Columbus Food Guide: James Beard Kitchens and 145-Year Market

Columbus was named one of the Best Food Cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, according to the tourism bureau Experience Columbus. The accolade comes as three local chefs and restaurants earned 2025 James Beard Awards semifinalist nods, cementing the city’s reputation as a serious dining destination that punches well above its Midwestern weight class.

That national recognition matters now because Columbus has quietly built a food scene that rivals cities twice its size. The Short North Arts District along N. High Street acts as the epicenter, a mile-long corridor where modern Japanese bistros, farm-to-table kitchens, and James Beard-nominated chefs operate within blocks of each other. But the city’s culinary reach extends far beyond that single strip, into neighborhoods where Somali, Nepalese, and Mexican restaurants stand side by side, and into suburban pockets where Korean BBQ on Bethel Road and Cantonese and Sichuan dishes on Kenny Road’s Chinatown draw loyal followings.

The Short North anchor and the North Market cornerstone

The Short North remains the most concentrated dining corridor in the city. At 680 N. High Street, Brassica serves casual, trendy lunches built around roasted vegetables and house-made sauces. A few doors north at 624 N. High Street, The Guild House delivers upscale gastropub fare in a polished setting. For white-glove service and a sommelier-curated wine list, The Refectory offers fine dining that rivals anything in the region.

Just a short walk from the Short North, North Market at 59 Spruce Street has operated as a public market for 145 years. The sprawling food hall hosts vendors selling fresh produce and prepared foods, and seasonally runs an outdoor farmers’ market. It’s the kind of place where you can pick up artisan cheese, grab a wood-fired pizza, and stock up on local honey all under one roof.

Global flavors without leaving city limits

Columbus’s diversity is its secret weapon. Within a few city blocks, diners can find authentic Somali sambusas, Nepalese momos, and Mexican tortas. The city’s Korean BBQ scene on Bethel Road draws crowds for tabletop grills and banchan. Meanwhile, the cluster of Cantonese and Sichuan restaurants on Kenny Road offers dim sum and mapo tofu that regulars swear by.

The James Beard recognition underscores the depth of talent. While the awards cycle for 2025 listed three Columbus semifinalists, the broader scene includes chefs who have trained in Michelin-starred kitchens and returned to open their own spots. Diners don’t need a reservation months in advance to eat well; many of the best meals happen at counter-service spots and neighborhood joints.

For visitors or locals looking to plan a crawl, the practical approach is to start in the Short North, hit North Market for a midday break, then branch out to Bethel Road or Kenny Road for dinner. Reservations are advised for The Guild House and The Refectory. Brassica and most market vendors are walk-in. The farmers’ market at North Market operates seasonally, so checking the market’s schedule before heading out is worthwhile.

Columbus won’t stay a secret much longer. With Condé Nast Traveler’s stamp and James Beard hardware in the pipeline, the city’s dining rooms will only get busier. Go now, go hungry, and eat your way through a city that treats food like a sport.