19 Places To Eat In (And Around) Columbus, Ohio
Being from Columbus, Ohio, we have eaten our fair share of restaurants around town! If you’re coming to Columbus looking for something to eat or live here and just want to try something new, we’ve put together a running list of some of our favorite places to eat! Now, Columbus has a lovely food scene and there is so much to offer. We’ve lived here our whole life and haven’t even scratched the surface of wonderful places to eat. These are just the ones that we have eaten and enjoyed!
Of course, we have eaten at restaurants other than these ones, but these are the ones that we would recommend the most! We’ve also been to plenty of places that we’ve really enjoyed but didn’t manage to get any photos. If you have questions about a specific restaurant or some other recommendations, feel free to ask us!
We’ve broken our list down by the kind of food, so you can scroll to what you’re looking for. So, here is our non-exhaustive list of places to eat in Columbus, Ohio
I. Coffee, Tea, & Bakeries
Paris Baguette — Easton and Upper Arlington Paris Baguette is a Korean bakery-café chain that offers fresh-baked pastries, sandwiches, and drinks (we love their peach iced tea!). They have locations in Easton and Upper Arlington. We’ve been to both and found them both to be great!
Bears Bagels — Hilliard A small, local business with delicious boiled and baked bagels. While not directly in Columbus, if you’re in the Hilliard area looking for something to eat, stop in! They have some of our favorite bagels in the city!
Cambridge Teahouse — Columbus (Marble Cliff/Grandview area) Cambridge Teahouse is a quaint teahouse that offers breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea. They also do themed dinners and afternoon teas for some holidays. We have done a valentines day dinner and an afternoon tea at Cambridge Teahouse and loved our experience! We recommend that you book a reservation as the location is small and cozy, so it can fill up quickly!
Main Ground — Groveport Main Ground is further from Columbus as it is located in Groveport, Ohio. But, we have been to Main Ground many times and think it’s worth a stop if you’re in the area! They serve coffee, tea, and other drinks as well as a few breakfast items.
Mjomii — Columbus (Bethel Road area) If you love French macarons and a really good cup of coffee, Mjomii needs to be on your list! Mjomii roasts its coffee in house (!!!), and they are a completely gluten-free bakery. They have 12 classic flavors as well as rotating flavors.
II. Noodles & Ramen
Asuka Ramen — Dublin If you’re in the Dublin area and looking for ramen, stop into Asuka Ramen! They also have other options such as milk tea, brothless ramen, hibachi, and fried rice.
6-1-Pho — near Clintonville This fast-casual Vietnamese spot is known for its delicious pho. Never pass up a chance to visit!
RamyunEZ — Columbus A new and unique (to Columbus) concept: a Korean-style convenience store that lets you pick from a lot of instant ramen options. You add your own toppings and then cook it! They also offer Korean snacks, drinks, and desserts. A must try place!
III. Bars & Pubs
Club 185 — German Village A true neighborhood bar that's been a German Village staple for decades! We love the atmosphere and food (they’ve got good chips and homemade dip)!
Gresso's — German Village/Brewery District Part dive bar, part from-scratch kitchen, Gresso's is a great spot to enjoy good drinks and food with friends. They have delicious mozzarella sticks (some of the best we’ve had!).
IV. Quick Bites & Casual Eats
Katzinger's Deli — German Village A Columbus institution for deli sandwiches. They also have barrels of pickles! If you're looking for a classic, satisfying lunch in German Village, this is the spot!
drûnch — near Italian Village This creative gastropub puts a fun spin on brunch, lunch, and dinner! They offer things like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, wings, burgers, etc.
CM Chicken — multiple locations (Columbus, Pickerington, Westerville) This Korean fried chicken chain has quickly become a local favorite for its crispy, delicious chicken. They have sauces like garlic soy, spicy garlic, and curry. We also LOVE their monster fries. Make sure to stop in for some Korean fried chicken, you won’t regret it!
V. Italian & Pizza
Little Sicily's Pizza — Brice A true hidden gem that locals have loved for decades! Little Sicily's is known for thin, crispy-crust pizza absolutely loaded with toppings, plus other things such as sandwiches and subs. We were sceptical at first, but have been back more than once since our first visit!
Little Italy — Groveport A family-owned Italian restaurant in downtown Groveport. We have been coming here since we were kids! We LOVE their Fettucini Alforno and love their pizza. They have recently moved into a larger, newer space and offer a lovely dining in experience. We highly recommend Little Italy’s!
Basi Italia — Victorian Village An intimate, charming spot for elevated Italian dining. With a lovely patio and a delicious menu, it's perfect for a date night or a special dinner out!
VI. Sit-Down Restaurant
Lindey's — German Village One of Columbus's most iconic restaurants, Lindey's has been a go-to for special occasions and elegant dinners for years. Expect a refined menu and a beautiful, timeless setting right in the heart of German Village. In the summer, their patio is a lovely place to enjoy your meal! This is another restaurant we highly recommend. While it is a little more expensive, it is worth the price!
Spaghetti Warehouse — Downtown Columbus If you’re visiting downtown Columbus or the Columbus Commons, Spaghetti Warehouse is a great option. It is right on the Columbus Commons! We grew up going to Spaghetti Warehouse as kids (when they were in their old building) and have continued to return now that they’re in their new building.
Tupelo Honey — Upper Arlington Tupelo Honey is a Southern-inspired restaurant that offers delicious comfort food. You can get things like fried okra, fried chicke, shrimp and grits, and chicken and waffles. We have been multiple times, and love it!
And that's just a start! There are so many more incredible places to eat around Columbus, we could probably do this list ten times over. We hope this post has been helpful, and we hope you try and love these places as much as we do!
Happy eating! 😄
Check out our other posts about Columbus, Ohio!