After two days of judging, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber announced the results of the 2026 Best of Taste competition, highlighting the best items available at this year’s Taste of Cincinnati festival.
With more than 45 vendors—from neighborhood restaurants to creative food trucks—duking it out across multiple categories, this year’s field was as competitive as ever for the longest-running culinary festival in America. CityBeat was there to evaluate each dish on both days, and was the only publication to judge every single category of the festival. (We announced our day 1 favorites yesterday; stay tuned for our picks from day 2.)
Many of our selections ended up taking home gold, silver or bronze medals, and even more were selected for the all-new CinGourmand award, which highlights must-try festival favorites that judges believed attendees should not miss, including exclusive or limited-time items available only during Taste of Cincinnati.
“Cincinnati’s culinary scene continues to impress, and this year’s competition was a great reminder of just how much talent we have in this city,” said Chelsea York, Vice President of Events and Experiences of the Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “Whether you’re a longtime festival fan or joining us for the first time, there’s never been a better year to come hungry.”
Read on for the winners of this year’s Best of Taste awards.
RESTAURANTS
Snacks and Bites (Appetizers)
Gold: Pierre Entities, Andouille Red Beans N’ Rice
Silver: Alfio’s Buon Cibo, Korean BBQ Empanada
Bronze: Kabobske Mediterranean, Grippos BBQ-style inspired Hummus with Pita Chips
CinGourmand: Hankering Southern Kitchen, Shrimp & Grit Fritters; Paityn’s Place Soul Food Catering and Cuisine, Paityn’s Place Famous Soul Roll
Craveable Mains (Entrees)
Gold: Alfio’s Buon Cibo, Short Rib Pasta
Silver: Chino’s Street Food, Vietnamese Street Taco
Bronze: Lobsta Bakes of Maine, The LB Signature Shrimp Slider
CinGourmand: Gee’s Caribbean Kitchen, Smoked Jerk Chicken and Oxtail; Taste of Belgium, Tropical Waffle Chicken Bites
Sweets and Treats (Desserts)
Gold: POP Bakery, Berry Cloud Cake
Silver: Sawasdee Thai Cuisine & Sushi, Mango Sticky Rice
Bronze: Hankering Southern Kitchen, Bourbon Bread Pudding
CinGourmand: Pompilio’s Restaurant, Triple Berry Tiramisu with Lemon Curd Swirl; The Cheesecakery, Biscoff Cheesecake Cupcake
FINDLAY KITCHEN START-UPS
Snacks and Bites
Gold: Rocky’s Home Flavor, Puff Puff
Silver: Yee Mama, Wobble Wobble Cold Noodles
Bronze: Jay’s Nyam & Jam, Jerk Chicken Taco
CinGourmand: Soleil Kitchen, Creole Shrimp & Smoked Gouda Grits; The Passion Plate, Greek Nachos (both available Friday and Saturday)
Craveable Mains
Gold: Yee Mama, Chicken & Basil and Pork & Bok Choy Wontons
Silver: Jay’s Nyam and Jam, Jerk Chicken Bowl
Bronze: Dat’s Oie School Cookin’, Spicy Catfish Nuggets
CinGourmand: Sabor Alaniz, Chicken Taquitos; Lotus Street Food, Chicken Drunken Noodles
Sweets and Treats
Gold: Walkerbar Bakery, Aley’s Monster Ice Cream
Silver: Olive Tree Catering, Mixed Baklava
Bronze: Tilita, Picarones
CinGourmand: Banasun, Acai Bowl; Daveyboy’s Bourbon Pecans, Bourbon Pecans
FOOD TRUCKS
Snacks and Bites
Gold: Fusako, Street Corn Gyoza
Silver: Alley Baby, Tater Bombs
Bronze: Mama Bear’s Mac, Bruschetta Grilled Cheese
CinGourmand: S.E.A. Cuisine, Asian Taco with an Egg Roll and Aphrodite’s Hankey Panky
Craveable Mains
Gold: Alley Baby, Coconut Chicken Taco
Silver: Lasang Pinoy, Siomai Rice
Bronze: Mama Afrique Nigerian Cuisine, Oxtails Over Smoky Jollof
CinGourmand: Mis Sabores, Fritada
Sweets and Treats
Gold: Sugar Snap, Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae
Silver: Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen, Tropical Pineapple Rum Beignet
Bronze: Little Trolley Donuts, Fiona & Fritz
CinGourmand: Davis Cookie Collection, Strawberry Dream Bowl
