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When I first moved to Cincinnati, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the food scene. I was picturing a whole lot of Skyline Chili, maybe some Graeter’s ice cream, and… that was about it. I was so wrong.

Cincinnati’s restaurant scene is genuinely one of the things that won me over about this city. Whether you’re hunting for a James Beard-nominated Southern kitchen, the perfect wood-fired pizza, a Japanese spot that punches way above its weight, or an independent bakery that’ll ruin you for grocery store pastries forever, the Queen City delivers.

This is my living, ever-growing guide to the best restaurants in Cincinnati right now, organized by category so you can jump straight to whatever you’re craving. I update it regularly as I eat my way through the city, so bookmark it and check back often.

How to Read This Guide

Each restaurant listing in this guide follows the same format: Restaurant Name – Neighborhood – Price Range – Short description. Here’s what the price ranges mean, based on an estimated full meal per person without drinks:

$ – Under $15 per person
$$ – $15–$30 per person
$$$ – $30–$50 per person
$$$$ – $50–$100 per person
$$$$$ – $100+ per perso