Here they are Akron, the inaugural Best of the City winners. 

With your help, we found some of the food and drink that makes Akron authentically Akron, from Ellet to Firestone Park to Highland Square to downtown. 

Starting today, we’ll showcase two winners from our 10 categories every day to show you what makes them exceptional. We’ll also let you know who the second and third place winners are so you can give them a try, too.

So come along for the ride as we bring you the best burger joint, brewery, cafe, restaurant and brunch spot, along with oh so many other delectable spots across the city.

Let’s eat!

(From left) Tom Anurak, stir fry chef, and JD Gonzalez, kitchen manager, cook fried rice.
(From left) Tom Anurak, stir fry chef, and JD Gonzalez, kitchen manager, cook fried rice in woks in the kitchen of Cilantro Thai & Sushi Restaurant Wednesday, June 26, 2024, in downtown Akron. (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

BEST RESTAURANT 
Cilantro
326 S. Main St.

BEST BREAKFAST / BRUNCH
The Eye Opener
1688 W. Market St.

BEST BAR / BREWERY 
Lock 15 Brewing Company
21 W. North St.

BEST BURGER
Ido Bar & Grill 
1537 S. Main St.

BEST FOOD TRUCK  
El Patron
Typically in the Walgreens parking lot at 834 W. Market St. in Highland Square

BEST HIDDEN GEM
Fred’s Diner
930 Home Ave.

BEST COFFEE / TEA
Nervous Dog
1530 W. Market St. in Wallhaven

BEST BAKERY
West Side Bakery
2303 W. Market St.

BEST VEGETARIAN / VEGAN
Mustard Seed Market & Cafe
867 W. Market St.

BEST PIZZA
Luigi’s Restaurant
105 N. Main St.

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.