Strip Mall Eats: 18 Greater Cincinnati Strip Mall Restaurants Worth a Visit

CCS Empanadas

12082 Montgomery Road, Loveland
CCS Empanadas is a hidden gem offering over 18 different Venezuelan-style empanadas. But that’s not all they’re dishing up: They also offer savory arepas, paella, pepitos, fresh and fruity drinks and sweet desserts, like churros and Tequeño de Nutella (Nutella sticks), that’ll keep you coming back for more. (Kelsey Graham)

Loving Hut

6227 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Pleasant Ridge’s Loving Hut is a low-key spot serving all-organic, non-GMO vegan dishes and plenty of gluten- and soy-free options. Their menu offers wholesome favorites with a spin both carnivores and herbivores can delight in, from Buffalo wraps and quarter-pounder plant-based burgers to both pumpkin and Cincinnati-style chilis and fresh salads. There’s also a variety of plates for kids, like vegan sloppy Joes and nuggets and a sweet selection of cookies and cakes worth saving room for. (KG)

Queens Bakery

4770 Fields Ertel Road, Mason
Queens Bakery is an Asian bakery filled with tasty cakes, breads, buns, pastries and made-to-order bubble teas. Not only are the sweets and treats a sight to see, but the space is so fun and inviting that you won’t be able to stop yourself from taking a selfie (or two) while you peruse. They even make jaw-dropping cakes that you can order ahead for special occasions. (KG)

Sichuan Chili

10400 Reading Road, #205b, Evendale
Unassumingly tucked between an H&R Block and a Firestone, this Chinese restaurant serves sensory feasts that span across taste, texture, flavor and heat — definitely heat. There’s an American Chinese menu with classics like sesame chicken, but everything off of the Sichuan menu is unforgettable. Choose from options like aromatic, salty twice-cooked pork, refreshing vinegar potatoes, fish sautéed in dry chili oil, scallion pancakes or dan dan noodles. (Katrina Eresman)

Cincinnati Goodfellows

7466 Beechmont Ave., Anderson Township
Not to be confused with another Cincinnati staple of a similar name, this Anderson Township pizza parlor located in the Anderson Towne Center has to be one of the city’s finest. Walking in the door, you're immediately hit with a classic pizzeria smell. In the first bite, you notice the dense, rich and savory mozzarella before the perfectly balanced ratio of spicy and sweet sauce starts to blend perfectly with the thick layer of cheese and crispy-edged pepperoni. The crust is on the thinner side but adds to the picture, while acting as a canvas for all flavors to stand out. It’s hard not to get an extra slice. (Brent Stroud)

Greenwich Pita and Grill

5220 Kings Mills Road, Mason
Opened just last October in the Shoppes of Mason near Kings Island, Greenwich Pita and Grill is a low-key and reasonably priced cornucopia of stellar, flavorful food from the Mediterranean and beyond. The Masala Beef Cheeseburger is a standout and, undoubtedly, one of the most flavorful and nuanced burgers in the city. It’s made in-house with a South Asian spice blend and garam masala along with mint, cilantro, dill and parsley mixed into the beef patty, which is topped off with traditional burger toppings with masala-spiced fries on the side, all for $10.99. The restaurant also adds to the already-ample menu regularly, including a recent new zesty mayo blend for fry dipping and the addition of Uzbek dishes after hiring a native of Uzbekistan to help in the kitchen. (BS)

Baladi Restaurant & Bakery

3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton
Strip malls are not typical in the Clifton area, and Baladi is not your typical strip mall restaurant. Baladi offers delicious Middle Eastern and Arabic specialties like shawarma, gyros, falafel and more, all made with fresh ingredients. They also offer fresh, savory baked goods and pastry favorites like baklava. (Brian Cross)

Marx Bagels

9701 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash
Walking into Marx Bagels in Blue Ash’s Keystone Plaza, you're greeted with the smell of freshly-baked bagels in the longtime bagelry that opened in 1969. Despite being in a shopping center, Marx is a spacious, bright, diner-esque space with tile reflecting the red and blue neon light that lines the long counter space where you order from the seemingly endless menu of bagels, sandwiches, spreads and cream cheese varieties. The rich, deep flavors of their cream cheeses pop on their soft-baked bagels. The poppyseed bagel with chive cream cheese is absolutely great and the combo bagel with garlic, onion and poppy and sesame seeds has a nice ratio of softness and crunch. They offer both traditional and outlandish flavors, as well as sweet bagels like raisin wheat or orange cranberry, along with cream cheeses like blueberry or honey walnut, among a ton of others. You can also order mini bagels to get as many varieties as possible. (BS)

Servatii Pastry Shop

Several locations
Servatii is well known for its bakery, pastries and cakes, and deservedly so, since their breads and desserts are some of the best in the city and a great part of the local food world. They also sell deli sandwiches at select locations (Mason, Maineville, Symmes, Beechmont and Mariemont) that are great go-tos for lunch. The Smoked Bavarian, a personal favorite, is an immediate blast of rich flavor. The melted swiss cheese blends with the smoked turkey, juicy red tomato and Bavarian sauce that are all held together figuratively and physically by the housemade pretzel bun. It’s served with a pickle spear and a few Servatii butter cookies, and at $9.75, for the size and quality of the sandwich, it isn’t a bad deal. (BS)

Tavern on the Bend

5471 N. Bend Road, Green Township
Craving craft beer, mac & cheese and a stacked burger? Tavern on the Bend is your spot. This pub may appear modest with its paper plates and plastic cutlery, but quality ingredients and a creative bar menu keep people coming back. Mac & cheese varieties include Philly steak mac and lobster mac, while burgers, veggie burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches come topped with everything from jalapeño bacon to roasted Mexican street corn. (KE)

Taglio Pizzeria

3531 Columbia Pkwy., Columbia Tusculum (plus two additional locations in Montgomery and Over-the-Rhine)
Taglio is an upscale take on pizza and Italian food, making several things fresh daily from sourced ingredients. They have New York- and Detroit-style pizzas. The more traditional New York-style pizza features a thinner crust that tastes like bakery quality bread on its own, but the savory and slightly sweet sauce, dense layer of cheese and pepperoni baked into a perfectly crispy bowl steal the show. The Detroit-style pizza has a delicious buttery, crispy baked outer crust that’s a gargantuan of flavor surrounding the thick, baked dough with a full layer of perfectly greasy mozzarella, a dollop of chunky tomato sauce and, in this case, large slices of pepperoni. They also offer a curated wine and beer list, cocktails, appetizers, salads and gelato. (BS)

Jot India

1709 C, Monmouth St., Newport
Based in an old laundromat in Newport, Jot India offers a wide variety of northern Indian food. They have the standards — samosas, dal soup and chicken curry — but also a long list of vegetarian and seafood entrees. Make sure to try one of their naans, especially the garlic one. Order online for a quick carryout, or take the time to dine in their ample dining room. Soon, a second location in Florence will open so that more people can enjoy their food. (Garin Pirnia)

Thai Namtip

5461 North Bend Road, Green Township
Thai Namtip has that “been here for 20 years” look and feel inside, which is a good sign: They haven’t changed what’s been working. And that is great, authentic Thai cuisine with friendly service. The family-owned West Side mainstay offers a variety of stir fries, soups and entrées like basil salmon in addition to fresh sushi for dine-in or carryout. (BC)

Truva Turkish Kitchen

8060 Montgomery Road, Suite 400, Kenwood
Truva is already a CityBeat notable and it deserves additional props for its elegance, service and superb cuisine in a strip mall. It boasts generous portion sizes, exquisite presentation and the best fresh pita. (Anne Arenstein)

Cancun Mexican

Multiple locations
Cancun is one of the best large-menu, do-it-all Mexican joints in town. Maybe it’s hard for a restaurant to go wrong with the rich, spicy and bold flavors paired with a tangy refreshing margarita, but Cancun is definitely doing it right. After all, they’ve been successful enough to open nine area locations over the years. Cancun on the river and the Glenway location with windows that look into Western Bowl are standout locations. (BC)

Red Squirrel

8227 Colerain Ave., White Oak
An American-style diner that’s anything but typical. The large menu spans breakfast, lunch and dinner and includes burgers, hot sandwiches, double-deckers, salads and soups. Red Squirrel offers a wide variety of tasty options for every meal. If you’re the indecisive type, you might have a hard time, but you’ll definitely leave satisfied. (BC)

Toki Japanese Steakhouse

726 E. Main St., Lebanon
Tucked into the very end of Lebanon’s oldest strip mall, Colony Square Shopping Center, is hands-down one of the best Japanese restaurants in the Tri-State. Toki offers everything you’d expect from a classic Benihana-style hibachi restaurant but at much less jarring prices. Plus, they don’t make you wait to fill your table with strangers. Their sushi is a little more pricey but worth every penny. (Deirdre Kaye)

Yummi Xpress Jamaican Restaurant

7733 Reading Road, Roselawn
This is the place to go to experience island flavor. Truly authentic and family-owned, everything on the menu is delicious and full of flavor. The mouthwatering options include jerk chicken, curry goat, fried chicken and some seafood options, along with sides and beverages. Kick up the heat with one of their house-made hot sauces. (BC)