Imagine sitting with your beloved in a huge, fancy restaurant with crystal chandeliers and real crystal wine glasses sitting before you. Your evening is romantic and dreamy… and then you get the bill. The food was delicious, but was it worth the hefty price tag? The humblest yet coolest restaurants in Cleveland prove that great food and an unforgettable experience can come without the excess frills. You’ll fall in love with these local little eateries, and you just may find yourself returning time and time again.
- Borderline Cafe
Michael Smith/Google Images
Michael Smith/Google Images Craving an old-fashioned southern style breakfast? This cash-only restaurant absolutely belongs on your bucket list. This restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, maintaining steady hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the remainder of the week. Though easy to miss, Borderline Cafe is a local favorite for reasons you’ll understand in just one bite.
- Tony’s Southside
Taylor Trask/Google Images
Tony’s Southside/Facebook This cozy local favorite specializes in heart-to-table cooking that’s indulgent without being excessive. Since around 1985, Tony’s Southside has celebrated a Greco-Roman heritage in its delicious dishes and traditional recipes. Tony’s Southside is, like the aforementioned eatery, cash only, so come prepared!
- LJ Shanghai
Shawn B/TripAdvisor
Edsel Little/Flickr You may think you know Chinese cuisine, but the dishes served up at LJ Shanghai are authentic through-and-through. Shanghainese and Sichuanese dishes stand out on their menu, but diners are obsessed with their xiao long bao (steamed dumplings).
- Boaz Cafe
Boaz Cafe/Facebook
Boaz Cafe/Facebook Ohio City is a haven for foodies, as you can truly find anything there… including undeniably delicious Mediterranean eats. Boaz Cafe strives to provide health-conscious choices in their menu, which features dishes prepared with only the freshest ingredients, extra virgin olive oil, and no artificial preservatives. Build-your-own bowls are popular here, but their freshly-prepped hummus and tabouli is just as coveted.
- El Sabor de Ponce
Google Maps
Stuart Spivack/Google Images Las Tienditas del Mercado is adored by Clevelanders, as it highlights some of the most authentic Latin American cuisine around. El Sabor de Ponce is a newer concept, bringing the flavors of Puerto Rico’s southern coast to The Land. With a cafeteria-style approach to dining and a youth-friendly sense of optimism, Sabor de Ponce is sure to become a coveted local favorite.
- Scorpacciata Pasta Co.
Scorpacciata Pasta Co./Facebook
Scorpacciata Pasta Co./Facebook Cleveland loves comfort food, and pasta in particular is a local delicacy. Scorpacciata Pasta Co. reinvents traditional Italian cuisine with a local flair, incorporating both seasonal and local ingredients into their dishes. This place is a must for picky eaters — since 2018, they’ve delighted visitors with everything from mac and cheese to puttanesca. (P.S. Don’t pass up the tiramisu!)
- The Crispy Chick
Google Maps
Stuart Spivack/Google Images Minority female-owned and delicious… can this restaurant get any better? Since it opened in 2019, The Crispy Chick has knocked the socks off lovers of chicken tenders. This dish, like the other delicacies on their comfort food-focused menu, is free of MSG and other unnecessary additives. This is one up-and-coming eatery the whole family is sure to love.
- Xinji Noodle Bar
Xinji Noodle Bar/Facebook
Xinji Noodle Bar/Facebook Beer and ramen? Count me in! Xinji Noodle Bar is perfect for fans of Pan-Asian cuisine, as they have a bit of everything: bao, dumplings, ramen noodles, kimchi, and even fried chicken. In addition to an impressive menu, most dishes here feature ingredients from local farms.
- Choukouya Resto-Bar
Sekou Bemsy Bamba/Google Images
Choukouya Resto-Bar/Facebook From the outside, Choukouya Resto-Bar looks modest… but inside, you’ll find a rich and colorful atmosphere with a menu to match. West and Northern African dishes are the primary specialty at Choukouya, delighting taste buds with double-seasoned meats and a surprisingly international influence. Whether or not you’ve previously indulged in traditional African dining, you’ll love the offerings at this charming local restaurant.
- Issho Ni Ramen Sushi & Hibachi
Gerald S./Google Images
ISSHO NI/Facebook Issho Ni is adored for its sushi and hibachi, but it’s famous for its ramen dishes. Japanese favorites adorn the menu, ranging from miso soup to yakisoba. Though modest, visitors rave about the food and service alike in this humble Greater Cleveland restaurant.
- Pacific East Japanese Restaurant
Shams Alkari/Google Images
OswinOswald/TripAdvisor Are you hungry yet? If not, this last restaurant’s menu will surely have your tummy grumbling. It has locations in Beachwood, Kent, and Cleveland Heights, and each has an impressive menu. Cleveland Heights’ location may not look like much at first glance, but Malaysian favorites and Japanese entrees will have your taste buds begging for more.
Craving something delicious? You’ll find all sorts of treats for your taste buds at some of the coolest restaurants in Cleveland. Which of these dining destinations is at the top of your restaurant bucket list?
Michael Smith/Google Images
Craving an old-fashioned southern style breakfast? This cash-only restaurant absolutely belongs on your bucket list. This restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, maintaining steady hours of 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. throughout the remainder of the week. Though easy to miss, Borderline Cafe is a local favorite for reasons you’ll understand in just one bite.
Taylor Trask/Google Images
Tony’s Southside/Facebook
This cozy local favorite specializes in heart-to-table cooking that’s indulgent without being excessive. Since around 1985, Tony’s Southside has celebrated a Greco-Roman heritage in its delicious dishes and traditional recipes. Tony’s Southside is, like the aforementioned eatery, cash only, so come prepared!
Shawn B/TripAdvisor
Edsel Little/Flickr
You may think you know Chinese cuisine, but the dishes served up at LJ Shanghai are authentic through-and-through. Shanghainese and Sichuanese dishes stand out on their menu, but diners are obsessed with their xiao long bao (steamed dumplings).
Boaz Cafe/Facebook
Ohio City is a haven for foodies, as you can truly find anything there… including undeniably delicious Mediterranean eats. Boaz Cafe strives to provide health-conscious choices in their menu, which features dishes prepared with only the freshest ingredients, extra virgin olive oil, and no artificial preservatives. Build-your-own bowls are popular here, but their freshly-prepped hummus and tabouli is just as coveted.
Google Maps
Stuart Spivack/Google Images
Las Tienditas del Mercado is adored by Clevelanders, as it highlights some of the most authentic Latin American cuisine around. El Sabor de Ponce is a newer concept, bringing the flavors of Puerto Rico’s southern coast to The Land. With a cafeteria-style approach to dining and a youth-friendly sense of optimism, Sabor de Ponce is sure to become a coveted local favorite.
Scorpacciata Pasta Co./Facebook
Cleveland loves comfort food, and pasta in particular is a local delicacy. Scorpacciata Pasta Co. reinvents traditional Italian cuisine with a local flair, incorporating both seasonal and local ingredients into their dishes. This place is a must for picky eaters — since 2018, they’ve delighted visitors with everything from mac and cheese to puttanesca. (P.S. Don’t pass up the tiramisu!)
Minority female-owned and delicious… can this restaurant get any better? Since it opened in 2019, The Crispy Chick has knocked the socks off lovers of chicken tenders. This dish, like the other delicacies on their comfort food-focused menu, is free of MSG and other unnecessary additives. This is one up-and-coming eatery the whole family is sure to love.
Xinji Noodle Bar/Facebook
Beer and ramen? Count me in! Xinji Noodle Bar is perfect for fans of Pan-Asian cuisine, as they have a bit of everything: bao, dumplings, ramen noodles, kimchi, and even fried chicken. In addition to an impressive menu, most dishes here feature ingredients from local farms.
Sekou Bemsy Bamba/Google Images
Choukouya Resto-Bar/Facebook
From the outside, Choukouya Resto-Bar looks modest… but inside, you’ll find a rich and colorful atmosphere with a menu to match. West and Northern African dishes are the primary specialty at Choukouya, delighting taste buds with double-seasoned meats and a surprisingly international influence. Whether or not you’ve previously indulged in traditional African dining, you’ll love the offerings at this charming local restaurant.
Gerald S./Google Images
ISSHO NI/Facebook
Issho Ni is adored for its sushi and hibachi, but it’s famous for its ramen dishes. Japanese favorites adorn the menu, ranging from miso soup to yakisoba. Though modest, visitors rave about the food and service alike in this humble Greater Cleveland restaurant.
Shams Alkari/Google Images
OswinOswald/TripAdvisor
Are you hungry yet? If not, this last restaurant’s menu will surely have your tummy grumbling. It has locations in Beachwood, Kent, and Cleveland Heights, and each has an impressive menu. Cleveland Heights’ location may not look like much at first glance, but Malaysian favorites and Japanese entrees will have your taste buds begging for more.
Hungry for more dining hot spots? Check out some of the newest eateries in Cleveland.
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Address: 18508 Detroit Ave, Cleveland, OH 44107, USAAddress: 2193 Professor Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USAAddress: 3142 Superior Ave, Cleveland, OH 44114, USAAddress: 2549 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USAAddress: 2886 W 25th St, Cleveland, OH 44113, USAAddress: Scorpacciata Pasta Co & Scorpacciata Pizza Co., 3441 Tuttle Rd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122, USAAddress: 5618 Woodland Ave, Cleveland, OH 44104, USAAddress: 4211 Lorain Ave, Cleveland, OH 44113, USAAddress: 4620 Richmond Rd #292, Cleveland, OH 44128, USAAddress: 34302 Euclid Ave, Willoughby, OH 44094, USAAddress: 1763 Coventry Rd, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118, USA
