Like Upper Crust's signature Marble Cupcake, which nests a dense chocolate cube inside the soft-cream center of a chocolate cupcake, the two winners in this category exemplify the respective strengths of two opposing, yet complementary ideologies: UC's products are rooted in a continental pastry tradition (with a Texas twist, of course), while Sugar Mama's is all effervescent Americana mixing nostalgia (the Frida, the Hemingway, the Churchill) with pop aesthetics (the Marilyn Monroe, the James Brown, the Pineapple Express). Très yum!

Upper Crust Bakery
4508 Burnet Rd.
512/467-0102
theuppercrustbakery.com

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop
1905-A S. First
512/448-3727
sugarmamasbakeshop.com

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It was the Obama fist bump, right? Or maybe the nifty Airstream-in-space expansion? Or pitmaster Aaron Franklin's holding the line (heh) on quality over riches and celebrity? Nah, we know it's the ’cue – the succulent pulled pork, the zippy sausage and ribs, moist turkey, and especially that divine brisket. Franklin was recently on Yahoo Travel's list of 10 restaurants worth the wait, and our discerning readers agree. If Franklin were a fist, you'd bump it again and again.

Franklin Barbecue
900 E. 11th
512/653-1187
www.franklinbbq.com

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The returning champion of all things bunned nearly always has lines around the block, but no one should be intimidated: part of what makes Hopdoddy great is their ability to speed people through the burger-ordering process and deliver the goods quickly. And what goods! They offer beef (including local Akaushi), lamb, bison, chicken, turkey, veggie, and even tuna for the pescatarians – a little something to pleasure every palate. The free garage parking at the south location makes this a convenient pit stop, even when SoCo is engorged with tourists.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 S. Congress Ste. A-190, 512/243-7505
2438 W. Anderson Ste. A-6, 512/467-2337
4615 N. Lamar #307, 512/335-2337
2600 Hoppe Trail, Round Rock, 512/310-2337
www.hopdoddy.com

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When the question is caffeine, the answer is Houndstooth. The locally owned shops are well-stocked with personalized cups and a tasteful selection of roasters to put in them – including Super Sonic Coffee, Counter Culture, and Apollo. Between their pick-your-own-brew-methods, their Maxim-famous Coffee Julep ("The 7 Best Iced Coffees in America"), or their deliciously strong espresso, they’re hands-down Austin's coffee-culture overachievers.

Houndstooth Coffee
4200 N. Lamar #120, 512/531-9417
401 Congress Ste. 100-C, 512/394-6051
2823 E. MLK #101, 512/243-8902
www.houndstoothcoffee.com

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Delivering warm cookies, made from scratch, amidst an ever-expanding circle of business relationships has proven to be the key to success in the world of desserts. Sure, they're open to walk-up customers hankering for a sweet, or families and friends wishing one another well, but many an office dweller trying to lose the holiday pounds knows the enticement of that demon white box with blue logo in the break room.

Tiff's Treats
1806 Nueces, 512/473-2600
11011 Research, 512/349-2200
3201 Bee Caves Rd., 512/519-3300
117 Louis Henna Blvd. #130, Round Rock, 512/808-4300
4301 W. William Cannon #210, 512/687-6800
1235 E. 51st, 512/813-7100
4701-B Highway 183-A, Cedar Park, 512/975-7170
5145 FM 620 N., 512/817-4500
www.cookiedelivery.com

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East Side King keeps developing truly inspired culinary treats (our new favorite is the apt take on roast beef au jus, the "Beef Pho' Boy" at the Cheer Up Charlie's location) and continues its lifelong mission to reform brussels sprout/beet haterz. Each location offers a different facet of the same fusion palate – and check their website for the current/changing location of their POP-UP-ESK trailer. In the haze of the earliest of morning hours, we need spice and rice to ferry us safely into dreamland.

East Side King
East Side King at the Liberty, 1618 E. Sixth, 512/407-8166
2310 S. Lamar #101, 512/383-8382
eastsideking.com/-liberty

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You scream, we all scream for ice cream, especially when our sweet treat is spiked with hooch. It is seriously our lucky day when Guinness, Shiner, and Jameson flavors are on the menu. But don't think that Amy's only caters to the boozehounds; if you're preg-o, for example, they've created Dill-icious – dill pickle-flavored ice cream.

Amy's Ice Creams
1012 W. Sixth, 512/886-5737
3500 Guadalupe, 512/886-5933
2805 Bee Caves Rd. #416, 512/883-4187
10000 Research #140, 512/886-5955
AUS: Amy's Ice Creams, 3600 Presidential Blvd. #20, 512/530-2918
1301 S. Congress, 512/440-7488
4477 S. Lamar #790, 512/886-5998
13265 Hwy. 183 N., 512/918-2697
5624 Burnet Rd., 512/886-6153
9600 S. I-35 Ste. 400-C, 512/399-8030
12800 Galleria Cir. Ste G-150, Bee Cave, 512/262-9447
2901 S. Lamar, 512/447-2697
2002 Manor Rd., 512/551-8225
amysicecreams.com

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Justine's is very proud of its uniquely appealing and sexy, yet unapologetic, even defiant authenticity. We aren't talking about the "French-itude" of the food or decor (not that either is lacking); no, it is the authenticity of being Justine's Brasserie. Just look at how they embrace their worst Yelp reviews right on their website. It seems clear that shamelessness is part of their raison d'être, and that feature is as delightful as the food. Whether the date comes along for a lovely intimate meal or to be scandalized by a raucous party that might make the Sun King blush, vous n'aurez pas de regrets.

Justine's Brasserie
4710 E. Fifth
512/385-2900
justines1937.com

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Lucky is the college undergrad who stumbles through Kerbey Lane's doors after a hard night of studying (partying). Bleary-eyed and broken. Even reading a menu presents a challenge. Thankfully, the waitstaff and line-cooks at Kerbey understand this sorry state of affairs, and have the perfect remedy. Say it with us, class: Ker-bey Que-so!

Kerbey Lane Cafe
3704 Kerbey, 512/451-1436
13435 Hwy. 183 N. #415, 512/258-7757
2606 Guadalupe, 512/477-5717
4301 W. William Cannon, 512/899-1500
3003 S. Lamar, 512/445-4451
2120 N. Mays St., Round Rock, 512/879-2827
701 Capital of TX Hwy. S., 512/879-2820
2200 Aldrich #100, 512/879-2818
kerbeylanecafe.com

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Chef Bryce Gilmore opened Odd Duck as a food trailer in 2009, with a nearly Portlandia-level focus on supporting local sustainable agriculture. The trailer closed to condo development in 2011, and Gilmore turned his full attention to Barley Swine, his first full-service restaurant. The return of Odd Duck, this time as a full restaurant, has been met with unbridled enthusiasm, and his small plates continue the accessible farm-fresh tradition he started five years ago.

Odd Duck
1201 S. Lamar
512/433-6521
oddduckaustin.com

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Much hay is made over the Michi Ramen vs. Ramen Tatsu-Ya split. Which is the best Ramen-ya? Who best understands the broth principle? Which ajitama egg is the most perfect? Like the Solomonic gluttons they are, our readers refuse to choose. Rip that baby in half; it's not like we only eat once a day. Unfortunate analogy, #sorrynotsorry.

Michi Ramen
6519 N. Lamar
512/386-1908
www.michiramen.com

Ramen Tatsu-Ya
8557 Research #126
ramen-tatsuya.com

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A SoCo staple since its inception, Home Slice has been bringing little-girl-with-a-moustache realness to Austin's pizza-inclined (which we assume could include some actual little girls with moustaches). Founded by previous Chronster and Nineties "Best of Austin" editor Jen Scoville Strickland, the slices here are the product of La Scov's grad-school-level devotion to studying what makes a perfect pie. What could be better than a hot NY-style slice in the early morn after throwing back some cold ones in a nearby watering hole? Yeah, that's what we thought.

Home Slice Pizza
1415 S. Congress, 512/444-7437
More Home Slice, 1421 S. Congress, 512/444-7437
501 E. 53rd, 512/707-7437
homeslice.com

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Coffee? Snap. Catalan Fritatta? Snap. Sushi Grade Ahi Tuna Nicoise Salad? Snap! Chimichurri Salmon? Oh, snap! Lemongrass Tofu? SNAP! Goat Cheese Cheesecake? S.N.A.P! The trick is not wasting your lunch break entirely on the tough decision of what you'll be taking away.

Snap Kitchen
1014 W. Sixth, 512/479-5959
4616 Triangle Ave. #200, 512/459-9000
10001 Research, 512/346-5959
3563 Far West, 512/372-3900
6317 Bee Caves Rd., 512/326-8600
1830 Sidmond
www.snapkitchen.com

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Architect Michael Hsu's Burnet Road office is an all-white building with a white-on-white light-up sign featuring his Chinese seal. Savvy and playful, Hsu's architectural projects for his clients are cooly sensual in equal measure. For the second year, our readers have alighted on this jewel of Hsu's: The yellow-glazed tilework, the communal tables (so large as to be surprisingly intimate), and hydraulic hangar door are the architectural/design details that make our readers swoon, er, sway, over and over.

Sway
3437 Bee Caves Rd., West Lake Hills, 512/326-1999
www.swayaustin.com

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The controversial closing of Downtown Austin institution Las Manitas went down in 2008, and it’s been a clashing symbol of old-school, new-school development arguments ever since. Where an art deco Tex-Mex diner once stood, now lives a modern hotel. Local politicians still name-drop it as an example, and dedicated fans of handmade corn tortillas still feel the stinging loss. Legions of locals report still waking up fuzzy-headed and wishing for chilaquiles and tortilla soup. Fast-forward to 2014: Austin let out a collective wail when the famous doors of Tamale House No. 3 shuttered to mourn owner Robert Vasquez in April. They've remained closed in memoriam, save for the fundraiser-turned-outpouring-of-love for the ladies who perfected breakfast tacos and taco-making speed in that sweltering kitchen. Though Tamale House East remains open, we still drive by our Airport Boulevard mainstay with fingers crossed, hoping someday there will be a return of the crispy taco plate that went easy on our wallets and fueled this city for 34 years.

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Always packed with veggie lovers and coffee drinkers, this cafe serves up a variety of dishes that have evolved over 14 years into some of the tastiest veggie vittles in town. A full breakfast menu – a moment of silence, please, for the Oven Cake Breakfast with Tofu Scram option – plus tacos, sandwiches, salads, and snacks round out the lighter fare, but the restaurant also offers a number of hot plates that could only be described as Central Texas comfort food. So good!

Bouldin Creek Cafe
1900 S. First
512/416-1601
bouldincreekcafe.com

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