Royals Hot Chicken is a nashville-style hot chicken restaurant in Nulu, Louisville.
Royals Hot Chicken on East Market in Louisville fries Nashville-style hot chicken from Ryan Rogers's Eternal Optimist group, the NuLu counter open since 2015.
Signature dishes: Hot chicken sandwich, Tachos
Must order: The hot chicken sandwich at medium heat, with a side of tachos.
Tip: Order at the counter. The hot levels run from southern to plain-clucking insane.
Address: 736 East Market Street, Louisville, KY 40202
Chef Noam Bilitzer's MeeshMeesh in Louisville took a 2025 James Beard finalist nod with Levantine plates from his NuLu kitchen on East Market Street.
Signature: Shefha multi-course tasting, Wood-grilled lamb
Order: The Shefha shareable tasting menu with a group of four, plus the wood-grilled lamb.
Tip: Resy opens 60 days ahead at 11:00 for dinner Tuesday to Sunday. The patio takes walk-ins in warm months.
Chef Bruce Ucan's Mayan Cafe in Louisville cooks Yucatecan plates with Kentucky farm produce, the East Market NuLu room locals recommend to first-timers.
Signature: Tok-sel lima beans, Cochinita pibil
Order: The tok-sel lima beans wok-seared with pumpkin seeds, the dish locals rave about.
Tip: Book on Resy. The new patio bar takes walk-ins for a quick plate and a mezcal before dinner service.
Mark's Feed Store on Shelbyville Road in Louisville has hickory-smoked Kentucky BBQ since 1988, the Saint Matthews counter for pulled pork, brisket and a hearty bowl of burgoo.
Signature: Hickory-smoked pulled pork, Burgoo
Order: A pulled-pork plate with two sides and a cup of burgoo on the side.
Tip: Order ahead by phone for catering trays. Burgoo is the Kentucky stew side worth a try.
Pat's Steakhouse on Brownsboro Road in Louisville has cooked hand-cut steaks for decades, the family-run room locals book for an anniversary on a quiet weeknight.
Signature: Hand-cut steaks, House sides
Order: A bone-in ribeye and the house creamed spinach.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Book on OpenTable for the dining room; the bar runs first-come.
Edward Lee's 610 Magnolia in Louisville runs a weekly tasting menu out of an Old Louisville Victorian, the chef's Southern-Korean flagship since 2003.
Signature: Weekly changing tasting menu, Bourbon pairings
Order: Whatever the night's tasting menu opens with, then a bourbon pairing flight from the cellar.
Tip: Book on OpenTable for parties of six or fewer. Wednesday and Thursday seats open up first.
Proof on Main in Louisville pairs chef Cody Stone's Ohio Valley plates with a deep bourbon list, set inside the 21c Museum Hotel on West Main Street.
Signature: Bison burger, Seasonal Ohio Valley plates
Order: The bison burger from the local grass-fed herd, plus a bourbon flight curated by the bar team.
Tip: Walk in for the bar menu before 18:00, then dinner reservations land easier on weeknights.
Chef Noam Bilitzer's MeeshMeesh in Louisville took a 2025 James Beard finalist nod with Levantine plates from his NuLu kitchen on East Market Street.
Signature: Shefha multi-course tasting, Wood-grilled lamb
Order: The Shefha shareable tasting menu with a group of four, plus the wood-grilled lamb.
Tip: Resy opens 60 days ahead at 11:00 for dinner Tuesday to Sunday. The patio takes walk-ins in warm months.
Chef Bruce Ucan's Mayan Cafe in Louisville cooks Yucatecan plates with Kentucky farm produce, the East Market NuLu room locals recommend to first-timers.
Signature: Tok-sel lima beans, Cochinita pibil
Order: The tok-sel lima beans wok-seared with pumpkin seeds, the dish locals rave about.
Tip: Book on Resy. The new patio bar takes walk-ins for a quick plate and a mezcal before dinner service.
