Here are the winners of this year’s Taste of Cincinnati festival

With a 550,000 annual attendance, the Taste of Cincinnati is one of the largest culinary street festivals in the United States. CONTRIBUTED

With a 550,000 annual attendance, the Taste of Cincinnati is one of the largest culinary street festivals in the United States. CONTRIBUTED
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By Felicia Jordan – WCPO
May 31, 2023
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CINCINNATI — The judges have spoken and the tastiest menu options available at this year’s Taste of Cincinnati were crowned.

Best of Taste judges met in early May at Findlay Kitchen to sample dishes from entrants and those participating in Taste of Findlay Market; food truck participants were sampled the next day. The winners were announced ahead of this past weekend’s annual festival.

Best of Taste 2023 winners:

Best sides:

  • Gold: Kabobske — Walking gyro
  • Silver: Pompilio’s Restaurant — Caprese salad
  • Bronze: Just Q’in BBQ — Brisket Mac

Best appetizer:

  • Gold: Ché — Short Rib Empanada
  • Silver: Kabobske — Buffalo Hummus with Pita chips
  • Bronze: Pompilio’s Restaurant — Grippo’s-flavored Risotto Balls

Best entree:

  • Gold: Alfio’s Buon Cibo — Braised Short Rib Creamy Truffle Gnocchi
  • Silver: Chino’s Street Food — Vietnamese Street Tacos
  • Bronze: Just Q’in BBQ — Pastrami

Best dessert:

  • Gold: Sweets & Meats BBQ — Bourbon Bread Pudding
  • Silver: Pompilio’s Restaurant — Kentucky Honey Bourbon and Chocolate Cannoli
  • Bronze: The Cheesecakery — Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake cupcake

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Pompilio’s Restaurant pulled the most wins overall, scoring one recognition for each category this year. It’s the second time in a row Alfio’s Buon Cibo has taken home the award for best entree, though last year’s dish was a different menu item. Both Kabobske and Just Q’in BBQ took home two awards each.

Food Truck Best of Taste 2023 winners:

Best side:

  • Gold: MamaBear’s Mac — New England Lobster Mac & Cheese
  • Silver: Dine-In Hawaiian — Crab Bake Dip
  • Bronze: Adena’s Beefstroll — Ma’s Meatballs

Best appetizer:

  • Gold: MamaBear’s Mac — Loaded Baked Potato Grilled Cheese
  • Silver: Dine-In Hawaiian — Fried Musubi
  • Bronze: Wicked Hickory — Smoked Chicken Nachos

Best entree:

  • Gold: Wicked Hickory — Smoked Lamb Taco
  • Silver: Quite Frankly LLC — Pumba
  • Bronze: Twisted Greek — Greek Wrap Supreme

Best dessert:

  • Gold: Maw Maw’s Creole Kitchen — Caramel Beignet
  • Silver: SugarSnap! — Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae
  • Bronze: House Cafe & Catering — Espresso Dark Chocolate Brownie with Cookie Butter Cheesecake, Salted Caramel and Pistachio

Both MamaBear’s Mac, Dine-In Hawaiian and Wicked Hickory all took home two different awards in different categories. MamaBear’s Mac won two gold awards, while Dine-In Hawaiian won two silvers.

Best of Taste of Findlay Market 2023 winners:

Best side:

  • Winner: Southern Grace Eats — Baked Mac & Cheese

Best appetizer:

  • Winner: Southern Grace Eats — Grippo Wings with Ranch Dipping Sauce

Best entree:

  • Winner: Dats Ole School Cookin — Spicy Catfish Nuggets

Best dessert:

  • Winner: BanaSun Smoothie Bar — Acai Bowl

Taste of Cincinnati took place throughout Memorial Day weekend, taking over Fifth Street from May 27 through May 29. The event had 77 different food vendors this year — the largest selection since the event began in 1979, organizers said.

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About the Author

Felicia Jordan