Magnolia Café’s kind of Austin’s unofficial concierge—its website even sports a “What to do in Austin” feature. During SXSW, ACL, or on nights when a ’Horn victory means the city celebrates until the wee hours, the waiting room is packed with both visitors and longtime residents. Its neon “Sorry We’re Open” sign and the cartoony ramshackle décor speak to a wackiness that’s been chased out of downtown, but is still very much alive in this slacker city. Popular for breakfast (dogs are welcome on the patio), Magnolia often has a morning queue out the door—fear not, this staff professionally turns and burns.

Breakfast is straight-ahead, with great pancakes, creamy scrambled eggs, and bad coffee that tastes like burner. Also surprisingly reliable are some fusions of Austin’s main culinary traditions: comfort food, Tex-Mex, and pan-vegetarian. A resulting “tropical turkey taco”—smoked turkey, jack cheese, avocado, pico de gallo, and pineapple in a whole-wheat tortilla—is surprisingly not too bad. The queso’s deservedly legendary, especially the “Mag Mud,” packed with black beans, avocado, and pico de gallo. Don’t expect much from more traditionally Mexican re-enactments like enchiladas (gummy and bland); instead, have a hearty and flavorful salad or a good tuna melt. Mostly, you’re here because you’re here, and the food’s just...well, you gotta eat.