What makes an otherwise intelligent human being stand in a queue for an hour or more – nothing but the mere promise of a bite to eat at the end the only reward? Food, apparently. Blame Instagram, blame delicious.com.au, blame the bevy of food bloggers talking up macarons and burgers and hyping food to the point of celebrity. And anyway, does the food live up to the hype? Some climb Everest, some queue for an In ‘n’ Out burger. It’s our urban rendition of something conquered. Perhaps the best part is the sense of satisfaction – and indeed, kudos – that comes from finally trying that sought-after food item (and proving the event on Instagram). Some food queues are worth conquering across the globe – and bring a lifetime of bragging – including the brisket at Franklin’s BBQ in Austin, Texas, to any of Dominique Ansel’s pastry concoctions in New York and the original Tim Ho Wan Michelin starred dumpling joint in Hong Kong (which is now in Sydney by the way, see number 7). In honour of food queues, we’ve tracked the 10 edibles we line up for longest in Australia.

The popular Californian fast food place (the animal style fries are what dreams are made of) had a one-day pop-up in Surry Hills earlier this year. People kind of went nuts. Like, lined up at 4am nuts, in order to sink their teeth into a Double-Double. Missed out? You could also join the queue at Jack’s in Newtown, or wait for a Lupe burger at Lucky Lupitas in Adelaide. Or check out our hit-list of Australia’s best burgers.

Be it at Enmore’s award-winning Cow and Moon or the Willy Wonka-esque flavours on offer at Gelato Messina (or you know, have the salted caramel and white chocolate every time because why mess with perfection), lining up for a gelato cone is the new normal. Pic: Gelato Messina

We’ll also queue for healthy food, apparently. At one bright store (which now has two outposts, in Teneriffe and Red Hill), the sunshine state’s healthiest will line up for breakfast boxes from 8am, and pick up lunch at the same time. The gluten free cakes are baked fresh and the all vegetarian meals span cauliflower and beetroot, bright salads spiked with anti-inflammatory turmeric and crunchy greens. We queue at Brisbane’s Botanica Real Food every time we’re in town.

If you want to bet on a sure thing, bet on the fact that there will be a line snaking through Fitzroy (though it’s less of a pre-dawn affair now that they moved from their tiny hole-in-the-wall set-up in Elwood) on a Saturday and Sunday morning as people queue for one of Kate Reid’s perfectly buttery double-baked, flaky croissants at Lune. They’re so good that just this week The New York Times wondered whether they might just be the best croissants in the world.

Have a thing for divine, picture-perfect, sometimes cutsie baked goods? Join the queue with your fellow sweet tooths at the Melbourne and Sydney seasonal bake-sale The Flour Market. It sees some of our best-loved purveyors of sweets (think Andy Bowdy, Blackstar Pastry, Brickfields) sell their wares.

Come lunch time you’ll be elbowing other office workers and uni students to get your hands on one of Marrickville Pork Roll’s crunchy bánh mì. The flavour and texture symphony topped off with a hit of chili is worth the wait. (236a Illawarra Road, Marrickville)

Working your way through the menu at Din Tai Fung or spending your Saturday morning lining up for one of Tim Ho Wan’s fabled baked buns with barbecue pork in Chatswood, Burwood, Pitt Street and George Street in Sydney or Melbourne’s Bourke Street is proof that dim sum is the kind of leisure activity that we’re prepared to sacrifice time for. Pictured: Din Tai Fung’s monkey buns.

It’s all about whimsical, retro flavours, kitch bites and a 1950s vibe at Brisbane’s Mister Fitz, but this ice cream sandwich place draws the crowds. Toppings span Froot Loops and candied bacon, and we love it.

You always remember your first Papa’s cheesecake, maybe it was a work birthday or your Italian friend’s engagement party, but once you’ve had that delicately spiced creamy confection (with the perfectly soft and biscuity crust!) you’re willing to join the queue at the original Haberfield cafe and you know you need to get in early on a Saturday to snaffle one up.

First come, first served – no bookings, no worries, right? Unless you want to eat at say, The Lucas Group’s massively popular Chin Chin or Hawker Hall restaurants where you can expect to wait for what feels like an eternity. Worth it.