Sometimes a sort of unreasonable hunger strikes, and when that time comes, a regular ole’ grilled cheese just won’t cut it. Lucky for you, the Queen City is well-equipped with a multitude of deliciously decadent dishes to feast upon, ranging from a stuffed hotdog wrapped in pizza slice to a s’more made with donuts and marijuana-themed subs to a eight-pound 6-way. Here are a few places to head when you’ve got an extreme case of the munchies — aka if you’re drunk or high.
Mikey’s Late Night Slice 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Mikey Late Night Slice’s is known for its giant, foldable pizza slices and drunk-friendly menu items, like the “Pizza Dog,” a hot dog stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, which is then wrapped in a slice of pizza as the bun. There’s also the Cheezus Crust and Baby Cheezus, which is American cheese melted on top of two slices of pizza and pressed together into a sandwich. Photo via instagram.com/latenightslice
Northside Yacht Club 4231 Spring Grove Ave., Northside Northside Yacht Club is known for many things, but one of those is its inventive menu of over-the-top, indulgent dishes (almost always offered with a veggie/vegan option). Got a case of the big hungries? Try the Creature Fries, made with three-cheese mornay sauce, scallions, pickled onion, Wisconsin sharp cheddar, jalapeno and “Nascar” sauce with the option to add tofu or smoked chicken thighs. Photo via northsideyachtclub.com
Nomad 225 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue Nomad in Bellevue has its own take on munchie food. With a wide array of loaded tater tot bowls — ”totchos” — tacos, boozy milkshakes and more, there is something for everyone. A stand out is the Korean BBQ loaded tater tots, which include Korean-style short rib, mozzarella cheese, onion, kimchi and scallions, topped with Korean barbecue sauce. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Blue Ash Chili Multiple locations including 4200 Aero Drive, Mason Cincinnati-style chili is an excellent option for when that special kind of hunger strikes, and Blue Ash Chili does it right. The 6-way, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, includes beans, onions, shredded cheddar and your choice of fresh sliced jalapeno or fried bottle caps. If you’re feeling extra hungry, you can attempt the “No Freakin’ Way Challenge,” which includes two-and-a-half pounds of spaghetti, two-and-a-half more pounds of chili, two pounds of shredded cheddar and one pound of jalapeno caps. Complete it in one hour and it’s free — plus you get to take home a T-shirt. Accept defeat and pay $39.99. Photo via Blue Ash Chili
Hang Over Easy 13 W. Charlton St., Corryville Brunch places have a unique take on munchie food, since they tend to cater to the most tired and hungover of us. No place does this better than Hang Over Easy by the University of Cincinnati’s campus. In addition to reviving folks after a rough night, this is an excellent spot for when an untameable hunger strikes. Order the “Walk of Shame” — sausage, bacon, melted American cheese and a fried egg on a grilled buckeye donut — and feel your hangover drift away. Photo: Kellie Coleman
Terry’s Ice Cream Dairy Bar 1505 US-50, Lynchburg, Ohio Massive ice cream sundaes have become increasingly popular over the years, and Terry’s Ice Cream Bar in Lynchburg has hopped on the trend. Each of Terry’s sundaes is twice the size you’d expect, with offerings like “Crazy Over the Rainbow” and “Crazy Candy Bar” on the menu. Crazy Over the Rainbow has two lollipops and an entire slice of cake resting atop the soft serve, the perfect amount of insane for someone with a serious sweet tooth. Photo via facebook.com/terrysicecreamdairybar
Hangry Omar’s Slider Shack Covington Yard, 401 Greenup St., Covington Outdoor entertainment hub Covington Yard brings together a slew of great food and bev options, including Hangry Omar’s Slider Shack, which serves up sliders in the yard. Besides a variety of slider options, Hangry Omar’s serves something called Dumpster Fries, which are fries with goetta, onion, buffalo sauce, pepperjack, 1001 island sauce, American cheese and pepper jelly. Photo via facebook.com/hangryomars
Pig Candy BBQ 5901 Kellogg Ave., California, Ohio Pig Candy BBQ recently opened in an old jail in California, Ohio, and its namesake comes from its signature menu item: The Pig Candy waffle. The waffle is pressed with pulled pork and drizzled with a peach maple glaze. Other offerings, like the pulled pork posole or chopped beef sandwich, are sure to satisfy your barbecue cravings. Photo via facebook.com/eatpigcandy Photo: facebook.com/eatpigcandy
Cheba Hut Toasted Subs 2614 Short Vine St., Corryville Fast-casual restaurant chain Cheba Hut is a doozy. The cannabis-themed sub shop opened on Short Vine just a few months ago and offers a full bar, sweet treats and an endless list of toasted subs. (But no marijuana.) The Chronic sub, which has roast beef, barbecue sauce, green peppers, mushrooms and cheddar cheese, is good whether you’re stoned or not. Photo via chebahut.com
Fireside Pizza 773 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills Pizza is a classic munchie food, and Fireside Pizza in Walnut Hills does it well. Fireside partners with Eli’s BBQ for the aptly named Eli’s BBQ Pie with Alabama white sauce, a provolone-mozzarella mix, Eli’s BBQ signature rub and babecue sauce, pickled red onions and Fireside over-roasted chicken. Pizzas are available in both 9 inches and 14 inches, but we think you’ll want the bigger size. Thank us later. Photo via facebook.com/FiresidePizzaWagon
Gordo’s Pub & Grill 4328 Montgomery Road #1, Norwood The menu at Gordo’s Pub & Grill excels at unique and over-the-top burger creations. Try the BPJ, which stands for banana, peanut butter and jam. Plus bacon. We can’t forget about that. The banana is fried, the peanut butter has been whipped into a chunky cream cheese and the bacon is smoked. (Not pictured.) Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Tom + Chee Multiple locations including 125 E. Court St., Downtown Tom + Chee is a well-loved grilled cheese staple, but some of its most indulgent items are on the dessert menu. Tom + Chee offers a few grilled donut sandwiches, such as the s’mores, cinnamon crunch and nutty monkey, which includes Nutella and bananas. You can opt for a simpler treat with the plain grilled cheese donut as well. Photo via facebook.com/4tomandchee
Chandler’s Burger Bistro 6135 Cleves Warsaw Pike, Delhi; 10533 Harrison Ave., Harrison Chandlers in Delhi has a variety of unique burgers and sandwiches, none more mouth-watering than the Nati Melt, which is a burger with bacon squeezed between two grilled cheese sandwiches — as in, the grilled cheese sandwiches are the bun. Photo via facebook.com/chandlersburgerbistro
Mac’s Pizza Pub Multiple locations including 205 W. McMillan, CUF Mac’s Pizza Pub is a college staple and caters to those who may have had a few brews (or aren’t old enough to worry about their waistline yet). One stand out is the french fry pie, which has local seasonal beer cheese, waffle fries, red onion, tomato, provolone, mozzarella and cheddar. You can add bacon, if you can handle it. Pair it with a cheesy garlic bread or fried pickle appetizer and you have the perfect munchie fest. Photo: Provided
Elephant Walk 170 W. McMillan St., CUF Elephant Walk in Clifton serves both Northern Indian and Ethiopian cuisine, sometimes with an Americanized twist. For example: the naan nachos. The dish features crispy wedges of naan, diced tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, housemade Ewalk sauce and your choice of lamb or chicken to top it off. Photo via facebook.com/ewalkcincy
Fifty West Burger Bar 7508 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township An homage to a 1950s roadside rootbeer stand, Fifty West Burger Bar serves a handful of proteins — single or double burger, chicken patty, flattop dog or Beyond burger — 12 different ways, each named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through. The West Virginia tops our cravings list with American cheese, apple butter, bacon and caramelized onion. Photo via facebook.com/fiftywestbrewingcompany
Island Frydays 2826 Short Vine St., Corryville Island Frydays is well known for being a stopping place on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2014. Beside classic Jamaican dishes, Island Frydays offers jerk chicken cheese fries. Their convenient pick-up window makes it easy to get in and out on a Friday night and enjoy your food. Photo via facebook.com/islandfrydays
Pacific Kitchen 8300 Market Place Lane, Montgomery Pacific Kitchen in Montgomery prides itself on serving ingredients and food from 12 different countries. From the Pacific Islands, the restaurant offers Rey Maualuga’s chicken katsu, a fried chicken dish with Spam, two fried eggs and brown gravy. It might be the perfect munchie food, but be warned: It is intensely rich and not for the faint of heart. Photo via The Pacific Kitchen’s Facebook
Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington We couldn’t get away with only one chili spot on this list. Camp Washington Chili has a Cincinnati chili-infused melt on the menu, which is essentially a grilled cheese sandwich with a ladle of chili in the middle. The messier the sandwich, the better it is, and this melt is sure to satisfy. Photo via facebook.com/campwashingtonchili
Hometown Heroes 640 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky Hometown Heroes in Dayton, Kentucky makes our munchie list with its goetta burger. The burger includes two Glier’s goetta patties topped with cheese, bacon, a fried egg and hashbrowns. Nothing is a better cure-all than a fried egg on a burger, and the added hashbrowns might push you over the edge into a restorative coma. Photo via facebook.com/hometownwings
Agave & Rye Multiple locations including 635 Madison Ave, Covington Agave & Rye is known for its “epic” tacos and over-the-top decor. Its inventive menu includes a wide variety of eats, including a generous helping of outlandish tacos. Some of the standouts include The Bomb with carne asada steak, chopped bourbon-poached shrimp, mac and cheese, A&R spicy chili, barbecue jam and tobacco jam; and The Cat’s Meow with white cheddar, grits, andouille sausage, bourbon shrimp, green onion, jambalaya sauce and crispy bell pepper. They also have a french fry taco. Photo via facebook.com/agaveandrye
Keystone Bar & Grill Multiple locations including 313 Greenup St., Covington Keystone Bar & Grill is known for deliciously gooey mac and cheese, available at its three area locations and stand-alone shack for strictly mac and cheese production (and consumption). Any of Keystone’s mac and cheese options would be a delightful craving cure, but we are keen on the Powerhouse mac and cheese with buffalo chicken, stout-braised brisket, jalapenos, bleu cheese and keystone chips. Photo via facebook.com/keystonebar
Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey 1201 Broadway St., Pendleton Boomtown Biscuits & Whiskey is one of the only places in Cincinnati to get a quality biscuit and a smooth glass of whiskey. Boomtown offers biscuit sandwiches, with the Yukon featuring fried chicken gravy, smoked cheddar and bacon. You can even add an egg. The Rosewood has Korean fried chicken, housemade kimchi and gochujang barbecue, a spicy twist to a biscuit sandwich sure to please. Photo via facebook.com/boomtownbiscuitbar
Gomez Salsa 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine; 2437 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills Gomez Salsa in Over-the-Rhine specializes in turtles, which are a burrito-sized tortilla, stuffed with your choice of meat, veggies and salsa/sauce, sealed with a cheesy kiss. It’s like a more delicious version of a Taco Bell Crunchwrap. Stop by their Walnut Hills location or walk-up window in Over-the-Rhine for a guaranteed full belly. Photo via facebook.com/gomezwalnut
Mr. Sushi 138 W. McMillan St., CUF; 580 Walnut St., Downtown Mr. Sushi is a classic Clifton sushi institution with a variety of regular and deep-fried, cream cheese laden rolls. They also have a location downtown. The Air Force roll, with deep-fried shrimp tempura, spicy crab and cream cheese inside, is topped with salmon, eel sauce, spicy mayo and wasabi dressing and might just be the decadence you need when a major hunger overcomes you. Photo via facebook.com/MrSushiCincinnati