The Mecca Restaurant, Dallas

The Mecca Restaurant embodies two cooking philosophies: always trust recipes that have stood the test of time, and it's never too late to eat a cinnamon roll the size of your head. Its signature cinnamon rolls have been lauded by Cooking Channel, Food Network, and D Magazine, where the immersive experience of eating one was deemed an essential part of "What You Must Do in Dallas." The formidable handcrafted swirls of dough and icing signify more than a sugar rush, however. They also stand for the diner's commitment to cooked-from-scratch, unabashedly hearty servings of comfort food. Back in 1938, sisters Patsy and Francis set this precedent, channeling their culinary talent and hospitality into the restaurant.

The Mecca Restaurant has since moved twice: once in 1968, from its birthplace near Dallas Love Field into the sisters' two-story home, and again in 2012. Its atmosphere and decor, however, have remained firmly rooted in local memories. School banners and photographs speckle the walls in an eclectic timeline, bordering booths where grandparents can introduce youngsters to their favorite childhood meals and disciplinary rhymes. These meals range from grilled ham-and-cheese sandwiches to the chicken-fried steak, a hand-battered classic that earned The Mecca a 2012 Best Of Award from the Dallas Observer. The staff serves it and the rest of the breakfast menu throughout the day, accommodating guests who crave late-night omelets or buckets of gravy.