I think this is one of the best ways to get to know a city. I did a similar survey of the most popular cheeseburgers in SF a few years back and it was a blast spending an afternoon exploring a new neighborhood after a great lunch. Black Sands Brewery's burger was my favorite, RIP.

The stealth taqueria in the back of the mercado is a good tip, especially in places like the South where "Mexican restaurant" means something else entirely.