Welcome to Flavortown. Guy Fieri is well known for his hit show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, on which he travels all over the country to sample out-of-this-word food options from America’s titular diners, drive-ins and dives. Over the course of the show, he’s visited a variety of restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, which are all within driving distance of Cincinnati. If you’ve been looking to try more dining options in or out of the Queen City, you may want to check out this list — approved by the blonde-spikey-haired guy himself.

Island Frydays 2826 Short Vine St., Corryville Season 21, Episode 4 Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony, featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by former University of Cincinnati football captain and Jamaica native Leo Morgan. Though the restaurant has a petite and unassuming interior, they pack a whole lot of flavor. Their Carribean jerk chicken and spicy snapper were approved by Fieri on the show. Photo via Facebook.com/IslandFridays Photo: facebook.com/IslandFrydays
Parkette Drive-In 1230 E. New Circle Road, Lexington Season 10, Episode 4 This classic Lexington eatery opened in 1951 and serves American diner favorites like their chicken, shrimp and fish boxes, hot dogs, burgers and shakes. Fieri visited the restaurant during his “You Found It” episode, where he visited dining destinations suggested by viewers. Photo: Facebook.com/Parkette.DriveIn
Geraci’s Restaurant 2266 Warrensville Center Road, Cleveland Season 7, Episode 13 Geraci’s, which now has locations in Pepper Pike and Mayfield Heights, is a Italian-themed restaurant that’s been serving pizzas, meatballs and chicken parmesan for more than 60 years. This is known to be one of Fieri’s longtime favorite spots. Photo: Facebook.com/Geracis1956
Melt Revival 4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside Season 21, Episode 2 Formerly known as “Melt Eclectic Cafe,” this funky little eatery moved down the street on Hamilton Avenue. Since Fieri’s visit, it has changed ownership and is now owned by former employees of the original. The eclectic cafe serves healthier food options, such as salads and sandwiches with plenty of vegan options. Fieri particularly enjoyed their creative spin on vegan chili and barbecue chicken. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Ena’s Caribbean Kitchen 2444 Cleveland Ave., Columbus Season 28, Episode 1 Ena’s serves traditional Jamaican dishes that range from jerk chicken to fried fish options. The restaurant is known for its originality that makes you feel like you’re on the island of Jamaica. Photo: Facebook.com/Enas-Caribbean-Kitchen-Inc
Pho Lang Thang 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Season 21, Episode 9 Pho Lang Thang is a Vietnamese spot that has moved from its original, cramped Findlay Market location to a larger spot just down the street. The eatery serves up delicious bowls of pho and banh mi sandwiches. The restaurant also features an upbeat vibe where customers, such as Fieri, can easily warm up and feel free to slurp loudly. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Taste of Belgium 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Season 21, Episode 6 Taste of Belgium’s Vine Street location was visited by Fieri and a few of his family members, though the restaurant has several locations across Cincinnati. The eatery offers authentic Belgian-style dishes with an American twist. The restaurant is best known for its signature Belgian waffle, which Fieri truly loved. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Turf Club 4618 Eastern Ave., East End Season 9, Episode 6 Formerly known as “Terry’s Turf Club,” this East End burger joint has since changed ownership — and its name to “The Turf Club” — after controversy with the previous owner. When Fieri visited, the exterior of the eatery was bathed in vintage neon signs — one of the restaurant’s signature features, along with their famous over-the-top burgers loaded with adventurous toppings. Fieri seemed to especially enjoy the burger with burgundy mushrooms and mango curry sauces. Photo: Emerson Swoger Photo: Emerson Swoger
Blue Ash Chili 9525 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash Season 9, Episode 7 Blue Ash Chili offers a variety of Cincinnati-style chilli combinations and double-decker sandwiches at its various locations. On the show, Fieri described the Blue Ash location as a chili parlor taking customer favorites to the next level. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Tamale Place 5226 Rockville Road, Indianapolis Season 12, Episode 3 The Tamale Place offers two locations in Indianapolis and has been slinging excellent tamales since 2003. The eatery creates its popular tamales daily by hand and with freshly ground corn, which Fieri learned about during his visit. In addition to tamales, they also offer tacos, nachos and sides. Photo: Facebook.com/The.Tamale.Place
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
Gralehaus 1001 Baxter Ave., Louisville Season 25, Episode 12 This Louisville comfort food haven serves up a mean cheesy bologna sandwich, which Fieri described as “dynamite.” The sandwich is made with two slices of fried, housemade bologna, a sunny-side-up egg, mustard greens, some hot sauce and a cheesy brioche bun. Photo: Facebook.com/Gralehaus
Melt Bar and Grilled 14718 Detroit Ave., Lakewood Season 8, Episode 6 Fieri sampled dozens of grilled cheese sandwiches at Melt Bar and Grilled at its original location in Lakewood back in Season 8. And yes, he seemed to enjoy them all. Photo: Facebook.com/MeltBarandGrilled
Ray Ray’s Hog Pit 2619 N. High St., Columbus Season 27, Episode 9 This year-round Columbus food truck serves meats that are hardwood smoked along with a variety of different sides. Fieri enjoyed the Mangalista Brat Burger and St. Louis spare ribs. Photo: Facebook.com/RayRaysHogPit
The Table Cafe 1800 Portland Ave., Louisville Season 25, Episode 11 Louisville is home to an American eatery named The Table. The restaurant was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” for the “Turkey-Giving” episode, highlighting the establishment’s unique pay-what-you-can system, with a vision to serve, share, support and provide for the community. The menu features dishes like the meatloaf sandwich and the roasted squash falafel, but the real stars are the smoked chicken and pork sandwiches. Photo via Facebook.com/TableKY Photo: Facebook.com/TableKY
Wallace Station Deli and Bakery 3854 Old Frankfort Pike, Versailles Season 31, Episode 9 This train station turned neighborhood eatery offers a slew of made-from-scratch bites ranging from their Inside Out Hot Brown to their country ham and pimento cheese. Fieri enjoyed the Big Brown Burger, with beef, ham, bacon and creamy Mornay cheese sauce. Photo: Facebook.com/WallaceStation
Pierogi Mountain 105 N. Grant Ave., Columbus Season 27, Episode 9 Pierogi Mountain is a college dive bar that serves up a variety of delicious pierogis. The Columbus-based restaurant is popular with locals, along with Fieri, for its wide selection of fillings. Photo: Facebook.com/PierogiMountain
Indy’s Historic Steer-In Restaurant 5130 E. 10th St., Indianapolis Season 11, Episode 8 Fieri headed to Indianapolis’ Indy’s Historic Steer-In Restaurant to try their famous meatball sub. The eatery opened in 1960 and serves a variety of comfort food dishes, ranging from their country-fried steak and eggs to chicken livers and a patty melt. Photo: Facebook.com/Steer-In-Indianapolis
Loops 1629 Northwest Blvd., Columbus Season 27, Episode 8 Loops is a casual restaurant serving simple style dishes such as hot dogs, gyros and other sandwiches. Fieri enjoyed their Italian beef and real deal gyros. Photo via @loopsgoodfood/Instagram Photo: Instagram.com/LoopsGoodFood
Momo Ghar 2800 Festival Lane, Columbus Season 28, Episode 2 This small spot is located inside an international food market in Columbus, serving up traditional Nepalese and Tibetan cuisine. Fieri called the spot a hidden gem serving out-of-bounds dishes. Photo: Facebook.com/MomoGharOhio
3 Sisters Cafe 6223 Guilford Ave., Indianapolis Season 11, Episode 6 This Indianapolis eatery is situated in an 1896 Victorian house and serves up a variety of breakfast and lunch bites. A few of Fieri’s favorites were the raspberry lemon corn cakes and the blueberry goat cheese pie. Photo: Facebook.com/3SisterCafe
Momma’s Mustard, Pickles, and BBQ 102 Bauer Ave., Louisville Season 25, Episode 13 This Louisville-based barbecue joint is owned by Kansas native Chad Cooley. The eatery serves smoked chicken, ribs and a variety of sides like nachos and chili cheese fries, but Fieri enjoyed the wings, which he described as having a “good smoke, nice rub.” Photo via MommasBBQ/Facebook Photo: MommasBBQ/Facebook
Lucky’s Cafe 777 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland Season 7, Episode 8 Lucky’s is a daytime cafe offering traditional American breakfast options, and a variety of pastries and desserts. On the show, Fieri mentioned that it’s a place where bread is made from scratch, the corned beef is house-brined and veggies are grown out back. Photo: Instagram.com/LuckysCafe
Momocho 1835 Fulton Road, Cleveland Season 8, Episode 9 This hip, dimly lit cantina serves a variety of Mexican-inspired dishes. And while there, Fieri sampled their tuna tacos, blood orange marmalade and guacamole with house-smoked trout, which are all a hit. Photo: Food Network/YouTube
Parkview Nite Club 1261 W. 58th St., Cleveland Season 7, Episode 10 This old tavern is known as a go-to spot for its salmon BLT, which Fieri sampled on the show. The restaurant is also well known for regular live music, where it features plenty of blues jams. Photo: Facebook.com/Parkview-Nite-Club