American$$southland-driveMon-Thu 08:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 08:00-22:00; Sun 08:00-21:00
Winchell's covers Southland Drive breakfasts, beer cheese and UK game days in one room, the Lexington neighbourhood standby that opens at 08:00 every day.
Signature: Beer cheese, Country breakfast
Tip: Breakfast runs until 11:00 weekdays and past noon on weekends; expect a wait after Saturday UK kickoffs.
Cajun$chevy-chaseMon-Sat 11:00-21:00; Sun 12:00-20:00
Bourbon n' Toulouse ladles etouffee, jambalaya and gumbo over rice on Euclid Avenue, Lexington's counter-service Cajun habit and a family business since 2004.
Signature: Crawfish etouffee, Gumbo
Tip: Order at the counter and grab a porch table; vegan and gluten-free pots are always on the board.
Barbecue$$warehouse-blockMon-Thu 11:00-15:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-20:00; closed Sun
Blue Door Smokehouse slices Texas-style brisket to order in Lexington's Warehouse Block, selling until the day's smoked meat runs out by mid-afternoon.
Signature: Brisket, Pulled pork
Tip: Go before 13:00; when the brisket sells out they close, whatever the posted hours say.
Italian$$downtownTue-Thu 11:00-21:00; Fri-Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00; closed Mon
Joe Bologna's has baked pizza and garlic-butter breadsticks inside a stained-glass former synagogue since 1973, a Lexington institution near the UK campus.
Signature: Garlic breadsticks, Pan pizza
Tip: The garlic breadsticks are non-negotiable; go before 18:00 on UK game days or expect a long wait.
Greek$$chevy-chaseMon-Sun 10:30-21:00
Athenian Grill plates gyros, spanakopita and baklava on South Ashland Avenue in Chevy Chase, the sit-down home of Lexington's favourite Greek kitchen.
Signature: Gyro, Spanakopita
Tip: Open 10:30-21:00 daily; the gyro bowls travel well if the small dining room is full at lunch.
Latin American$$downtownWed-Sat 11:30-22:00; Sun 11:30-21:00; Mon 17:00-21:00; closed Tue
Corto Lima presses its own corn tortillas downtown at Short and Upper, Jonathan Lundy's Latin American kitchen and Lexington's standing margarita champion.
Signature: House-made corn tortillas, Margaritas
Tip: No reservations; seating is first come, first served. Closed Tuesdays, and Monday is dinner only from 17:00.