According to Yelp, these are the 25 most popular restaurants in Cleveland right now. From Thai and fried chicken to sandwich shops and Middle Eastern cuisine, this list shows the diversity of the Cleveland culinary scene. It also shows that there are great restaurants outside of the downtown/Ohio City/Tremont area and if you venture out, you’ll be sure to find gems all over town.

Noble Beast 1470 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland “Let me tell you, Noble Beast Brewing was excellent. Moderately priced and high quality. Corn Dog is one of their most recommended menu items, I love it, and I think you have to try it as well. The staff is very courteous. I really valued that. Noble Beast Brewing – I’ll be back,” Abbi P. on Yelp Photo via Noble Beast Brewing Co./Facebook
TJ’s Butcher Block 14115 Detroit Ave., Lakewood “TJ’s Is one of the best kept LOCALLY OWNED sandwich shops just west of Cleveland. Located on Detroit rd just before you enter Downtown Lakewood, TJ’s sits on the south side of the street. TJ’s values their time-tested motto of only supplying the best meats, and freshest cuts to Lakewoodites. The hometown eatery brings some of the best sandwiches at a low-cost which is why I come here often. I usually end up buying dinner too!!!” Seth S. on Yelp Photo via TJ’s Butcher Block/Facebook
Ohio Kabob Grill 3359 West 117th St., Cleveland “This is a hidden gem with great food, made fresh and right to order. The owners were so nice and accommodating. As was the kind gentleman that greets you at the entrance. Check it out and treat yourself to some wonderful Afghan cuisine,” Robert T. on Yelp Photo via Ohio Kabob Grill/Facebook
Herb’n Twine 4309 Lorain Ave., Cleveland “One of my favorite sandwich shops in North America! Yeah I said it…The portions are huge, flavor combinations are complementary, and the bread is homemade/fresh. The homemade/fresh bread is such a game changer. My favorite is the Cubano…the perfect sandwich really. If there was a location in Chicago I would frequent weekly,” Daniel W. on Yelp Photo by Tim Harrison Credit: Scene archives
Corner 11 2391 West 11th St., Cleveland “I love this place, I really thought that an authentic and fresh poke place would be hard to find in Cleveland, but this place really. hits the spot. The ingredients are so fresh that the poke bowls really pop at you as they should. So many options for toppings and variety to spice things up. At 12.50 for a medium bowl, it’s all pretty affordable for quality poke and I was very full after finishing, a large might be good for two people to share. I’m a sucker for tuna and salmon, so that’s what I ordered this time around, but will definitely come back to mix things up a little and try the rest of the menu!” Lloyd C. on Yelp Photo via Corner 11/Facebook
Cleveland Tiffin – Punjabi Dhaba 4630 Warrensville Center Rd., North Randall ”Not sure how we missed this amazing little gem of a restaurant, but happy we found it and will definitely be going back. My husband decided to order goat saag, my son chicken saag, my other kids the chicken tikka masala, and I had the chili chicken. All of this was amazing and bountiful in portions. The chicken and goat were so juicy and flavorful. Additionally, we had some samosas , chicken korma, and naan. All of it was perfect,” Emma Y. on Yelp. Photo via @Heinzyee/Instagram
Astoria 5417 Detroit Ave., Cleveland “Astoria is a CLE must-go. You get a traditional European style. The cheese boards and wine are by far my fav. Their cocktail list looked pretty amazing, I’d love to give them a try. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a small market area if you need to pick up a bottle of wine for the home. Can’t wait to go back and try a new board,” Kaylyn G. on Yelp Photo via Astoria Cafe and Market/Facebook
SOHO Chicken + Whiskey 1889 W. 25th St., Cleveland “Oh my goodness, this is probably my favorite restaurant in Cleveland right now. I love chicken and waffles. This takes chicken and waffles to another level. I thought rosemary waffles would be nasty, but they were absolutely delicious with the chicken. The chicken portions are huge; I got 2 pieces but was stuffed after one,” Lydia D. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
Noble Beast 1470 Lakeside Ave. East, Cleveland In a quieter part on the city on the edge of Downtown sits Noble Beast, one of our favorite breweries in town. Their Imperial Cookies and Milk Stout is a real standout, as is their Catchweight Kolsch. Photo via Noble Beast Brewing Co./Facebook
Half Moon Bakery 3460 West 25th St., Cleveland “I’ve never tried an empanada before until I came to half moon, and I will only ever eat them from Half Moon for here on out! As a vegetarian, I wasn’t sure what my options I’d be getting but there were two wildly different ones on the menu that were absolutely AMAZING. You enter Half Moon, you are greeted so kindly, you order, and like 5 bakers pop out of nowhere and start absolutely slinging empanadas at lightning speed. Never seen a phenomenon like it, it was amazing. I waited maybe 10 minutes max for them to be completely made, and they are made from scratch! There are also baked goods, salad options, and coffee options as well. Half moon will now become a staple in my quick but local diet, and for that I’m thankful,” Hope S. on Yelp. Photo by Emanuel Wallace Credit: Emanuel Wallace
Slyman’s 3106 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland “This is a 7 star experience…I can only compare this sandwich to Kaufman’s New Jersey Bypass. This sandwich at Slyman’s is taller, juicier and tastier. I loved every bite and they grill the rye bread over butter on the flat top – that’s what makes you say, “Shut the front door!” You get a healthy amount of sauerkraut and a snappy pickle with it…The coleslaw was great too. I’ll be back for the big Reuben, at 11:00 a.m.,one day!! Their sandwiches are the biggest, no doubt,” Gerry T. on Yelp Photo via @AGirlAboutChicago/Instagram
Brassica 20301 Meade Rd., Shaker Heights “We need a Westside location! This place is delicious! I will drive anywhere for food and I will drive through rush hour on 480/271 to eat this for dinner! I originally found out about Brassica because of a Yelp event I attended and I have been back many times since. I talk about this place to anyone who will listen. I am not one to seek out falafel but DAMN, they have good falafel. I cannot order anything else because I am in love with the falafel,” Cara L. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
The Palazzo 10031 Detroit Ave., Cleveland “I can’t get over what a wonderful place this is! If you are a fan of classic Italian food, this is absolutely a place to check out…The food is wonderful…The pastas are rich and flavorful, the calamari sauteed to perfection, the herbs are just picked fresh, everything is expertly crafted by someone who clearly knows what they are doing. The menu covers all the bases with pastas, pizzas, fresh fish, desserts, steaks, you name it. I will definitely be back for more!” Jared W. on Yelp Photo by Doug Trattner Credit: Doug Trainer
Bangkok Thai 5359 Mayfield Rd., Lyndhurst A strip mall in Lyndhurst isn’t where you’d expect to find some of the best Thai food in town, but prepare to have your expectations blown by this place. They really do everything well, but we especially enjoy the crazy noodles. And if you like some spice, we highly recommend spicing up your food here. Photo via Bangkok Thai/Facebook
Boney Fingers BBQ 1800 Euclid Ave., Cleveland ”Delicious BBQ! We tried the pulled pork and brisket sandwiches for lunch and they were so tasty! My fiancé has been hyping up his favorite BBQ spot for over a year and I was finally able to try and it did not disappoint! The brisket was our favorite and it was juicy and tender. Their two types of sauce were great additions to the sandwich and the cornbread was awesome as well! Reasonably priced, good food! Definitely worth a visit!!” Courtney S. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
Sabor Miami Cafe and Gallery 4848 Broadview Rd., Cleveland “My boyfriend and I decided to grab breakfast here since we were both craving an el típico and, wow, are we glad that we that we did! We both got a Chorizo Honduran Breakfast and a Cuban Colado. It was a ton of food and ended up being two meals for me (admittedly only one for the boyfriend). Everything was amazingly delicious, but the handmade tortillas and beans were the best. We will definitely be back!” Alycia G. on Yelp Photo via Sabor Miami Cafe and Gallery/Facebook Credit: Scene Archives
Boaz Cafe 20630 John Carroll Blvd., University Heights and 2549 Lorain Ave., Cleveland “If you’re in the area, come here! They’ve got a great selection of veggies, proteins, and toppings to choose from for every palette. It’s basically a mediterranean twist on Chipotle, but better. Super fresh food and naan made right where you can see it, and you still get your slice(s am I right?) warm! They have free wi-fi and ample seating to enjoy your meal dine in. Don’t forget to try the smoothies, they’re made to order and are fantastic!” Toyfact3 on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
Edwin’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute 13101 Shaker Square., Cleveland “Finally! This is the fine dining experience I’d been seeking but had never gotten from other restaurants: Multiple people will greet you coming into and leaving the restaurant; Attentive service ( your bread plate won’t be empty for even a nanosecond); every course bountiful and seasoned to perfection; your mixed drink will be the best mixed drink; your dessert will be wonderful. If you alert them that you are there as a special occasion celebration they will note that too. Thank you EDWINS for a flawless experience,” Diane W. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
Munch 28500 Miles Rd., Solon “I love Munch! They’re right next to my gym so it’s always easy to pop in. The food is healthy and the daily soups are great! They offer both vegan and non vegan choices and the ingredients they use taste fresh and are always delicious!” John P. on Yelp. Photo via Munch/Facebook Credit: Scene Archives
Gourmand’s Deli 5345 Canal Rd., Valley View “Service was absolutely amazing. If you get a chance to stop by, you should. We had the Hawaii 5.0 and the not your regular baloney. Talk about amazing. The Hawaii gets a 4.5/5 but the baloney, talk about out of this world. Made by an artisan nearby, the flavor was unbelievable. The flavor was natural and juicy with just the right amount of cheesiness. To be honest this place is on point with Katz’s Deli in NY city. Amazing, and tons of options to choose from.” Aleksander P. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
El Arepazo Y Pupuseria 22799 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park ”This place was so yummy! I went with some friends who wanted pupusas and they were so tasty! Lots of flavor options were available, both with meat and vegetarian. They also come with some slaw and sauce to put on top which were a nice addition. I also got some guacamole and tostones which were super tasty. I will be coming back to try other things on the menu, because it all looked delicious!” Jill K. on Yelp. Photo via Scene Archives
Lox, Stock and Brisket 3401 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights The Van Aken Market Hall is in the throes of adding great option after option. Count another one with the recent opening of Lox, Stock and Brisket. For the coming days and weeks, diners will find a slightly abridged menu compared to what originally was offered in University Heights, but it will expand, says chef Anthony Zappola. Of course, from Day 1, fan faves like the Lincoln Park (chicken schnitzel), Upper East Side (smoked brisket) and Ridge Lane (house-cured lox) will be available. Photo via Scene Archives Credit: Scene Archives
Express Deli 5185 Smith Rd., Cleveland “One of the best customer experiences I’ve ever had. And when I say experience, I’m not joking. They make you feel so welcome here, and obviously take so much pride in everything they do. I love the first time customer sample platter. What an awesome touch. The corned beef Mac and cheese and Reuben wrap were to die for. I’d come out if my way to eat here, even though it’s just a little convenience store deli,” Adam R. on Yelp Photo by Douglas Trattner
Il Rione 1303 West 65th St., Cleveland “I have lived in Cleveland for about 25 years now and this is the best pizza I have found here. The crust is light and chewy and the ratio of topping to crust is perfect. It’s really nice to finally find pizza this good on the West Side,” Jodi B. on Yelp Photo by Emanuel Wallace
Rowley Inn 1104 Rowley Ave., Cleveland “Wow what a great find in Tremont area of Cleveland. We were looking for a place to enjoy some pierogi. This bar showed up in our search and they had quite a unique menu. It’s located in a neighborhood and not on the main drag so it is worth searching out. They serve a variety of local beers on draft and in bottles. The menu had quite a variety to choose from. We had the kielbasa and pierogi plate which was filling and delicious. When you leave you can also visit the Christmas Story house that is located directly across the street,” Eric S. on Yelp Photo via Scene Archives
La Plaza Supermarket 13609 Lakewood Heights Blvd., Lakewood “Today, I had the best Mexican food of my life at La Plaza Supermarket! La Plaza Taqueria, located in the front of La Plaza Supermarket, is amazing!!! The small restaurant was crowded with locals. The restaurant offers tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas; just to name a few items. While they have many protein choices, I chose carne asada which was absolute perfection! I also had homemade chips and guacamole which was also amazing! I definitely plan on making myself a regular here and coming back to introduce friends to the best Mexican food of my life!” Melanie N. on Yelp Photo via La Plaza Supermarket/Facebook

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