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Columbus Food Scene: 90 Local Gems Span Southern, Asian, and Barbecue
Historic spots like Dinglewood Pharmacy and Country's Barbecue anchor a scene that includes 90 recommended options across American, Southern, Asian and barbecue styles.
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Columbus features standout dining institutions such as Dinglewood Pharmacy, known for its scrambled dog made with a sliced wiener topped by chili, oyster crackers and pickles, alongside Country's Barbecue serving hickory-and-oak cooked pork with Brunswick stew, sweet potato souffle and cornbread.
The city's established eateries draw locals and visitors because they combine longstanding recipes with accessible locations in downtown and nearby areas. These places operate as working businesses that have maintained their core offerings over decades while fitting into broader neighborhood routines around the RiverWalk.
Barbecue and Southern Comfort Options
Country's Barbecue has operated as a Columbus institution since 1975 with three locations, preparing pork over hickory and oak and pairing it with regional sides. Locally owned barbecue spots include Angus Beef BBQ, also known as Zombie Pig BBQ, and Clearview B-B-Q. Plucked Up Chicken and Biscuits provides Southern comfort food at its address of 1208 1st Ave. Banks Food Hall at 1002 Bay Ave serves as a downtown collective with multiple eateries, indoor and outdoor seating, bars and live music.
Additional Southern and American choices appear among the 90 recommended food spots in the city. American cuisine accounts for 20 of those spots and Southern cuisine for 16, while Asian options total 15 and barbecue listings reach 9. Minnie's Uptown offers down-home cooking, and Jordan's Girls Gourmet Dawgs adds another local variation on classic items.
Upscale Dining and Ethnic Cuisines
Mabella’s Steakhouse sits downtown near the RiverWalk, and Saltcellar provides dinner paired with entertainment near the Springer Opera House. Trevioli At The Rapids also operates in a downtown location. For other cuisines, Las Americas Supermarket supplies Mexican tacos, Golden Chopstick prepares Korean dishes, and Haru Sushi delivers ramen and sushi. Country Life Natural Food Store and Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant at 1217 Eberhart Ave has served the area for 50 years with grocery items and vegetarian meals.
Further plant-forward choices include Little Eater, recognized among top plant-forward restaurants worldwide for its use of seasonal and locally grown ingredients, and Comune, an upscale venue that keeps every ingredient seasonal and local. These options expand the range beyond the dominant American and Southern categories while remaining grounded in Columbus addresses and suppliers.
Residents can explore the full list of 90 recommended spots by starting with the downtown cluster around the RiverWalk and Springer Opera House or by visiting the three Country's Barbecue locations for consistent barbecue plates. Checking current hours at Dinglewood Pharmacy or Banks Food Hall at 1002 Bay Ave allows visitors to match meals with available seating and any scheduled live music.