The Queen City has enough great restaurants for you to dine like royalty every day of the week, but only a select few have been featured nationally on Food Network and Travel Channel shows. Whether you’re more Guy Fieri or Adam Richman, these top-class eateries are bound to satisfy any foodie looking for the best local flavors. Here are all the restaurants in Cincinnati that have been showcased on either a Travel Channel or Food Network show.  

Written by Tommy McDonald

Pho Lang Thang 114 W Elder St., Over-the-Rhine Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Located in the heart of Findlay Market, Pho Lang Thang offers dishes like beef-based broth pho soup, spring rolls and the ever-popular classic banh mi sandwiches, which come sprinkled with assorted pickled vegetables and your choice of meat or tofu. They also serve Vietnamese coffee sweetened with condensed milk and brewed right on the table into your glass. Photo: Khoi Nguyen
Taste of Belgium 1135 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Hot, fresh Belgian waffles are made from a thick dough and coarse Belgian beet sugar, which caramelizes on the cast iron press. Find the heavenly breakfast food topped with whipped cream or ricotta, or as the bread in a McWaffle sandwich (egg, gruyère and maple syrup). The crepe station prepares sweet and savory crepes, like the Nati Crepe with goetta, made fresh-to-order. At dinner, the sophistication goes up a notch with mussels, steak frites, and Belgian specialties such as the Belgian pretzel with a side of beer cheese and Carbonnades. They also offer an exclusive selection of Belgian beers. Photo: Brittany Thornton
Bakersfield 1213 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Part bar, part taco joint, all classy. Bakersfield specializes in gourmet tacos (short rib, pollo rojo, pastor, huitlacoche, etc.), crafted tortas, quality tequilas and whiskeys and hand-crafted margaritas made the old fashioned way, not from a pre-made mix. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Melt Eclectic Cafe 4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners aren’t an afterthought at Melt. But no worries — the carnivorous can feast, too. A plethora of sandwiches, wraps, soups and salads tempt every palate. Sandwiches include items like the veggie cheesesteak made with seitan, the Yeehaw BBQ with pico de gallo and chicken and The Rachel, a smoked turkey sandwich with red cabbage, apple sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. For the vegetarian looking for the classic Cincinnati flavor, try out the Veggie 3-Way. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Izzy’s 610 Main St., Central Business District Featured on: Travel Channel’s Man v. Food Nation A Cincinnati tradition, Izzy’s serves a Reuben we can all be proud of. Sandwiches such as the Reuben-ator and the Izzy’s Mex showcase their delicious corned beef. To celebrate their 110th year as Cincinnati’s Best Deli, they created the 110 Reuben challenge. Assembled on a poppy seed rounded loaf, a super-sized potato pancake is topped with 1 lb. of corned beef, a pile of sauerkraut, imported Swiss cheese and smothered with Izzy’s special sauce. If you can finish this super sandwich and the jumbo pickles on the side in under 30 minutes you get a refund, t-shirt and a photo on the Wall of Fame. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Senate 1212 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Senate’s mission is to present upscale street food — and they do a terrific job of it — grabbing national attention from the likes of the New York Post, Forbes and more. The menu plays heavily on hot dogs, from gourmet Chicago dogs to more interesting dog-of-the-days and menu staples like the Trailer Park, with applewood bacon, American cheese and crushed Grippo’s. Don’t miss the Korean Dog which is topped with short rib and kimchi. The lobster BLT is another must-have, as is the “$25 wood-grilled, dry-aged ribeye,” which costs just $24 and is served with marrow butter and truffle fries. Photo: Catie Viox
Graeter’s Ice Cream 2704 Erie Ave., Hyde Park Featured on: Food Network’s Food Feuds Since its founding in 1870, Graeter’s French Pot Ice Cream, handmade chocolate confections and fresh baked goods have become traditions in the Queen City. Today, the Graeter family still faithfully uses century old methods of production. With signature flavors such as black raspberry chocolate chip, Graeter’s has been able to steal the hearts and palettes of generations of ice cream lovers. Photo via Facebook.com/Graeters
Camp Washington Chili Parlor 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Featured on: Travel Channel’s Man v. Food Nation, Food Paradise A great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Camp Washington Chili features greasy-spoon breakfast offerings, double-decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, coneys, 3- to 5-ways, and even a few salads. A James Beard Award winner, Camp Washington Chili opened its doors in 1940 and current owner Johnny Johnson has been working at the parlor since 1951. Open 24/6 — they’re closed on Sundays. Photo: Jesse Fox
Incline Public House 2601 W 8th St., Price Hill Featured on: Food Network’s Burgers, Brew, and ‘Que With a 1,400-square-foot deck for soaking in vistas and cocktails, IPH’s name is derived from the actual Cincinnati Incline that existed there from the late 1800s to the 1940s. Their upscale twist on pub food features sandwiches, salads, epicurean appetizers and a slew of craft cocktails and draft beers. The spicy fried chicken & serrano-corn waffle and cherry pepper poppers are fan favorites. Build your own pizza with toppings ranging from pepperoni and prosciutto to friend egg and oven roasted tomato. Photo via Facebook.com/InclinePublicHouse
Island Frydays 42826 Vine St., Corryville Featured on: Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Island Frydays is the definitive restaurant to break out of culinary monotony, featuring authentic Caribbean cuisine made by former University of Cincinnati football captain and Jamaican native Leo Morgan. You really owe it to yourself to stop by and taste its curry and jerk dishes or go all the way Jamaican with escovitch snapper (a sort of island ceviche), an oxtail dinner or curried goat with a side of plantains. Photo via Facebook.com/IslandFrydays Photo: facebook.com/Island Frydays
Pleasant Ridge Chili 6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Featured on: Travel Channel’s Food Paradise A local multi-generational chili joint that recently celebrated 50 years. Offers Cincinnati chili to go and late night eats (open until 4:30 a.m.), like french fries topped with everything from chili to cheese gravy. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Montgomery Inn 9440 Montgomery Road, Montgomery Featured on: Travel Channel’s Food Paradise World-famous for its ribs, Montgomery Inn has been a staple in Cincinnati for more than 60 years. Along with ribs, the Inn offers barbecued spring chicken, silver salmon, pulled-pork sandwiches, burgers, salads and more, including everyone’s favorite: Saratoga chips served with their famous barbecue sauce. Photo: Provided
Tom+Chee 1 Levee Way, Newport Featured on: Travel Channel’s Man v. Food Nation A gourmet grilled cheese and tomato soup shop with a famous grilled cheese doughnut. But that’s not the only star on this menu. Tom+Chee has many inventively delicious options such as the Armagoetta which was featured on Man v. Food Nation, made with goetta, cherry hot peppers, sweet hot mustard and Pepper Jack cheese, sandwiched between rye and white bread. Photo via Facebook.com/TomandCheeNewport