At CityBeat, we know a thing or two about picking the best restaurants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, but Yelpers have some hot takes of their own that are worthy of attention. From places serving up phenomenal steaks and authentic Thai food to the ones with monster burgers featured on the Food Network, Northern Kentucky is home to plenty of highly praised restaurants these Yelpers can’t stop talking about.

*Note: This was the list at the time of publication. Based on ongoing input, restaurant locations in this Yelp list may change. Reviews may have been shortened or edited slightly for clarity and grammar.

KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia 521 Madison Ave., Covington Quaint and comfortable with a huge beer list, AmerAsia offers all the usual Chinese dishes and chef specialties, but the food is anything but the usual. Chef Chu makes it all from scratch. His motto: “Do not take short cuts and do everything with passion and love.” Enjoy it all while taking in the eclectic décor of Kung Fu movie posters and paper lanterns. Favorite dishes include the inferno-hot Dragon Breath wontons and General Chu’s orange and sesame street chicken. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
24. The Well 8 W. Seventh St., Covington “Really cute spot with ample seating and an airy feel. There are large televisions above the bar for watching sports, will definitely return if there’s a game on to watch! Worth mentioning, the bartending staff were so kind and had such positive vibes! This was my first time in and they explained to us that the food is entirely separate from the bar. You order your food at a window at the back of the restaurant and the entire restaurant functions separately from there. It worked smoothly as they weren’t busy and we didn’t have to wait in multiple lines.” -Morgan C. Photo: Aidan Mahoney
Knotty Pine on the Bayou 6302 Licking Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky This Cajun-style restaurant is located off of the Licking River in Kentucky, serving a seafood-lovers paradise. On the menu, you can find anything from oysters, crab, and shrimp to catfish and alligator. This family-owned and -operated restaurant is the perfect place for a little bit of Louisiana culture. Photo: Facebook.com/KnottyPineontheBayou Photo: facebook.com/KnottyPineontheBayou
22. Frida 602 602 Main St., Covington “The atmosphere is full of bright colors on the walls and tables. Even the bathroom is colorful. I love their guacamole with jicama and radishes. Their chips are crispy and airy. In other words, I ate a lot of them. Spicy pineapple margarita with Al pastor taco and cauliflower taco made for a perfect meal.” -Eileen B. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
21. Nittha Siam Kitchen 2415 Alexandria Pike, Highland Heights “In my travels, I have NEVER found a place that offered Sushi & Thai and did both well but my choice to try takeout of both here was a result of the Thai menu not calling Pad Ki Mao “Drunken Noodles” as most do, which to me suggests more authenticity. The sushi menu resembles many standalone sushi places so I sampled the Cincy roll and salmon sashimi. The sashimi was a 9/10 for quality and cut. The roll was perfect. The texture, the size, the quality, the price. … Also, the eel is cooked and the rest of the roll is not. This provides a great taste profile. When asked, the server said Thai was the dominant cuisine for the restaurant so with such a good sushi experience, I had pretty high hopes and was not disappointed. Spiced at 3, the pad ki mao was exactly how I like it.” -Mark S. Photo: facebook.com/Nitthasiamkitchen
20. Fort Mitchell Public House 2053 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell “Love this place! Menu has a Cajun inspired feel. Great alcohol selection although I always end up getting Anita Purple Haze there because it goes with all the food options. They have a great outdoor patio with string lights and lots of space inside. I have tried multiple items from the menu but I tend to always go back to their pasta options. This is a great local spot with a delicious menu!” -Stephanie J. Photo: facebook.com/fortmitchellpub
19. Walt’s Hitching Post 3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright “Our dinner was absolutely perfect from start to finish. We kicked things off with a 1/2 dozen oysters, some escargot, and the bourbon burnt ends. We’d had the first two appetizers in the past – and they lived up to how much we loved them on our last visit. The bourbon burnt ends were phenomenal – crispy, smokey, and coated with Walt’s famous BBQ sauce. What more could you ask for? We decided to order one of their nightly specials – the 10 oz. Bison Steak – along with one of their classics – the Braised, Bone-In Pork. The bison was tasty and tender – but our favorite bite of the night was definitely the pork. Every morsel melted in our mouths, and when paired with their creamy orzo, it was truly show-stopping. For dessert, we ate as much as we could of their Bananas Foster, which is a huge portion, even for two people.” -Bailey D. Photo: Paige Deglow
No. 8 Overall Burger: Bard’s Burgers & Chili 3620 Decoursey Ave., Latonia So, you like burgers but do you really love burgers? Located in a former chili parlor in Latonia, Bard’s specializes in both burgers and Cincinnati-style chili (hence the name). Burgers are made with fresh, never-frozen ground chuck, infused with spices, seared on a flattop and served on a toasted bun. Their Chili Cheese Burger is made with their own Cincinnati-style chili and topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickle and mayo; the Purist strips it down to just beef and the bun; and the Donut Burger comes topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickle and mayo on a donut bun from neighboring Moonrise Doughnuts (add bacon and make it a 5.0 Burger). But if you want to go big, like really big — and we’re not just talking deep-fried Twinkie big (also on the menu) — Bard’s offers the Bardzilla Challenge. For this food feat, diners must eat an 11-patty Bardzilla burger (each topped with cheese and weighing in at one-third of a pound), plus two pounds of fries in 60 minutes or less. Also voted one of the Top 3 Best Neighborhood Burger Spots (NKY). Bardzilla Challenge | Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Bouquet Restaurant 519 Main St. Covington Working closely with local sources, Bouquet’s upscale farm-to-table approach means a fresh, frequently rotating menu packed with seasonal ingredients. Elegant small plates, entrées and thoughtful wine pairings set the stage for an intimate dining experience. Photo: Bouquet Restaurant
16. Sweet Basil 2520 Hazelwood Drive, Crescent Springs “Been a long-time customer of Sweet Basil starting out out their original location across the street. They always have consistent fresh delicious sushi. Paired with an ice cold Saparo makes the perfect dining experience. If your wanting better than the average sushi in Cincinnati, Sweet Basil is a place to try.” -Jeff M. Photo: facebook.com/SweetBasilRestaurant
Photo: facebook.com/grassrootsandvine
14. La Torta Loca 8645 Haines Drive, Suite A, Florence “Great little dive for Venezuelan and Mexican food! The chips, guacamole, and queso cheese are tasty! Chips are thick and crispy. Had frozen strawberry margaritas which are strong and good! We had the Torta Loca, Birra Taco and shredded beef empanadas. Delicious and good portions. Lots to take home! Service was great and timely.” -David F. Photo: Kaitlyn Handel
Rich’s Proper Food + Drink 701 Madison Ave., Covington Rich’s Proper Food & Drink operates out of the more than 100-year-old building formerly occupied by Rich’s Gruen Watches, a high-end jewelry store. Owner/operator of the eatery, Bill Whitlow, spent considerable time and effort restoring the building, helping to expose its history. The bar’s menu includes wine, beer and cocktails (the Proper Mule is jumbo-sized and hypothetically shareable), with a special emphasis on bourbon. The kitchen provides Southern fare with Creole and Kentucky influences, including raw oysters. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
9. Blinkers Tavern 318 Greenup St., Covington ”First off this place is amazing. We chose to go here for date night while in town. We started off with the poutine and crabcakes that were both amazing. My husband and I both got the filet mignon, I chose to do mine with the mashed potatoes and he did his with asparagus we both chose to top our steaks with the cheese topping. Everything tasted so good and the steak was cooked well. Each steak comes with onion crisps things which is random but they were really good as well. Highly recommend this place if you’re in the area!” — Jamie H. Photo: Facebook.com/blinkerstavern1 Photo: Facebook.com/blinkerstavern1
11. Governor’s House Wine Bar & Kitchen 314 Greenup St., Covington “Governors House has the same owners as Blinkers next door, so we stopped in to check it out. They did a fantastic job renovating this old house into a very quaint bistro-like experience. I have been back twice now and the service is fantastic. Jake is the bartender and has a LOT of knowledge with drinks. Last night we decided to try a few appetizers. We ordered the Nachos and the Antipasti Platter. This was PLENTY of for four people to share. I was very impressed with the food and the portion sizes. The old fashioned is probably one of the best I’ve had in the Northern Kentucky area.” -Brandon G. Photo: facebook.com/governorshousewine
10. Pensive Distilling Co. + Kitchen 720 Monmouth St., Newport “We had the pleasure of experiencing the brunch menu. Our group had the Animal Kingdom, the biscuits and gravy, and the Real Quiet (dishes all named after famous Derby horses) and had zero complaints! The fries are a modern take on steak fries, thinner and crispier, and when dipped in the Avocado aioli, they become the star of the dish. The bacon was crispy and sweet and paired perfectly with the cheesy eggs. And the biscuit gravy has pure magic in it with a savory sweetness that should be bottled and sold right alongside the bourbon! This place may be focused on the Bourbon, but the food is 5 stars.” -Hannah B. Photo: Provided by Pensive Distilling
9. Sake Bomb Sushi 3072 Dixie Highway, Erlanger “Sake Bomb loves and values their customers 100%. Their service and care in their food and service blows me away every time. I recommend very spicy ramen, add beef, no vegetables… Blows me away. This is the kind of food that keeps you up at night craving it. This place is just different. Good food where you can taste the love. Treated like family. The small business of all small businesses.” -Reese F. Photo: facebook.com/SakeBombCatering
8. Maki Mono Covington 715 Madison Ave., Covington “Great quality sushi/nigiri/sashimi and meat portion size! My husband and I got the sushi moriawase which tasted super delicious and fresh. I liked the soy sauce and sushi rice flavor too. Honestly so good that it can compete with sushi on the coasts. Did not expect to get this at Covington! I will be coming back and bringing more friends and family here! Service and owners here are also very friendly and give off very modern comfy vibes!” -Carolyn W. Photo: facebook.com/Maki Mono Covington
7. York Street Cafe 738 York St., Newport “Best burger out there with the quirkiest decor in Newport. Their standard burger is hand-molded, fresh meat, juicy on the inside, and a tad crisp on the outside. I’ve only been there with larger groups, but would love to sit at the little tables for two. They look so cozy. I’m not a dessert person, but we’ve had dessert both times I’ve been there. The peanut butter cup pie is excellent. York Peppermint Patty cake and Key lime pie are out of this world. And everyone there serving is super friendly. Can’t say enough about this place.” -Sonnie W. Photo: Paige Deglow
Libby’s Southern Comfort 35 W. Eighth St., Covington, This Covington eatery pays tribute to Southern classics like fried chicken and half-shell oysters served alongside a variety of bourbon drinks and other local favorites. The atmosphere is hip, with plenty of opportunities to share a dish with your sweetheart. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Camporosso 2475 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell “Love the atmosphere! Great service, awesome wine selection. We had charcuterie (suggestion-offer just a cheese board), wedge salad (OMG- we shared and it was still huge) and buffalo chicken pizza. Crust was amazing. Will definitely return.” -Kelly L. Photo: Emerson Swoger
The Baker’s Table 1004 Monmouth St., Newport The Baker’s Table is a Newport bakery and restaurant that opened last winter. The eatery is owned by married couple Dave Willocks and his wife Wendy. Brunch is offered Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. which currently includes appetizers like upscale salad, potato and donut dishes, mains like sweet potato hash and different egg and chicken sandwich options. Sweets and sides are also offered. They recently began dinner service. Photo via Facebook.com/BakersTableNewport Photo: Facebook.com/BakersTableNewport
Otto’s 521 Main St., Covington, Ky. Otto’s does lunch and dinner, but it’s definitely a happening brunch spot. For brunch, Otto’s Benedict substitutes fried grit cake and smoked salmon for the English muffin and ham of a traditional eggs Benedict. It’s delicious, a bit rich and a true indulgence. There are a half-dozen mimosa options. Otto’s is known for its panko-crusted fried green tomatoes, so if you go during brunch, order the B.L.F.G.T. aka the bacon, lettuce, fried green tomato, egg and cheese sandwich on a croissant. Photo: facebook.com/ottos521cov
Wunderbar! 1132 Lee St., Covington Wunderbar! is one of those restaurants that’s considered a “hidden gem.” The authentic German-inspired menu features housemade wursts with locally sourced meats, like the restaurant’s super popular currywurst — a peculiar invention of post-World War II Germany. It’s a spiced sausage served with a ketchup-Worcestershire-curry sauce. The rotating sausage menu is written on a blackboard behind the bar, but a must-try is the giant pretzel, a gigantic, plate-sized pretzel that easily complements any of the bar’s refreshing beers. Photo: Wunderbar Facebook Photo: facebook.com/wunderbar.covington.3
No. 10 Northern Kentucky Restaurant: Coppin’s Restaurant & Bar 368 Madison Ave., Covington Photo: Hailey Bolliger

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...