Amy’s Ice Creams
3500 Guadalupe, 512-458-6895
Sun.–Thurs., 11:30 a.m.–midnight; Fri.–Sat., 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m.

An Austin institution with 13 locations (including shops on Guadalupe, Sixth Street, and South Congress, all in the downtown area), Amy’s serves fun flavors like Guinness, honey ginger, and chipotle peanut butter. As in the national Coldstone Creamery chain, servers flick and smack around the ice cream with mixed-in ingredients on a marble slab before giving it to you, which some (like children) find delightful. Others find it annoying. All will forget about it when they take their first bite. (North Austin)

Central Market Flagship Store
4001 N. Lamar Blvd., 512-206-1000
Daily, 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
Central Market Cafe: Sun.–Thurs., 7 a.m.–9 p.m.; Fri.–Sat., 7 a.m.–10 p.m.

Austin’s Central Market, the flagship location of the popular Texas grocery store chain, is big. How big? It has a 75-foot-long seafood counter with 100 varieties of saltwater and freshwater seafood, 18,000 square feet of fresh produce with over 600 varieties of fruits and vegetables, 800 cheeses from around the world, 2,500 different wines, 350 different beers, 100 varieties of flowers, 70 varieties of artisanal breads baked fresh daily, and a meat counter with 30 varieties of house-made sausage. Given these stats, it’s no wonder that Austin’s 70,000-square-foot Central Market is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. Whether you’re taking a cooking class, kicking back in the café and listening to live music, or shopping for treats, like most of Austin, you’ll find yourself staying awhile. (North Austin)

Madam Mam’s
2514 Guadalupe St., 512-472-8306; daily, 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.
4514 West Gate Blvd., 512-899-8525; daily, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
$

Tired of barbecue and Tex-Mex? Thai food that’s nearly as good as you’ll get in Thailand can be had at one of two locations, one (Westgate) just ten minutes by car from downtown. The menu’s based on street-vendor and home-style dishes, like kao soi, the famous red curry noodle soup from northern Thailand, and keow wan pla grai, green curry with homemade fish balls. Large portions, made from the freshest components, and small prices seduce throngs. It’s a casual spot, with lots of close-together tables, mismatched chopsticks, and a student crowd, especially at the Guadalupe Street location. If you’re with a big group, send somebody ahead, or call and put your name on the list. (North and South Austin)

Magnolia Cafe
1920 S. Congress Ave., 512-445-0000; 24 hours, both locations
2304 Lake Austin Blvd., 512-478-8645
$

Kerbey Lane Café
3704 Kerbey Lane, 512-451-1436; 24 hours, all locations
2700 S. Lamar Blvd., 512-445-4451
2606 Guadalupe St., 512-477-5717
$–$$

Ask almost anybody in Austin where to eat, and they’ll probably mention Magnolia Cafe and Kerbey Lane Cafe, both with more than one location. Although the food at either restaurant won’t win any James Beard awards, both menus are extensive, and offer lots of vegetarian and vegan options for breakfast, late night, and any hour in between. Kerbey Lane is better overall, with good coffee and fluffier pancakes, but Magnolia offers what might just be the best post-drinking snack: steak fries topped with Italian tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s also famous for its Mag Mud, a spicy black-bean dip with chips. We like Kerbey Lane’s fried cheesecake-stuffed taco with ice cream. And we prefer the original Kerbey Lane location, which, shockingly enough, is found on Kerbey Lane. (North and South Austin)

Oaxacan Tamaleo
1300 W. Anderson Lane, 512-289-9262
Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
$

Half Mexican-owned mini-mart, half bare-bones restaurant, this friendly little discovery is known for its big Oaxacan-style tamales, steamed in banana leaves. The lamb barbacoa (slow-cooked over an open fire) and mole are also incredible. A little out of the way (on the north side of Austin, about 15 minutes by car from downtown), but worth it. (North Austin)

Ruby’s BBQ
512 W. 29th St., 512-477-1651
Daily, 11 a.m.–midnight
$$

One of the only—if not the only—barbecue joints in the area selling natural, free-range beef brisket. If they ask, say you want it off the “chuck end” as opposed to the “lean end.” That’s where all the fat is, and fat means flavor. Luke Zimmerman, Ruby’s pit master, is president of the Central Texas Barbecue Association, so he knows what he’s doing. The sides here are a plus: wonderful mac ‘n’ cheese, collard greens, spicy chili con carne, and Cajun dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and étouffée. (North Austin)