Best of Taste winners revealed for Taste of Cincinnati 2026. See list

Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer Thu, May 7, 2026 at 1:56 PM UTC

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Get ready to dig in because Taste of Cincinnati is around the corner.

Judges recently sampled and rated dishes entered into the Best of Taste competition, which represents over 80 culinary pros from restaurants, Findlay Kitchen start-ups and food trucks.

Gold, silver and bronze awards were granted in three categories: appetizers/side dishes, entrees and desserts.

The festival also debuted a new distinction, the CinGourmand Selection, this year, which highlights must-try festival favorites that judges believe attendees should not miss, including exclusive or limited-time items available only during Taste of Cincinnati.

Taste of Cincinnati returns to Downtown over Memorial Day weekend, May 22-25. Here are the dishes that took home the glory at the pre-event competition this year.

Best of Taste 2026 restaurant winnersSnacks and Bites (appetizers) -

Gold: Pierre Entities Catering – Andouille Red Beans N' Rice.

Silver: Alfio's Buon Cibo – Korean BBQ Empanada.

Bronze: Kabobske Mediterranean – Grippos BBQ-style inspired Hummus with Pita Chips

CinGourmand:Hankering Southern Kitchen – Shrimp & Grit Fritters. Paityn's Place Soul Food Catering and Cuisine – Paityn's Place Famous Soul Roll.

Best of Taste winners for restaurant appetizer and side dish.Entree -

Gold: Alfio's Buon Cibo – Short Rib Pasta

Silver: Chino's Street Food – Vietnamese Street Taco.

Bronze: Lobsta Bakes of Maine – the LB Signature Shrimp Slider.

CinGourmand:Gee's Caribbean Kitchen – Smoked Jerk Chicken and Oxtail. Taste of Belgium – Tropical Waffle Chicken Bites.

Dessert -

Gold: POP Bakery – Berry Cloud Cake.

Silver: Sawasdee Thai Cusine & Sushi – Mango Sticky Rice.

Bronze: Hankering Southern Kitchen – Bourbon Bread Pudding.

CinGourmand:Pompilio's Restaurant – Triple Berry Tiramisu with Lemon Curd Swirl. The Cheesecakery – Biscoff Cheesecake Cupcake

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POP Bakery's Berry Cloud Cake won gold in the desserts category for 2026 Best of Taste.Best of Taste Findlay Kitchen winnersAppetizer/side dish  -

Gold: Rocky's Home Flavor – Puff Puff.

Silver: Yee Mama – Wobble Wobble Cold Noodles.

Bronze: Jay’s Nyam & Jam – Jerk Chicken Taco.

CinGourmand:Soleil Kitchen – Creole Shrimp & Smoked Gouda Grits. The Passion Plate – Greek Nachos (both available Friday and Saturday).

Entree  -

Gold: Yee Mama – Chicken & Basil and Pork & Bok Choy Wontons.

Silver: Jay’s Nyam and Jam – Jerk Chicken Bowl.

Bronze: Dat’s Ole School Cookin' – Spicy Catfish Nuggets.

CinGourmand:Sabor Alaniz – Chicken Taquitos. Lotus Street Food – Chicken Drunken Noodles.

Taste of Cincinnati food festival returns to Downtown May 22-25.Dessert  -

Gold: Walkerbar Bakery – Aley's Monster Ice Cream.

Silver: Olive Tree Catering – Mixed Baklava.

Bronze: Tilita – Picarones.

CinGourmand:Banasun – Acai Bowl. Daveyboy’s Bourbon Pecans – Bourbon Pecans.

Best of Taste food truck winnersAppetizer/side dish  -

Gold: Fusako – Street Corn Gyoza.

Silver: Alley Baby – Tater Bombs.

Bronze: Mama Bear's Mac – Bruschetta Grilled Cheese.

CinGourmand:S.E.A. Cuisine – Asian Taco with an Egg Roll. Aphrodite's Hankey Panky.

Taste of Cincinnati food truck vendors following Best of Taste.Entree   -

Gold: Alley Baby – Coconut Chicken Taco.

Silver: Lasang Pinoy – Siomai Rice.

Bronze: Mama Afrique Nigerian Cuisine – Oxtails Over Smoky Jollof.

CinGourmand:Mis Sabores – Fritada. Fifty West Brewing Co. – Single Classic burger.

Dessert   -

Gold: SugarSnap! Sweet Treats – Salted Caramel Brownie Sundae.

Silver: Maw Maw's Creole Kitchen – Tropical Pineapple Rum Beignet.

Bronze: Little Trolley Donuts – Fiona & Fritz.

CinGourmand:Davis Cookie Collection – Strawberry Dream Bowl. Davis Cookie Collection – Cheesecake Stuffed Banana Pudding Cookie.

A tray of sweet treats and desserts from this year's Best of Taste judging.When is Taste of Cincinnati 2025?

The annual food festival takes place Memorial Day weekend in downtown Cincinnati, stretching from Fifth Street between Elm and Main streets. It takes place during these times:

Friday, May 22: 4 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, May 23: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday, May 24: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Monday, May 25: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: These dishes won Best of Taste for Taste of Cincinnati 2026

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