Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of CincinnatiĀ®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. There are a ton of pleasant surprises when it comes to Cincinnati dining. From sweeping city views paired with a good bite to one of the oldest restaurants on the West Side, these eateries boast some of the best, lesser-known dishes around.Ā 

Best Mexican Winner: Mazunte Runners-up: Agave & Rye, Tortilleria Garcia Photo: Hailey Bollinger
The Restaurant and Bar Scene Chili is king here, but we also have a lot more to offer in the food and drink scene. From fine dining to cheap, but delicious street food, weā€™re a growing foodie city with a lot of flavor and a selection of bars with vibes ranging from chill to raging. Photo: facebook.com/InclinePublicHouse
No. 4 Best New Restaurant: Pig Candy BBQ 5901 Kellogg Ave., California Photo: Provided by Pig Candy BBQ
Galactic Fried Chicken 624 Sixth Ave., Dayton Former food truck Galactic Fried Chicken recently opened a brick-and-mortar in Northern Kentucky’s Dayton neighborhood, next door to Unataza Coffee. The restaurant, owned by Shane Coffey and his wife Kathy McDonald, serves fried chicken, chicken tenders and sandwiches, along with a variety of sides ranging from mac and cheese to deviled eggs, fries and salads. They also offer a vegetarian option of fried jackfruit nuggets. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Hidden Gem No. 6: Tickle Pickle 4176 Hamilton Ave., Northside; 915 N. Fort Thomas Ave., Ft. Thomas Must-try: The Pearl Jam features jalapeƱo jam, goat cheese, tomato and caramelized onions on a pretzel bun. You can choose the traditional beef patty or sub it for a black bean patty, chicken, a mushroom cap or an Impossible Burger. Photo: Provided by Tickle Pickle
Spread of dishes available at The Governor Savana Willhoite
Kiki College Hill 5932 Hamilton Ave., College Hill Chefs and husband-and-wife duo Hideki and Yuko Harada met at the Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, Japan. They opened Kiki College Hill in 2019 with the goal of sharing Japanese dishes that can be hard to find in America. With several gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, itā€™s the perfect place to accommodate multiple dietary needs without breaking the bank. Kikiā€™s kimchi ramen ($10) is a soul-nourishing delight, made with slurp-worthy noodles, housemade kimchi, tender tofu, green onion and a tea-marinated egg. The shio ramen ($10) is the meaty counterpart, with chicken broth and pork belly. Keep an eye out for their seasonal specials and desserts. (MM) Photo: Hailey Bollinger
No. 8 Best Hidden Gem Restaurant: Maury’s Tiny Cove 3908 Harrison Ave., Cheviot Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Hidden Gem No. 2: Blind Lemon 936 Hatch St., Mt. Adams Must-try: For cozy season, opt for a hot cocktail like the Hot Buttered Rum: dark rum, brown sugar, hot water and a pat of butter float. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Best Hidden Gem No. 1: Tuba Baking Co. 517 Sixth Ave., Dayton Must-try: Try one of the Flammkuchens (wood-fired German flatbread). The Kraut & Wurst features a rye and spelt sourdough flatbread with a red pepper and onion sauce, mettwurst, sauerkraut, onions and butterkƤse and Swiss cheeses. Photo: Drew Rath