Although Columbus is known as the birthplace of many value restaurant chains, there are quite a few independent eateries here that will bring amazing flavors and cuisines to your palate for bargain prices.
La Michoacana 2175 Morse Rd. Columbus, OH 43229 614-471-4500
La Michoacana is a Mexican market on the Northeast side with one of the best, authentic Mexican restaurants in Columbus. The staff doesn‘t even speak English. The burritos come with a choice of a dozen or so meat fillings (including Tripe and Chorizo) and the size puts a Chipotle burrito to shame. Tamales are the best in town. There are a few dishes with camarones (shrimp), chicken with Mole sauce, and a nice selection of Mexican desserts and soft drinks.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $15
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Jeni’s Fine 59 Spruce Street Columbus, OH 43215 614-228-9960
All of the best restaurants in the Midwest are now carrying Jeni Britton’s ice creams. Even though you cannot afford to eat at these restaurants often, you can have their dessert everyday without breaking the bank. It all started at this small counter at the North market where Britton creates ice creams out of ingredients like Brown soda Bread, Thai Chili, Goat Cheese, and Muscat wine. Salty caramel is their signature flavor and worth a pint to take home. Eat your heart out Ben and Jerry.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Café Bella 2593 North High Street Columbus, Ohio 43202 Clintonville 614-267-1998
The blue and red neon lights outside this Clintonville restaurant have been beckoning those looking for quality Italian food at moderate prices for decades. The Penne Carbonara is thick and filling and my favorite. The Baked Ziti Bolognese and Eggplant Parmigiano are worth a shot too. They don’t have wine, but the Brooklyn born owners will run across the street to buy you a bottle, sans corkage fee.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $10 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Katzinger’s Delicatessen 475 South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 German Village 614-228-DELI
We have the Refectory, L’Antibes, Rigsby’s, etc. But every president that comes to Columbus heads to Katzinger’s. Few would expect a $10 sandwich to be this worthy, but they are and decades of celebrity sightings, sold out events, and a bustling catering business prove it. The menu is Eastern European and Jewish specialties with dozens of deli style salads, hundreds of hard to find cheeses, and other gourmet products and ingredients. There are about a hundred variations of sandwiches. For the most are good. President Clinton had a Hot Corned Beef with Swiss cheese and Hot Mustard on Pumpernickel. Potato Knish, Creamed Herring, or Noodle Kugel if you’re bored. Giant barrels of pickles in the center of the restaurant are a nice touch and they are free when you dine in.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $10 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Taste of Bali 2548 Bethel Road Columbus, OH 43220 614-459-7230
Being the only Indonesian restaurant in town and an excellent restaurant anyway, you would think that Taste of Bali would raise their prices. Not so. The Satay Kambing (lamb) and Satay Ayam (chicken) are served with a homemade peanut sauce and soybean sauce and run at $5-6. There are 12 Nasi dishes (Indonesian rice, meat, egg, and vegetable dishes, often spicy) everything from Goreng to Padang and Timbel. Although most restaurants outlaw the fruit in Asia because of its strong stench, Taste of Bali doesn’t hesitate to use Durian in a few dishes. Coming here is far easier than a 30-hour plane ride.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $10 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Open, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Bento Go-Go 1728 N High St Columbus, OH 43201 614-298-8817
This restaurant is designed for student needs, in other words, it’s cheap. The sushi menu is good, not venturing far from basic, but the quality remains high. Sampler dishes are excellent value, as are the Bento boxes which combine a number of small dishes around a main course like a school lunch tray but far more exotic.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $10 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Nancy’s Home Cooking 3133 N. High Street Columbus, OH 43202 614- 265-9012 Clintonville
The line swings out the door sometimes at Nancy’s. Sometimes leading a round the corner. This longtime Clintonville diner has a loyal following, particularly on Noodle days. Nancy’s is a place where the regulars serve themselves, the waitresses call you “honey,” and garbage is a term that applies to fatty dishes. Homestyle cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner with pancakes, omelets, mashed potatoes and gravy, meatloaf, and everything else your mother used to make.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
Thurman Café 183 Thurman Ave Columbus, OH 43206 German Village 614-443-1570
Thurman’s has been seen on the Food channel and featured in many other top ten lists for their colossal hamburgers, the Thurman burger, which brings together three quarters of a pound of ground chuck with ham, mozzarella, American cheese and a secret ingredient. As far as more for your money is concerned, Thurman’s can’t be beat. Wings, subs, and a number of other carb-heavy appetizers round out the menu.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
McCormick and Schmick’s 3965 New Bond St Columbus, OH 43219 (614) 476-3663
McCormick and Schmick’s isn’t the typical budget restaurant. Actually it is quite pricey. However, their bar food menu, at $1.95 an item (with purchase of two drinks) is one of the best deals in town. Steamed Mussels in White Whine broth: $1.95. A Half-pound Cajun Burger: $1.95. Baja Fish Tacos: $1.95. Oyster Shooters: $1.95. You get the idea.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $10
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Open, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
The North Market 59 Spruce Street Columbus, OH 43215 614-463-9664
Few places in the world are as budget friendly, particularly when the quality and variety are so high. The North Market isn’t just one restaurant, but a collection of them that provide some of the most exotic dishes in the city. Almost every ethnic cuisine is represented. There’s a New York Deli, a German Bakery, and Italian Patisserie, a Seafood restaurant, Indian, Sushi, Vietnamese, and just about anything you could think of.
Estimated cost per person for dinner = $5 - $20
Holiday Schedule: New Years Day-Closed, Valentines Day-Open, Easter-Closed, Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve-Closed, Christmas Day-Closed, and New Years Eve-Open
The Top List of Best Buy Restaurants - Columbus, OH