Eight New Cincinnati Restaurants and Trends in 2021

Cincinnati has endured many losses in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, but despite this, an overall sense of hope for the future is finally filling the void. Quite a number of new restaurants are either freshly opened or on the cusp of opening, demonstrating once again the tenacity and resiliency of the restauranteurs we often take for granted, the folks crazy enough to risk a restaurant business and keep us fed.

Here are some of our most anticipated new area restaurants and food trends:

Rokaru Ramen

9405 Kenwood Road.
Blue Ash, OH, 45242
513-791-2699
https://rokaruramen.com

Rokaru is slated to open this spring in Blue Ash in a space next to Donatos that used to house both Cookies By Design and Whit's Frozen Custard. The resturant features skewered chicken (Yakitori); katsu pork and chicken bowls; Donburi rice bowls with choices of chicken, pork, tofu and eel; and several ramen bowl variants.

Another Broken Egg Cafe

3880 K, Paxton Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-873-4536
https://anotherbrokenegg.com/

This breakfast and brunch chain, which started in Louisiana in the 1990s, is similar in spirit to Wild Eggs, First Watch and Sleepy Bee Cafe. The restaurant highlights the chain's Southern roots through several menu items, including the Louisiana Creole Benedict, with seafood sausage and creole hollandaise; the shrimp 'n grits; and the "biscuit beignets." Most breakfast entrees range in price from $11-$15.

Crab Restaurants (various)

Cincinnati has become especially crabby in recent months. Mr. Crab House, Crafty Crab, Million's Crab are among several names seen throughout the area recently. The trend seems to have been inspired by a similar crab movement happening in Tennessee and a number of other southern states, working its way north. It will be interesting to see if this trend has any staying power beyond a few years.

Oakley Kitchen

3715 Madison Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45209
513-289-5886
https://www.oakley-kitchen.com

This much-anticipated "curated food hall" housed in the former Duck Creek Antique Mall building is slated to open this spring. The location hosts eight unique businesses and food concepts, including Onolicious Hawaii, which serves iconic Hawaiian staples like the plate lunch (choice of beef, chicken or pork with a side of either macaroni salad or potato salad) along with heaps of rice; Jimmie Lou's, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant featuring braised beef and shrimp po'boys, jambalaya and fried chicken; Khana Gourmet Indian Grill, showcasing their "Masala Magic" spice rubs, beef seekh kebabs, buttery Makhani and coconut curries and biryani rice dishes; Loakley, whose menu focuses on locally-sourced, farm-to-table food; La Petite Frite, serving Belgian Frites, stews and sandwiches; as well as several other rotating catering and cocktail vendors.

Mochiko

1524 Madison Road
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Facebook page

Mochiko, a restaurant with Japanese and Filipino influences, made its presence known in the Cincinnati area initially via a series of pop-ups, in which pastries like the Ube Halaya croissant, dalgona coffee pie, ramen noodle bowls and katsu chicken sandwiches were sold. Owners Erik Bentz and Elaine Townsend now have a brick-and-mortar location to call home in East Walnut Hills, where they will feature "Japanese comfort food," including dishes like omurice, a Western-fusion omelette and fried-rice dish; the fried pork katsu sando sandwich with seasoned cabbage and katsu sauce; kimchi & egg croissant; and the Terimayo hot dog bun, a street-food inspired hot dog topped with kewpie mayo, katsu sauce, katsuobushi (bonito flakes) and shredded nori.

Jack Brown's

1207 Main Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513-873-8288
https://www.jackbrownsjoint.com/

Jack Brown's is a regional burger chain that opened its first location in Harrisonburg, Virginia 11 years ago. They now have 15 locations, including this one in Over-the-Rhine on Main St. The restaurant strictly focuses on Wagyu beef burgers; no other proteins are available. There are more than a dozen burger styles, not including their daily special variants. If you're a carnivore, this is the place to try a well-made beef burger and side of fries.

King's Way Cafe

3550 Montgomery Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45207
513-351-5500
Facebook page

This minority-owned and operated cafe in Evanston sports a bright, beautiful interior with wood floors and intricate murals to go along with its enticing breakfast and lunch menus. The cafe features a hearty breakfast casserole with potatoes, mushrooms, eggs, peppers and onions; vegan breakfast plates; a "BLAT" (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato); deli sandwiches, quesadillas, soups and more.

Tweedy's Deli & Grill

8316 Plainfield Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45236
513-832-0915
https://www.tweedysdeli.com/

Located in Deer Park, This hole-in-the-wall rests in the former Kinneret Cafe location and features some impressively-sized crispy chicken and spicy chicken sandwiches that look to be in the same vein as Popeye's fabled versions. They also offer beef, chicken and salmon cheesesteaks, breakfast sandwiches, a mountainous double cheeseburger and the "Tweedy Big Burger," with two patties piled with corned beef, bacon, American cheese on a toasted onion bun.