34 cheap eats places in Cincinnati, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Cincinnati: the places editors actually return to. All Cincinnati food.
Eli's BBQ ★ 4.8
walnut-hills · 3313 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati's East End is the smoker-led pulled-pork and brisket counter that grew from a single backyard pit.
Mom 'n 'em Coffee and Wine ★ 4.8
camp-washington · 3128 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
Mom 'n 'em on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati's Camp Washington is the corner cafe-and-wine bar named the best coffee shop in Ohio by Food and Wine magazine.
Eli's BBQ Counter ★ 4.8
walnut-hills · 3313 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45226
Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati's East End is the picnic-table smokehouse counter, with pulled pork and cheddar grits from one pit.
Allez Bakery ★ 4.7
over-the-rhine · 1208 Main St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Allez Bakery on Main Street in OTR is the natural-leavened French bread program from Thomas McKenna, with country loaves and viennoiserie in Cincinnati.
Graeter's Hyde Park ★ 4.7
hyde-park · 2704 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Graeter's on Erie Avenue in Cincinnati's Hyde Park Square is the Hyde Park scoop counter and bakery since 1870, with French-pot ice cream and sweets.
Carabello Coffee ★ 4.7
covington-newport · 107 E 9th St, Newport, KY 41071
Carabello Coffee on East 9th Street in Cincinnati's Newport KY is the cross-river specialty roastery and cafe sourcing from Nicaragua co-ops.
Camp Washington Chili ★ 4.7
camp-washington · 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
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.
BonBonerie ★ 4.6
hyde-park · 2030 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208
BonBonerie on Madison Road in Cincinnati's O'Bryonville is the long-running French and Italian tea-room bakery with the opera cream torte and tea service.
Brown Bear Bakery ★ 4.6
over-the-rhine · 116 E 13th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Brown Bear Bakery on East 13th Street in OTR is the local-sourcing American bake shop in Cincinnati, with sticky buns, morning buns, scones and seasonal pies.
Coffee Emporium OTR ★ 4.6
over-the-rhine · 110 E Central Pkwy, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Coffee Emporium on East Central Parkway in Cincinnati's OTR is the city's oldest coffeehouse since 1973, with pour-overs and house-roasted beans.
Camp Washington Chili Counter ★ 4.6
camp-washington · 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
Camp Washington on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati's Camp Washington runs the 24-hour chili counter since 1940, the JBF America's Classic winner.
Pho Lang Thang ★ 4.6
over-the-rhine · 1828 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
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.
Eli's BBQ Riverside ★ 4.6
walnut-hills · 3313 Riverside Dr, Cincinnati, OH 45226
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.
Sixteen Bricks Bakery ★ 4.5
walnut-hills · 4760-B Paddock Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45229
Sixteen Bricks on Paddock Road in Cincinnati is the artisan wholesale sourdough bakery supplying OTR restaurant baskets, with country loaves.
Sidewinder Coffee ★ 4.5
northside · 4181 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45223
Sidewinder Coffee on Hamilton Avenue in Cincinnati's Northside is the independent neighborhood coffee shop and roastery since 2004, with ethical beans.
Chino's Street Food ★ 4.5
over-the-rhine · 133 W Elder St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Chino's Street Food at Cincinnati's Findlay Market on West Elder Street is Nick Ho's Chino-Latino outdoor stall, with fried rice, Vietnamese tacos.
Chino's Street Food ★ 4.5
over-the-rhine · 133 W Elder St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
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.
Holtman's Donuts Loveland ★ 4.4
covington-newport · 1399 State Route 28, Loveland, OH 45140
Holtman's Donuts in Loveland is the original Cincinnati-area donut counter since 1960, with maple-bacon donuts, old-fashioneds and yeast-raised classics.
Busken Bakery Hyde Park ★ 4.4
hyde-park · 2675 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Busken Bakery on Madison Road in Cincinnati's Hyde Park is the third-generation Cincinnati bakery since 1928, with the smiley-face cookie polls.
Mom 'n 'em Madisonville ★ 4.4
madisonville · 4310 Whetsel Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45227
Mom 'n 'em on Whetsel Avenue in Cincinnati's Madisonville is the second location of the Camp Washington coffee shop, with natural wine pours.
Skyline Chili Clifton ★ 4.4
clifton · 290 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
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.
Servatii Hyde Park ★ 4.3
hyde-park · 3824 Paxton Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45209
Servatii on Paxton Avenue in Cincinnati's Hyde Park is the Hyde Park outpost of the local German bakery chain, with soft pretzels, tortes and rye breads.
Roebling Point Books and Coffee ★ 4.3
covington-newport · 306 Greenup St, Covington, KY 41011
Roebling Point Books and Coffee on Greenup Street in Cincinnati's Covington KY is the indie bookshop and coffee bar overlooking the Roebling Bridge.
Pho Lang Thang Counter ★ 4.3
over-the-rhine · 1828 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Pho Lang Thang at Cincinnati's Findlay Market on Race Street is the standing Vietnamese counter from the Nguyen and Le partners, with pho noodle bowls.
Izzy's Deli ★ 4.3
downtown · 800 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
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.
Izzy's ★ 4.2
downtown · 800 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Izzy's on Elm Street downtown is Cincinnati's kosher-style Jewish deli founded in 1901, with the signature reuben sandwich and giant potato pancake.
Deeper Roots Coffee Oakley ★ 4.2
oakley · 3056 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209
Deeper Roots on Madison Road in Cincinnati's Oakley is the flagship cafe of the local specialty roastery, with espressos and direct-trade beans.
Maverick Chocolate Co ★ 4.2
over-the-rhine · 1820 Race St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Maverick Chocolate at Cincinnati's Findlay Market on Race Street is the bean-to-bar chocolate counter, with single-origin bars and drinking chocolate.
LaRosa's Pizzeria Boudinot ★ 4.2
west-side · 2411 Boudinot Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45238
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.
Coffee Emporium Hyde Park ★ 4.1
hyde-park · 3316 Erie Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45208
Coffee Emporium on Erie Avenue in Cincinnati's Hyde Park Square is the second location of the city's oldest coffeehouse, with pour-overs and pastries.
Gold Star Chili ★ 4.1
mt-washington · 2231 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230
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.
City Bird OTR ★ 4.0
over-the-rhine · 1344 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
City Bird on Vine Street in OTR is Cincinnati's Thunderdome fast-casual chicken flagship, with brined tenders, sandwiches and house hot sauce options.
Cheapside Cafe ★ 4.0
downtown · 326 E 8th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Cheapside Cafe on East 8th Street in Cincinnati's downtown is the all-day cafe and lunch counter with espresso bar, sandwiches and seasonal soup bowls.
Skyline Coney Counter ★ 4.0
clifton · 290 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Skyline on Ludlow Avenue in Cincinnati's Clifton runs the cheese coney counter, the regional Cincinnati hot dog under chili, onions and cheddar.