Akron foodies have spoken — here are the 3rd annual Signal Akron Best of the City winners.

Your votes helped select the most-favored food and drink spots in Akron. From best bakery to best bar to best food truck, each is marked by customer service, attention to detail and just plain old-fashioned good eating.

Starting today, we’ll showcase two winners each weekday for you to check out — find new favorites to try out or visit an old friend and order your go-to menu item.

Here’s to new adventures in eating!

Pastries for sale at Sweet Mary's Bakery on East Mill Street in downtown Akron.
Pastries for sale at Sweet Mary’s Bakery on East Mill Street in downtown Akron. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Best bakery

Sweet Mary’s Bakery

76 E. Mill St., downtown

Read our profile of Sweet Mary’s Bakery here.

Angel Falls Coffee Co. barista Chewy S. (center) prepares a drink at the Highland Square coffee shop.
Angel Falls Coffee Co. barista Chewy S. (center) prepares a drink at the Highland Square coffee shop. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Best coffee / tea

Angel Falls Coffee Co.

792 W. Market St., Highland Square

Read our profile of Angel Falls Coffee Co. here.

Best restaurant

Papa Joe’s Iacomini’s

1561 Akron Peninsula Road, Merriman Valley

Read our profile on Papa Joe’s Iicomini here.

Best fine dining

Ken Stewart’s Grille

1970 W. Market St., Fairlawn Heights

Read our profile on Ken Stewart’s Grille here.

Amelia Martinez, a cook at Frank's Place On Market, seasons a burger patty in the establishment's kitchen on Thursday, Aug. 6.
Amelia Martinez, a cook at Frank’s Place On Market, seasons a burger patty in the establishment’s kitchen on Thursday, Aug. 6. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Best burger

Frank’s Place on Market

549 W. Market St., Highland Square

Read our profile on Frank’s Place on Market here.

Fred's Diner is famous for their piled bacon, which is baked before being deep fried to order.
Fred’s Diner is famous for their piled bacon, which is baked before being deep fried to order. (Christiana Cacciato | Signal Akron)

Best breakfast / brunch

Fred’s Diner

930 Home Ave., North Hill

Read our profile of Fred’s Diner here.

Customers at Lock 15 order the Little Harlem Rauchbier and Mobilization Belgian Wit, a popular lager and wheat ale. Lock 15 won 'Best Bar / Brewery' in Signal Akron's 2026 Best of the City.
Customers at Lock 15 order the Little Harlem Rauchbier and Mobilization Belgian Wit, a popular lager and wheat ale. Lock 15 won ‘Best Bar / Brewery’ in Signal Akron’s 2026 Best of the City. (Christiana Cacciato | Signal Akron)

Best bar / brewery

Lock 15 Brewery 

21 W. North St., Cascade Valley

Read our profile on Lock 15 Brewery here.

Best food truck

Johnny Lotés Latin Street Corn

Location updates are posted online — also has a counter at 7 17 Credit Union Park during Akron RubberDucks games.

Read our profile on Johnny Lotés Latin Street Corn here.

Customer service associate Maeva Lile. left, takes a lunch order from coworkers Liz Blystone, center, and Michael Chisnell at Constance Fromagerie & Café in Northwest Akron’s Pilgrim Square
Customer service associate Maeva Lile. left, takes a lunch order from coworkers Liz Blystone, center, and Michael Chisnell at Constance Fromagerie & Café in Northwest Akron’s Pilgrim Square on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Best new restaurant in Akron

Constance Fromagerie

2299 W. Market St., Northwest Akron

Read our profile on Constance Fromagerie here.

One of DeCheco's famous white pizzas comes out of the oven
One of DeCheco’s famous white pizzas comes out of the oven on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Carissa Woytach / Signal Akron)

Best pizza

DeCheco’s Pizzeria

Multiple locations, including 2075 S. Main St. in Firestone Park and 1581 Canton Road in Ellet. 

Read our profile of DeCheco’s Pizzeria here.

Saffron Patch in the Valley's lunch buffet is available 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Merriman Valley restaraunt is Signal Akron's 2026 Best of the City winner in the ehtnic / international food category.
Saffron Patch in the Valley’s lunch buffet is available 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fridays and from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Merriman Valley restaraunt is Signal Akron’s 2026 Best of the City winner in the ehtnic / international food category. (Carissa Woytach / Signal Akron)

Best ethnic/international food

Saffron Patch in the Valley

1238 Weathervane Lane, Merriman Valley 

Read our profile on Saffron Patch here.

A Galley Boy with fries is served up at the original Swensons Drive-in location in Akron's Wallhaven neighborhood.
A Galley Boy with fries is served up at the original Swensons Drive-in location in Akron’s Wallhaven neighborhood. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)

Best chain dining

Swensons

40 S. Hawkins Ave., Wallhaven
658 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave., North Hill

Read our profile on Swensons here.

Best outdoor eating

Mustard Seed Market & Cafe

867 W. Market St., Highland Square

Read our profile on Mustard Seed Market & Cafe here.

Editor-in-Chief (she/her)
Zake has deep roots in Northeast Ohio journalism. She was the managing editor for multimedia and special projects at the Akron Beacon Journal, where she began work as a staff photographer in 1986. Over a 20-year career, Zake worked in a variety of roles across departments that all help inform her current role as Signal Akron's editor in chief. Most recently, she was a journalism professor and student media adviser at Kent State University, where she worked with the next generation of journalists to understand public policy, environmental reporting, data and solutions reporting. Among her accomplishments was the launch of the Kent State NewsLab, an experiential and collaborative news commons that connects student reporters with outside professional partners.