It’s cold and whether you’re trying to warm up, cut calories or you’re like us and just genuinely love it, it’s soup season.

If you’re craving pho, matzah ball soup, some classic chicken noodle or anything in between, this list has got you.

Fortune Noodle House 349 Calhoun St., Clifton Heights You know your noodles are made with love when a restaurant makes them by hand before your eyes, but here’s the thing: Everything else at Fortune is delicious, too. Inspired by classic Chinese noodle houses, Fortune serves a La Mian-style of handmade noodles, a practice that dates back to the 1500s. The noodles are hand-pulled and stretched out into strands, then paired with everything from vegetables to squid and shredded pork to tripe. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Hungarian Mushroom Soup from National Exemplar 6880 Wooster Pike, Mariemont The National Exemplar in the Mariemont Inn is a restaurant for those who like a reliable meal. Open since 1983, it’s a solid stalwart with a handful of favorite menu items that keep patrons coming back again and again (and again) like prime rib, liver and onions and Hungarian mushroom soup. The soup is a velvety dish, with added paprika, celery and plenty of chunky fungi. It’s one of their signature dishes for a reason. Photo: Facebook.com/NationalExemplar
Matzah Ball Soup from Sacred Beast 1437 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine “Simple food. Taken seriously” is the motto for Sacred Beast, a modern diner in Over-the-Rhine. The menu runs the gamut from lobster gravy fries to all day breakfast. But what we’re here for today is the delicious matzah ball soup made with carrots, parsnips and dill. Photo: Facebook.com/SacredBeastDiner
Pho from Pho Lang Thang 1828 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Pho Lang Thang offers dishes like hot pho soup, spring rolls and the ever-popular banh mi sandwiches. Order from a wide variety of pho options, ranging from brisket and meatballs (Nạm, Bò Viên) to vegan mushroom pho or tendon and tripe (Gân, Sách). Grab some Lang Thang Vietnamese Coffee hot or iced. Photo: Khoi Nguyen
Spread of shareable plates and cocktails Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Tomato Bisque from ESSEN Kitchen 1 Findlay St., Over-the-Rhine ESSEN has been one of Over-the-Rhine’s vegan hot spots for grab-and-go eats since opening in 2018. Their menu feels like comfort food, but with an upscale and modern tweak — 100% locally sourced, of course. Their creamy tomato bisque is made with roasted red peppers and coconut milk. It’s dairy- and nut-free and well as vegan and vegetarian and can be made gluten-free. Photo: Facebook.com/essenkitchen
Ramen from Kiki College Hill 5932 Hamilton Ave., College Hill Kiki offers two ramen choices: shio ramen, a chicken broth with pork belly, negi, a tea-marinated egg and rayu; and kimchi ramen, featuring housemade kimchi and tofu. They also serve up a bowl of plain noodles and broth. To warm up your pre-ramen palate, try the karraage deep-fried jackfruit or chicken, or the edamame, tossed in sea salt or tare. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Kimchi Tomato Soup from The Governor 231 Main St., Milford The mission of the Governor is to offer the perks of fine dining — locally procured meat and produce, a menu made from scratch, a carefully designed cocktail list — at a medium price point in a laid-back environment. For something unique, try the creamy kimchi tomato soup made with roasted tomatoes and Korean chili. Photo: Savana Willhoite
Photo: Facebook.com/4TomAndChee
Creamy Chicken Soup from French Crust Cafe 1801 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine This charming French cafe from chef Jean-Robert de Cavel specializes in Parisian bistro classics, from quiche and croissants to omelets.The made-from-scratch creamy chicken soup is a favorite. The soup is not only warming but also filling, made with blended rice and mushrooms for something extra. Pair it with a baguette with tuna nicoise-style salad. Photo: Facebook.com/frenchcrustcafe
Sweet-n-Sour Cabbage Soup from Izzy’s Multiple locations including 800 Elm St., Downtown; 7651 Mall Road Florence; 1198 Smiley Ave., Forest Park; 4766 Red Bank Expy., Madisonville; 5098 Glencrossing Way, Western Hills Known for their Reubens, Izzy’s has been serving Cincinnatians for over 120 years. And like any good deli, they’ve got some good soup. Try a cup or a bowl of their sweet and sour cabbage soup. Pair it with one of their famous Reubens or try a specialty sandwich like the Pastrami Delight. Photo: Facebook.com/IzzyKadetz
Chicken Fajita Soup from B&A Street Kitchen 1500 Race St., Over-the-Rhine If you’re looking for some Southern comfort food mixed with Tex-Mex, look no further than B&A Street Kitchen. For something warm, try the chicken fajita soup made with masa harina and topped with taco strips. Photo: Facebook.com/BAStreetKitchen
Chicken Noodle Soup from La Soupe 915 E McMillan St., Walnut Hills La Soupe is a nonprofit organization that creates meals for the food insecure with perishables that otherwise would be thrown away. They also make excellent soup daily you can order online for takeaway. Their classic chicken noodle soup is a favorite, made with chicken stock, egg noodles, lemon juice, herbs and a kick of chili flakes. Photo: Facebook.com/LaSoupeCincinnati
Mock Turtle Soup from Silver Ladle 580 Walnut St., Downtown This Cincinnati fast-casual soup, sandwich and salad spot downtown has been serving up delicious and healthy diner food to the Queen City since 2012. For a gluten-free soup option try the mock turtle soup, topped with a chopped egg. Like Cincinnati chili, mock turtle soup is one of those weird local favorites. Photo: Facebook.com/SilverLadle
Kimchi Zhi Gae from Riverside Korean Restaurant 512 Madison Ave., Covington For authentic Korean dishes, Riverside Korean Restaurant is an excellent choice. They offer traditional rice-based, steaming hot dolsot bibimbap with mixed vegetables, a sunny-side-up egg and your choice of beef, chicken or tofu. For our soupy needs, try the kimchi zhi gae, a spicy kimchi stew made with pork, tofu, mushroom, hot pepper and onion, topped with green onion. Photo: Facebook.com/RiversideKoreanRestaurant
Ramen from Zundo Ramen & Donburi 220 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine Slurp-worthy bowls make Zundo the go-to for ramen in Over-the-Rhine. The restaurant, which opened in fall of 2018, offers traditional 14-hour broth, along with flavor-amping ingredients like pork belly and soft-boiled egg with custardy yolk. The traditional Tonkotsu Ramen is delicious, but so is their vegetarian version, with bamboo shoots, lotus root and green onions. Photo: Facebook.com/ZundoRamen
Soup of the Day from Em’s Sourdough Bread 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine Em’s Sourdough Bread is a small bakery inside of Findlay Market with the tagline “Peace, Love, Bread.” They not only serve up fresh-made bread but also sandwiches, salads and soup. The rotating soup of the day pairs perfectly with Em’s indulgent “Not Your Moms” Grilled Cheese, made with sharp cheddar and creamy garlic cheese. Photo: Facebook.com/EmsBread
Corn Chowder from Press on Monmouth 421 Monmouth St., Newport Newport’s Press on Monmouth offers delectable rice/quinoa bowls and sandwiches suited for breakfast, lunch and everything in-between. Regardless of what you order, add a side of crispy waffle-ironed tater tots (which can also replace the grains as the base in their bowls). Like any good lunch spot, they offer a rotating soup of the day. But their main soup staple is their creamy corn chowder. Photo: Facebook.com/PressOnMonmouth
Black Bean Soup from The Pickled Pig 645 E. Mcmillan St., Walnut Hills The Pickled Pig is know for sandwiches, soups and salads made from scratch, as well as small-batch fermented and pickled goods. Try the vegan black bean soup, made with a veggie broth, poblano peppers, sofrito and black beans. We’d also recommend their Korean carrot or beet and apple salad from the deli case. Photo: Facebook.com/SmokedAndPickled
Seasonal Soup from Unataza Coffee 620 Sixth Ave., Dayton, Kentucky With a mission to bring Honduran coffee and food to the Cincinnati area, Unataza Coffee in Dayton, Kentucky serves a piece of culture to every customer. Order a wrap, soup, salad or bowl; some even come with plantain chips. The soup rotates on a seasonal schedule; butternut squash is available now. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
French Onion Soup from Trio Bistro 7565 Kenwood Road, Montgomery There’s nothing better and more flavorful than a bowl of French onion soup. Stop by Trio Bistro in Kenwood for an authentic crock of the complexly flavored classic, topped with bubbling cheese. Photo: Facebook.com/TrioBistro
Daily Soup from Fred & Gari’s 629 Vine St., Downtown For more than 30 years, Fred & Gari’s has been a bustling favorite of the downtown lunch crowd, with its ’80s-throwback neon sign, house-roasted meats, pizza and homemade dessert. The deli also specializes in a damn good soup-and-sandwich combo. Their daily rotation of soups, like buffalo chicken and tomato, are made from scratch. Photo: Facebook.com/FredGaris
Vegetable Soup from Frisch’s Multiple Cincinnati locations Cincinnati-based restaurant chain Frisch’s Big Boy is known for its stacked burgers and special sauce, but also a range of soup and salad options. For a lighter option, enjoy the vegetable soup made with carrots, onions and celery. Photo: Hailey Bollinger