Amazing Restaurants To Try in Louisville, KY
Updated: Nov 12, 2021
One of the biggest things that I love about my home city is the food scene... Oh my lord, it's amazing! Even though Louisville is small, the foodie culture has EXPLODED.... and I mean it! Even out of town friends will reminisce on at least one meal they had while visiting.
When I talk to outsiders, I almost always hear someone mention KFC... And I hate to tell you this, but that is the last place a Louisville local is imagining when they are craving fried chicken! This city has some amazing spots for just about every ethnic food category, which is why I wanted to make this list to show you the best of the best when you come to visit!
If you're craving fried chicken, go to..... Royal's Hot Chicken
It was a given that I had to put this first on my list because it is my absolute favorite restaurant in the Ville. Not even any other hot chicken place in Nashville could top Royal's.
You can get your fried chicken as tenders, tacos or a sandwich. There are different spice levels, so be careful which one you pick! If you can handle the heat pretty well, the regular hot will suit you just fine. If not, you can get the no eat sauce or as plain fried chicken. Up for a challenge? Well, I warned you... but you can try their Gonzo spice level, which is extra extra hot! They also have many different dipping sauces, my favorite being the Alabama White BBQ.
Aside from the delicious food, you need to try one of their bourbon slushies! They also have amazing milkshakes, which you can spike as well.
If you're craving tacos, go to.... Taco Luchador
Louisville knows how to do tacos well. Taco Luchador knows how to do them VERY well! So well that there are now 4 locations around the city!
I've tried their tacos, nachos, queso...you name it. Everything is fairly inexpensive as well. $5 frozen margaritas? I'll take that any day. Not to mention they have seasonal and swirl margaritas! The price-to-taco ratio is amazing. I believe it was around $3.45 for one GRANDE taco! Also, their chips and queso did not disappoint either.
Another thing I really love is the colorful atmosphere of their locations... Everything is so pretty! Very Instagrammable too. ;)
If you're craving seafood, go to.... The Seafood Lady
If a restaurant has made it on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives... you know there's got to be something special about it. The Seafood Lady has made a name for itself in this city, and is loved by a majority of locals!
You can find just about any kind of seafood here, but I die and go to heaven when I eat some of their crab Cheese - Sea fries...my mouth is watering now just thinking about it! Basically, it is a basket of fries topped with cheese and snowcrab, which is just pure bliss.
If you're craving burgers, go to... Grind Burger Kitchen
If you've ever explored the Nulu area, you know there is fantastic food on every corner (cough, cough... Royal's!!) Grind is no exception. Here you will find some of the most tender, melt-in-your-mouth burgers in Louisville.
There are different burgers to choose from, such as a Southern-style, veggie, old-fashioned (with an egg), etc. Another notable thing about Grind Burger is that the service is always fantastic.
I recently saw this place rated high in an article titled "Top 10 Burgers in Louisville." I definitely think it deserves a spot on this list!
If you're craving pizza, go to... MozzaPi
In my opinion, MozzaPi is very underrated! There are many, many great places for pizza in the Ville, but I don't hear many other people talk about this place.
First off, the building it's in is absolutely gorgeous! You'll feel like you're sitting inside a big German cottage. The pizza is phenomenal - they are served as a personal pan and are made out of a brick oven. MozzaPi is counter service, and is basically a pizza/bakery/coffee shop. Interesting mix, right?
If you're craving hot dogs, go to... Red Top
After Royal's, my next favorite is immediately Red Top. Why, you ask? Because they're hot dogs are unbelievable! And I'm not talking the small cheap ones you can find at carts... These are pretty hefty!
The quality of their hot dogs is great, and it's definitely not your average dog you can get anywhere else. I even went with their most basic choice, The Louisville, and it was slathered with meat, mustard, coney sauce, and just pure goodness. They have quite some interesting choices like the Germantown, covered in German toppings and more.
If you're craving ice cream, go to... Leige & Dairy
Leige & Dairy is the best place to get yourself into a sugar coma. They are known for their sundaes that include a Belgian waffle at the bottom, and topped with whatever you like. Or if you'd rather just have some ice cream or a milkshake, they've got that too!
The ice cream itself was very soft compared to typical ice cream stores, which is also a plus in my book! Definitely a great addition to the sweets scene in East Lou!
If you're craving ramen, go to... Ramen House
This lovely ramen shop is located inside the Mid City Mall, right by Baxter Avenue Theaters. It makes for a great place to stop by before/after a movie, or maybe even before a grocery trip to the nearby Value Market.
They have different bowls to choose from, but the spicy miso tonkotsu is my all time favorite. If you're a nerd like myself, you'll love the anime decor and funk pops hanging all around the restaurant!
So, there you have it! While these are just a few great places to get you started, my list of recommendations could go on forever! I promise to any tourist coming to visit that you are bound to go home with great memories of at least one meal that you had.
