There are so many exceptional places to eat in Cleveland, and to narrow down the 30 best dishes is no easy task. Although we’re sure you’ll still take issue with our selections, this list is absolutely a place to start for those looking for some of the best things to nosh on in this city.
Omakase at Ginko
2247 Professor Ave., Cleveland
If you take a seat at the Ginko sushi bar and say “Omakase,” you will have the best sushi-eating experience available in Cleveland. Working with the highest quality of fish, the chefs there will slice and present a sparkling parade of sashimi that almost looks too good to eat.
Photo by Douglas TrattnerBarberton-Style Fried Chicken at White House Chicken
180 Wooster Rd. N., Barberton
Famous for its unique style of fried chicken, one rooted in Serbian recipes, the town of Barberton once had as many as half a dozen places all preparing similar versions of the dish. Many are long gone, but White House is still here and doing it right. The bird is never frozen and always fried in lard, producing a glistening copper crust.
Photo via Scene ArchivesFrench Fries at Tommy’s Restaurant
1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights
Known for their vegetarian and healthy options, this Coventry Road staple has been serving up Clevelanders since 1972. While they had vegetarian and vegan options before those became popular, they have more than just healthy options. The thick-cut french fries are the best in town. Throw some salt and malt vinegar on and you’re good to go.
Photo via Tommy’s Restaurant/FacebookSteve Gyro’s at the West Side Market
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland
When a gyro is featured on Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate”, you know it’s serious. A heaping pile of absolutely lamb is placed upon a fresh pita and served with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce for the best gyro around.
Photo via Steve’s Gyros/FacebookPierogies at Sokolowski’s University Inn
1201 University Rd., Cleveland
Starch on starch can never be a bad thing, especially when it’s floating on a bed of onions in a sea of melted butter. If and when winter descends upon The Land, load up a tray full of these heartwarming Polish love letters and top them off with sour cream and grilled onions if you know what’s good for you.
Photo via Sokolowski’s University Inn/FacebookSlyman’s
3106 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland
16 tons and what do you get? The best corned beef sandwich in Cleveland. They still slice every sandwich to order, and every sandwich still towers above much of the competition. Amaze your friends by ordering in Slymaneze: a “natural” means plain; “original” comes with mustard; and “Smurf” buys you one with Swiss and mustard (which ain’t kosher, by the way).
Photo via Scene ArchivesPolish Boy at Seti’s Polish Boys
All Around Town
One of the foods Cleveland can claim as its own is the Polish Boy. Rooted in our Eastern European past, the hefty kielbasa-and-fries-based fistwich is the model of economy. Rolled into one baby-size bundle are meat, veg, starch and sauce, which combine to form one of the world’s messiest and most delicious meals.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDublin Lawyer at Nighttown
12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights
The preeminent jazz and blues club in town also serves up some of the best high end pub fare in town, and that’s been the case since 1965. The Dublin Lawyer, their house speciality, is fresh lobster sautéed in a mild cayenne butter cream sauce, mushrooms, scallions and Irish whiskey and is served with rice pilaf and it’s worth the trip alone. This classic dish is like gold-plated comfort food, a seafood studded sauce ladled over rice.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBeef Cheek Pierogies at Lola
2058 East Fourth St., Cleveland
When Michael Symon swapped out the tried-and-true potato-and-cheese filling in Lola’s pierogis for slow-braised beef cheeks, he cemented his place as prince of the old-meets-new world of Midwestern cookery. Often duplicated but never bested, these tender pockets of love are mandatory eating at this flagship bistro.
Photo via Scene ArchivesXiao Long Bao at LJ Shanghai
3142 Superior Ave., Cleveland
LJ Shanghai made a splash in Asia Town in 2017 when they opened as the first true dumpling restaurant in Cleveland. Poke a hole in their dumplings, or Xao Long Bao, let a little soup drip out onto your soup spoon, and then take the dumplings down in one bite. Thank us later.
Photo via Scene ArchivesTacos at La Plaza Supermarket
13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood
All it takes to get your hands on what many deem the best tacos in Cleveland is venturing to this Lakewood supermarket. This grocery store cooks up barbacoa, carnitas, chorizo and al pastor tacos in front of your eyes. They’re served up as-is, but load up on diced onion, cilantro, guac and salsas to your heart’s desire.
Photo via Scene ArchivesOnion Soup Gratinee at L’Albatros
11401 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland
Everything is delicious at Zack Bruell’s University Circle French brasserie. But the french onion soup takes the cuisine to the next level. They do the dish perfectly, but it’s the added touch of putting chunks of brisket in the bottom that really makes this divine.
Photo via L’Albatros Brasserie + Bar/FacebookThe Burger at Johnny’s Little Bar
614 Frankfort Ave., Cleveland
Right around the corner from the popular Warehouse district white tablecloth Italian joint Johnny’s, you’ll find Johnny’s Little Bar, an iconic Cleveland spot, and much more affordable than their parent restaurant. The bar boasts a “world famous” burger, and it’s phenomenal.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDiavolo Pie at Il Rione
1303 West 56th St., Cleveland
Il Rione might be “just a neighborhood pizza parlor,” but it elevates the genre thanks to warm lighting, stylishly weathered interior, and a killer playlist from the golden age of rock. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out, especially when it comes to the Diavolo Pie, consisting of red sauce, mozzarella, calabrian chiles, spicy salami and red onions. Yum.
Photo via @IlRionePizzeria/InstagramCornbread at Hodge’s
668 Euclid Ave., Cleveland
One of the best foods in town actually comes to the table free of charge and what a treat it is. Served in a hot skillet with a side of maple bourbon butter, we challenge you to find better cornbread anywhere, even in the south. Head to Hodge’s for the cornbread and stay for a martini on the large patio in the courtyard of the luxury apartment building called ‘668.
Photo via Hodge’s/Facebook
Beef Tartare Greenhouse Tavern
2038 East Fourth St., Cleveland
Chef Jonathan Sawyer’s Greenhouse Tavern has been featured on the Food Network’s Top 5 Restaurants and Best Thing I Ever Ate. There are a lot of great dishes here, like the whole pig’s head, the animal-style frites, the crispy chicken wings confit and many more. But the beef tartare takes the cake. The Certified Angus Beef is served with chopped red onion, pickled relish, roasted Fresno peppers, aioli, stadium mustard and crispy pommes frites and it’s to die for.
Photo via The Greenhouse Tavern/FacebookPepperoni Pizza at Geraci’s Restaurant
Multiple Locations
The thick-cut pepperoni (we recommend ordering double-pepperoni) on their pizzas are the stars of the show at this mom and pop Italian restaurant that recently expanded to second and third locations. They’ve been open for almost 60 years; they must be doing something right.
Photo via Geraci’s Restaurant/FacebookLemon Souffle Pancakes at Fire
13220 Shaker Square., Cleveland
One of the best dishes at one of the best brunches in one of the best restaurants in town. Fire’s lemon soufflé pancakes are light, airy and crisp from the griddle. They possess a hint of lemon and tangy buttermilk, which pair beautifully with the acidic blueberry compote and luxurious melting butter.
Photo via Scene ArchivesKobe Beef Short Ribs at Fahrenheit
2417 Professor Ave., Cleveland
Rocco Whalen figured out how to take a very popular but overused cut of beef and transform it into something new, exciting and enduring. His signature short rib gets the Asian treatment, braised with ginger, garlic and soy, before being placed on a bed of chewy lo mein noodles.
Photo via Scene ArchivesFrog Legs at EDWIN’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute
13101 Shaker Square., Cleveland
There are many list-worthy dishes at EDWINS – rabbit pie, horseradish-crusted salmon, duck confit, the burger made tableside – but it’s the frogs legs that never seem to fade from memory. Like French-style chicken wings, these succulent little legs are appropriately dressed in heaps of garlic, butter and parsley.
Photo via Scene Archives
