Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Where You Can Grab Some Late-Night Eats

Goodfellas Pizzeria

Late-Night Hours: OTR: Sunday-Thursday until midnight and Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m.; Covington: Sunday-Thursday until midnight and Friday-Saturday until 2 a.m.; Pleasant Ridge: Friday-Saturday until midnight 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine; 603 Main St., Covington; 6099 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
The place to be when you stumble out of the bar at 2 a.m. (or for lunch), Goodfellas makes their dough fresh every morning and their sauce in-house. The slices are New York-style and as big as your face. They also offer subs, calzones and a multitude of dipping sauces. You’ll also find a bourbon bar upstairs.

Camp Washington Chili

Late-Night Hours: Open 24 hours every day except Sunday 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner at any hour, Camp Washington Chili features greasy-spoon breakfast offerings, double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili (which has won an “American Regional Classic” James Beard Foundation Award), coneys and even a few salads. And in an era where we’re seeing a reduction in diners open 24/7, this diner is the quintessential chili parlor of days gone by with its classic mid-century sign out front, dining counter inside and photos and newspaper clippings along the wall.

CityBird (OTR)

Late-Night Hours: Every day until midnight 1344 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine
The deep-fried offspring of The Eagle in OTR, CityBird dishes out cage-free, all-natural chicken paired with housemade craft sauces until midnight every night. The tenders boast a full-bodied flavor: mostly mellow and savory but tinged with spice. They’re at their best wedged inside the Spicy sandwich, topped with Green Goddess slaw, Sriracha, mayo and a toasted potato bun.

Condado Tacos

Late-Night Hours: The Banks: Sunday-Thursday until midnight and Friday-Saturday until 1 a.m.; Oakley, Anderson Township and Mason: Friday-Saturday until midnight 195 E. Freedom Way, The Banks; 3329 Vandercar Way, Oakley; 7877 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township; 5070 Deerfield Blvd., Mason
Since 2014, Condado’s build-your-own-taco concept has taken the taco-loving population by storm. They commit to the build-your-own tacos concept down to the type of tortillas, with plenty of enticing options that cater to every taste. The formula is simple: check off what you want on your taco, then the goodness is brought out to you.

13th Street Alley (NOW CLOSED)

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 1 a.m. 126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
13th Street Alley brings a taste of Philly to the Queen City. You can get a no-frills, tried-and-true cheesesteak at this walk-up window in Over-the-Rhine and watch as they scrape a pile of hot, 100-percent sirloin steak and melty cheese off the flattop and into a bun with peppers and onions for under $9. The menu offers seven types of Philly sandwiches, plus bowls, salads and fresh-cut fries. And while the classic OTR Philly comes topped with provolone, the shop does keep Cheese Whiz in the fridge for all the cheesesteak purists out there. Located conveniently between Main and Clay streets, this joint is certainly set to help you end the night off right.

Gomez Salsa (OTR)

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 1:30 a.m. 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
On weekends, Gomez in OTR is open till 1:30 a.m., making it the perfect drunk-off-your-ass Saturday pit stop before piling into your Uber. But this Mexican eatery — which serves up tacos, burritos and turtles (a hybrid burrito with crusty cheese to seal the deal) — is also a prime spot to pick up grub before lounging in Washington Park during lunch break or literally whenever you’re on the go.

Grub Local

Late-Night Hours: Thursday-Saturday until 1 a.m. 8 W. Seventh St, Covington
Described as equal parts cool and casual, The Well provides a laidback and cozy lounge, as well as a large patio where you can unwind after a few drinks. Its restaurant arm, Grub Local, is helmed by chef Mitch Arens, the former executive chef at Hotel Covington. The menu offers a tasty spin on classic American cocktails and drinks, like the Chicago-ish Dog, Poboy or “Nashville Hot” Skewers. Arens says Grub Local is also all about revamping hometown favorites, like their Jumbo Coney.

Agave & Rye

Late-Night Hours: All locations open until midnight Friday-Saturday 635 Madison Ave., Covington; 3825 Edwards Road, Norwood; 7125 Fountain View Drive, Liberty Township
When you’re craving late-night tacos, Agave & Rye’s got plenty of kinds you won’t find at a drive-thru window. Diners flock to the restaurant to enjoy its vibrant murals and funky decor while chowing down on unique tacos, with proteins including kangaroo, duck, crab cakes, butter-poached lobster, crispy cauliflower, fries and crispy chicken — in addition to more familiar bases like steak, pork carnitas and mahi mahi.

Shanghai on Elm

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 1:30 a.m 700 Elm St., Downtown
Formerly known as Shanghai Mama’s, Shanghai on Elm still offers delicious pan-Asian dishes, including your standard Chinese, like Sweet & Sour Chicken and Szechuan with your choice of protein, as well as Pad Thai and Japanese Udon noodles, fresh-catch meals like the Fish & Chips and Shanghai Scallops and homemade sauces ranging from red pepper chili oil to Yum Yum to plum.

Drunken Tacos

Late-Night Hours: Sunday until midnight, Monday-Thursday until 1:30 a.m. and Friday-Saturday until 2:30 a.m. 200 W. McMillan St., CUF
When you’re still a little tipsy from all the shots you just slammed at Murphy’s and Uncle Woody’s and you just absolutely, 100% NEED tacos like it's the end of the world, Drunken Tacos’ menu breaks the mold, blending Mexican and Korean cuisine. They have your standard ingredients like beans, steak and queso fresco, as well as extra, unexpected fillings. Try their Daeji Tacos with spicy pork or one restaurant’s most popular dishes: the Bulgogi Tacos.

Drunken Bento

Late-Night Hours: Monday-Thursday until midnight and Friday-Saturday until 1 a.m. 212 W. McMillan St., CUF
Drunken Bento, the Korean and late-night sushi spot of Clifton has its doors open until midnight on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Located right off of the University of Cincinnati’s campus, this sushi wonder has been giving life to the students and locals for years. We mean, come on — who doesn’t want a Sunday Morning Roll (salmon and cream cheese, deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo) at the very start of Sunday morning? If you’re not into fish, there’s a great menu of entrées and appetizers to suit most tastes.

Molly Malone’s

Late-Night Hours: Kitchen is open until 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday 112 E. Fourth St., Covington
Molly Malone’s restaurant and pub offers an authentic taste of the Emerald Isle with its menu full of traditional fare and appetizers, such as their popular beer-battered cod served with coleslaw and chips. Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, the pub plays just about every soccer and rugby game live and keeps the kitchen open late on Fridays and Saturdays so you can keep the party going well into the night after your favorite team’s win.

Baru

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until midnight 595 Race St., Downtown
This elevated sushi and cocktail concept places most of its focus on its atmosphere and unique menu, all centered around its bar, which has been strategically placed to be the focal point of the restaurant. The idea behind Baru is stay-and-drink sushi, inspired by izakaya, which are beloved Japanese establishments where guests can stay, drink and unwind long into the night. Its menu is sophisticated but approachable, with fresh fish flown in daily, American and Japanese wagyu and shareable items. It also offers omakase meals, where guests leave dining decisions up to the chef.

Kitchen Factory

Late-Night Hours: Walk-up window open until midnight Friday-Saturday 1609 Chase Ave., Northside
Kitchen Factory prides itself on offering pizza for everyone: that means vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options alongside traditional offerings. On Friday and Saturday nights, Kitchen Factory serves a limited late-night menu from its takeout Pizza Window from 10 p.m. to midnight so you can grab a slice on your way to (or home from) the bars.

Lucky Dog OTR

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m. 1210 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
It’s never too late for a cheese coney, and luckily for everyone, Lucky Dog OTR stays open late into the night on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant calls itself the "culmination of over 20 years of restaurant experience by founders Ryan Reynolds and Ray Gammouh." Using hot dogs from Queen City Sausage, chili fans can opt for coneys, chili metts, chili cheese sandwiches, regular dogs or even a coney crate (10 for $25). They also serve their signature chili in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-Ways and even in a salad with shredded cheddar cheese, Fritos, tomatoes, sour cream and chipotle ranch.

Skyline Chili (Clifton)

Late-Night Hours: Sunday until midnight, Monday-Thursday until 1 a.m. and Friday-Saturday until 2 a.m. 290 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
Oh Skyline, what would we do without you? The Skyline in Clifton serves up Cincinnati-style Chili until midnight Sunday, 1 a.m. on weekdays and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. This faithful Skyline has always been there for us. And until the ‘open’ light turns off, they’re ready to get you to your chili cheesy heaven.

Elephant Walk Indian Bar and Grill

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until midnight 170 W. McMillan St., CUF
Your mom might have told you not to eat spicy food late at night, but we’re gonna encourage it with Elephant Walk. Not only do they serve up North Indian favorites like samosas, a variety of vegetarian dishes, tandoori specialties and naan burritos — a beloved street food in Mumbai — they also have an Ethiopian menu. Try the Misser Soup (a lentil soup seasoned with herbs and spices), an Injera Roll (Ethiopian, vegan flatbread that’s wrapped around vegetables and your choice of protein), or the Awaze Tibs, cubed beef steak, pan-seared and sautéed with red onions, bell peppers, cardamom and awaze sauce and served with injera.

Insomnia Cookies

Late-Night Hours: CUF: Sunday-Wednesday until 1 a.m. and Thursday-Saturday until 3 a.m.; OTR: Sunday-Wednesday until midnight and Thursday-Friday until 1 a.m. 216 Calhoun St., CUF; 1126 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Insomnia Cookies bakes up sweet eats until the wee hours of the morning. The best part is they deliver those delicious disks right to you. What better way to end off a night than with fresh baked cookies that are still warm when they arrive at your door?

Corinthian Restaurant

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 2 a.m. 3253 Jefferson Ave., Clifton
Corinthian Restaurant is reminiscent of the house in My Big Fat Greek Wedding with the way it stands out among Jefferson Avenue’s Italianate-style buildings. Its bright white, green and pink exterior and Grecian-font sign and awning beckons late-night crowds to come in and enjoy a slice of Gyro Pizza. Among the pizza, the menu also features Greek appetizers like spanakopita, American fare like mozzarella sticks and chicken fingers, calzones and stromboli and specialty subs ranging from steak and BBQ to meatball and chicken parm.

Deme Kitchen

Late-Night Hours: Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m. 627 Main St., Downtown
Hot noodles just hit differently at night. When the craving strikes, Asian fusion Deme Kitchen serves up noodles and more late on Fridays and Saturdays. The menu features a variety of authentic Asian dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong and more, from fried tofu and bao buns to their spicy Korean chicken wings and pepper steak. For your sweet tooth, try their Sesame Balls — deep-fried rice flour balls stuffed with sweet red bean paste and coated with sesame seeds.