Eat Around the World at These 25 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants

Flavors of the Isle

1807 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine
This Findlay Market restaurant and bar specializes in its famous jerk chicken and other Jamaican fare, like curries, ox tail and rice and brown stew chicken, as well as soul food flavors like fried catfish and sides like cornbread, collard greens and mac and cheese. And not only does Flavors of the Isle offer delicious Caribbean food, but an experience as well: The space is small but gorgeous, with deep blue walls that evoke the ocean. Owner Ebony Williams is also a graduate of Findlay Kitchen, an incubator for food-based businesses at Findlay Market.

Sago

1004 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Sago serves up delicious, authentic Malaysian eats, with influences from Cantonese, French and Asian cuisine. The menu features a list of favorites, like the Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang or chicken curry and fried chicken (choose between garlic sesame or lime basil), alongside special seasonal dishes. All the dishes are made to order by Chef Paul Liew with fresh, quality ingredients that are sourced locally.

Phoenician Taverna

7944 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason
Phoenician Taverna serves up superb, authentic Lebanese food in a Mason strip mall. While the menu’s entrées are primarily meat-based, there’s also the “mezze,” which are small plates that are perfect for vegetarian diners. The mezze are listed in three sections: vegetarian cold mezza, vegetarian hot mezza and not vegetarian hot mezza. The hot mezza vegetarian list offers mouth-watering items such as a spinach pie (fatayer b'sbanigh in Lebanese), described as homemade dough filled with spinach, pine nuts and sumac onions in lemon and extra virgin olive oil, or the cheese pie (fatayer b’jibne), filled with feta. There's also cauliflower with tahini, spicy hot potatoes, beet dip, spiced aged feta and pumpkin kibbeh on the unique list of hot and cold dishes.

Safi Wine Bar

1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine
Chef Jose Salazar operated his self-named restaurant at 1401 Republic St. in Over-the-Rhine for 10 years before announcing at the end of 2023 that he and his wife would be moving the restaurant into the former Saks Fifth Avenue building in downtown Cincinnati. They said they would keep the original Salazar space and introduce a new concept there: Safi, the idea of which came to the couple after a trip to Morocco. Safi opened in June and sports a laid-back atmosphere, with a menu that’s approachable, but still offers some “fancier” dishes, as well as small plates. The menu features dishes like chicken pastilla cigars; slow-cooked lamb shank tagine with made-from-scratch Israeli couscous; an eggplant and tomato compote called Zalouk; Briwat, a Moroccan almond pastry; and the trendy "caviar bump."

The Arepa Place

131 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; 1517 Springfield Pike, Wyoming
The Arepa Place offers up a menu of South American staples for lunch, including authentic Colombian and Venezuelan eats like the stuffed arepas — a pocket-like food made from a corn dough and filling, which are the stars of the menu. Fillings range from a classic chicken and cheese combo to a vegetarian one stuffed with black beans, fried plantains and cheese and even a build-your-own option. You can also opt for the empanadas and a host of sides, like plantain chips with guacamole or salsa and fried sweet plantains.

Fillo

1505 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Fillo Modern Greek promises diners a culinary trip to Greece — no passport required. It got its start in 2021 as Fillo Greek Bakeshop before switching to dinner service in 2023. Fillo features prix-fixe menu focusing on “meze” — traditional Greek small plates meant for sharing and creating memorable dining experiences. Expect to find classic Greek favorites like moussaka and souvlaki, as well as dishes like fried feta, grilled octopus and calamari — all of which are prepared with love and care and burst with the authentic flavors of Greece.

Christine’s Casual Dining

3360 Westbourne Drive, Western Hills
While Christine’s offers a diverse menu full of American, Mexican and other types of cuisines, its Filipino menu is unique and delicious, featuring tried and true recipes passed down in owner Christine’s family from generation to generation. The Filipino combos are the perfect opportunity to try a little taste of a few dishes, including barbecue pork skewers, Filipino soup (beef and veggies) and pancit, a stir-fried noodle dish. Christine’s also recently expanded its menu to offer more traditional Filipino dishes, including Tapsilog (Filipino beef jerky, garlic fried rice and a fried egg) and Longsilog, a breakfast meal with longanisa, a Filipino sausage; fried garlic rice; and fried eggs. For dessert, try the halo-halo, which features shaved ice and condensed milk along with other sweet toppings in layers, or ice cream made with ube, a purple yam that originated in the Philippines.

Conserva

225 Elm St., Ludlow
Spanish tapas restaurant Conserva may be one of Northern Kentucky’s best hidden gems. Owner and head chef Challis Hodge studied Spanish tapa cuisine to recreate an authentic experience with a medley of options. One popular dish on the menu is a Spanish national favorite, Tortilla Española, made using potatoes, egg, olive oil and salt. And if you’re a fan of dips, the gambas al ajillo, or Spanish garlic shrimp, is made using sherry and guindilla pepper and served with dippable crostini. The menu also features “conservas,” which are similar to charcuterie boards, but they feature preserved seafood, along with Spanish olive oil chips and baguette.

Sudova

22 W. Court St., Downtown
Recently opened on Court Street, Sudova is the newest concept from Sarah Dworak (Babushka’s Pierogies, Wódka Bar). This Eastern European kitchen features a warm and convivial Old-World-style aesthetic, where traditional dishes, timeless European style and modern tastes blend together. Outside is a gated courtyard for al fresco dining, while the dining room features custom millwork, framed Ukrainian tapestries, stained glass windows from Wooden Nickel Antiques and locally salvaged Eastern European sconces. But the highlight of the dining room is a family heirloom — a well-worn and well-loved dining table that was once in Dworak’s grandmother’s home. On the menu, diners can enjoy modern takes on classic Eastern European dishes, including rye pelmeni (a type of dumpling) with salt cod and potato brandade and topped with caviar beurre blanc; hand-formed varenyky — another type of dumpling — stuffed with house-made tvorog (similar to cottage cheese) and crispy pork belly; Ukrainian specialty green borsch, made with chicken, sorrel and a soft boiled egg; and ice cream made with sea buckthorn berries.

Pho Lang Thang

1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine
Pho Lang Thang is a Vietnamese eatery that serves up delicious bowls of chicken, beef and vegan pho, a soup dish, and Vietnamese sandwiches called bánh mì for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also features an upbeat vibe where customers can feel free to slurp loudly and a draft list with several local craft beers on tap, including options from Northern Row and 50 West.

Teranga

8438 Vine St., Hartwell
Teranga offers a diverse menu, with a variety of options that fuse African, American and Jamaican cuisine, like the Senegalese Senburger or full dinners like grilled tilapia and Jamaican oxtail with rice and peas. It’s also a great place to try West African dishes, such as Michoui Gigot (stuffed lamb leg with onion sauce). Sides range from couscous and French fries to fufu and attiéké.

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery

3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton
Located in a Clifton strip mall, Syrian eatery Baladi Restaurant & Bakery offers delicious Middle Eastern, Arabic and Mediterranean specialties like shawarma, gyros, falafel and more, all made with fresh ingredients. They also offer fresh, savory baked goods and pastry favorites like baklava.

Banh Lao & Thai Cuisine

7340 Kenwood Road, Kenwood
If you’re craving Thai or Lao food, or you want to try it for the first time, you can sample both at Banh Lao & Thai Cuisine in Kenwood. The extensive menu features beloved Thai-style dishes like green curry and pad see ew (stir-fried noodles), as well as a special section for Lao specialties, including Khao Piak, a chicken noodle soup, and Nam Khao, a crispy rice salad. You can also customize the heat levels for Banh’s selections of stir-fried noodles, curries, fried rice dishes and entrées, from mild at No. 1 to hot at No. 3.

Mofongo City

7373 Dixie Highway, Fairfield
Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Dominican Republic by trying the mofongo at Mofongo City in Fairfield. If you’ve never tried mofongo, it’s a savory Caribbean dish made of boiled or roasted mashed plantains and seasoned with salt, garlic and olive oil. At Mofongo City, it’s served in a wooden cup alongside a protein like chicken, chicharron or longaniza (sausage). You can also get mofongo made with yuca, or try one of the other Caribbean and Latin American grilled dishes alongside a refreshing cocktail.

Truva Turkish Kitchen

8060 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
For delicious Mediterranean food — particularly Turkish cuisine — take a trip to Truva Turkish Kitchen. The dining room has a sleek, modern Mediterranean design paired with a warm, cozy atmosphere and food made with the freshest ingredients. The menu offers traditional Turkish fare, including cold starters like hummus, babaganoush (puréed smoked eggplant flavored with tahini, garlic and olive oil) and tabbouleh (​​cracked wheat tossed with parsley, spring onions and fresh red peppers and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice). There are also hot mezzes (small plates) like calamari and falafel, kebabs and a selection of Turkish entrées and seafood dishes for dinner. Truva’s Kenwood location also serves breakfast, which includes a variety of omelets featuring Mediterranean flavors and a bakery with Turkish pastries, like the pogaca, a cheese-filled pastry.

Inkazteka Peruvian Restaurant

3920 E. Galbraith Road, Deer Park
Inkazteka serves Mexican cuisine, but it’s also one of the few places in Greater Cincinnati where diners can try Peruvian fare. Located in a modest space in a Deer Park strip mall, the restaurant is warm and welcoming, painted in bright red and yellow and decorated with pictures of South America. On the menu, diners will find a selection of Mexican eats like burritos and fajitas, as well as many Peruvian dishes, which you’ll find marked with a Peruvian flag. Try appetizers like the Chicharron de Chancho, which is deep-fried pork served with sarsa criolla (a red onion salsa) and fried yuca, or the Choclo con Queso, which is Peruvian corn served with fresh white cheese. There are also a variety of Peruvian entrées, including Ceviche de Pescado (tilapia fillets marinated in lime juice with cilantro and red onion), Pollada (chicken seasoned with Peruvian spices) and Bisteca a lo Pobre (steak or chicken breast served with fries, sweet plantains, fried egg and jasmine rice.

Chaykhana N1

9536 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester Township
For a meal that pulls flavor inspiration from regions like Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East, try Uzbek cuisine. Chaykhana N1 (“chaykhana” means “tea house” in Uzbek) offers delicious and flavorful Uzbek food from an unassuming strip mall space in West Chester. The menu features salads, like Achichuk, which is made with tomato, onion and pepper; Shurpa, a traditional Uzbek soup featuring beef, carrots, potatoes, chickpeas and onions in a beef broth; and dishes like Kavurma Lagman, which is fried, hand-pulled noodles mixed with beef and Asian vegetables.

Riverside Korean

512 Madison Ave., Covington
Come to Riverside Korean if you’re looking for award-winning Korean food made in a family-owned establishment. The owners have curated the menu with dishes that have passed their authenticity taste test, including their traditional, rice-based, steaming-hot dolsot bibimbap, which features mixed vegetables, a sunny-side-up egg and your choice of beef, chicken or tofu. All entrées are served with a delightful selection of traditional side dishes called ban chan.

Bridges Nepali Cuisine

4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 11 W. Seventh St, Covington; 6304 Vine St., Elmwood Place; 2459 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills (Coming soon)
Bridges Nepali Cuisine gets its name from its goal to encourage diners to use food as a means of connecting to other cultures. The restaurant is one of the few places in Greater Cincinnati to offer Nepalese cuisine, and owner Ashak Chipalu creates Bridges’ menu using his mother's recipes. The dishes are rich with spices like ginger, garlic, cumin, chili pepper and cilantro, all of which elevate the simple ingredients like potato, lentils and cauliflower. Popular options include the rice bowls, which you can get with meat or as vegetarian, samosas and the Nepalese dumplings, momos, which can come stuffed with seasoned chicken, pork or vegetables.

VV the Italian Experience

1026 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Café and shop VV The Italian Experience dishes up an authentic Italian experience in Mt. Lookout Square. Owners Melissa and Andrea De Giorgi wanted to recreate an Italian “la cafeteria,” a place for family and friends to spend time together, relax for breakfast and lunch and enjoy aperitivo, or happy hour with delicious bites. The space is simple yet elegant and combines both vintage and modern Italian styles in a seamless and welcoming manner. On the menu, you’ll find everything from Italian pastries like cornettis and piadina Nutella (a flatbread with Nutella spread) for breakfast, to paninis for lunch and pastas, salads and soups for dinner.