California has it all: Big cities, quaint towns, mountain ranges, pristine coastlines with accompanying beach communities, and bays teeming with life. While Napa Valley's winery trails and San Francisco's fine-dining establishments may have the most name recognition, the state's diverse geography has also given rise to fantastic food scenes in more surprising regions. Here's where to find some of the best niche dishes in places you might not have expected.

Filipino food in Daly City

Nearly one-third of Daly City's roughly 105,000 inhabitants are Filipino. That makes the city—San Francisco's even foggier neighbor to the south—a haven for authentic Filipino food. You'll be blown away by rich adobos in little homestyle walk-up kitchens along Mission Street like Mekeni, or the BBQ skewers with pancit noodles at nearby Fil-Am Cuisine. For a casual and comforting sit-down experience, Tselogs offers a variety of Silog plates (traditionally a breakfast dish, with combinations of meats like lechon pork belly or longanisa sausage with garlic fried rice and egg). And ordering lumpia (spring rolls filled with ground meat and vegetables) everywhere is always a good choice.

Wine and burgers in Anderson Valley

When it comes to wine regions in Northern California, it's Napa and Sonoma Valleys that get all the buzz. But tucked away along Highway 128, Mendocino County's Anderson Valley wine scene is destination-worthy in and of itself. In Philo, Goldeneye's tasting room patio has a sweeping view of their world-class Pinot Noir vineyards, while Roederer Estate makes elite sparkling wine just five miles up the road. If you're plotting a road trip route, Jumbo's Win Win might be the best burger shack in the state. With organic 3-M Texas Cattle Co. beef burgers, plus salads, epic fries and cold drinks galore in an expansive, family-friendly space, Jumbo’s alone makes Philo worth passing through.

Danish bakeries in Solvang 

Founded in 1911, Solvang is a Danish enclave in the Santa Ynez Valley and a popular stopover for Central Coast wine tasters. The town's five windmills highlight its true Danish architecture and if you close your eyes, you might actually feel like you're in Denmark with its bevy of traditional bakeries. Beyond just classic Danish butter cookies, Olsen's Danish Village Bakery is known for its butter ring coffee cake and flaky kringles. Grab a pistachio square at Mortensen's or pop in for breakfast at Paula's Pancake House and sample their signature thin Danish pancakes. 

Oysters in Marshall

Northern California's Tomales Bay is so chock full of oyster farms that this stretch of Highway 1 should pretty much be considered "oyster country." Hog Island Oyster Co. stands as the most recognizable destination on this stretch, with a restaurant full of picnic tables where you can enjoy raw and barbecued oysters or, on select days, grab a bag from their store to shuck on your own. Opened in 1909, Tomales Bay Oyster Company is one of the oldest oyster farms in the state. And at The Marshall Store, you can sit at tables along the Highway 1 roadside, sipping wine and eating fresh oysters in a variety of ways, including raw, barbecued, doused in chorizo butter, or smoked with a dollop of creamy local cheese on crostini. 

If you're looking for a getaway in this area, head to Nick's Cove, a restaurant and inn that offers 12 bespoke cottages raised up on stilts above the bay as well as just across the highway. If you stay the night, you'll be greeted upon arrival with fresh local oysters. Settle into the restaurant for a dynamite martini and Chef Matt Alfus' sustainable seafood-forward menu, which uses produce and herbs from nearby farms and an on-site garden. Or grab food from the bar and eat at the newly reopened historic Boat Shack hovering over the bay. 

Santa Maria-style barbecue in the Santa Maria Valley

Texas has brisket, St. Louis has ribs, and the Carolinas are known for pulled pork, but California's most celebrated BBQ item is easily Santa Maria-style tri-tip. Traditionally cooked over red oak and seasoned simply with a salt, pepper, and garlic powder rub, you'll find the triangular-shaped sirloin cut grilled on crank-style pits throughout the areas surrounding the Santa Maria Valley. But the distinct grilling style isn't just limited to tri-tip. At Jocko's in Nipomo, you can watch through a window as the pitmaster grills Spencer ribeye steaks on two giant pits, then chow down back at your table with sides like Pinquito beans, salad, and garlic bread. Four miles down the road, Rancho Nipomo has counter service for epic Cal-Mex tri-tip plates and burritos. The influence extends beyond the valley too. On weekends, drive down Highway 154 near Santa Barbara, where biker favorite Cold Spring Tavern is a welcoming roadside stop for its famous tri-tip sandwiches and live music.

Sea urchin in Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara coast is known for its unique waters, where large red sea urchin have long thrived—and become a delightfully sweet, buttery delicacy. If you time your visit to the Santa Barbara Fish Market at the harbor, local fishermen will have just brought in a haul of the spiny delicacy, which are cracked open on the spot and served as fresh as possible. Or walk down to the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company at the end of Stearns Wharf for the signature uni served atop a raw scallop on a lime slice.

Donuts in Long Beach

When Cambodian refugee Ted Ngoy got into the donut business in the 1970s, he sparked a wave of other Cambodian immigrant-owned donut shops in the Long Beach area. Ngoy's bumpy ride is documented in the popular documentary The Donut King, but his legacy carries on with a crop of next-wave donut shops dotting the Southern California coastal city. Holey Grail partners with sustainable farms in Hawaii to produce its famed taro donuts, Devi's Donuts and Sweets makes vegan donuts with eye-popping flavors like piña colada and espresso whip, and Moonbridge is known for its elaborate themed donuts, from Star Wars to Stranger Things.