Always avoid tourist areas and do pay attention which places the locals visit because then you know you are not being ripped off. Another point is these places know the food does not need to be that great either as most tourists only visit once and will not be repeat customers.

I would love to try American BBQ and will only try it in the US and nowhere else because I agree most places do not replicate dishes very well and should stick to what they can source and what they know.