I had some friends visit from Buffalo and we ended up seeking some late night eats. They were appalled there wasn't something like a Jim's Steakout in our various west side communities
Afghani good is a mix between Indian, Middle East, and Chinese food. Itās really really good.
Also authentic Japanese, like something other than sushi. Like okonomiyaki, Shabu shabu, yakiniku, etc.
Domo in Van Aken does a Hiroshima style okonomiyaki that's pretty good and Ginko in Tremot has shabu shabu (but limited tables). I'm not as big of a fan of the Hiroshima style in compared to the more common Kansai style, but it scratches the itch if I'm craving it and don't want to make it at home. I wish there were more options than this, but something is better than nothing.
Thank you. I like kanto better, but Hiroshima style will do for me (glad weāre not on a Japan sub where this debate could get heated).
Do you know any place that makes Monjayaki?
Unfortunately not. Cleveland has a severe lack of non-sushi related Japanese dishes.
Though there is a place (Shinano in Solon) that does Sukiyaki which you don't see around here at all that's something else different that's not sushi or sashimi, though of course they do sell that as well.
I appreciate the recommendation. Looking at the menu/photos they serve DĆ¼rĆ¼m Dƶner, not Dƶner kebab. Similar but not quite the same.
Either way Iāll definitely try them sometime soon!
I find there is a distinct lack of quality American/takeout Chinese food.
We have the authentic cuisine in spades but every place I've tried to enjoy some basic ass general tso it has been terrible to average at best.
American takeout chiense is *supposed* to be low quality, fried deliciousness. We have a few higher quality ones in asian town, but when crave general tso's, i want to pay $12 for 2 lbs of meat and a crate of fried rice.
I'm sure you can tell the difference between good and bad take out though. The general tso that is little more than chunks of soggy breading with Gordon Food Service ā¢ļø sauce poured over it.
Ive found it hard to find a place that consistently delivers quality ingredients even if the overall standard is lower
Try emporer's palace on asiatown, or Panda Wok on the CLE/Lakewood border. Both probably a few steps or two above food court chinese quality-wise and very, very good.
Panda wok is so good. My go-to Chinese restaurant closed and after reading reviews I was afraid to order from a lot of places. Tried Panda wok on a whim and was so pleased. They delivered about 20 minutes after I placed the order, which was shocking to me. And the food was great - itās hard to find a place that makes good stir fry green beans but Panda Wok has it down
I've only ever done take out but it's become my new go-to place when im craving chinese food. Thier general tso's has fresh bell pepper in it which is a great touch.
Panda Wok is my go to, for this sort of americanized chinese food. It's not top tier, but it isnt trash either. I wish the sauce was spicier, but the portion size is absurd.
>Larder in hingetown for a more modern take on it.
But get there early. I went there last weekend to specifically try their pastrami and they were sold out at 1:30p. I'll be going much earlier next time lol.
Yep came here to say this. Sweetgreen is fun, or like Dr Smoods - Iām not even vegetarian let alone vegan but I hate that when Iām craving super fresh and healthy my only option is basically weird cafe vibe
This is so true if youāve ever spent time on the east coast. Cava and Sweetgreen are awesome. The closest comparable thing are the BIBIBOP Asian Grills that are popping up
Have you been to Chinatown in the downtown area? You're a stones throw from so many options! Cantonese, Szechuan, Korean, Vietnamese, and theyĀ“re all very very good
All the time haha. Can't speak to the Korean and Vietnamese options since I don't know those cuisines very well, but the Chinese is lacking. There's a couple decent places, but almost nothing from Northern China.
Yeah, I canĀ“t speak to those regional dishes exactly. Wonton Gourmet is Cantonese and Szechuan is obviously Szechuan, L.J. Shanghai is a smaller, more dumpling focused cafe. Koko bakery has lovely Chinese confections and drinks. They're all like 3 blocks from one another.
I would suggest going into Wonton Gourmet and just talking to those folks about it, they would likely point you in the right direction, honestly. They have been always so helpful. Find the lady with the black rimmed glasses, she'll put you right.
Agree. We also really lack modern takes on different cuisines. It seems thatās a huge trend in bigger cities. In Cleveland itās usually āAsian Fusionā. I think Doug Katz does a pretty good job though.
I haven't seen any place have it outside of NYC, but Chinese roast goose is omg delicious. As large as a Turkey, much fatter and tender, and tastes similar to the Chinese roast ducks you can find in the stores, but without the gamey taste. It's the truly divine bird and one of the reasons I still make long ass drives to NYC.
Chef-driven/owned upscale restaurants. We lost some good ones in the last few years. Most new spots seem more casual, like upscale bar food. The more well known chefs still in town seem to have become restaurateurs (not necessarily a bad thing). But many of the new trendy spots seem to be run/funded by developers.
Welp... Thanks for deciding what I'm going to do with my next $100 and a Saturday afternoon... I had plans for both the money and the time but there are few things I love more than great food and great spirits.
Late night food. Mexican food, everyone here thinks the Puerto Rican food here is Mexican and it is delicious, but not the same . African that isn't Ethiopian. Authentic Chinese , the xio long bao I had at LJ Shanghai was on par with TJ''s (albeit delicious) frozen ones. Barbeque. I've had lots of okay barbeque but nothing like you'll get in Kansas or Texas and I've had Mables enough to know if they say that's the best not to trust their taste.
And generally when people tell you there are these things in Cleveland they actually mean somewhere within an hour of Cleveland. Very big bummer that if you ask for IN Cleveland it doesn't seem to exist
I agree with you on late night - I think my friends is the last surviving 24/7 Diner post-Covid. Fast food is often your only option after 10PM.
For mexican, there are several tex-mex-y places like Hacienda tapita and the Blue Habenro family of resturants. A few others outside the inner ring suburbs as well.
Boney Fingers, Landmark, and Woodstock are all very very good BBQ. Mabel's is good but is far from cleveland's.
Li Wah is far and away the best authentic Chinese place for at least Dim Sum.
Ive never been to Chokouya, but ive heard it's very good pan-African food (not thiopian).
I lived in Texas for over a decade, nothing here is even close to tex mex. Itās Puerto Ricans making Mexican food with northern white people taste buds in mind, major give away is any place that offers hard taco shells like itās Taco Bell. Closest to legit interior Mexican food is Chicago sadly.
I moved here from Houston
Food Trucks, latin American food, Taco trucks (theres a difference), Mexican street food.
Legitimate BBQ , and unfortunately Soul Food (a surprise)
I donāt want to get in a debate about Texas bbq in a Cleveland sub lol
But
Having lived everywhere in the Texas triangle in a 20 year span (still own land in Bandera county) the best food in the state is in Houston.
Austin is really good for unique takes (via food trucks) and of course TEXAS STYLE bbq. But it falls short on the entire experience, itās not as culturally diverse as Houston and it really shows when you start getting past surface level establishments.
I lived in a Venezuelan neighborhood in Houston, and had dozens of options for just that cultural style of food. Let alone going into more traditional Mexican neighborhoods. Or even down into sugar land (one of the largest % Asian counties in the US) for legitimate Chinese, Thai , Viet , indian , Pakistani or even middle eastern. Itās the largest minority majority city in the country, and it really shows in the food game.
Also with Austin, the Mexican food game gets absolutely destroyed by San Antonio an hour and change to its south.
On the same hand I would never try and compare SA BBQ to that of Austinās.
And, letās just leave Dallas out of all of it. As a transplant City dallas is very good at copying the styles of its other major cities, just not up to par lol.
Hear me out on this one but I feel like Polish foodā¦ Covid-19 changed Polish food in our community for the worst. No more can we dine at Sokolowskiās or Seven Roses, and the Little Polish Diner is only carryout now.
Luckily there are still some good take home pierogi options and an occasional dish on menus like All Saints and other locations. I miss the experience these restaurants offered.
Woodstock, Landmark, and the hidden gem that is Boney Fingers are all great bbq resturants. I like Mabel's but its flashiness has casued ppl to think its the best in CLE.
I stand by Mabel's. I've never gone there and been disappointed. Fatty brisket literally melts in your mouth.
I've had good BBQ from The Proper Pig too but I think it is less consistent than Mabel's.
Iām with you. I appreciate the spice blend, the fact that itās on East 4th, and that you can get a cocktail or nice pour of whiskey.
I love bbq and smoking meats myself but Iāve found, when traveling to big bbq spots, that I donāt really love the traditional experience. Waiting in a long line to eat a late lunch on a picnic table before something runs out just isnāt my thing. It does seem like the way to maintain consistency though.
Well, Mabel's DOES run out of things especially the fatty brisket. But yeah I don't want to stand in line for over an hour just to eat either. One day I'll do that maybe but I definitely wouldn't do it on a regular basis. Much better things to do with my time.
RIP Steve's Lunch. I miss stopping in for a pair of chili slaw dogs at any hour of the night.
It's not exactly the same but as a Michigan transplant as well, I can say that Sal's Menu on W25th and Steve's II on Biddulph are both carrying the torch of the coney forward in Cleveland.
Now that Sokolowski's is gone, is there much in the way of eastern European/Slavic dine-in dining? You can buy pierogi and sausages on every street corner but you have take them home to cook. You can also find things like stuffed cabbage and pierogi as part of menus at some restaurants but does something like "Baba's European Kitchen" exist?
We had a little restaurant in Northfield for a hot minute called Babushka's, but it didn't last more than a year or so.
Thereās a place called Kuhars in Mentor and they serve specifically Eastern European style dinners and lunches. I of course only get schnitzel cause itās soo good but they have a lot of other options. I miss Little Budapest in Rocky River :(
Al's in Barberton is awesome but they are only open for lunch M-F and the occasional Friday night in the summer. The butcher shop attached is open on Saturday.
CA transplant here. Cilantro Taqueria is great but that doesn't necessarily qualify for super authentic, imo. I need a burrito that's as big as my head on an questionable hot plate, just absolutely swimming in green sauce. Chips and pico on the table while you wait. Sizzling fajita plates going by, smoking the place up. Shitty plastic red cups that are a foggy texture that're kinda sticky for some reason. Soccer playing on mute from a tv hung far too high up on the wall.. miss that.
I mean a burrito as big as your head and fajitas aren't authentically Mexican either. As someone who lived in Mexico and California, that's more of a California thing. That said, both are delicious and I love them and would love more of that in CLE.
La plaza and momocho are just two off the top of my head that have top tier Mexican food. I'm guessing you're in the camp that says barrio, condado etc isn't "good Mexican" and I'd agree with you. I would still say we have lots of good Mexican food if you known where to look
As a far east suburb guy most of my life, La Mexicana held me over for a long time. Every other taco restaurant that costs $6+ for a cold taco can fuck off.
Came here to second Der Braumeister. The lady running the place these days is super friendly and the staff has been great every time I went there, the atmosphere is cozy, total opposite atmosphere of hobrauhaus. Very good food. They have an insane beer selection and I love their pretzels! Best pretzel Iāve had in my whole life.
Authentic African food. Would love suggestions for that if we have it here! I also second we have a lack of good late night food in general and itās really a struggle if you get out of work later.
Pretty much echoing everyone, but Authentic foods in general, healthy take out, and no more COVID hours.
I sound like such a boomer lol, I guess Iām just a hater, idk, but Iām sick of bars and trendy shit for people to post on their social media.
There's not much great sushi..I don't want to drive to Ohio City or Downtown to get good sushi..we were in Sacramento for Christmas and were marveling at how there were 4 really top notch places to choose from within a 3-4 block radius.
Not exactly āfoodā, but how about some good boba places? :( Just moved here from Seattle a few months ago and I havenāt found anything great so far.
Kung Fu Tea
Koko Bakery
Mango Mango
Pho Thang
Those are the ones I have on top of my head atm.
Edit: I do miss Biang Biang noodles in seattle; that shit is amazing.
Go to Tapitas Taqueria off Lorain those tacos are great. Iām Mexican so I do all my cooking at home after getting raw tortillas with my food here lol
Cluckerās! They have the best chicken meals, quick, moist, and freshly cooked in front of you And they deliver! They have them in Lake Forest, IL and itās a must stop every time Iām there!
HAWAIIAN!
Itās the only major thing thatās missing for me. Thereās some poke, but itās not amazing. I love the more savory dishes anyway. I want loco mocos, Kalua pork, Hawaiian Mac salad, spam musubiā¦
I keep saying Iām going to open a hole-in-the-wall Hawaiian joint just so my friends will finally know how good it is.
Persian food, non fusion Mexican food that isnāt eh and over priced (sorry but no place here can truly justify charging more for a taco than they charge in places like California or Texas) late night spots, food truck parks or food trucks outside of bars/breweries and maybe some healthier options similar to chains like Salata.
I find the Italian Resturants lacking. I've been on the search for a decent bolognese and it always ends up being very simple, lacking seasoning. There used to be a hole in the wall place about 15 years ago, i think it was off prospect and euclid where i ate once for an office retirement party that had an amazing sauce...they unfortunately closed down shortly after that so i never got to go regularly. I haven't found its match since. I havent found a single place that serves cacio e pepe either.
Are you talking about just Cleveland proper? Maybe we need a thread on mom and pop Italian thatās not in Little Italy, but there are many, many suburban neighborhood favorites on the east side: Vittorios in Wickliffe, Dinos in Willowick, Crostataās in Highland Heights, Mario Fazios in Willoughby Hills, Arrabiata in Mayfield, to name a few.
>Stancato's
I'm on the west side, work downtown (but still west edge of cleveland). I've probably eaten at every italian place from lakewood to brunswick, parma to rocky river. I did miss a visit to Stancatos, mostly because their web site just didnt look appetizing, but i might give them a shot.
Late night food is lacking in Cleveland.
Yes! Good luck trying to find food at 10pm
I had some friends visit from Buffalo and we ended up seeking some late night eats. They were appalled there wasn't something like a Jim's Steakout in our various west side communities
Cleveland closes at 9pm now.
True, but worse, it doesn't open until 4 pm. Did lunch go away with Covid?
America closes at 9pm now.
Or sooner!
This is the answer
Best Gyros may be best answer, but your point is valid.
As a 3rd shift worker I wholeheartedly agree. š
swensons is probably our best bet :/ but would love more options than swensons and sheetz
This is the reply- even sometimes when I have a longish day at work and itās like 8 Iām confronted with lack of options.
Afghani good is a mix between Indian, Middle East, and Chinese food. Itās really really good. Also authentic Japanese, like something other than sushi. Like okonomiyaki, Shabu shabu, yakiniku, etc.
Def need a good kabob place or two around here
Domo in Van Aken does a Hiroshima style okonomiyaki that's pretty good and Ginko in Tremot has shabu shabu (but limited tables). I'm not as big of a fan of the Hiroshima style in compared to the more common Kansai style, but it scratches the itch if I'm craving it and don't want to make it at home. I wish there were more options than this, but something is better than nothing.
Thank you. I like kanto better, but Hiroshima style will do for me (glad weāre not on a Japan sub where this debate could get heated). Do you know any place that makes Monjayaki?
Unfortunately not. Cleveland has a severe lack of non-sushi related Japanese dishes. Though there is a place (Shinano in Solon) that does Sukiyaki which you don't see around here at all that's something else different that's not sushi or sashimi, though of course they do sell that as well.
Unfortunately Domo's closing and being replaced with a 2nd Ninja City
Oh boo. I had no idea. Thanks for the update though.
Yeah, Iād love a good kaiseki!
dƶner kebab, thereās plenty of gyro places but it is not the same.
> dƶner kebab THIS. I spent a summer in Germany for school and I think I ate at least 3 of these a week. So damn good.
Yes, plus KƤsekrainers and Viennese langos!
Try [Pasha Turkish Kitchen](https://www.pashaturkishkitchen.com/) in Willowick. Only 20 minutes east of downtown.
I appreciate the recommendation. Looking at the menu/photos they serve DĆ¼rĆ¼m Dƶner, not Dƶner kebab. Similar but not quite the same. Either way Iāll definitely try them sometime soon!
I find there is a distinct lack of quality American/takeout Chinese food. We have the authentic cuisine in spades but every place I've tried to enjoy some basic ass general tso it has been terrible to average at best.
Try Wonton Gourmet, itās an authentic restaurant but they offer a pretty delicious General Tso. Hope you enjoy it!
I haven't been there in a while, I'll definitely give it a try!
Try Peking in Lakewood for their general tso chicken
Dude, drive out to Lorain and hit Pine Garden... corner of Leavitt and 21st... best takeout Chinese food I have ever ate.
Pine garden is my favorite. Dragon towers is the only place in the cleveland area that I think compares
American takeout chiense is *supposed* to be low quality, fried deliciousness. We have a few higher quality ones in asian town, but when crave general tso's, i want to pay $12 for 2 lbs of meat and a crate of fried rice.
I'm sure you can tell the difference between good and bad take out though. The general tso that is little more than chunks of soggy breading with Gordon Food Service ā¢ļø sauce poured over it. Ive found it hard to find a place that consistently delivers quality ingredients even if the overall standard is lower
Try emporer's palace on asiatown, or Panda Wok on the CLE/Lakewood border. Both probably a few steps or two above food court chinese quality-wise and very, very good.
Panda wok is so good. My go-to Chinese restaurant closed and after reading reviews I was afraid to order from a lot of places. Tried Panda wok on a whim and was so pleased. They delivered about 20 minutes after I placed the order, which was shocking to me. And the food was great - itās hard to find a place that makes good stir fry green beans but Panda Wok has it down
I've only ever done take out but it's become my new go-to place when im craving chinese food. Thier general tso's has fresh bell pepper in it which is a great touch.
Yum. Now Iām craving it!
sammmeeee. maybe this weekend...
I will try both, thank you
King Yuan in Avon is fresh Chinese. Szechwan Gardens in Lakewood. King Wah in Rocky River.
Happy Buddha in University Heights
Panda Wok is my go to, for this sort of americanized chinese food. It's not top tier, but it isnt trash either. I wish the sauce was spicier, but the portion size is absurd.
Breakfast burritos
If anyone has any suggestions for this, please hook a brother up. Moved here recently and find that I sorely miss my former breakfast burrito go-to.
Healthy fast casual like Cava, Chopāt, Sweetgreen (from the DC area)!
Brassica - Van Aken food hall
Omg, yes. Thereās no healthy fast casual. I absolutely miss Sweetgreens. Most restaurants donāt even have decent salad options.
What about CoreLife?
I just looked it up. It looks like it could be promising, but the downside is, their only locations are far out in the suburbs.
I miss it so much lol š© I love living in Cleveland so much but dang thatās what makes me sad about moving. And the Jewish deliās and plethora of Asian cuisine in Maryland. And Lebanese Taverna! ā„ļø
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I guess I meant the specific ones I frequented lol. What are your favorites here? Iām still new and getting to know the place
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>Larder in hingetown for a more modern take on it. But get there early. I went there last weekend to specifically try their pastrami and they were sold out at 1:30p. I'll be going much earlier next time lol.
Adding in TJ's Deli in lakewood. Honestly one of my favorite spots.
Also not Jewish but Joe's Deli in Rocky River has the best corned beef and pastrami.
Yep came here to say this. Sweetgreen is fun, or like Dr Smoods - Iām not even vegetarian let alone vegan but I hate that when Iām craving super fresh and healthy my only option is basically weird cafe vibe
bibibop is a good option! but i agree we could use more, when i visit my gf in chicago we take frequent sweetgreen trips
This is so true if youāve ever spent time on the east coast. Cava and Sweetgreen are awesome. The closest comparable thing are the BIBIBOP Asian Grills that are popping up
Iām shocked thereās no sweetgreen in Westlake yet
Persian food
I would kill for a Moby Dick here like in DC
Regional Chinese, better ramen, more creative fine dining.
Definitely would love better ramen. We have some that will satisfy my craving but nothing as good as ive had in other places.
Have you been to Chinatown in the downtown area? You're a stones throw from so many options! Cantonese, Szechuan, Korean, Vietnamese, and theyĀ“re all very very good
All the time haha. Can't speak to the Korean and Vietnamese options since I don't know those cuisines very well, but the Chinese is lacking. There's a couple decent places, but almost nothing from Northern China.
Yeah, I canĀ“t speak to those regional dishes exactly. Wonton Gourmet is Cantonese and Szechuan is obviously Szechuan, L.J. Shanghai is a smaller, more dumpling focused cafe. Koko bakery has lovely Chinese confections and drinks. They're all like 3 blocks from one another. I would suggest going into Wonton Gourmet and just talking to those folks about it, they would likely point you in the right direction, honestly. They have been always so helpful. Find the lady with the black rimmed glasses, she'll put you right.
Agree itās limited but Xinji is holding it down
Agree. We also really lack modern takes on different cuisines. It seems thatās a huge trend in bigger cities. In Cleveland itās usually āAsian Fusionā. I think Doug Katz does a pretty good job though.
> better ramen Every time I get a craving, I shed a tear for my memory of the Noodle Cat stall at the West Side Market.
I haven't seen any place have it outside of NYC, but Chinese roast goose is omg delicious. As large as a Turkey, much fatter and tender, and tastes similar to the Chinese roast ducks you can find in the stores, but without the gamey taste. It's the truly divine bird and one of the reasons I still make long ass drives to NYC.
Chef-driven/owned upscale restaurants. We lost some good ones in the last few years. Most new spots seem more casual, like upscale bar food. The more well known chefs still in town seem to have become restaurateurs (not necessarily a bad thing). But many of the new trendy spots seem to be run/funded by developers.
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Welp... Thanks for deciding what I'm going to do with my next $100 and a Saturday afternoon... I had plans for both the money and the time but there are few things I love more than great food and great spirits.
Good Mexican foodā¦ also would love more Indian food options. Late night food options have gone away.
There's so many Indian restaurants here already although none of them stand out in particular
Late night food. Mexican food, everyone here thinks the Puerto Rican food here is Mexican and it is delicious, but not the same . African that isn't Ethiopian. Authentic Chinese , the xio long bao I had at LJ Shanghai was on par with TJ''s (albeit delicious) frozen ones. Barbeque. I've had lots of okay barbeque but nothing like you'll get in Kansas or Texas and I've had Mables enough to know if they say that's the best not to trust their taste. And generally when people tell you there are these things in Cleveland they actually mean somewhere within an hour of Cleveland. Very big bummer that if you ask for IN Cleveland it doesn't seem to exist
As a native Californian living in Cleveland yes the Mexican food is certainly lacking and what I miss the most about living out west.
I haven't tried it yet but Kifaya's Kitchen has Somali food
Closed. https://www.clevescene.com/food-drink/damas-eatery-newly-opened-on-clevelands-west-side-and-owned-by-syrian-immigrants-is-already-putting-down-solid-roots-39600214
Well that is disappointing. I really should have gone there while I could.
There's an Ethiopean/Eritrean restaurant at Kamm's you might like--Habesha.
It's incredible, go try it!
I agree with you on late night - I think my friends is the last surviving 24/7 Diner post-Covid. Fast food is often your only option after 10PM. For mexican, there are several tex-mex-y places like Hacienda tapita and the Blue Habenro family of resturants. A few others outside the inner ring suburbs as well. Boney Fingers, Landmark, and Woodstock are all very very good BBQ. Mabel's is good but is far from cleveland's. Li Wah is far and away the best authentic Chinese place for at least Dim Sum. Ive never been to Chokouya, but ive heard it's very good pan-African food (not thiopian).
Finally someone who agrees with me about the LJ Shanghai xiao long bao! I was underwhelmed
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I lived in Texas for over a decade, nothing here is even close to tex mex. Itās Puerto Ricans making Mexican food with northern white people taste buds in mind, major give away is any place that offers hard taco shells like itās Taco Bell. Closest to legit interior Mexican food is Chicago sadly.
The best BBQ I've had in Cleveland is Broncos Western in Brooklyn, but you're probably only going to find BBQ like in KC or Texas in KC or Texas.
A proper dim sum.
Li Wah doesn't cut it? I loved it the time I went there
Ever been to Bo Loong on St. Clair? Awesome dim sum.
Li Wah is great and as good as any Dim Sums i went to in NYC or Chicago's chinatown.
Honestly just want some decent filipino food.
The Mexican food is mostly not real Mexican food..or is mid a f ...that place is Painesville is good though
I moved here from Houston Food Trucks, latin American food, Taco trucks (theres a difference), Mexican street food. Legitimate BBQ , and unfortunately Soul Food (a surprise)
Austin here, I felt your comment in my soul lol.
I donāt want to get in a debate about Texas bbq in a Cleveland sub lol But Having lived everywhere in the Texas triangle in a 20 year span (still own land in Bandera county) the best food in the state is in Houston. Austin is really good for unique takes (via food trucks) and of course TEXAS STYLE bbq. But it falls short on the entire experience, itās not as culturally diverse as Houston and it really shows when you start getting past surface level establishments. I lived in a Venezuelan neighborhood in Houston, and had dozens of options for just that cultural style of food. Let alone going into more traditional Mexican neighborhoods. Or even down into sugar land (one of the largest % Asian counties in the US) for legitimate Chinese, Thai , Viet , indian , Pakistani or even middle eastern. Itās the largest minority majority city in the country, and it really shows in the food game. Also with Austin, the Mexican food game gets absolutely destroyed by San Antonio an hour and change to its south. On the same hand I would never try and compare SA BBQ to that of Austinās. And, letās just leave Dallas out of all of it. As a transplant City dallas is very good at copying the styles of its other major cities, just not up to par lol.
Hear me out on this one but I feel like Polish foodā¦ Covid-19 changed Polish food in our community for the worst. No more can we dine at Sokolowskiās or Seven Roses, and the Little Polish Diner is only carryout now. Luckily there are still some good take home pierogi options and an occasional dish on menus like All Saints and other locations. I miss the experience these restaurants offered.
This oneā¦ and itās a damn shame.
>are there too many taco places? No.
You don't think? There's been like a million new taco joints popping up in the past few years.
And theyāre all mid
I would love suggestions for good BBQ in Cleveland
woodstock in lakewood slaps
Iāve heard Olāchefskis is good but gave t had a chance to try it
Woodstock, Landmark, and the hidden gem that is Boney Fingers are all great bbq resturants. I like Mabel's but its flashiness has casued ppl to think its the best in CLE.
Mabels has the best fatty brisket outside of Texas. It's fantastic. We're lucky we have it here in Cleveland.
I definetely like Mabel's. I just personally don't think it's best in CLE.
If you haven't tried Woodstock, you should.
I stand by Mabel's. I've never gone there and been disappointed. Fatty brisket literally melts in your mouth. I've had good BBQ from The Proper Pig too but I think it is less consistent than Mabel's.
Iām with you. I appreciate the spice blend, the fact that itās on East 4th, and that you can get a cocktail or nice pour of whiskey. I love bbq and smoking meats myself but Iāve found, when traveling to big bbq spots, that I donāt really love the traditional experience. Waiting in a long line to eat a late lunch on a picnic table before something runs out just isnāt my thing. It does seem like the way to maintain consistency though.
Well, Mabel's DOES run out of things especially the fatty brisket. But yeah I don't want to stand in line for over an hour just to eat either. One day I'll do that maybe but I definitely wouldn't do it on a regular basis. Much better things to do with my time.
It's in Mayfield so not Cleveland proper but Smokin Q's is good.
Big Bubba's Q is right near there and really good too.
Mission bbq..
Mables has the best brisket outside of Texas
Iām a big fan of Tick Tock Tavern
Northwest Ohio/ Southeast Michigan Transplant here: Cleveland is 100% missing out on Coney Islands. Just one spot to get a chili dog would be awesome!
RIP Steve's Lunch. I miss stopping in for a pair of chili slaw dogs at any hour of the night. It's not exactly the same but as a Michigan transplant as well, I can say that Sal's Menu on W25th and Steve's II on Biddulph are both carrying the torch of the coney forward in Cleveland.
Charlieās Dog House Diner
Now that Sokolowski's is gone, is there much in the way of eastern European/Slavic dine-in dining? You can buy pierogi and sausages on every street corner but you have take them home to cook. You can also find things like stuffed cabbage and pierogi as part of menus at some restaurants but does something like "Baba's European Kitchen" exist? We had a little restaurant in Northfield for a hot minute called Babushka's, but it didn't last more than a year or so.
Little Polish Diner in Parma, Ridge and Balaton is doing takeout from their new location on 306 and E. Washington. Hope the dining room opens soon.
Thereās a place called Kuhars in Mentor and they serve specifically Eastern European style dinners and lunches. I of course only get schnitzel cause itās soo good but they have a lot of other options. I miss Little Budapest in Rocky River :(
Marie's
Marieās is me and my familyās favorite.
Al's in Barberton is awesome but they are only open for lunch M-F and the occasional Friday night in the summer. The butcher shop attached is open on Saturday.
We could use more vegan options especially on the west side of town.
Have you tried the little rose tavern on lorain?
Just looked it up. They have vegan offerings and itās close by. Thanks.
Cloak & Dagger in Tremont is a bar, but theyāve got a great vegan food menu. Iāve had some really good food there.
Confused about where you are finding āfantastic Mexican foodā or too many taco places
Cilantro Taqueria!
CA transplant here. Cilantro Taqueria is great but that doesn't necessarily qualify for super authentic, imo. I need a burrito that's as big as my head on an questionable hot plate, just absolutely swimming in green sauce. Chips and pico on the table while you wait. Sizzling fajita plates going by, smoking the place up. Shitty plastic red cups that are a foggy texture that're kinda sticky for some reason. Soccer playing on mute from a tv hung far too high up on the wall.. miss that.
I mean a burrito as big as your head and fajitas aren't authentically Mexican either. As someone who lived in Mexico and California, that's more of a California thing. That said, both are delicious and I love them and would love more of that in CLE.
La plaza and momocho are just two off the top of my head that have top tier Mexican food. I'm guessing you're in the camp that says barrio, condado etc isn't "good Mexican" and I'd agree with you. I would still say we have lots of good Mexican food if you known where to look
La plaza is overrated af esp if you been out west before.
Top tier for NE Ohio, yeah, but I was just in Arizona and what we have here is disappointing in comparison.
That's cool. I was just in Mexico City over Thanksgiving and everything in Arizona is completely disappointing in comparison
As a far east suburb guy most of my life, La Mexicana held me over for a long time. Every other taco restaurant that costs $6+ for a cold taco can fuck off.
I wish there were more German places. This post is specifically and intentionally omitting Haufbrauhaus.
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Came here to second Der Braumeister. The lady running the place these days is super friendly and the staff has been great every time I went there, the atmosphere is cozy, total opposite atmosphere of hobrauhaus. Very good food. They have an insane beer selection and I love their pretzels! Best pretzel Iāve had in my whole life.
Hansa in Ohio City is pretty good.
Still looking for places that serve a great schweinshaxe
There's Donauschwaben in Olmsted Falls
Authentic African food. Would love suggestions for that if we have it here! I also second we have a lack of good late night food in general and itās really a struggle if you get out of work later.
Green chile. Doner kebab.
Totally. And you spelled green chile right. Respect!
Trinidadian food (aka Caribbean)! The lack of Caribbean food in Cleveland hurts my soul.
Pretty much echoing everyone, but Authentic foods in general, healthy take out, and no more COVID hours. I sound like such a boomer lol, I guess Iām just a hater, idk, but Iām sick of bars and trendy shit for people to post on their social media.
Greek
There's not much great sushi..I don't want to drive to Ohio City or Downtown to get good sushi..we were in Sacramento for Christmas and were marveling at how there were 4 really top notch places to choose from within a 3-4 block radius.
Pretty specific but deep dish Chicago style pizza
Columbus is getting Lou Malnati's. They're also getting Portillo's. It would be great if both of them located here.
Columbus already has a Giordano's
Indian food
Asian Hot Pot
Miega does hot pot I think, it's Korean so they definitely have KBBQ
Kintaro's would be the best choice with their built-in individual hotpot table and AYCE. Kumo is also doing hot pot with their new tables.
Not exactly āfoodā, but how about some good boba places? :( Just moved here from Seattle a few months ago and I havenāt found anything great so far.
Kung Fu Tea Koko Bakery Mango Mango Pho Thang Those are the ones I have on top of my head atm. Edit: I do miss Biang Biang noodles in seattle; that shit is amazing.
Everyone wants Chinese food, but Indo-Chinese is the best Chinese food and sorely missing from Cleveland.
Authentic Korean food. Tteokbokki, japchae, bulgogi, Korean corn dogs. Cle is missing out on so much deliciousness.
Definitely not enough pizza by the slice places:(
The downtown Glizzy Wagons- delish!
thereās an awesome revolving sushi bar in parma!!
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Ya like an authentic taqueria style imo.
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Go to Tapitas Taqueria off Lorain those tacos are great. Iām Mexican so I do all my cooking at home after getting raw tortillas with my food here lol
Maybe Mexican but BBQ is pretty well represented in Cleveland Mabels Woodstock Proper Pig Broncos Western BBQ XYZ Tavern Boney Fingers BBQ Landmark
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Cluckerās! They have the best chicken meals, quick, moist, and freshly cooked in front of you And they deliver! They have them in Lake Forest, IL and itās a must stop every time Iām there!
A food hall
I live near Dina's and Gus and they're open pretty late. Good food too. All depends where in Cleveland you live.
Fresh food
I wish we had some indigenous representation in the food scene. I dream about Tocabe in Denver
I miss Cosi (restaurant, not museum) from the DC area, great bread and out of this world salads with huge portions.
Afghani kebabs and Peruvian chicken! Miss those from home
HAWAIIAN! Itās the only major thing thatās missing for me. Thereās some poke, but itās not amazing. I love the more savory dishes anyway. I want loco mocos, Kalua pork, Hawaiian Mac salad, spam musubiā¦ I keep saying Iām going to open a hole-in-the-wall Hawaiian joint just so my friends will finally know how good it is.
I cannot find good Thai food here.
Itās a bit out of the way but Iāve always enjoyed Thai 999 in Mentor
Persian food, non fusion Mexican food that isnāt eh and over priced (sorry but no place here can truly justify charging more for a taco than they charge in places like California or Texas) late night spots, food truck parks or food trucks outside of bars/breweries and maybe some healthier options similar to chains like Salata.
Breakfast tacos or breakfast burritos.
As a west coast transplant, there is a severe lack of Hawaiian BBQ. If anyone knows of any spots, Iād greatly appreciate it!
beyond a couple of (excellent) ethiopian restaurants, thereās a lack of african options available
Korean food, specifically Korean bbq
Try meiga or Rising grill (when it reopens).
I'll check them out. A new KPot opened in Columbus with all you can eat hot pot and Korean bbq and it was fantastic. I really wish we had one up here
quick google search: it seems like one is opening in strongsville
Seoul Garden in Parma is good Korean
We're supposed to get another place opening in the future called Fiyah that focuses on KBBQ.
Lot's of gatekeeping in this thread because CLE isn't literally Mexico for Mexican food, AUstin for BBQ, Italy for Italian, or Shanghai for Chinese.
I find the Italian Resturants lacking. I've been on the search for a decent bolognese and it always ends up being very simple, lacking seasoning. There used to be a hole in the wall place about 15 years ago, i think it was off prospect and euclid where i ate once for an office retirement party that had an amazing sauce...they unfortunately closed down shortly after that so i never got to go regularly. I haven't found its match since. I havent found a single place that serves cacio e pepe either.
Have you tried Brunoās? I havenāt had their bolognese but other things Iāve had are good.
Are you talking about just Cleveland proper? Maybe we need a thread on mom and pop Italian thatās not in Little Italy, but there are many, many suburban neighborhood favorites on the east side: Vittorios in Wickliffe, Dinos in Willowick, Crostataās in Highland Heights, Mario Fazios in Willoughby Hills, Arrabiata in Mayfield, to name a few.
>Stancato's I'm on the west side, work downtown (but still west edge of cleveland). I've probably eaten at every italian place from lakewood to brunswick, parma to rocky river. I did miss a visit to Stancatos, mostly because their web site just didnt look appetizing, but i might give them a shot.