The 8 Foods Columbus, Ohio Is Known For

Updated: July 26, 2026

Some foods belong to Columbus, and these are the ones the city claims as part of its identity.

It’s not too much of a stretch to label Columbus as a pretty food-centric city. There are two things we do remarkably well: hate other sports franchises and pack as many calories as humanly possible into one food dish.

But a handful of foods pretty much define who we are. Columbus couldn’t be the city it is without them. We put together the eight foods dearest to all of our tiny little beating buckeye hearts. Foods of Columbus — we salute you.

What Food Is Columbus Known For?

Columbus is known for Columbus-style pizza, buckeye candy, the Thurmanator burger, the Ohioana hot dog, buckeye donuts, Johnny Marzetti casserole, Schmidt’s cream puffs, and wor su gai, an almond chicken dish that local restaurant families trace to a Bexley kitchen. Every restaurant and shop below was verified open in July 2026.

Columbus Style Pizza

There are a lot of fabulous places around this city to treat yourself to some Columbus-style pizza, so we’ll just hit the highlights. But just in case you’ve somehow missed out on what exactly Columbus-style pizza is, let me fill you in. If it’s a pie with a thinner crust with toppings from edge to edge and cut into squares, there’s a decent chance it’s Columbus-style pizza. This style can also include a bottom dusting of cornmeal.

You can find this style of pizza at a fair few spots around the city, including Rubino’s, Massey’s, and my personal favorite, Terita’s.

The Thurmanator

Perhaps the biggest celebrity in the Columbus food scene is this gargantuan heart attack waiting to happen. Should you eat it? Probably not. Will you though? That’s going to be a resounding ‘umm, yeah??’ You’ll find this insanely huge burger at The Thurman Cafe, located at 183 Thurman Ave, Columbus, OH 43206. (Heads up: the cafe is temporarily closed while it rebuilds from an April 2026 fire — watch their socials for the reopening.)

Buckeye Candy

Sure, we didn’t invent the peanut butter and chocolate combo here in Ohio, but we certainly did give it new life in the form of the buckeye. These sweet treats are staples at any family gathering (especially in the fall) and they are great whether you make them from scratch or buy them locally.

You can find buckeye candies at sweet shops and bakeries all around Columbus, but our favorites come from Anthony-Thomas Chocolates, Winans Chocolates and Coffee, Chocolate Cafe, and The Original Goodie Shop.

The Ohioana

Columbus loves a good hot dog, especially one with spicy corn relish, sweet corn, pickle relish, jalapeno, and celery salt. All those flavors practically scream Central Ohio. The only way it could be any more Columbus is if we topped it with a gob of peanut butter and smeared it with chocolate. Which we, you know, would totally not do. Heh… heh. You can find this dog at Dirty Franks Hot Dog Palace.

The Buckeye Donut

It’s a gob of peanut butter plopped in the middle of a chocolate frosted donut. Where exactly are we losing you on this? While the most iconic version of this donut comes from Buckeye Donuts, other donut joints know that it’s a favorite, so it’s easy to find a variation of it on the menu. Here’s where you can find the best donuts around town.

Johnny Marzetti

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While the popularity of Johnny Marzetti has expanded to the midwest in general, the story of the dish starts here in Columbus. Marzetti’s was an Italian restaurant established on campus way back in 1896, and local legend says the baked casserole of ground beef, cheese, and tomato sauce came out of its kitchen, named for Teresa Marzetti’s brother-in-law. The Marzetti company itself says there’s no hard proof, but OSU students spread the word and the name stuck.

Although it’s harder to find Johnny Marzetti on restaurant menus these days, you do still see it pop up at old-school spots: German Village Coffee Shop rotates it through the daily specials, and Tommy’s Diner runs it as a Monday lunch special that tends to sell out. But the fastest and easiest way to get your hands on this dish is to make it yourself.

The Creamiest of Cream Puffs

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus has deep roots here: the family meat business goes back to 1886, and the German Village restaurant opened in 1967. The cream puff is the star of the show. All that fluffy, creamy goodness is the perfect way to end your meal at Schmidt’s or the reason to stop by in the first place. Either way, you win.

Wor Su Gai

According to restaurant owners Kenny Yee of Wing’s Restaurant and Steve Yee of Ding Ho Restaurant, Wor Su Gai was born here in Columbus in the 1920s. The dish is simple: almond boneless chicken topped with gravy and served with rice. Here in Columbus, there are a lot of places to get wor su gai, but the aforementioned Wing’s Restaurant and Ding Ho really do this unique dish justice.

Columbus Food FAQ

What food is Columbus, Ohio known for?

Columbus is known for Columbus-style pizza, buckeye candy, the Thurmanator, Schmidt’s cream puffs, Johnny Marzetti casserole, and wor su gai. Buckeye donuts and the Ohioana hot dog round out the local canon.

What is Columbus-style pizza?

A thin, crackery crust with toppings spread edge to edge, cut into small squares instead of wedges. Some shops dust the bottom with cornmeal.

Is the Thurman Cafe open right now?

Not at the moment. The Thurman Cafe is temporarily closed while it rebuilds from an April 2026 fire, and no reopening date has been announced. Check their social pages before planning a visit.

What is a buckeye candy?

A peanut butter fudge ball dipped in chocolate with a bare circle left on top, made to look like the nut of Ohio’s state tree.