BEST ROADKILL INFUSION: Venison Speck Scramble Sandwich at Rose Pistola
San Francisco, CA
Don’t have time to hunt your own deer in the morning? Leave the fluorescent orange camo vest home and get your game fix with the Venison Speck Scramble Sandwich at Rose Pistola’s Saturday farmer’s market. Chock-full of house-made venison speck, locally grown greens, and fontina cheese, with a big ol’ dollop of crème fraîche and a sprinkle or two of chives, this sandwich is sure to satisfy any meat lover. Wash it down with a cold beer or, better yet, a grappa. Anything to help you forget that you’re brunching. rosepistola.com —Sarah Logan

TINIEST WIENIES: Gus's Hot Dogs
Watervliet, NY
These Lilliputian franks (60 cents each!) are a mere three inches in length and are served in proportionally small (adorable!) buns, gobbed with onions, mustard, and a chocolatey, cinnamony chili sauce. Order by the dozen.—R.S.

BEST NEW ORLEANS SANDWICH THAT'S NOT A MUFFALETTA: Half-and-Half Po-Boy
Domilise’s
New Orleans, LA
Fried oysters and shrimp piled high on crusty French bread, lovingly dressed with lettuce, pickles, ketchup, mayo, and hot sauce ($12.50). Your Big Easy hangover has met its miraculous match—at least for today.—S.R.

QUICKEST SWEET TOOTH FIX: Frozen Custard
Leon’s
Milwaukee, WI
Wisconsinites line up 10 deep to enjoy the best soft-serve ever, concocted of fresh milk and cream, and sent into artery-gumming orbit with egg yolks ($1.56).—R.S.

LOUDEST DISH: Sizzling Fajitas
Ninfá’s
Houston, TX
The place to get fajitas is right where they were invented: at the Original Ninfá’s. A charcoal grill right inside the front door flames skirt steak strips to smoking tenderness ($16.95). Try not to eat your hand while you wait for your name to be called. mamaninfas.com —R.S.

BEST RAW DEAL: Tere Sega
Abay Market
Falls Church, VA
Want adventure? The tere sega ($12), comprising thick slabs of raw—yes, raw—cow round, delivers. It might sound a little gross, but once the round is cut, wrapped in Ethiopian flatbread, and dipped in molten awaze sauce, the flesh does its thing: The meat’s cool temperature contrasts with the spicy sauce; its dense texture contrasts with the spongy injera; and it delivers an unadulterated jolt of beef flavor. Abay Market, thanks in large part to its tere sega, won a Best Bargain Restaurant Award in 2008 from Northern Virginia Magazine and was rated Best Ethiopian Restaurant by the Washington City Paper in 2008. Show-offs.—T.C.

FRESHEST FRIES: Original Hot Dog Shop
Pittsburgh, PA
Known to generations of drunken University of Pittsburgh students as the O, this fast-food wonderland claims to fry 25,000 pounds per week. A small serving (which is actually huge) is a dangerously inexpensive $3.17. —R.S.

LOCAL-EST CONDIMENT: Comeback sauce
Mayflower Cafe
Jackson, MS
Every restaurant in town has its own version of this garlicky, spicy bastardization of Thousand Island dressing. Our pick for the best? The Mayflower Cafe, a 73-year-old Greek diner that grills up seafood straight from the Gulf.—B.R.

BEST UPDATE: Spicy deviled eggs
Lamberts Downtown Barbecue
Austin, TX
Normally, deviled eggs are the kissin’ cousin of tater tots and Cheez Whiz, but executive chef Larry McGuire fancies things up by puréeing the yolks with cornichons and jalapeños and topping ’em with tarragon, parsley, chives, paprika, and cav­-iar ($6). “I thought it was clever because it’s eggs on eggs,” says McGuire. Good one! lambertsaustin.com —T.E.