Welcome to Best of Columbus, the city’s original reader-voted contest crowning our favorite people and places. Columbus Monthly readers picked over 100 of their favorite places to eat and drink, shop and spend their time. Here are reader’s choices for the best in food and drink. And be sure to check out the rest of the package for our other reader poll results, as well as staff favorites and the stories behind some of our winners.
Best African Restaurant
Best Bakery
Best Bar Food
Best Barbecue
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Best Beer Selection
Best Breakfast
Best Brunch
Best Burger
Best Butcher Shop
Best Chinese Restaurant
Best Classic Pizza
Best Cocktails
Best Coffee Shop
Best Deli
Best Desserts
Best Diner
Best Doughnut
Best Fast-Casual
Best Food Truck
Best Fried Chicken
Best Gourmet Pizza
Best Happy Hour
Best Himalayan/Nepalese Restaurant
Best Hot Dogs
Best Ice Cream
Best Indian/Pakistani
Best Italian Restaurant
Best Kid’s Menu
Best Korean Restaurant
Best Latin American Restaurant
Best Local Distillery
Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Restaurant
Best Mexican Restaurant
Best Patio
Best Plant-Based Dining
Best Ramen
Best Romantic Restaurant
Best Rooftop Patio
Best Sandwiches
Best Seafood
Best Southern/Soul Food Restaurant
Best Sports Bar
Best Steakhouse
Best Sushi
Best Tacos
Best Taproom
Best Thai Restaurant
Best Vietnamese Restaurant
Best Wine Bar
Best Wings
This story appeared in the July 2026 issue of Columbus Monthly as part of the Best of Columbus feature package. See the other winners here and subscribe to Columbus Monthly here.
This article originally appeared on Columbus Monthly: Readers Pick the Best in Food and Drink in Columbus Monthly’s Poll
Reporting by Columbus Monthly / Columbus Monthly
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Columbus Monthly | USA TODAY Network
