These six Columbus spots made it on Yelp’s ‘Top 100 Midwest Restaurants 2023’ list

As you may already know, Midwest is best. Yelp apparently knows that, too.

They just released their “Top 100 Places to Eat in the Midwest” list, and six Columbus restaurants were noticed, one being in the top 10! We’re not surprised though – these spots are outstanding.

For this newly released list, Yelp scoured eateries across a dozen Midwest states – Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Ultimately, they ranked the spots using factors such as the total volume and ratings of reviews between January 1, 2021 and May 1, 2023. 

Out of the six restaurants ranked on this list, four of them wouldn’t be considered “traditional” – instead of sitting down and having a server wait on guests, these restaurants are more “walk up and order” types. Let’s delve in!

#7 Hoyo’s Kitchen – North Market Short North, North Market Bridge Park, Bubbly Hall New Albany

“The family behind Hoyo’s Kitchen are on a mission to introduce Somali cooking to as many diners as possible,” said Yelp. The Hassan family prepares and serves authentic Somali food in a “walk up setting,” using recipes from their mother. “Hoyo” even translates to mother in Somali. “We wanted to invite people to our mom’s kitchen, and we wanted to showcase Somali mothers and the hard work that they always do,” Abdilahi, part owner of Hoyos, told Yelp.

My go-to order (as I’d order it while going down the line): a vegan bowl with Somali basmati rice, cabbage, chickpeas, lentils, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, the green chili and dates hot sauce, some injera bread to scoop it all up, a veggie sambusa, and a mango juice to level out the spice. It’s fire every single time, both literally and figuratively.

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#27 Kitchen Social – 8954 Lyra Dr. Columbus, OH | 6791 Longshore St Suite 110 Dublin, Ohio

“Locally owned, chef driven, made from scratch food, and craft cocktails,” says their Facebook. Their modern menu features contemporary American food, such as cheddar & scallion biscuits, honey miso cod, and crispy chicken. Vegetarian options include pastas, salads, and starters like Korean BBQ cauliflower and eggplant meatballs. 

#30 Scotty’s Cafe – 2980 E Broad St., Columbus, OH

“The best kept secret in town,” says Scotty’s website. This classic diner has been serving the Columbus crowd breakfast and lunch since 1989. Their menu features breakfast platters with pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, etc., along with lunch items that resemble what you’d order at a NY deli (think pastrami sandwiches on rye, a roast beef melt, tuna salad, and soup).

#36 Brassica – 680 N. High St., Columbus, OH | 2212 E Main St., Bexley, OH | 1442 W Lane Ave., Upper Arlington, OH |  4012 Townsfair Way, Columbus, OH

“This is our ode to brassicas, a family of vegetables known for serious nutrition. We prepare them simply, so their beautiful flavors and colors can shine,” says Brassica’s website. Their “walk-up and order” menu features organic, whole wheat pitas and rices, artisan tahini dressings, roasted vegetables like carrots and cabbage, and an array of Middle-Eastern inspired sauces. 

My go-to order (as I’d order it while going down the line): a salad base with a pita on the side, half hummus, half baba, crispy onions, pita chips, falafel, sweet beets, cucumber, radishes, and cabbage, eggplant, cauliflower, roasted carrots, topped with roasted red pepper and tahini sauce. I always get a side of Brassica fries and the Minty Pink Lemonade to wash it all down.

#44 Wario’s Beef & Pork – 111 W Nationwide Blvd Columbus, OH 

This is an East-coast inspired sandwich shop that’s been gaining momentum and popularity in the Columbus community. Their website emphasizes that they source their food responsibly, and everything is made from scratch. Their signature Cold Cut sandwich includes rosemary ham, soppressata, hot coppa, picante provolone, house giardiniera, Wario sauce, tomato butter, shaved lettuce, and onions, all on top of a locally made semolina seeded roll.

#86 Agapé Mediterranean – 405 Polaris Pkwy Suite 101, Westerville, OH | 5010 N Hamilton Rd., Gahanna, OH | 7162 Longhorn Dr., Sunbury, OH 43074

Agapé is a Greek word meaning, “doing good for one another,” and this restaurant is embodying that message through their wholesome food. Their website mentions they use fresh ingredients with bold flavors to create their pitas, salads, and bowls, that are then topped with a protein, vegetables, hummuses, and sauces.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new August issue here!

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