If you dream of international travel, but can’t make it happen right now, there is another way to get a taste of the world without leaving Greater Cincinnati, plus you’ll support a lot of local, small business owners along the way. The Queen City is home to an array of restaurants serving diverse, international cuisines that are authentic, delicious and provide a great experience.

From Dominican mofongo to Hungarian goulash and Korean dolsot, you don’t have to wander too far from home for a globetrotting culinary adventure right here in Greater Cincinnati. Keep scrolling to find some more local restaurants serving up delicious international eats.

Sago 1004 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout Sago serves up delicious, authentic Malaysian eats, with influences from Cantonese, French and Asian cuisine. The menu features a list of favorites, like the Nasi Lemak with Beef Rendang or chicken curry and fried chicken (choose between garlic sesame or lime basil), alongside special seasonal dishes. All the dishes are made to order by Chef Paul Liew with fresh, quality ingredients that are sourced locally. Photo: facebook.com/citrusandsago
Phoenician Taverna 7944 Mason Montgomery Road, Mason Phoenician Taverna serves up superb, authentic Lebanese food in a Mason strip mall. While the menu’s entrées are primarily meat-based, there’s also the “mezze,” which are small plates that are perfect for vegetarian diners. The mezze are listed in three sections: vegetarian cold mezza, vegetarian hot mezza and not vegetarian hot mezza. The hot mezza vegetarian list offers mouth-watering items such as a spinach pie (fatayer b’sbanigh in Lebanese), described as homemade dough filled with spinach, pine nuts and sumac onions in lemon and extra virgin olive oil, or the cheese pie (fatayer b’jibne), filled with feta. There’s also cauliflower with tahini, spicy hot potatoes, beet dip, spiced aged feta and pumpkin kibbeh on the unique list of hot and cold dishes. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Safi Wine Bar 1401 Republic St., Over-the-Rhine Chef Jose Salazar operated his self-named restaurant at 1401 Republic St. in Over-the-Rhine for 10 years before announcing at the end of 2023 that he and his wife would be moving the restaurant into the former Saks Fifth Avenue building in downtown Cincinnati. They said they would keep the original Salazar space and introduce a new concept there: Safi, the idea of which came to the couple after a trip to Morocco. Safi opened in June and sports a laid-back atmosphere, with a menu that’s approachable, but still offers some “fancier” dishes, as well as small plates. The menu features dishes like chicken pastilla cigars; slow-cooked lamb shank tagine with made-from-scratch Israeli couscous; an eggplant and tomato compote called Zalouk; Briwat, a Moroccan almond pastry; and the trendy “caviar bump.” Photo: Lydia Schembre
The Arepa Place 131 W. Elder St., Over-the-Rhine; 1517 Springfield Pike, Wyoming The Arepa Place offers up a menu of South American staples for lunch, including authentic Colombian and Venezuelan eats like the stuffed arepas — a pocket-like food made from a corn dough and filling, which are the stars of the menu. Fillings range from a classic chicken and cheese combo to a vegetarian one stuffed with black beans, fried plantains and cheese and even a build-your-own option. You can also opt for the empanadas and a host of sides, like plantain chips with guacamole or salsa and fried sweet plantains. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fillo 1505 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Fillo Modern Greek promises diners a culinary trip to Greece — no passport required. It got its start in 2021 as Fillo Greek Bakeshop before switching to dinner service in 2023. Fillo features prix-fixe menu focusing on “meze” — traditional Greek small plates meant for sharing and creating memorable dining experiences. Expect to find classic Greek favorites like moussaka and souvlaki, as well as dishes like fried feta, grilled octopus and calamari — all of which are prepared with love and care and burst with the authentic flavors of Greece. Photo: Fillo Modern Greek
Christine’s Casual Dining 3360 Westbourne Drive, Western Hills While Christine’s offers a diverse menu full of American, Mexican and other types of cuisines, its Filipino menu is unique and delicious, featuring tried and true recipes passed down in owner Christine’s family from generation to generation. The Filipino combos are the perfect opportunity to try a little taste of a few dishes, including barbecue pork skewers, Filipino soup (beef and veggies) and pancit, a stir-fried noodle dish. Christine’s also recently expanded its menu to offer more traditional Filipino dishes, including Tapsilog (Filipino beef jerky, garlic fried rice and a fried egg) and Longsilog, a breakfast meal with longanisa, a Filipino sausage; fried garlic rice; and fried eggs. For dessert, try the halo-halo, which features shaved ice and condensed milk along with other sweet toppings in layers, or ice cream made with ube, a purple yam that originated in the Philippines. Photo: christinescasualdining.com
Conserva 225 Elm St., Ludlow Spanish tapas restaurant Conserva may be one of Northern Kentucky’s best hidden gems. Owner and head chef Challis Hodge studied Spanish tapa cuisine to recreate an authentic experience with a medley of options. One popular dish on the menu is a Spanish national favorite, Tortilla Española, made using potatoes, egg, olive oil and salt. And if you’re a fan of dips, the gambas al ajillo, or Spanish garlic shrimp, is made using sherry and guindilla pepper and served with dippable crostini. The menu also features “conservas,” which are similar to charcuterie boards, but they feature preserved seafood, along with Spanish olive oil chips and baguette. Photo: Catie Viox
Sudova 22 W. Court St., Downtown Recently opened on Court Street, Sudova is the newest concept from Sarah Dworak (Babushka’s Pierogies, Wódka Bar). This Eastern European kitchen features a warm and convivial Old-World-style aesthetic, where traditional dishes, timeless European style and modern tastes blend together. Outside is a gated courtyard for al fresco dining, while the dining room features custom millwork, framed Ukrainian tapestries, stained glass windows from Wooden Nickel Antiques and locally salvaged Eastern European sconces. But the highlight of the dining room is a family heirloom — a well-worn and well-loved dining table that was once in Dworak’s grandmother’s home. On the menu, diners can enjoy modern takes on classic Eastern European dishes, including rye pelmeni (a type of dumpling) with salt cod and potato brandade and topped with caviar beurre blanc; hand-formed varenyky — another type of dumpling — stuffed with house-made tvorog (similar to cottage cheese) and crispy pork belly; Ukrainian specialty green borsch, made with chicken, sorrel and a soft boiled egg; and ice cream made with sea buckthorn berries. Photo: facebook.com/Sudova
Pho Lang Thang 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Pho Lang Thang is a Vietnamese eatery that serves up delicious bowls of chicken, beef and vegan pho, a soup dish, and Vietnamese sandwiches called bánh mì for lunch and dinner. The restaurant also features an upbeat vibe where customers can feel free to slurp loudly and a draft list with several local craft beers on tap, including options from Northern Row and 50 West. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Teranga 8438 Vine St., Hartwell Teranga offers a diverse menu, with a variety of options that fuse African, American and Jamaican cuisine, like the Senegalese Senburger or full dinners like grilled tilapia and Jamaican oxtail with rice and peas. It’s also a great place to try West African dishes, such as Michoui Gigot (stuffed lamb leg with onion sauce). Sides range from couscous and French fries to fufu and attiéké. Photo: facebook.com/Teranga
Baladi Restaurant & Bakery 3307 Clifton Ave., Clifton Located in a Clifton strip mall, Syrian eatery Baladi Restaurant & Bakery offers delicious Middle Eastern, Arabic and Mediterranean specialties like shawarma, gyros, falafel and more, all made with fresh ingredients. They also offer fresh, savory baked goods and pastry favorites like baklava. Photo: facebook.com/baladirestaurantandbakery
Banh Lao & Thai Cuisine 7340 Kenwood Road, Kenwood If you’re craving Thai or Lao food, or you want to try it for the first time, you can sample both at Banh Lao & Thai Cuisine in Kenwood. The extensive menu features beloved Thai-style dishes like green curry and pad see ew (stir-fried noodles), as well as a special section for Lao specialties, including Khao Piak, a chicken noodle soup, and Nam Khao, a crispy rice salad. You can also customize the heat levels for Banh’s selections of stir-fried noodles, curries, fried rice dishes and entrées, from mild at No. 1 to hot at No. 3. Photo: facebook.com/BanhLaoThai
Mofongo City 7373 Dixie Highway, Fairfield Take your tastebuds on a trip to the Dominican Republic by trying the mofongo at Mofongo City in Fairfield. If you’ve never tried mofongo, it’s a savory Caribbean dish made of boiled or roasted mashed plantains and seasoned with salt, garlic and olive oil. At Mofongo City, it’s served in a wooden cup alongside a protein like chicken, chicharron or longaniza (sausage). You can also get mofongo made with yuca, or try one of the other Caribbean and Latin American grilled dishes alongside a refreshing cocktail. Photo: facebook.com/Mofon Go City
Truva Turkish Kitchen 8060 Montgomery Road, Kenwood; 5065 Deerfield Blvd., Mason For delicious Mediterranean food — particularly Turkish cuisine — take a trip to Truva Turkish Kitchen. The dining room has a sleek, modern Mediterranean design paired with a warm, cozy atmosphere and food made with the freshest ingredients. The menu offers traditional Turkish fare, including cold starters like hummus, babaganoush (puréed smoked eggplant flavored with tahini, garlic and olive oil) and tabbouleh (​​cracked wheat tossed with parsley, spring onions and fresh red peppers and dressed with olive oil and lemon juice). There are also hot mezzes (small plates) like calamari and falafel, kebabs and a selection of Turkish entrées and seafood dishes for dinner. Truva’s Kenwood location also serves breakfast, which includes a variety of omelets featuring Mediterranean flavors and a bakery with Turkish pastries, like the pogaca, a cheese-filled pastry. Photo: facebook.com/Truva Cafe Mediterranean
Inkazteka Peruvian Restaurant 3920 E. Galbraith Road, Deer Park Inkazteka serves Mexican cuisine, but it’s also one of the few places in Greater Cincinnati where diners can try Peruvian fare. Located in a modest space in a Deer Park strip mall, the restaurant is warm and welcoming, painted in bright red and yellow and decorated with pictures of South America. On the menu, diners will find a selection of Mexican eats like burritos and fajitas, as well as many Peruvian dishes, which you’ll find marked with a Peruvian flag. Try appetizers like the Chicharron de Chancho, which is deep-fried pork served with sarsa criolla (a red onion salsa) and fried yuca, or the Choclo con Queso, which is Peruvian corn served with fresh white cheese. There are also a variety of Peruvian entrées, including Ceviche de Pescado (tilapia fillets marinated in lime juice with cilantro and red onion), Pollada (chicken seasoned with Peruvian spices) and Bisteca a lo Pobre (steak or chicken breast served with fries, sweet plantains, fried egg and jasmine rice. Photo: facebook.com/PeruvianMexican
Chaykhana N1 9536 Cincinnati Columbus Road, West Chester Township For a meal that pulls flavor inspiration from regions like Russia, Central Asia and the Middle East, try Uzbek cuisine. Chaykhana N1 (“chaykhana” means “tea house” in Uzbek) offers delicious and flavorful Uzbek food from an unassuming strip mall space in West Chester. The menu features salads, like Achichuk, which is made with tomato, onion and pepper; Shurpa, a traditional Uzbek soup featuring beef, carrots, potatoes, chickpeas and onions in a beef broth; and dishes like Kavurma Lagman, which is fried, hand-pulled noodles mixed with beef and Asian vegetables. Photo: google.com/Chaykhana N1 Uzbek Cuisine
Riverside Korean 512 Madison Ave., Covington Come to Riverside Korean if you’re looking for award-winning Korean food made in a family-owned establishment. The owners have curated the menu with dishes that have passed their authenticity taste test, including their traditional, rice-based, steaming-hot dolsot bibimbap, which features mixed vegetables, a sunny-side-up egg and your choice of beef, chicken or tofu. All entrées are served with a delightful selection of traditional side dishes called ban chan. Photo: Facebook.com/RiversideKoreanRestaurant
Bridges Nepali Cuisine 4165 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 11 W. Seventh St, Covington; 6304 Vine St., Elmwood Place; 2459 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills (Coming soon) Bridges Nepali Cuisine gets its name from its goal to encourage diners to use food as a means of connecting to other cultures. The restaurant is one of the few places in Greater Cincinnati to offer Nepalese cuisine, and owner Ashak Chipalu creates Bridges’ menu using his mother’s recipes. The dishes are rich with spices like ginger, garlic, cumin, chili pepper and cilantro, all of which elevate the simple ingredients like potato, lentils and cauliflower. Popular options include the rice bowls, which you can get with meat or as vegetarian, samosas and the Nepalese dumplings, momos, which can come stuffed with seasoned chicken, pork or vegetables. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
VV the Italian Experience 1026 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout Café and shop VV The Italian Experience dishes up an authentic Italian experience in Mt. Lookout Square. Owners Melissa and Andrea De Giorgi wanted to recreate an Italian “la cafeteria,” a place for family and friends to spend time together, relax for breakfast and lunch and enjoy aperitivo, or happy hour with delicious bites. The space is simple yet elegant and combines both vintage and modern Italian styles in a seamless and welcoming manner. On the menu, you’ll find everything from Italian pastries like cornettis and piadina Nutella (a flatbread with Nutella spread) for breakfast, to paninis for lunch and pastas, salads and soups for dinner. Photo: facebook.com/VV The Italian Experience
Pupuseria Los 5 Puntos 2521 Grand Blvd., Hamilton Pupuseria Los 5 Puntos serves up authentic Central American fare in the heart of Butler County. The Salvadoran restaurant offers the best kind of hole-in-the-wall dining experience: a small dining room in a single-story cinderblock building with just a handful of seats and soccer on the TV. The menu’s star (and the restaurant’s namesake) is the pupusa, a griddle cake that originated from El Salvador and Honduras and is stuffed with ingredients like meat, cheese and beans. You can also find other Latin American dishes like tacos, tortas and gorditas. Photo: facebook.com/Pupuseria los 5 Puntos
Afghan Grill 7129 Liberty Centre Drive, Liberty Township If you’re hoping to try Afghani food, Liberty Township’s Afghan Grill serves up falafel, kabobs, curries like lamb and chicken korma and lamb meatballs called kofta challow. They also have some vegetarian options, like okra, cauliflower and eggplant-based entrées served with rice. For dessert, try a traditional Afghani treat like firni, a custard dish; rice pudding; and baklava, which is traditionally Mediterranean, but is largely enjoyed in Afghanistan as well. Photo: facebook.com/afghangrillrestaurant.food
Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant 5070 Crookshank Road, Westwood Habesha is a hidden gem that offers authentic Ethiopian dishes. The restaurant serves traditional meals like Kitfo, a dish that features spiced minced meat with butter and mitmita — a seasoning mix made with chili peppers, cardamom, cloves and salt — topped with seasoned cheese. For non-meat-eaters, there’s also Yesom Beyaynetu, a platter of several vegetarian-friendly dishes. Photo: Liz Davis