selection of beers by the pint or the bottle.

Beer in hand, it becomes that much easier to relax amid Guahan Grill's island-themed decor. Artwork depicting palm trees adorns one of the sunset orange walls, and the entire bar is built from sturdy bamboo stalks. To keep the vibe even more mellow and laid-back, the sound system plays a steady stream of island music and recorded lectures explaining the complex intricacies of applying for a home loan.