Whether you’re famished after a long night of drinking with pals, or you’re simply a night owl with an appetite — there are plenty of options when it comes to finding some late-night grub. From pork buns to pierogies or tacos to Philly cheesesteaks, there’s a little something for every nighttime craving.
13th Street Alley 126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Get a taste of Philly in Cincy via a window in OTR where Philly cheesesteak reigns supreme. But seriously, this little eatery is overflowing with wraps and bowls to get you through the day. Want some fries with that? Here, you definitely do. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
13th Street Alley 126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday 13th Street Alley brings a taste of Philly to the Queen City. You can get a no-frills, tried-and-true cheesesteak at this walk-up window in Over-the-Rhine and watch as they scrape a pile of hot, 100-percent sirloin steak and melty cheese off the flattop and into a bun with peppers and onions for under seven bucks. The menu offers seven types of Philly sandwiches, plus wraps, bowls, baked potatoes and fresh-cut fries. And while the classic OTR Philly comes topped with provolone, the shop does keep Cheese Whiz in the fridge for all the cheesesteak purists out there. Located conveniently between Main and Clay streets, this joint is certainly set to help you end the night off right. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Mikey’s Late Night Slice 2014 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Mikey’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 — and the Cheezus Crust and Baby Cheezus, which is American cheese melted on top of two slices of pizza and pressed together into a sandwich. This location will also have salads, including one that comes topped with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
CityBird 1344 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday The deep-fried offspring of The Eagle in OTR, Citybird is dishing out cage-free, all-natural chicken paired with housemade craft sauces. 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
Boom Box Buns 1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday (or until they’re sold out) Calling all bun lovers: This walk-up window serves warm, doughy, steamed Chinese buns. The handcrafted and perfectly puffy baozi come filled with rotating combos like a pork bun with hoison, peanuts and radish; a beef bun with mayo, shisho and crispy shallot; or a the veggie bun with sweet potato and Sriracha. A fluorescent color scheme (inspired by the chef’s dad’s career as a sign painter) beckons lines of fans for nightly sell-out services so keep on eye on Boom Box’s social media for updated bun counts — or take your chances with the masses in the late-night queue. Photo: Provided
Forty Thieves at Holiday Bar 1538 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday; noon-2 a.m. Friday-Sunday Available by both window or inside of the bar, Forty Thieves offers a menu of Middle Eastern street food — falafel, beef shawarma and grilled chicken in a pita or on hummus, with other items like roasted beets and soup. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Condado Tacos 195 E. Freedom Way, Downtown Food available 11 a.m.-2 a.m. daily Since 2014, Condado’s build-your-own-taco concept has taken Columbus’ taco loving population by storm. They commit to the build-your-own tacos concept down to the type of tortillas — each taco is $3.50-$4.50 with plenty of enticing options that caters to every taste. The formula is simple: check off what you want on your taco, then the goodness is brought out to you, creating a relaxed dining experience. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sacred Beast 1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 11 a.m.-midnight Friday; 10:30 a.m.-midnight Saturday ”Simple food. Taken seriously” is the motto for Sacred Beast, the modern diner at 15th and Vine streets in Over-the-Rhine, helmed by chef Jeremy Lieb, most recently of the Boca Group, and his wife Bridget. The menu is a collection of Lieb’s favorite things, which run the gamut from literally the best French-style omelet in town — fluffy, soft and full of goat cheese and piquillo peppers — to a “Diner Breakfast” with scrambled eggs, maple-glazed pork belly and ricotta pancakes and a double or triple burger with Dijonnaise, onions, pickles and American cheese on a freshly made Blue Oven bun. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Comet 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside Food available 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Sunday (plus Sunday brunch); 2 p.m.-1 a.m. Saturday This bar serves up some of the best nachos in late night, in a low-lit grunge atmosphere. You can find local Punk and Hip Hop artists performing live sets, or great tunes pumping out the jukebox. Their menu consists of Mexican fare including burritos, quesadillas and tacos. This a great spot to get immersed in the local artist scene, or just play a couple rounds of pool and dive into chile con queso. Photo via Facebook.com/TheCometCincinnati
Gomez Salsa OTR 107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday On weekends, Gomez in OTR is open till 2:30 a.m., making it the perfect drunk-off-your-ass Saturday pit stop before piling into your Uber. But this Mexican eatery — which serves up tacos, burritos and turtles (a hybrid burrito with crusty cheese to seal the deal) — is also a prime spot to pick grub before lounging in Washington Park, during lunch break or literally whenever you feel on-the-go. Photo: Lindsay McCarty
Anchor Grill 438 W. Pike St., Covington Open 24/7 Taking its blazing neon “We May Doze, But Never Close” sign to heart, the Anchor Grill stays open 24/7, offering round-the-clock breakfast fare along with lunch and dinner comfort-food classics. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Open 24/6 (every day except Sunday) A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Camp Washington Chili features greasy-spoon breakfast offerings, double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, coneys and even a few salads. A James Beard Award winner, Camp Washington Chili opened its doors in 1940. They now serve beer. Photo: Catie Viox
Goodfellas Pizzeria 603 Main St., Covington; 1211 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Thursday-Saturday in OTR and 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Thursday-Saturday in MainStrasse 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. A bourbon bar is upstairs. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Babushka Pierogies Window 1200 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 6 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday Babushka Pierogies offers five different options from their walk-up window, ranging from traditional cheddar and potato pierogies (with or without bacon) to 4-way pierogies with lentil Cincinnati-style chili to two options for deep-fried pizzarogies — including a vegetarian one. The pierogies are four for $7. In addition to pierogies, the window also offers a few beverages to wash it all down, like Russian Caravan hot tea ($3) and bottled water ($1). Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Drunken Taco 200 W. McMillan St., Clifton Food available 11:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday; noon-2:30 a.m. Saturday; noon-midnight Sunday Drunken Tacos menu blends mexican and korean cuisine. There are standard ingredients like beans, steak and queso fresco, with extra unexpected fillings including daeji tacos with spicy pork, and one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes: bulgogi tacos. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Pepper Pod 703 Monmouth St., Newport Open 24/7 Open 24 hours a day so you can get your fried-pickle fix whenever the craving hits — and once you have the Pepper Pod’s fried pickles, the hankering will hit you often. The meatloaf goes very quickly in the evening, so get there early. Greasy spoon dining at its best, the Pepper Pod is a Newport legend. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Kitchen Factory 1609 Chase Ave., Northside Late night window 9 p.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday This small restaurant with a takeout window prides itself on offering pizza made with ingredients that are easily pronounced (disregarding the common mispronunciation of “mozzarella” that most Americans are guilty of), which indicates simple and natural recipes that don’t rely on tongue-twister chemical enhancements. Their late-night menu also includes veggie burgers and burritos alongside pizza, which also has plenty of vegan options. Photo: Emerson Swoger
Arnold’s Bar & Grill 210 E. Eighth St., Downtown Food available 3-11 p.m. Thursday-Saturday with late night menu until 1:30 a.m. Arnold’s Bar & Grill is Cincinnati’s oldest tavern. This historic bar has had their doors open since 1861. Their menu filled with tavern classics, and is often accompanied by a side of smooth music. The calendar is filled with Jazz, Blues, and Americana artists. Slide in for a late bite, and an atmosphere over 150 years in the making. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Lucy Blue Pizza 1126 Main St., Downtown Food available 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Friday and Saturday Lucy’s started as an OTR walk-up pizza window in 2001, serving pizza until 4 a.m. When you are this good at one thing, you don’t need to clutter up the menu with a bunch of other fluff. Serving righteous pizza with chewy dough, full-flavored sauce and plenty of cheese, has landed this Cincinnati favorite on more than one “Best of the City” list. Pick your poison — Marguerite, pepperoni and sausage, barbecue chicken, Thai chicken, Greek (olive oil, garlic, spinach, olives, feta, mozzarella, roma tomatoes), mushroom, veggie, supreme, Hawaiian, blanco quatro fromaggia, BLT (ranch dressing, bacon and mozzarella and topped with tomato and lettuce) — they all rock. Oh yeah, and they have plain cheese, too. Photo via Facebook.com/LucyBluePizza
Skyline Chili 290 Ludlow Ave., Clifton Food available 10 a.m.-4 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m.-3 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday Oh Skyline, what would we do without you? The Skyline in Clifton serves up Cincinnati-style Chili until 3 a.m. weekdays and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. This faithful Skyline has always been there for us. And until the open light turns off, the door is open, ready to get you to your chili cheesy heaven. Photo via Facebook.com/SkylineChili Photo: acebook.com/SkylineChili
Insomnia Cookies 216 Calhoun St., Clifton Food available 9 a.m.-3 a.m. Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Saturday-Sunday 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 via Facebook.com/InsomniaCookies
Drunken Bento 212 W. McMillan St., Clifton Food available 11 a.m.-1:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2:30 a.m. Friday; noon-2:30 a.m. Saturday; 12:30-10 p.m. Sunday Drunken Bento, the Korean and late-night sushi spot of Clifton has its doors open until 1:30 a.m. on weekdays and 2:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Located right off of the University of Cincinnati’s campus, this late night sushi wonder has been giving life to the students and locals for years. I mean come on, who doesn’t want a Sunday Morning Roll (salmon and cream cheese, deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo)? If you’re not into fish, there’s a great menu of entrées and appetizers to suit most tastes. Photo via Facebook.com/IzensDrunkenBento
J. Gumbo’s 286 Ludlow Ave., Clifton Food available 11 a.m.-3 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-4 a.m. Friday-Saturday; noon-midnight Sunday J. Gumbo’s brings a piece of Bourbon Street to Cincinnati. The kitchen serves po’ boys, gumbo and other Creole and Cajun classics. They put soul into their cooking, and a bowl of the Voodoo Chicken may put your soul back in your body after a late night. Photo via Facebook.com/JGumobsClifton
Pleasant Ridge Chili 6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Food available 9 a.m.-4:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday A local multi-generational chili joint that is more than 50 years old. Offers chili to go and late-night eats (until 4:30 a.m.), like french fries topped with everything from chili to cheese to gravy. Photo via Facebook.com/PleasantRidgeChili
Queen City Whip (Queen City Radio) 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Food available 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesday; 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Friday; noon-2 a.m. Saturday; noon-midnight Sunday Queen City Whip is a staple in the late-night burger game. The purple food truck can be found serving up made-to-order eats in the courtyard of Queen City Radio. You can find diner classics like chili dogs, burgers, fries and milkshakes. They also have an amazing falafel sandwich topped with their housemade tzatziki sauce. With prices ranging from $2.50 (for small french fries) to $8 (for a Whip Classic Burger), you can ball on a budget. Your taste buds and stomach will thank you. Photo via Facebook.com/QueenCityWhip
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