Hawaiian$Tue-Sun 11:00-21:00; closed Mon
Big Kahuna grills Hawaiian barbecue plates and stacked burgers on Liberty Road, the Lexington original that later added a second Clays Mill Road shop.
Try: Hawaiian barbecue plates
Tip: Closed Mondays at both shops; the Liberty Road original keeps the shorter queue at weekday lunch.
Cajun$chevy-chaseMon-Sat 11:00-21:00; Sun 12:00-20:00
Bourbon n' Toulouse ladles etouffee, jambalaya and gumbo over rice on Euclid Avenue, Lexington's counter-service Cajun habit and a family business since 2004.
Signature: Crawfish etouffee, Gumbo
Try: Etouffee and gumbo over rice
Tip: Order at the counter and grab a porch table; vegan and gluten-free pots are always on the board.
Korean$$downtownMon-Sat 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:00
Han Woo Ri simmers soon doo boo and grills bulgogi on South Limestone by the UK campus, the Korean kitchen that keeps Lexington students and expats fed.
Signature: Soon doo boo, Bulgogi
Try: Korean lunch specials
Tip: The kitchen breaks between lunch and dinner; arrive before 14:00 or after 17:00 and start with kimchi dumplings.
Japanese$$chevy-chaseMon-Thu 11:00-21:30; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 12:00-21:00
Umami Ramen & Grill ladles tonkotsu-style bowls, katsu curry and teriyaki plates on Euclid Avenue, Lexington's budget-friendly ramen stop near the UK campus.
Try: Ramen bowls and rice plates
Tip: Ramen, fried rice and bubble tea cover most tables; Sunday opens at noon, every other day at 11:00.
Haitian$$Mon-Sat 11:00-23:00; Sun 14:00-23:00
Le Gourmet cooks Haitian family recipes on South Broadway, bringing poulet pane, grilled fish and slow beef stews to Lexington seven days a week until late.
Signature: Poulet pane, Grilled fish
Try: Haitian plates
Tip: Open until 23:00 nightly, Sunday from 14:00; portions are generous, so order the soup only if sharing.
American$Tue-Sat 11:00-20:00
Bert's SpeakCheezy builds Prohibition-named gourmet grilled cheeses like the Hotsy Totsy on Liberty Road, the food truck that earned a Lexington storefront.
Signature: The Hotsy Totsy
Try: Gourmet grilled cheese
Tip: Tuesday to Saturday only; the Blind Pig and Dizzy Dame rotate with seasonal melts, so order at the counter and ask what is new.