These 5 restaurants represent the best of Columbus food culture. Vote for number 1 now

The first round of our Best of Columbus food bracket has wrapped, and we’re down to five unique dishes.

The finalists:

• Camel Rider ”House Specialty” - Speakeasy 
• Caribbean Chicken Wings - B. Merrell’s 
• Texas Tamale - Tamale Time
• Mama Kay’s Cheesecake - Mabella
• Beef Bulgolgi - Golden Chopstix Korean Restaurant

After days of enthusiastic voting, the contenders have advanced to the next round. The results reflect a community with a wide range of preferences, a genuinely diverse palate, and strong opinions about what represents Columbus.

As the field narrows, the debate is only getting louder.

Voting for this round is open now through Thursday, Jan. 30, at noon.

This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 6:00 AM.