Here's How Restaurants Get Chosen For Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives

Guy Fieri hosts the entertaining show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," which has kept viewers hooked for many years. As per IMDb, the show made its debut back in 2006 — and it's still going strong! Whew. The concept is simple enough: Fieri samples the menu options at some of the most interesting restaurants around the U.S., talking to the owners of the eateries and getting to know their story.

According to an Insider piece, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is hard work. In fact, when the team decided to run with the concept and started shooting, they didn't realize that it would be 21 long days of intense work before they'd be done filming the first episode. Here's another interesting detail about the show: Fieri often helps out the chefs he meets when they're not filming. "If they ever ask, I always want to offer advice to them if I can, and help them out," he revealed. "I mean, as we all do as chefs, we all support one another, and we all try to help each other grow."

In case you've ever asked yourself how the restaurants get chosen to make an appearance on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," here's your answer: A lot of the suggestions come from viewers themselves. You see, the show's site has a page that lets fans offer their recommendations. Business owners and employees are also allowed to fill out the forms and apply if they wish to be considered.

This isn't the only method, though. The producers of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" get in touch with food writers as well, and ask them about some of the best local spots and eateries in town. Remember: they're always looking for something "funky" that manages to stand out from the rest. Some of the most popular restaurants on the show are fusion eateries and ethnic eating joints in unusual locations, too. Of course, "Triple-D" producers avoid the most predictable options and manage to find something unconventional every single time. Can't complain, really.