Columbus has a food scene that’s way more exciting than most people expect. From tiny counter-service spots that will ruin you for all future sandwiches to fine dining that nails every detail, this is a city where you’ll never go hungry. If you’re trying to figure out where to eat in Columbus Ohio, here’s a guide to some of my favorite spots around town — where to go, what to order, and why they’re worth the stop.
If you want even more dining ideas, check out my full Ultimate Columbus Foodie Guide for tons of additional restaurant recommendations.
This tiny sandwich shop packs a big punch — and a big sandwich. The portions here are enormous, so bring a friend or a serious appetite. If there are two of you, I recommend splitting the Caesar salad and one of their massive sandwiches (try the steak sandwich or the Warrior’s Way if you really love cheese) and adding a side of potatoes. Unless you’re trying to win an eating contest, you don’t need one full sandwich per person — they’re that big.
The bread is perfection — crusty but soft inside — and the sandwiches are saucy and rich, so come hungry. This is a heavy lunch, so plan to walk it off afterward.
Wendy's Pro tip: Park behind Wario’s on the road (last time it was $1.35 for an hour). From there, you can walk to North Market and make it a whole afternoon — bonus points if you cut through the Nationwide Arena area because it’s a fun walk.
Since you may be walking around Columbus for several hours, I recommend carrying a refillable Brita Water Bottle.
North Market is an indoor food hall with dozens of vendors selling everything from spices and flowers to full meals. There are so many great options here, but my must-try is Mo Mo Ghar. Chef and owner Phinsto Lama is cooking up Tibetan and Nepalese specialties in the middle of Columbus, and it’s so good that Guy Fieri featured it on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Get the Johl Mo Mo (Tibetan steamed dumplings filled with chicken and covered in a spicy fenugreek tomato sauce) or the Choila Set (Tibetan chicken salad with rice, potatoes, and black-eyed peas) — Guy called it one of the most unique dishes he’s ever had.
Another solid choice is Barrel & Boar for BBQ. And no trip to North Market is complete without dessert — grab Jeni’s Ice Cream while you’re here (or at one of their other locations around town). Their flavors are inventive — Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Goat Cheese with Red Cherries, Wildberry Lavender — and the texture is ridiculously creamy. Do yourself a favor and get it in a butterscotch waffle cone.
For more local markets around the city, read my Guide to Columbus Farmers Markets.
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Don’t let the unassuming exterior fool you — inside is a moody, romantic space perfect for a date night. It’s also a working distillery, so you can book a tour ahead of time and see where the magic happens before you sit down to dinner.
Portions here are generous, so if you’re coming with a friend, I recommend splitting one appetizer, one entrée, and one dessert (unless you’re both starving).
Here’s what I tried and how I rated it:
Crispy potatoes — 8/10
Caesar salad — 8.5/10 (flavorful but skip if you hate cabbage)
Mushroom pasta — 9/10 (add short rib for extra fun)
Pork chops — 8/10
Chocolate cream — 5/10
Peach cobbler — 5/10 (too savory for my taste)
Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.
Located in German Village, Lindey’s is a Columbus classic. The portions are perfect for a three-course meal, and everything I’ve ever tried here has been a 10/10. Make reservations two to three weeks in advance — by 5:30 or 6 pm, the dining room fills up and you’ll likely be out of luck without a booking. You can usually get a seat at the bar or on the patio if you’re flexible.
Their bread is baked fresh in Grandview, and it’s served with perfectly salted butter — simple but so good. If you happen to visit during Restaurant Week, it’s the best time to try a few extra dishes at a great price.
If you want a deeper dive into the menu and experience, I wrote a full review in my Unforgettable Dining at Lindey’s Columbus Ohio guide.
Speck feels like a big night out — in the best way. The vibe is modern and stylish, and everything is house-made, from the focaccia to the pasta. Start with the burrata (served like a little cheese plate), get the heritage tomato salad if it’s in season, and then go all in on the pasta.
This is a great date night spot or a special-occasion dinner when you want something a little elevated but still approachable.
The Woodbury — Candied bacon crepes, chicken hotcake tacos, and a vibe that’s casual but still special.
The Lox — Perfect bagels, but be prepared for a seed overload if you get the everything bagel. The bacon, egg, and cheese is my favorite. Locals also swear by the Italian or Cuban sandwiches for lunch.
Buckeye Donuts — Chocolate peanut butter donuts that aren’t too sweet, plus a solid selection of filled and cake donuts.
Columbus is a food city through and through. Whether you’re eating your way through a food hall, sitting down for a three-course meal in German Village, or trying to split one of the largest sandwiches you’ve ever seen, you’ll find something here to love.
Bring an appetite, make a few reservations in advance, and leave time to wander — some of the best bites are found when you least expect them.
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Compare Columbus hotel rates through Booking.com.
Use my Where to Stay in Columbus, Ohio guide to choose the best neighborhood and hotel for your trip.
Browse Columbus tours and activities through Viator.
Plan the rest of your sightseeing with my Top 5 Things to Do in Columbus, Ohio guide.
Turn your restaurant list into a full trip with my Spend a Weekend in Columbus, Ohio itinerary.
Planning a couples’ trip? Read my Romantic Getaway in Columbus – 2-Day Itinerary.
Bring your Brita Water Bottle for walking between restaurants and neighborhoods.
Carry a Clutch Powerbank to power uo your phone for restaurant photos, directions, and reservations.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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