The 20 Hottest Restaurants in Cleveland Right at This Moment

Hot Chicken Takeover

242 Main St., Westlake

Our nation is presently in the grip of a fried chicken frenzy. Celebrity chefs are unveiling fried chicken spin-offs, every other restaurant has added fried chicken sandwiches to the menu, and variations like Korean-fried chicken, fried chicken and waffles, and Nashville hot chicken continue to gain market share. Why are diners obsessed with fried chicken? Because it's delicious. Messy, but delicious. The best fried chicken shacks keep it simple, do it right and deliver the goods in an attractive setting with great customer service. That describes Hot Chicken Takeover to a ‘T’.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

Sawyer’s

3396 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights

In many ways, Sawyer's can be viewed as the culmination of all the chef’s previous restaurants, a culinary composition that represents the James Beard Award-winning chef's experiences with French, Italian, Japanese and American cookery. At the same time, his latest production is nearly impossible to pigeonhole. Less magnum opus than "greatest hits" compilation, the restaurant reprises many fan favorites from years and meals past. While no longer revelatory, dishes like confit chicken wings, beef fat candle, strangolapreti and Tabasco fried chicken are nevertheless worthy of encore performances.

Photo via The Van Aken District

Angie’s Soul Food Cafe

7815 Carnegie Ave., Cleveland

It’s been nearly two years since we first learned of plans to renovate the former Hot Sauce Williams building on Carnegie into a splashy new Angie’s Soul Café. Angie’s offers soul food classics like crispy fried chicken, freshly fried fish, daily specials like meatloaf, Salisbury steak and liver and onions, and those irresistible sides like black-eyed peas, collards greens and macaroni and cheese.

Photo via Scene Archives

Gually’s Bakery and Restaurant

6201 Denison Ave., Cleveland

We can now add Gually’s Bakery & Restaurant to the growing selection of quick-serve Puerto Rican delis and bakeries in Cleveland's Tremont, Clark Fulton and Stockyards neighborhoods. Like the others, Gually’s Bakery offers walk-up counter service and a small dining room in which to sit and eat. This deli offers a combination of prepared foods, foods cooked to order, pastries and coffee. More than a dozen sandwiches, including hot-pressed Cubanos and Tripletas, join hearty combination plates that include meat, rice and beans.

Photo by Doug Trattner

Foodhisattva

2158 South Taylor Rd., Cleveland Heights

The Economist magazine recently declared 2019 "The year of the vegan," predicting that this "will be the year veganism goes mainstream." But here in Cleveland it's still remarkably challenging to chase down a delicious, creative and wholly dairy- and meat-free meal. That’s why Foodhisattva, a vegan Asian fusion cafe, has been such a welcome addition to the east side dining scene.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

EDWINS Bakery

13106 Buckeye Rd., Cleveland

Brandon Chrostowski isn’t one to sit on his hands. Since launching the pioneering EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, the chef, restaurateur and philanthropist has expanded the scope of his skills-based program for formerly incarcerated men and women to include EDWINS Second Chance Life Skills Center and EDWINS Butcher Shop. He also is a consultant on Sérénité in Medina and in partnership with the West Side Catholic Center in the nonprofit Ohio City Pizzeria. Next up is EDWINS Bakery , which opens this Friday in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood of Cleveland. In addition to pastries and breads, the bakery also serves breakfast.

Photo via EDWINS/Facebook

Dang Good Foods

13735 Madison Ave., Lakewood

Less than a year ago, Daniel Ang launched the popular Singapore-style food truck Dang Good Foods, selling foods inspired by his childhood. There, he grew up eating a melting pot cuisine with roots in Chinese, Indian, Malay, Japanese and Korean cooking. When Thai Thai announced it was relocating, Ang jumped at the space. The menu builds upon the dishes that Ang has been selling from the truck. Items include crispy spring rolls, savory Spam musubi, Singapore fried rice, soy-braised pork or chicken steam buns and nasi lemak, coconut milk seasoned jasmine rice with crispy chicken wings, cucumber, egg and a sweet-spicy chili sauce.

Photo via Scene Archives

Half Moon Bakery

3460 West 25th St., Cleveland

After more than three years of pop-ups and catering, Half Moon Bakery finally unveiled its brick-and-mortar bakery in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, located across the street from MetroHealth. The carry-out empanada shop features the signature half-moon-shaped pastries, stuffed with flavor-packed combinations such as shredded chicken with garlic tomato sauce, tofu with seasoned veggies, and pepperoni, mozzarella and tomato sauce, along with sandwiches, fresh bread, pastries and cakes.

Photo by Emanuel Wallace

Rosso Italia

3355 Richmond Rd., Beachwood

After almost 15 years in business, the popular upscale Beachwood-steakhouse Red shuttered in late 2019, moving down the road to the mixed-use development Pinecrest. Luckily for diners, veteran restaurateur Brad Friedlander quickly turned the space into an upscale Italian joint. And this place delivers all the traditional goods at a very high quality.

Photo via Scene Archives

Il Venetian

100 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland

If fine dining is dead, you wouldn't know it by eating here. This expense account-ready eatery on the ground floor of Key Tower is part of the same hospitality group that includes Marble Room and LockKeepers. In addition to the lavish surroundings and excellent service, guests can look forward to technically proficient Italian fare that largely sticks to the playbook, albeit with a few twists and upgrades.

Photo via Scene Archives