Some foods just hit differently late at night (especially after a couple drinks): tacos, coneys, pizza — all varieties of greasy, cheesy and savory eats. But after the pandemic put a damper on restaurants staying open into the wee hours, it can be hard to know where in Greater Cincinnati you can go to satisfy those late-night cravings.  Luckily, Cincinnati still has plenty of restaurants open until midnight or later on the weekends, and some during the week, where you can grab a bite after a night out.

Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. It is good eats! Despite having ‘chili’ in the name, this establishment offers many chili-free options, including burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Condado Tacos Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 5 Best Takeout: Gomez Salsa 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Gomez Salsa in Over-the-Rhine has a walk-up takeout window, so it’s no wonder it made it on this list of best takeout. Between Gomez’s signature turtles — a burrito-sized tortilla stuffed with meat, veggies, salsa and sauce and sealed with a crunchy cheesy kiss — tacos, burritos and fresh drinks, there is something for everyone. Gomez also has a restaurant in Walnut Hills for sit-down dining. Photo: Lindsay McCarty Photo: Lindsay McCarty
Rookwood’s Agave & Rye Photo: Hailey Bollinger
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. Photo: facebook.com/shanghaionelm
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Sushi 1. Ichiban Japanese Cuisine, ichibancinci.com 2. Cloud 9 Sushi, facebook.com/cloud9sushi 3. Green Papaya, greenpapayacincinnati.com 4. Wild Ginger, wildgingercincy.com 5. Izen’s Drunken Bento, searchable on Facebook 6. Wabi Sabi Covington, facebook.com/wabisabicovington 7. Kyoto Sushi Bar, kyotosushibar.com 8. E+O Kitchen, eokitchen.com 9. Dancing Roll (TIE), dancingrollsushi.com 9. Teak OTR (TIE), teakotr.com 10. FUSIAN, fusian.com Photo: facebook.com/ichibanjapanesecuisine Facebook.com/IzensDrunkenBento
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. Photo: facebook.com/mollymalonescincinnati
Baru 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. Photo: Provided by 3CDC
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. Photo: instagram.com/luckydogotr
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. Photo: facebook.com/SkylineChili
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. Photo: facebook.com/EWalkCincy
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? Photo: facebook.com/insomniacookies
Bakersfield OTR 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Season 21, Episode 6 Bakersfield, which started in Cincinnati but has locations in Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit and Indianapolis, among others, serves up tacos and other Mexican-style dishes with lots of margaritas to go along with them. On the show, Fieri especially loved their killer short rib tacos and chicken torta. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Dixie Chili 733 Monmouth St., Newport / 3716 Dixie Highway, Erlanger / 2421 Madison Ave., Covington With a location in Newport, another in Covington and one in Erlanger, Dixie Chili has become an integral part of Northern Kentucky culture; each location a local landmark in its own right. Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Cajun/Creole 1. J. Gumbo’s, jgumbos.com 2. Knotty Pine on the Bayou, theknottypineonthebayou.com 3. Allyn’s Cafe, allynscafe.com Photo via facebook.com/jgumbos Photo : facebook.com/jgumbos
Cloud 9 Sushi 1018 Delta Ave., Mount Lookout Food available 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Sunday-Thursday; 5 p.m.-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday An unpretentious sushi joint serving half-priced sushi all day, every day, with a selection of more than 50 different rolls. Photo via Facebook.com/Cloud9Sushi Photo: Facebook.com/Cloud9Sushi
Mikey’s Late Night Slice Late-Night Hours: Sunday-Thursday until 2:30 a.m.; Friday-Saturday until 3 a.m. 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Mikey’s is known for its giant, foldable pizza slices and drunk-friendly menu. And whether you’re a plain-ass person who likes their pizza with just cheese and Mikey’s Plain-Ass Pepperoni or you’re looking for a Popular AF pie piled high with toppings, Mikey’s will take care of the late-night, closed-the-bar-down cravings. Photo: Mikey’s Late Night Slice
Pub Food 1. Knockback Nats, searchable on Facebook 2. Arnold’s Bar & Grill, arnoldsbarandgrill.com 3. Incline Public House, inclinepublichouse.com Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger