Joann's Fine Foods in Austin is the Bunkhouse Group's Tex-Mex diner at the Austin Motel on South Congress, a palapa-bar patio of fajitas, queso and frozen margaritas.
Signature dishes: Wood-grilled fajitas, Joann's queso, Frozen margarita
Must order: Wood-grilled fajitas and a frozen margarita; the tortillas are pressed in-house each morning.
Tip: The Austin Motel pool is members-only but the diner patio runs walk-in; arrive 5pm Saturday for shade.
Address: 1224 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter institution running queso, migas and pancakes through the night, weekends round the clock.
Signature: Mag mud (queso), Love migas, Gingerbread pancake
Order: Mag mud queso and the Love migas; both run 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
South Congress Cafe in Austin is the South Congress brunch room since 2005, an all-day kitchen of pancakes, crab cakes and a brunch trade that runs weekend mornings hard.
Signature: Carrot-cake pancakes, Crab cake, French toast
Order: Carrot-cake pancakes; they are the room's most-photographed plate for a reason.
Tip: Weekend brunch books out by 10am; reserve a day ahead or arrive at the 9am Saturday open.
Magnolia Cafe in Austin is the South Congress 24-hour diner, a counter institution running queso, migas and pancakes through the night, weekends round the clock.
Signature: Mag mud (queso), Love migas, Gingerbread pancake
Order: Mag mud queso and the Love migas; both run 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Tip: Open 24 hours Thursday through Saturday; otherwise closes at midnight. SXSW makes Friday 1am a scrum.
Cisco's in Austin is Rudy Cisneros's East 6th Tex-Mex breakfast counter since 1948, the room that ran the city's politician breakfasts and helped make huevos rancheros famous.
Signature: Huevos rancheros, Migas, Chorizo and eggs
Order: Huevos rancheros plate with refried beans and a side flour tortilla.
Tip: The morning rush peaks at 8:30am; smoother before 7:30 or after 10. Cash and card both work fine.
South Congress Cafe in Austin is the South Congress brunch room since 2005, an all-day kitchen of pancakes, crab cakes and a brunch trade that runs weekend mornings hard.
Signature: Carrot-cake pancakes, Crab cake, French toast
Order: Carrot-cake pancakes; they are the room's most-photographed plate for a reason.
Tip: Weekend brunch books out by 10am; reserve a day ahead or arrive at the 9am Saturday open.
Pueblo Viejo in Austin is Nestor and Margarita's East Riverside Mexican taqueria since 2010, a brick-and-mortar grown from a taco truck and a citywide breakfast routine.
Signature: Breakfast tacos, Barbacoa taco, Pastor
Order: Bean-and-cheese breakfast taco on a homemade flour tortilla.
Tip: The Tillery Street trailer and the St. Elmo and Pickle Road locations run the same kitchen with shorter lines.
El Naranjo in Austin is Iliana de la Vega's James Beard-winning Oaxacan dining room on South Lamar, a family kitchen of regional moles, ceviches and slow-roasted meats.
Signature: Mole negro, Tostadas de atun, Pulpo y papas
Order: The mole negro de Oaxaca; de la Vega trained at the source in Oaxaca City.
Tip: Daughter Ana Torrealba runs the kitchen as chef de cuisine; the Sunday-supper menu is the most experimental.
Loro in Austin is the Franklin and Uchi teams' Asian smokehouse on South Lamar, a casual walk-in patio for Texas BBQ and Southeast Asian small plates under live oaks.
Signature: Smoked brisket, Boat noodles, Thai-style sausage
Order: Smoked brisket with rice noodle and Thai chiles, plus a tall papaya salad.
Tip: Walk-in only; come at 5pm sharp or after 9pm to dodge the 90-minute weekend wait.
