Camp Washington Chili ★ 4.7
Camp Washington on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati's Camp Washington has been the 24-hour chili counter since 1940, and a James Beard America's Classic winner.
Try: Cincinnati 5-way and cheese coney
Eat well in Cincinnati for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Cheap eats worth seeking out
Skyline Chili Clifton ★ 4.4
Skyline Chili on Ludlow Avenue in Cincinnati's Clifton is the Clifton Skyline location open since 1966, with the regional 3-way chili and the cheese coney.
Try: Cincinnati 3-way and coney
Gold Star Chili ★ 4.1
Gold Star Chili on Beechmont Avenue in Cincinnati's Mt. Washington is the regional chili-parlor chain since 1965, with the 4-way chili and the cheese coney.
Try: Cincinnati 4-way and coney
Pho Lang Thang ★ 4.6
Pho Lang Thang on Race Street in Cincinnati's Findlay Market OTR is the Vietnamese pho and banh mi counter, with bun bowls and spring rolls.
Try: Vietnamese pho and banh mi
LaRosa's Pizzeria Boudinot ★ 4.2
LaRosa's on Boudinot Avenue in Cincinnati's Westwood is the original 1954 location of the Cincinnati pizza chain, with the square pie and the hoagy.
Try: Square sweet-sauce pizza and hoagy
Chino's Street Food ★ 4.5
Chino's Street Food on West Elder Street in Cincinnati's Findlay Market OTR is Nick Ho's weekend Chino-Latino outdoor stall, with fried rice and street tacos.
Try: Chino-Latino fried rice, Vietnamese street tacos, crab rangoon
Eli's BBQ Riverside ★ 4.6
Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati's East End is the smoker-led counter for pulled pork sandwiches and jalapeno cheddar grits, picnic-table only.
Try: Pulled pork sandwich and cheddar grits
Izzy's Deli ★ 4.3
Izzy's on Elm Street downtown is Cincinnati's century-old kosher-style Jewish deli since 1901, with the signature reuben and the giant potato pancake.
Try: Reuben sandwich and potato pancake