Italian$$italian-villageMon-Fri 07:00-15:00; Sat-Sun 08:00-15:00
Fox in the Snow Italian Village on North Fourth Street is the second Columbus Fox shop, with the egg sandwich and a quieter morning room than original.
Why locals love it: On North Fourth Street north of the brewery row, the second Fox cafe is quieter than German Village in the morning.
Tip: Weekday mornings are easier than the German Village original.
Japanese$$upper-arlingtonMon-Sat 10:00-19:00; closed Sun
Belle's Bread Japanese Bakery at Columbus's Kenny Centre is the Japanese-French bakery and cafe, with milk bread, melon pan and strawberry cream cake.
Why locals love it: Inside Kenny Centre's Japan Marketplace, the Japanese-French bakery counter pulls milk bread and strawberry cake.
Tip: Closed Sunday; morning pickups are the freshest.
Burgers$$german-villageMon-Thu 11:00-22:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
The Old Mohawk on Mohawk Street has been a German Village tavern since 1933 with turtle soup and tavern burgers, off the South Third Street tourist trail.
Why locals love it: Off the German Village tourist path on Mohawk Street, the Schumacher Place tavern has the turtle soup and a cash-friendly bar since 1933.
Tip: Order the cup of turtle soup and the tavern burger at the back-room bar.
Vegetarian$$german-villageMon-Thu 17:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 17:00-22:00; closed Sun
Comune on Parsons Avenue in Columbus's Schumacher Place runs a plant-forward dining room with a weekly seasonal menu off the German Village rotation.
Why locals love it: On Parsons Avenue in Schumacher Place rather than Short North, the plant-forward room pulls a weekly menu off the farm haul.
Tip: Reserve on OpenTable; follow the Instagram for the day's pickup.
New American$$worthingtonTue-Thu 08:00-14:00; Fri-Sat 08:00-18:00; Sun 08:00-14:00; closed Mon
Joya's Cafe on High Street in Old Worthington Columbus is Avishar Barua's Bengali American daytime room (2024 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes semifinalist).
Why locals love it: Up High Street in Old Worthington (not Columbus core), the Bengali American daytime room from a 2024 James Beard semifinalist.
Tip: Mornings on weekdays are faster than weekend brunch.
Middle Eastern$$downtownMon 10:00-17:00; Tue-Sat 09:00-19:00; Sun 10:00-17:00
Hoyo's Kitchen at North Market downtown serves Somali sambusas, suqaar and rice bowls for Columbus's significant Somali population since 2014.
Why locals love it: Inside North Market, the Hassan family's Somali counter is one of the few US Somali restaurants visible to non-Somali Columbus eaters.
Tip: Order the beef sambusa and a chicken suqaar over rice Word-of-mouth is the only marketing.