Best cupcakes in San Francisco? Judging by volume, Cako leads the pack. Its network of seven locations in the Bay Area paints four-star restaurant quality into colorful edible artistry in the form of Banana Toffee, Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu, Snickers, and so many other flavors.

Operating in San Diego, Ciao Cupcakes is a small-batch, mobile bakery (think biodiesel truck) that prides itself on organic ingredients and a green outlook. Using organic flour, sugar, eggs, Ciao Cupcakes comes up with customer favorites like Salty Sweet—all sold in sustainable packaging.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, the owner Corner Cupcakes competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes presented at a Las Vegas-area party celebrating the World Series of Poker.

By using only the purest of gourmet ingredients, Mary Sarain opened Pure Cupcakes to adoring San Diego fans. Her Cupcake Wars debut earned rave reviews from Florian Bellanger, who called her carrot cake one of the best. For more pure bliss, try the Rol-e-ol-ee-o topped with caramel buttercream.

At PubCakes, owner Misty Birchall combines her cupcake batter with the complex flavors of premium beer. This perfect pairing leads to unique treats like The Portzilla cupcake with Stone Smoked Porter and coffee ganache and the Irish Carbomb with Guinness chocolate cake batter.

At Dolce Vista Cupcakes, owner Vista Miller turned a hobby into a thriving business in Orange County, Calif. The shop’s award-winning cupcakes include Caramel Apple with salted-caramel buttercream and Chocolate Truffle filled with cream cheese frosting and topped with a white truffle glaze.

Simple sophistication is what The Perfect Circle Cupcakery produces masterfully. Elegant flavors like the Tuxedo (dark chocolate cake with rich vanilla buttercream) are casual enough for a weeknight craving or - thanks to the shop's couture cupcake decorators - can be dressed up for any occasion.

Jenica Braddock has always been a dreamer, which makes sense since she started Dreamy Creations in Northridge, Calif., when she was only 20. Today, her storefront is loaded with fanciful gems like the Chunky Monkey: a fudge-filled banana cupcake gilded with Italian icing, toasted nuts and chocolate.

Creating 17 distinctive cupcakes daily feels like child's play for Cupcake Wars veteran Sift Cupcake & Dessert Bar. Born out of necessity, owner Andrea Ballus dreamed of better cupcakes in Napa Valley. Now her Gingerbread-Zinfandel and Pink Champagne frosted delights are granting one-bite wishes.

Whether for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or just because you want to eat cake, the pretty and casual creations of Lila & Sage have got your back. The highlight of its new Cupcake Shop is the whoopie pie - a sandwiched mash-up of one part frosting, two parts cake and three parts silly good fun.

Frost Me Gourmet Cupcakes may just be too beautiful to eat — but don't let that stop you. Delivering throughout San Diego, this gourmet bakery devises gorgeous flavors, such as Roasted Banana with honey cinnamon frosting and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip with mascarpone frosting.

TreyBcakes' appearance on Cupcake Wars was just the tip of the iceberg for this gourmet bakery and eatery. From cakes to pies, brownies and gelato, TreyBcakes has it all, including breakfast and lunch. So now you can have your Stud Muffin meatloaf and your strawberry cupcake, too.

Drizzle Cupcakes owner and pastry chef Rob Porter goes all out when it comes to baking. His online business boasts more than 70 flavors and the Cupcake Wars judges took note. If you're feeling adventurous, sample the Saffron Honey cupcake. For a more classic treat, try the Chocolate JuJu.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, the owner of Two Parts Sugar competes to win and have her cupcakes presented at a celebrity-studded event for the 2009 Alma Awards.

On this episode of Food Network's Cupcake Wars, Stephanie of Red Velvet Stephanie.com competes to win $10,000 and have her cupcakes presented at the star-studded Los Angeles Film Festival.