In the annual Best of Cincinnati® Readers Poll, CityBeat‘s readers vote on their favorite things about the Queen City, ranging from the best bars and nightlife to the best boutique stores and which restaurants serve the best dishes. The category for the best restaurants in Northern Kentucky is one of the most popular among voters, with tons of great restaurants vying for a spot in the top 10.
Because while Cincinnati proper has a fantastic dining scene, with plenty of meal and drink options for any kind of diner, we can’t forget to show Northern Kentucky restaurants some love. From farm-to-table, rustic dishes to blazing hot Chinese food and some of the best German fare in the city, Northern Kentucky proves time and time again that downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine aren’t the only places that can shine when it comes to culinary excellence.
Keep scrolling to see the Northern Kentucky restaurants CityBeat readers voted as the best of the best, plus some suggestions on dishes diners and CityBeat staff enjoy.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 10: Oriental Wok
317 Buttermilk Pike, Lakeside Park
Must-try dish: The Hong Kong Steak — a 14-oz. NY sirloin served with Chinese vegetables and a sweet-and-savory peppercorn sauce.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 9: Blinkers Tavern
318 Greenup St., Covington
Must-try dish: Diners love the Blinkers NY Strip Steak. All of Blinkers’ steaks are dusted with a special seasoning, charbroiled and topped with onion straws, but the Blinkers NY Strip also comes with sautéed mushrooms and garlic butter.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 8: Bouquet
519 Main St., Covington
Must-try dish: Get the Tasting Menu for $70. You get to select one dish from each of the first, second and third course menus, plus a dessert. For Bouquet’s current menu, we would personally opt for the Seared Black Pearl Mushroom (chickpeas, curry-spiced onions, chimichurri, toasted cashews, pickled ramps and an arugula cashew puree), Wagyu Beef Meatballs (a chile de arbol vinaigrette, carrot top pesto and spiced pepitas), the Maple Leaf Farms Duck (with Holland Farms radish and spinach, fava beans, pickled mustard seeds, a blackberry-balsamic reduction and pistachio relish) and the Chocolate Espresso (speculaas cookie, sweet chocolate cake, coffee, dulce de leche and espresso gelato) for dessert.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 7: Coppin’s
638 Madison Ave., Covington
Must-try dish: Try the Spring Cappellacci, with asparagus, ricotta, parmesan brodo, crispy pancetta and lemon zest, and pair it with the Willow cocktail, crafted with Tanqueray gin, cucumber, mint, thyme, celery shrub, lime and parsley oil.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 6 (TIE): Libby’s Southern Comfort
35 W. Eighth St., Covington
Must-try dish: Get the Goetta Hush Puppies with remoulade sauce or the Fried Green Tomatoes (pimento cheese, pork belly lardons, bourbon onion jam and herb oil) to split as an appetizer. Follow that with the Shrimp and Grits — Tasso grits topped with blackened shrimp, onion straws and chives. Also be sure to wash it down with the Cheerwine Bourbon Slush.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 6 (TIE): Agave & Rye
635 Madison Ave., Covington
Must-try dish: Try The Gangsta: Slow-braised birria, with Mexican rice, roasted corn, queso and white cheddar, chipotle serrano crema, cilantro and Tajin lime. Agave & Rye was also voted as having some of the best margaritas in Cincinnati, so we recommend pairing your tacos with the OG Margarita or the Pineapple Jalapeño if you’re feeling spicy.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 5: Tuba Baking Co.
517 Sixth Ave., Dayton
Must-try dish: Leberkäsebrötchen — a.k.a. a bologna sandwich, but better. This sandwich is crafted with Avril-Bleh’s leberkäse, pan-seared, and your choice of mustard, served on a potato bun. Get it with a side of Kartoffelsalat, a potato salad made with onion, vinegar and mustard.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 4: Greyhound Tavern
2500 Dixie Highway, Ft. Mitchell
Must-try dish: Try the Hot Brown, made with your choice of country ham or roasted turkey, plus bacon, tomato, cheddar cheese and bechamel.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 3: KungFood Chu’s AmerAsia
521 Madison Ave., Covington
Must-try dish: If you love spicy food, try the signature Generals Chicken — dark meat fried chicken and cucumber slices tossed in a sweet-and-spicy red sauce and served with rice.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 2: Pompilios
600 Washington Ave., Newport
Must-try dish: Diners love the Chicken Ronaldo, a chicken and angel hair pasta dish featuring oil, garlic, sautéed sun-dried tomatoes, feta, black olives, basil and spicy red pepper flakes.
Best Northern Kentucky Restaurant No. 1: Walt’s Hitching Post
3300 Madison Pike, Ft. Wright
Must-try dish: If you’re at Walt’s, you have to try the ribs. Get the Walt’s Signature Smokehouse Slabs, seasoned with a secret blend of spices, lightly charred and served with the legendary BBQ sauce. These ribs are what made Walt’s famous. Get them as a half rack or full rack.