Goetta is one of the humble local food products that Cincinnatians frequently share with first-time visitors. In Southwest Ohio, sausage makers have been combining oats, seasoning, beef and pork into a loaf since the 1800s. The dish was inspired by the German immigrants who settled in the area; they added grain to a mixture of meats to help stretch their pork and beef supply over multiple servings. No longer is goetta merely the historical side dish of choice for our pork-loving city: With so many Tri-State restaurants embracing the possibilities of goetta in their menus, the dish is becoming an art form.

Fresh out of a sizzling pan, a slab of goetta is perfectly crisp on the outside, with a savory grit-cake-like interior. Eaters love the hearty crunch and the way bits of goetta meld with other flavors like eggs and potatoes. Alongside Cincinnati chili, goetta holds a special spot in our local hearts. If you haven’t gotten a chance to try it yet, back away from the meat case at the grocery store and try your first bite at one of the many eateries making it central to their menus. Here are some classic and some unique takes on the Cincinnati mainstay that might convince even skeptics to give it a try.

Breakfast Poutine with Goetta Gravy at Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside A loosely nautically themed Rock club and gastropub, Northside Yacht Club — a self-declared “bar that wakes up once a week to serve you a boozy breakfast” — offers a special Breakfast Poutine for Sunday brunch. The dish features fresh cut fries, NSYC goetta gravy, Wisconsin cheese curds, scallions and a fried egg. Photo: northsideyachtclub.com
Goetta Grilled Cheese at Bellevue Bistro 313 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Bellevue Bistro — a favorite brunch destination — has used the quintessential breakfast meat in a unique and more lunch-y way with their Goetta Grilled Cheese. The grilled cheese combines Meiners Meats goetta, a fried egg and cheddar-jack and American cheese on whole wheat bread with a side of bacon jam and potatoes. Photo: facebook.com/bellevuebistroky
Goetta Hush Puppies at Libby’s Southern Comfort 35 W. Eighth St., Covington Popular Covington dining destination Libby’s Southern Comfort focuses on delicious and decadent Southern cooking. Their Goetta Hush Puppies are basically deep-fried cornmeal balls infused with Glier’s goetta and served with a side of remoulade and citrus-honey cream. Photo: facebook.com/libbyssoutherncomfort
Yo Mama Burger at Arnold’s Bar and Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown After over 150 years of service, Arnold’s Bar and Grill knows a thing or two about good food, so of course they have a goetta stuffed burger. The super-sized Man v. Food-famous Yo Mamma Burger is made with two 3-ounce burger patties, goetta, a fried egg, hashbrowns, American cheese and chipotle mayo. Photo: facebook.com/arnoldsbar”
513 Way at Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Dubbed the “513-Way,” this dish includes three slabs of Queen City Sausage goetta covered in Cincinnati-style chili, beans, onion and cheese. Photo: instagram.com/campwashingtonchil
Puff Pastry with Goetta at French Crust Café 1801 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Across the street from Findlay Market, Chef Jean-Robert de Cavel’s French-bistro-inspired kitchen serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts. On their breakfast menu, French Crust features a Puff Pastry with Local Goetta, served with a poached egg, hollandaise and piperade. Photo: facebook.com/FrenchCrustCafe
Goetta Hash at Goose & Elder 1800 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Chef Jose Salazar’s Goose & Elder serves seasonal market-driven dishes for brunch, lunch and dinner. And for the mandatory goetta dish, they have a Goetta Hash during weekend brunch, served with onion, potatoes, gravy and mozzarella and topped with a poached egg. Photo: facebook.com/gooseandelder
Goetta Eggrolls at Greyhound Tavern 2500 Dixie Highway, Fort Mitchell Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch, the Greyhound Tavern is a Northern Kentucky staple with a very unique goetta dish. Their Goetta Eggrolls are stuffed with Glier’s goetta and cabbage slaw, and served with Thai chili dipping sauce. Photo: facebook.com/greyhoundtavern
Caviar Sandwich at Blue Ash Chili 9525 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 11711 Princeton Pike, Tri-County Open since 1969, Blue Ash Chili is a Cincinnati chili parlor that takes things a step further with not only 3- 4- and 5-Ways, but also a 6-Way with fresh or fried jalapeno. The diner also serves up the Cincinnati Caviar sandwich, layered with Glier’s goetta, coleslaw, tomato and cheddar cheese on grilled rye. Photo: instagram.com/blueashchili
Goetta Pizza at Trotta’s Pizza & Drive-Thru 3501 Werk Drive, Westwood Who doesn’t love take-out pizza? And who especially doesn’t love take-out pizza when you don’t even have to get out of your car? Well, Trotta’s Pizza & Drive-Thru has all that and a Goetta Pizza. Choose from loads of different meats (including goetta), cheeses and veggies to top your ‘za. Photo: Devin Luginbill
Goetta, Egg & Cheese Sandwich at HangOverEasy 13 W. Charlton St., Corryville Started in Columbus, HangOverEasy now has four locations on some of Ohio’s biggest college campuses, including the University of Cincinnati. And you UC breakfast place wouldn’t be complete without some goetta. The Goetta, Egg & Cheese is made with basically what’s in the name: scrambled eggs, Eckerlin Meats’ goetta and American cheese on a potato roll. Photo: facebook.com/hangovereasycincy
Breakfast Mac and Cheese at Toast & Berry 9856 Montgomery Road, Montgomery This Montgomery breakfast, lunch and brunch spot serves tons of delicious meals made with fresh ingredients, including the Breakfast Mac and Cheese. It is made with campanelle pasta, smoked gouda cheese sauce, goetta, a sunny-side up egg and scallions. Photo: facebook.com/toastandberry
Slaughterhouse Five at Sugar n’ Spice 1203 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine; 4381 Reading Road, Paddock Hills Open since 1941, Sugar n’ Spice is a Cincinnati diner mainstay. The Slaughterhouse Five is a breakfast platter with a sausage link, pork patty, one slice of bacon and half a slice of goetta, plus two eggs any style, home fries and white or wheat toast. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Mushrooms Run the World Vegan Goetta Sandwich at Sleepy Bee Café 3098 Madison Road, Oakley; 8 E. Fourth St., Downtown; 9514 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash Sleepy Bee Café now has three locations in the Queen City and at all of them you can expect to find food made with fresh, local ingredients. A little different than everything else on this list is the Mushrooms Run the World, featuring vegan goetta, ember mushrooms, arugula, avocado, ginger pickles and chimichurri on multigrain toast. Photo:
Oktoberfest Omelet at The Echo 3510 Edwards Road, Hyde Park A Hyde Park staple, The Echo is truly a Cincinnati breakfast and lunch diner. And, of course, a Cincinnati diner wouldn’t be complete without something with goetta. The Oktoberfest Omelet is made with goetta, home fries and Swiss cheese, served with a side of sour cream. Photo: facebook.com/TheEchoHydePark
Westsider Sandwich at Tom & Chee Multiple locations including 125 E. Court St., Downtown; 1 Levee Way, Newport; 7578 Beechmont Ave., Anderson This Cincinnati-spawned grilled cheese chain has loads of locations in the Queen City and a special goetta sandwich that pays homage to the West Side. The Westsider is loaded with pepper jack cheese, bacon, goetta, fried egg and hot sauce on hearty white bread. Photo: Provided by Tom & Chee
Goetta Reuben at Izzy’s Multiple locations including 800 Elm St., Downtown If you want a good reuben in Cincinnati, you have to try Izzy’s, a classic sandwich shop with six locations around the city. Their Goetta Reuben is stuffed with Glier’s goetta, corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Izzy’s special sauce on a telera roll. Photo: facebook.com/IzzyKadetz
GLT at Blue Jay Restaurant 4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside This family-owned Northside diner has been around for 54 years, and has recently been a filming location for multiple Cincinnati-shot Hollywood movies. Their GLT sandwich — goetta, lettuce and tomato — is a menu favorite. Photo: Blue Jay Restaurant Facebook
Hangover Bowl with Goetta at Price Hill Chili 4920 Glenway Ave., Price Hill A classic Greek diner and Cincinnati chili spot, Price Hill Chili has a large and delicious menu. They have many goetta options on their breakfast menu but try the Hangover Bowl with eggs, home fries, biscuit, gravy, cheese and your choice of bacon, sausage or goetta. They also have a simple goetta and cheese omelet. Photo: facebook.com/pricehillchili
Goetta Van Fleet Goetta and Grippo’s Mac and Cheese at Tickle Pickle 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside As the Tickle Pickle says, “Life’s short, lick the bowl.” And you’ll definitely be licking the bowl and this Northside bar and restaurant. Known for their burgers, Tickle Pickle got in on the goetta train in the way of mac and cheese with the Goetta Van Fleet Goetta, their homemade mac and cheese loaded with goetta and barbecue Grippo’s chips. Photo: CityBeat Archive
Goetta Sandwich at Salazar 1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine Chef Jose Salazar’s “farm-inspired New American” restaurant sits in the heart of Over-the-Rhine, serving up a decadent menu for dinner and weekend brunch. On the brunch menu, there was something that caught our eye: the Goetta Sandwich, made with American cheese, arugula, garlic aioli and pickled pepper jam on an English muffin. Photo: facebook.com/SalazarCincinnat
Goetta Omelet from Hathaway’s 25 W. Fifth St., Downtown Hathaway’s Diner has been serving delicious diner food to guests inside Carew Tower since 1956 and recently relocated to the former Frisch’s to be able to serve more customers (and offer an in-house bathroom(. The Goetta Omelet is made with your choice of cheese and served with a side of hashbrowns and toast. Photo: facebook.com/hathawaysdiner
Go Goetta Skillet at Keystone Bar & Grill 249 Calhoun St., Clifton; 313 Greenup St., Covington Head up to Clifton or across the river to Covington to enjoy some comfort food and drinks at Keystone Bar & Grill. During their brunch service, they have a goetta-infused dish, the Go Goetta Skillet, made with Glier’s goetta, goetta gravy, roasted red peppers, diced red onions, cheddar cheese and topped with an over-easy egg. Photo: instagram.com/keystonebar
The Porter Sandwich at Cackleberry Locations vary Squeezed into a bite-sized vintage trailer, Cackleberry serves up mobile breakfast sandwiches from various pop-up locations. Offering a blend of Cincinnati staples and Filipino-fusion cuisine, their six sandwich options include the Porter — stuffed with goetta, eggs in the style of a Japanese rolled omelet, dijon microgreens, muenster cheese and mustard aioli on a warm brioche bun. Check Cackleberry’s Instagram to see where their trailer will be next. Photo: instagram.com/eatcackleberry