The Most Awkward Moments We All Witnessed On Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives

Restaurateur and TV personality Guy Fieri and his bleach blonde spiky hair have been a staple on the Food Network since he first won "The Next Food Network Star" in 2006 (via Food Network). And that was just the beginning of his career — as he's gone on to host several shows on Food Network, with the most successful arguably being the light-hearted network mainstay "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." On the show, Fieri explores towns across America to find the country's best-hidden gems for food that's oftentimes comforting, a little outrageous, and always delicious. 

Throughout the show's hundreds of episodes (via IMDb), Fieri and his camera crew have explored the ins and outs of some of the best eats restaurants have to offer. And there's typically a formula to every episode, which usually showcases the establishment's die-hard customers, chef's top-secret recipe techniques, and, of course, Fieri stuffing his face. And while it seems like the Food Network team would now film everything without a hitch, there's always room for some mistakes that range from hilarious to downright awkward. 

We rounded up a few of the most awkward moments we've witnessed throughout the many seasons of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," because it's good to sit back and have a laugh every once in a while. And it's clear from Fieri's over-the-top personality that he's definitely the kind of person who isn't afraid to recognize his own mistakes and laugh at himself, too.

Guy Fieri has essentially created his own signature lingo throughout his time on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." From commending "funky" joints to trying food that transports him straight to Flavortown, watching enough episodes of his show demonstrates that Fieri has a kind of language all of his own. While most of the phrases are endearing, there is one that he needs to retire — referring to things as "gangster." 

Fieri has been calling everything from menu items to cooking techniques "gangster" forever and it's just overplayed, not to mention potentially offensive depending on context. Usually, those in earshot give him a pity laugh, if they acknowledge it at all. Simply put, it's time for him to create some catchphrases, preferably those that are more descriptive of the individual food item he's tasting in the scene. Because if everything from a cheese-smothered burger to bacon-wrapped meatloaf is "gangster," it's hard to really tell the exact sentiment he's trying to convey. So, Guy, if you're looking for some unsolicited advice: it's time to get a little more creative here.

Guy Fieri doesn't just like to eat the meals he features on "Triple D," (the popular nickname for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," naturally). He also wants to learn the ins and outs of how those dishes all come together. But sometimes, he can get a little too hands-on with his research. Take the episode where he visits Hillbilly Hotdogs in West Virginia and learns how to make their signature chili.

In the "Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives" episode in question, you will eventually be confronted with the unsettling image of him mixing chili with his hands. Thankfully, he's wearing a plastic glove, sure, but it's just a lot to handle. What was wrong with a spoon, after all?

Guy's goofy commentary doesn't exactly make the situation easier to watch by any means. In fact, it makes it even more uncomfortable. That's particularly true when he's making audible groaning noises and comparing the chili texture to "meat pudding." While the restaurant's hot dogs do indeed look fantastic, this cringey mixing moment doesn't exactly help build up your appetite for the chili.

It's safe to say that Guy Fieri isn't the most eloquent eater by any means. Due to the fact that many of the meals featured on "Triple D" are excessive in size and calories, it's hard to look pretty while eating them — it's not as if any of us could be perfectly camera-ready while chowing down on a monstrous burger, after all. But sometimes, the way the camera operators zoom in on Guy stuffing his face and leaving scraps of food behind in his goatee gets to be a bit too much to comfortably watch. 

For example, in one episode, Fieri heads to Hawaii to discover some of the most underrated eats on the islands. Being that the show features many trendy food items, it's no surprise that he finds a spot specializing in sushi burritos. We proceed to get an up-close and personal look at Fieri eating half of the burrito in one massive chomp. Sure, it looked pretty good before, but awkwardly watching him chew on bits of ahi tuna and seaweed (complete with full-mouth talking immediately afterward) doesn't exactly make you want to jump off the couch and order some takeout sushi. 

Clearly, Guy Fieri knows what he's doing in the kitchen. He's a successful restaurateur and a businessman, but also a chef who arguably knows how to make a pretty great meal. However, sometimes he puts on his chef's hat when it's uncalled for — like when another food master is trying to show him their recipe. In those situations, Guy seemingly can't help but correct them, though keeping his mouth shut would be a far more polite move.

If you need an example, check out the clip of Fieri visiting an Austin, Texas restaurant to sample a truly delectable-looking chicken fried steak. In the video, chef and owner Tom Davis is explaining his technique for battering the dish. Fieri almost immediately tries to explain that, traditionally, you dip the chicken in flour before dipping it in an egg wash — even though that's not the recipe. "I come from the school where you put the flour on it first and it helps the egg wash stick to the flour," he holds forth. "Yeah, everybody says that," Davis quips back.

He may have seemed unflustered but, given that Davis was simply trying to show off his cooking with cameras in his kitchen, he probably doesn't care to hear what he's doing "wrong" when getting his big moment on Food Network.

When watching a Food Network show like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," it can be easy to forget that the camera crew is getting all of the show's footage from the middle of a real-life working kitchen. And while some establishments might be able to close down the place for filming, other locations have to stay open because that's how they make money. So it's funny and occasionally a little awkward when the viewers get a glimpse at what the kitchen is like when Fieri isn't there. 

For example, consider the time Fieri visited The Butcher Shop in West Palm Beach, Florida to try their mouthwatering brisket melt. In the episode, an employee comes up to the window and begins placing an order. Once he sees Fieri, his son, and the camera crew staring back from the kitchen, he hurriedly says "never mind" and walks away. His stumbling switch from reciting a rapid-fire order to slowly backing away shows that this is not by any means a normal day in the kitchen. However, given that some of the production requirements of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" apparently now involve shutting down at least parts of the restaurant (and getting a significant financial boost after the episode airs), we're less likely to see that sort of awkwardness again.

It's pretty easy to see the excitement Fieri radiates when he's learning a signature recipe from a chef on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." He clearly loves to watch their signature techniques and special touches that make a dish so beloved. However, sometimes he gets carried away and starts to backseat drive the chef by narrating their every move and cutting them off. And it can get pretty annoying, if not thoroughly cringe-inducing to witness. 

This is seen when Fieri visits the Kansas City Taco Company to try a "Cowboy Junkie Burrito." The chef shows his way of preparing the dish, which starts with smoking some pork. Fieri feels the need to comment on the "makeshift smoker" and the lack of seasoning on the pork, all while the chef is just trying to show it how it's done. Cooking in front of an entire camera crew has surely got to be an entirely new and somewhat nerve-wracking experience for many chefs featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" already. And yet Fieri adds to the pressure by making these little comments that may unintentionally throw them off their game. 

Die-hard "Diners, Drive-Ins, And Dives" fans would probably love it if they were eating at their favorite local restaurant and Fieri stopped by in his red Camaro to give the place a shout-out. They could rather easily get their 15 seconds of fame by hyping up their favorite menu items and diving into a signature dish on camera. However, sometimes it's clear that Fieri is bothering diners who want to be left alone to eat without a camera shoved in their faces. 

Take his visit to Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger near the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. First, it's pretty hectic already, as the hectic restaurant is packed with people yelling their orders. Then you have Fieri approaching diners trying to somewhat peacefully eat their cheeseburgers without interference. You even see one person with a mouth full of food forced to answer Fieri's questions on whether or not they love the place — which seems already pretty darn clear based on the way they're munching on their lunch. 

Guy Fieri isn't exactly the epitome of etiquette, sure. But he doesn't try to hold himself forth as the graduate of a finishing school, either. And, really, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is all about finding hole-in-the-wall places that forgo the white table cloths and fancy schtick for good, authentic food without the fuss. To that end, Fieri's preferred way of eating seems to be in the back of a restaurant's kitchen, standing over a plate and, if the dish allows, using his hands. That sort of down-to-earth accessibility is simply part of what makes him lovable. But we simply must draw the line when he talks with a full mouth.

Guy has a penchant for speaking whenever the mood strikes him, even when his mouth is stuffed with food and he's got sauce all over his face. To be fair, we get the spectacle to a certain extent. It can't be easy to host a show where you're expected to eat food on camera and describe it. There's an art form to the whole setup that can be hard even for seasoned professionals like Fieri to get right. But for some reason, whether it's Fieri's massive bites or method of heartily chowing down, it's off-putting to watch him speak with a full mouth over and over again. It's supremely awkward to watch a grown man talk with his mouth open, disregarding basic manners while cooks and restaurant workers gamely watch on.

Similar to correcting a chef's recipe on camera, Fieri also is known for openly questioning a chef's techniques in the kitchen — while they're cooking on camera. Frankly, that's pretty unwarranted, as there's no one right way to do anything, particularly when it comes to restaurants that are already clearly successful and full of devoted fans. And coming from a Food Network chef, Fieri's cheeky comments sometimes come across as insulting to a small-town chef. In those moments, it's just hard to watch. 

For example, when Fieri visits Richmond, Virginia to try some onion rings from the historic local favorite Village Cafe, he seemingly can't help but question the chef's credibility. At one point, Fieri asks the featured chef where he learned the techniques and recipe for his standard menu items. The chef responds laconically: "Made it. Came up with it." And when the chef states that his mixing techniques come naturally to him, Fieri comments, "And this is natural blonde too" pointing to his obviously bleached hair. 

It's probably a pretty big moment for the chef to show off his recipes on national television, and yet Fieri is (perhaps unintentionally) making a mockery of it with unnecessary jokes and comments about the chef's seemingly slow speed ("Don't put us to sleep," Fieri quips on that front). 

We've already established that Fieri isn't exactly known for his table manners when trying out dishes on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." But sometimes, he takes playing with your food to a whole new level that's just unpleasant to watch. That's especially apparent when he doesn't just manhandle the contents of his own meal but sometimes grabs food straight off of the plates of paying customers.

When Fieri visits Springfield, Illinois' Charlie Parker's Diner to check out their breakfast offerings, he's in awe at the massive pancakes that workers are flipping on the grill every day. In one scene, he picks up a diner's massive pancake, one that happens to have a head-sized hole in the middle. He sticks his face in the opening, making for an admittedly great shot at the expense of someone's pancake. It's not clear if the diner was done digging in and Fieri wanted to have some fun with the leftovers. But, if that wasn't the case, Fieri's antics are probably not something that makes you want to keep eating, not least after his face was literally in your food. Hopefully, he ponied up for another pancake to replace his impromptu prop.

Throughout the years, Fieri has featured his family, particularly his son Hunter, more and more frequently on "Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives." During the COVID-19 pandemic, "Triple D" did something of a revamp by having small-town chefs guide Fieri in how to make their famous dishes at home. His son Hunter was a staple on the show, so Fieri didn't hold back from pulling out all of his best dad jokes. Now, considering his brand of humor, it's not totally a shocker to hear a series of cheesy jokes coming out of Fieri's mouth. But it's still a little awkward, especially if you've already had your fill of dad jokes from, say, an actual dad in your life.

When recreating caramel apple pie funnel cakes from Se7en Bites Bakeshop, Fieri clearly doesn't hold back from embarrassing his son in front of other chefs. Even with the relative remove of a video call, it appears that Hunter wasn't quite into his dad's quips. At one point, Fieri's hands are coated in the funnel cake batter. He could resist the urge to act as if he was going to high-five Hunter and get the batter all over him, in typical dad fashion. Perhaps Hunter himself was fine with it, but for many, it was yet another awkward Fieri moment that recalled their own interactions with cheesy dad jokes.