It’s always fun rounding up my favorite eats of the year. We were fortunate to taste some pretty amazing dishes in 2025, so I’m highlighting some of my favorite bites around Columbus!
A New Year’s Day feast at Haveli Bistro! It was our first time at this upscale but approachable Indian spot at High and Spring streets downtown.
Warming up in the winter with hot pot at CoCo Cuisine. I feel like we spent a lot of time this year exploring international eats along Bethel Road.
Read more: A New Option for Dim Sum and Hot Pot on Bethel Road: CoCo Cuisine
Asada tipico at Calero’s Bar & Grill, a family-run Salvadoran spot that was (rightfullynamed one of the city’s best new restaurants by Columbus Monthly.
Read more: Excellent Salvadoran Fare at Calero’s Bar & Grill
The cold cut at Wario’s. I know their cheesesteak gets a lot of love, but this is my favorite on their menu.
Read more: Wario’s Beef & Pork Opens in Clintonville (from 2024)
A delightfully comforting evening at the Barley’s Brewing Burns Supper. This was one of my favorite events of the year. After Smokehouse Brewing closed last year, their annual Scottish dinner, replete with Scotch, beer, haggis, kilts, poetry, and song, went on hiatus. But Jason Fabian, GM at Barley’s, joined up with Columbus Food Adventures to bring it back. (There’s a waitlist for the 2026 dinner!)
Torta birria from our many trips to Taqueria Guadalajara this year. This has become one of our favorites as a family. If we pause too long in planning dinner, we end up here!
Read more: Taqueria Guadalajara Might Be Our New Go-To Mexican Spot
The giant gappa chaat from Food Street. This Pakistani street food fast casual was a stand-out for 2025. We need to get there more often!
Read more: Food Street Brings Amazing Pakistani Fusion to Clintonville
Layered donuts from Parlor Doughnuts. The first Central Ohio location of this chain opened in Powell this year. I really loved their donuts and their dense but flaky layers.
Read more: Parlor Doughnuts and Its Layered Donuts Arrive in Powell
The El Quixote from Chef Lara Pipia’s brunch pop-up at Antiques on High: egg, manchego, Spanish chorizo, arugula, tomato jam, saffron citrus aioli. (She’s since discontinued brunch service.)
Read more: Chef Lara Pipia Kicks Off High on Brunch at Antiques on High
Arepas at Cilantro Latin Grill. The title of my post says it all: why don’t we go here more often?
Read more: Why Haven’t We Been to Cilantro Latin Fusion More Often?
Hard to beat the burger at Club 185. Erin Edwards from the Columbus Foodletter made the argument that Columbus should brag more about our bar food, and I’m inclined to agree.
A taste of Tacos Rudos at Budd Dairy Food Hall, on the Columbus Food Adventures food hall tour.
Read more: Columbus Food Adventures Launches New Food Hall Tour
Tender bison ribs at Ted’s Montana Grill. Part of a stand-out lunch at their Arena District location.
The good stuff at Mastro’s steakhouse, which opened at Easton this spring.
Over the Counter in Worthington still flies under the radar. Love their reuben!
Read more: Brunch at Over the Counter
Yetty’s egusi with fufu at the wonderful family-run Foodateria Kitchen.
Read more: Kenyan and Nigerian Delights at Foodateria Kitchen
Haitian patties at Bibi’s Patties.
Read more: Bibi’s Patties Features Haitian Dishes From Their New Storefront
2 Flannels & A Vest, my fav sandwich at Frank & Carl’s.
Read more: Frank and Carl’s in Dublin is a Sandwich-Centric Hidden Gem
Delightful scratch-made meals at Preston Eatery.
Read more: Amazing Grab-and-Go Meals From Preston Eatery
The cheeseburger at Third & Hollywood. Our lunch there was excellent.
Read more: Brunch at Third & Hollywood
Lamb kebabs at Cafe Istanbul in Dublin, perhaps the best lamb I’ve ever tasted.
Read more: Watch my video with Visit Dublin Ohio about Cafe Istanbul!
Menemen, a classic Turkish breakfast at Tulip Cafe’s expanded space.
Read more: Tulip Cafe Expands its Space and Menu to Add Coffee, Breakfast, and Desserts
Beer and barbecue at Rockmill Brewery. I still think of Backcountry BBQ’s smoked turkey.
Read more: Rockmill Brewery Continues With New Owners (from 2024)
Tiramisu at Metsi’s. I should shout out their pastas, but this is the best tiramisu we’ve had.
Read more: Chef BJ Lieberman Opens Metsi’s Italian in the Short North
A spread of the good stuff from the Cheffy Dawg cart.
Read more: Hot Dog! The Cheffy Dawg Cart Serves Up Hot Dogs at Local Breweries
Ube Basque cheesecake from Dua Bakery. The couple behind this Albanian bakery are the sweetest folks, and their goods have become a favorite stop at the Worthington Farmers Market.
Noodles at Cobra. Really, everything on their menu.
Read more: Cool Cocktails and Bold Bites at Cobra in the Brewery District
Our favorite pickle spot, The Crazy Cucumber, launched The Crispy Cucumber, a truck serving fried pickles!
Read more: We’re Crazy for The Crazy Cucumber, the Best Pickles in Columbus
At long last, Rose Dough Donuts opened their own shop. More crullers for all of us!
Read more: Rose Dough Donuts Opens Clintonville Shop
A long-overdue return visit to Lalibela for amazing Ethiopian fare.
Read more: Lalibela
Chilaquiles with chorizo from the Casa Karmelitas food truck.
Perhaps the best pork chop ever, at Gene’s in Dublin.
Read more: Gene’s Serves Cocktails, Wines, & Dinner in a Cozy Historic Dublin Home (also, see the video I made with Visit Dublin Ohio about Gene’s)
Everything at Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen!
Read more: Fiery Sky Asian Kitchen Brings the Heat to Bethel Road
This is the year I discovered the breakfast burrito at Chile Verde and I’m never looking back.
Read more: Chile Verde Just Launched a Killer Southwestern Brunch
I’m just going to say it: I really dug the pickle waffle with fried chicken at Sunny Street Cafe. And I was very proud of the reel I made about it.
The giant sausage roll at Aracri Pizzeria downtown.
A delightful breakfast sandwich at Begin Cafe.
Read more: Coffee and Breakfast at the Adorable Begin Cafe in Uptown Westerville
A rich custom-made bowl of soup at Tanghuo Kungfu Malatang in the Dayou International Market food court.
Read more: Build Your Own Hot Pot at Tanghuo Kungfu Malatang
All of the meats at GOGi Korean BBQ.
Read more: GOGi Korean BBQ Introduces a Delightful AYCE Experience
The chicken katsu sando at Koso in East Market.
Black garlic tonkotsu at Kyushu Ramen Bar.
Read more: Kyushu Ramen Bar Opens Third Location on Bethel Road
An amazing dinner at the chef’s counter at Haru Omakase.
Read more: HARU Omakase Might Be One of Our Favorite New Dining Experiences in 2024
The iconic Thanksgiving kolache at Kolache Republic.
Lomo saltado at Nomad.
Read more: Nomad Offers Columbus’ Absolute Best Happy Hour This Summer (post from 2023)
Fried calamari and cocktails at Hank’s Seafood. We love sitting at the bar in their lounge!
Read more: Hank’s Low Country Seafood & Raw Bar Arrives in Downtown Columbus
Joya’s will always be on this list! The breakfast sandwich Bobby’s Way.
Read more: Chef Avishar Barua’s Joya’s Cafe is a Gem in Old Worthington
Curious about more restaurant news from the year? Check out What Opened, What Closed, and What Moved or Expanded in 2025 or 14 New Coffee Shops That Opened in 2025!
You can also me on Instagram at @breakfastwithnick, check out the news archives, read my guide to Columbus, or search for travel inspiration.