Highest-rated restaurants in Cincinnati by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans said they rarely, if ever, try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, and 5% say they never do, according to a survey of more than 2,600 diners from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—56% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on online reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google or from social media. The TouchBistro survey found that 71% of Gen Zers and 72% of millennials have opted to try a new restaurant solely because of favorable reviews online.
Some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established spots that customers have been visiting for decades, but some may be brand new. More than 10,000 new restaurants opened in 2023, up 5.7% from 2022, according to a report from BentoBox. The states that saw the most new restaurants open up in 2023 were Florida, Texas, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, but new locales are popping up all over the U.S.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Cincinnati, according to Yelp reviews from diners as of January 2024. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
Note: The photos in this article are stock images and do not necessarily reflect each restaurant listed.
#20. Da Han Mongolian BBQ
- Rating: 5.0/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 11483 Chester Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Taiwanese, Mongolian, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Wheel Oakley
- Rating: 5.0/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3805 Brotherton Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Sago
- Rating: 5.0/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1004 Delta Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Malaysian, Modern European, Barbeque
- Read more on Yelp
#17. The Madison Place
- Rating: 5.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 4200 Plainville Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Good Plates Eatery
- Rating: 5.0/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 235 West McMillan St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: New American, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Avalanche Crepes & Waffles
- Rating: 5.0/5 (37 reviews)
- Address: 160 West McMillan St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Taqueria Los Cunados
- Rating: 5.0/5 (30 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2696 Madison Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Food Trucks, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Il Gusto Pizza & Pasta
- Rating: 5.0/5 (63 reviews)
- Address: 3936 East Galbraith Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Pizza, Italian, Caterers
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Black Coffee Lounge
- Rating: 5.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Address: 824 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Southern Grace Eats
- Rating: 5.0/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 3751 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Southern
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Cream + Sugar Coffeehouse
- Rating: 5.0/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3546 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Eckerlin's Meats
- Rating: 5.0/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1819 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Meat Shops, Delis
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Taquitos Uruapan
- Rating: 5.0/5 (26 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7591 Fields Ertel Road Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Chacabanas
- Rating: 5.0/5 (28 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1809 Elm St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Sandwiches, Cuban
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Marcella's Doughnuts and Bakery
- Rating: 5.0/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 960 Kennedy's Lndg Ste 1 Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Donuts, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Flatiron Cafe
- Rating: 5.0/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1833 Sycamore St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Wine Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#4. VV The Italian Experience
- Rating: 5.0/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1026 Delta Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Italian, Cocktail Bars, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Fillo Modern Greek
- Rating: 5.0/5 (44 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1505 Race St. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Harmony Plant Fare
- Rating: 5.0/5 (39 reviews)
- Address: 1801 Race St. Ste 105 Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Food Stands, Pop-Up Restaurants
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Bitter Sweet
- Rating: 5.0/5 (45 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 Jefferson Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio
- Categories: Creperies, Coffee & Tea, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 331 metros.