5 Iconic Eats Austin

Why it made the list: Austin's morning religion, warm flour or corn tortillas stuffed with eggs, bacon, potato, cheese, migas or barbacoa, doused in salsa. Everyone has a favorite spot (Veracruz All Natural, Juan in a Million, Tacodeli, Joe's Bakery), and arguing about them is a local sport. The essential Austin bite.

Why it made the list: Central-Texas barbecue is a Austin obsession, and the star is brisket, smoked low and slow over post oak until the bark is black and the fat renders to butter. Franklin Barbecue is the world-famous name (and legendary line); la Barbecue, Interstellar and LeRoy and Lewis are Michelin-recognized and far easier to get into.

Why it made the list: Austin runs on Tex-Mex, and its holy trinity is queso (molten chile-spiked cheese dip), enchiladas and a frozen margarita. Institutions like Matt's El Rancho, Fonda San Miguel and Curra's define it. It's cheesy, comforting, and utterly non-negotiable.

Why it made the list: The breakfast dish Austin does better than anywhere, scrambled eggs tangled with crispy fried tortilla strips, peppers, onions, tomato and cheese, served with tortillas, beans and salsa to build your own tacos. It's the ideal hangover cure and a local breakfast staple.

Why it made the list: A Czech-Texan legacy: pillowy sweet-dough pastries, either filled with fruit or cream cheese (a true kolache) or wrapped around sausage and cheese (technically a klobasnek, but everyone says kolache). They're the classic Texas breakfast-on-the-go and a genuine only-in-this-region treat.