We know, the Cleveland restaurants scene is just blowing up at the moment. So how does one choose where to eat? Well, don’t worry, we decided to put together a list of the hottest spots right now. These places have either just opened, expanded to a new location, changed ownership or menus, or are just having a moment right now. So check them out.

Hot Chicken Takeover 242 Main St., Westlake Our nation is presently in the grip of a fried chicken frenzy. Celebrity chefs are unveiling fried chicken spin-offs, every other restaurant has added fried chicken sandwiches to the menu, and variations like Korean-fried chicken, fried chicken and waffles, and Nashville hot chicken continue to gain market share. Why are diners obsessed with fried chicken? Because it’s delicious. Messy, but delicious. The best fried chicken shacks keep it simple, do it right and deliver the goods in an attractive setting with great customer service. That describes Hot Chicken Takeover to a ‘T’. Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Sawyer’s 3396 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights In many ways, Sawyer’s can be viewed as the culmination of all the chef’s previous restaurants, a culinary composition that represents the James Beard Award-winning chef’s experiences with French, Italian, Japanese and American cookery. At the same time, his latest production is nearly impossible to pigeonhole. Less magnum opus than “greatest hits” compilation, the restaurant reprises many fan favorites from years and meals past. While no longer revelatory, dishes like confit chicken wings, beef fat candle, strangolapreti and Tabasco fried chicken are nevertheless worthy of encore performances. Photo via The Van Aken District
Angie’s Soul Food Cafe 7815 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland It’s been nearly two years since we first learned of plans to renovate the former Hot Sauce Williams building on Carnegie into a splashy new Angie’s Soul Café. Angie’s offers soul food classics like crispy fried chicken, freshly fried fish, daily specials like meatloaf, Salisbury steak and liver and onions, and those irresistible sides like black-eyed peas, collards greens and macaroni and cheese. Photo via Scene Archives
Gually’s Bakery and Restaurant 6201 Denison Ave., Cleveland We can now add Gually’s Bakery & Restaurant to the growing selection of quick-serve Puerto Rican delis and bakeries in Cleveland’s Tremont, Clark Fulton and Stockyards neighborhoods. Like the others, Gually’s Bakery offers walk-up counter service and a small dining room in which to sit and eat. This deli offers a combination of prepared foods, foods cooked to order, pastries and coffee. More than a dozen sandwiches, including hot-pressed Cubanos and Tripletas, join hearty combination plates that include meat, rice and beans. Photo by Doug Trattner
Foodhisattva 2158 South Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights The Economist magazine recently declared 2019 “The year of the vegan,” predicting that this “will be the year veganism goes mainstream.” But here in Cleveland it’s still remarkably challenging to chase down a delicious, creative and wholly dairy- and meat-free meal. That’s why Foodhisattva, a vegan Asian fusion cafe, has been such a welcome addition to the east side dining scene. Photo by Emanuel Wallace
EDWINS Bakery 13106 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland Brandon Chrostowski isn’t one to sit on his hands. Since launching the pioneering EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, the chef, restaurateur and philanthropist has expanded the scope of his skills-based program for formerly incarcerated men and women to include EDWINS Second Chance Life Skills Center and EDWINS Butcher Shop. He also is a consultant on Sérénité in Medina and in partnership with the West Side Catholic Center in the nonprofit Ohio City Pizzeria. Next up is EDWINS Bakery , which opens this Friday in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood of Cleveland. In addition to pastries and breads, the bakery also serves breakfast. Photo via EDWINS/Facebook
Dang Good Foods 13735 Madison Ave., Lakewood Less than a year ago, Daniel Ang launched the popular Singapore-style food truck Dang Good Foods, selling foods inspired by his childhood. There, he grew up eating a melting pot cuisine with roots in Chinese, Indian, Malay, Japanese and Korean cooking. When Thai Thai announced it was relocating, Ang jumped at the space. The menu builds upon the dishes that Ang has been selling from the truck. Items include crispy spring rolls, savory Spam musubi, Singapore fried rice, soy-braised pork or chicken steam buns and nasi lemak, coconut milk seasoned jasmine rice with crispy chicken wings, cucumber, egg and a sweet-spicy chili sauce. Photo via Scene Archives
Half Moon Bakery 3460 West 25th St., Cleveland After more than three years of pop-ups and catering, Half Moon Bakery finally unveiled its brick-and-mortar bakery in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, located across the street from MetroHealth. The carry-out empanada shop features the signature half-moon-shaped pastries, stuffed with flavor-packed combinations such as shredded chicken with garlic tomato sauce, tofu with seasoned veggies, and pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato sauce, along with sandwiches, fresh bread, pastries and cakes. Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Rosso Italia 3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood After almost 15 years in business, the popular upscale Beachwood-steakhouse Red shuttered in late 2019, moving down the road to the mixed-use development Pinecrest. Luckily for diners, veteran restaurateur Brad Friedlander quickly turned the space into an upscale Italian joint. And this place delivers all the traditional goods at a very high quality. Photo via Scene Archives
Il Venetian 100 St. Clair Ave. NE., Cleveland From the team behind Marble Room, and the fabulous Lockkeepers in Valley View, Il Venetian opened to rave reviews in 2018. While the city in general is full of Italian restaurants, downtown doesn’t have a ton of them. Now, there’s a new option, and it’s up there for the best Italian in town, with a creative menu and beautiful decor. Photo via Il Venetian/Facebook
Mojo World Eats 2196 Lee Rd., Cleveland Heights After roughly 40 years in business, Lopez will cease to exist in Cleveland Heights. The pioneering Mexican eatery began life in 1980, when owners Brad Friedlander and Craig Somers opened the spot at Lee and Washington. For the past 15 years, Lopez lived across from the Cedar Lee Theatre, the last three years of which were under the ownership of longtime chef Michael Herschman. Soon, Herschman will revive his former Tremont bistro Mojo. Like the original, Mojo will present a lengthy menu loaded with globally diverse and appealing options. The current working catalogue approaches 40 different items, most of which take inspiration from Pacific Rim, Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines. Photo via Scene Archives
Hola Tacos 12102 Madison Ave., Lakewood From the family who also operates the beloved Barroco Arepa Bars in Lakewood, Westlake and on Larchmere, they have assembled a concise but compelling menu of traditional tacos that represent a nice selection of regional classics at Hola Tacos. Al pastor tacos are made “al trompo,” with thin-sliced pork carved from a rotating spit and garnished with pineapple, onions and cilantro. Cochinita pibil tacos consist of slow-roasted adobo-marinated pork capped with pickled red onion. Coal-fired steak is at the heart of the carne asada tacos and roasted cauliflower serves as the filling for a vegetarian selection. Photo via Scene Archives
Saucy Brew Works Pinecrest, Orange Village In a move designed to increase its presence on the east side of town, Saucy Brew Works will open a brewpub at Pinecrest, according to partner-brewer Eric Anderson. This new spot is modest compared to other existing and planned projects. At 2,000 square feet, the pub will accommodate about 75 guests. The goal is to open in early spring. Photo via Scene Archives
Hacienda Tapatia 1572 West 117th St., Cleveland For the past two and a half years, Tapatias Taqueria (12501 Lorain Ave.,) has been attracting Mexican food fans with its broad menu of flavorful options. In addition to tacos, tortas, sopes, tostadas and burritos, the full-service restaurant offers a dozen or so big plates built around items like grilled steak, whole fried fish and grilled shrimp. With one success under their belt, the operators have decided to expand. Earlier this month, they opened Hacienda Tapatia, which they describe as a “modern Mexican cantina.” Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Zhug 12413 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights With the unveiling of this new venture, Doug Katz has created a new gravitational center for this side of town, attracting diners with such force that many get turned away. If your idea of Middle Eastern food consists largely of tightly wrapped falafel sandwiches, shawarma carved from a twirling spit and grilled beef shish-kabob on a bed of rice, Zhug will expand your culinary horizons in a million little ways. With its dazzling small plates, meticulously crafted cocktails and ripped-from-Tel Aviv-vibe, this cosmopolitan eatery upends every Cleveland dining convention. Photo by Emanuel Wallace

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