8 Cincinnati Walk-Up Windows for Late-Night Bites or Dining on the Go

Gomez Salsa

107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
On weekends, it’s open till 2:30 a.m., making it the perfect drunk-off-your-ass Saturday pit stop before piling into your Uber. But this Mexican eatery — which serves up tacos, burritos and turtles (a hybrid burrito with crusty cheese to seal the deal) — is also a prime spot to pick grub before lounging in Washington Park, during lunch break or literally whenever you feel on-the-go.
Photo: Lindsay McCarty

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Gomez Salsa

107 E. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine
On weekends, it’s open till 2:30 a.m., making it the perfect drunk-off-your-ass Saturday pit stop before piling into your Uber. But this Mexican eatery — which serves up tacos, burritos and turtles (a hybrid burrito with crusty cheese to seal the deal) — is also a prime spot to pick grub before lounging in Washington Park, during lunch break or literally whenever you feel on-the-go.
Photo: Lindsay McCarty

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13th Street Alley

126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Get a taste of Philly in Cincy via a window in OTR where Philly cheesesteak reigns supreme. But seriously, this little eatery is overflowing with wraps and bowls to get you through the day. Want some fries with that? Here, you definitely do.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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13th Street Alley

126 E. 13th St., Over-the-Rhine
Get a taste of Philly in Cincy via a window in OTR where Philly cheesesteak reigns supreme. But seriously, this little eatery is overflowing with wraps and bowls to get you through the day. Want some fries with that? Here, you definitely do.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Boom Box Buns

1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Calling all bun lovers: A new walk-up window serving up warm, doughy, steamed Chinese buns (or baozi) just opened up in Over-the-Rhine. Boom Box Buns currently offers three different bun options: the Pork Bun with hoisin peanuts and radish, the Beef Bun with mayo shisho and crispy shallot, and the Veg Bun with sweet potato and Sriracha. In addition to buns, they also have Thai iced tea as a drink option. They are open Friday and Saturday, from 7 p.m. until they're sold out.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Boom Box Buns

1324 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Calling all bun lovers: A new walk-up window serving up warm, doughy, steamed Chinese buns (or baozi) just opened up in Over-the-Rhine. Boom Box Buns currently offers three different bun options: the Pork Bun with hoisin peanuts and radish, the Beef Bun with mayo shisho and crispy shallot, and the Veg Bun with sweet potato and Sriracha. In addition to buns, they also have Thai iced tea as a drink option. They are open Friday and Saturday, from 7 p.m. until they're sold out.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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The Walk Up

638 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky.
On the side of Hotel Covington is a well-maintained across-the-river gem: The Walk Up. An extension of HC’s restaurant, Coppin’s, it offers both guests and passersby tempting treats. Grab a donut in the morning or slurp some ramen late at night. Either way, this walk-up grab-and-go paradise doesn’t skimp on Kentucky flavor.
Photo: Marie Tracy

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The Walk Up

638 Madison Ave., Covington, Ky.
On the side of Hotel Covington is a well-maintained across-the-river gem: The Walk Up. An extension of HC’s restaurant, Coppin’s, it offers both guests and passersby tempting treats. Grab a donut in the morning or slurp some ramen late at night. Either way, this walk-up grab-and-go paradise doesn’t skimp on Kentucky flavor.
Photo: Marie Tracy

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The Whole Bowl

364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
This is the perfect spot for people who don’t like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowl’s titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choices a diner should need to make in the matter is a small or large portion and whether or not you’ll wait to sit down to eat this healthful bowl of goodness, or just scarf it down in front of the takeout window.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

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The Whole Bowl

364 Ludlow Ave., Clifton
This is the perfect spot for people who don’t like to make decisions, since Whole Bowl offers one menu item. While there is an easy vegan alternative, Whole Bowl’s titular dish is comprised of brown rice, beans, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, avocado slices, salsa, sour cream and a lemon-garlic sauce. The only real choices a diner should need to make in the matter is a small or large portion and whether or not you’ll wait to sit down to eat this healthful bowl of goodness, or just scarf it down in front of the takeout window.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheWholeBowlCincinnati

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Kitchen Factory

1609 Chase Ave., Northside
This small restaurant with a takeout window prides itself on offering pizza made with ingredients that are easily pronounced (disregarding the common mispronunciation of “mozzarella” that most Americans are guilty of), which indicates simple and natural recipes that don’t rely on tongue-twister chemical enhancements. Their late-night menu (Friday and Saturday 9 p.m.-3 a.m.) also includes veggie burgers and burritos alongside pizza, which also has plenty of vegan options.
Photo: Emerson Swoger

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Kitchen Factory

1609 Chase Ave., Northside
This small restaurant with a takeout window prides itself on offering pizza made with ingredients that are easily pronounced (disregarding the common mispronunciation of “mozzarella” that most Americans are guilty of), which indicates simple and natural recipes that don’t rely on tongue-twister chemical enhancements. Their late-night menu (Friday and Saturday 9 p.m.-3 a.m.) also includes veggie burgers and burritos alongside pizza, which also has plenty of vegan options.
Photo via Facebook.com/TheKitchenFactory

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Lil’s Bagels

308 Greenup St., Covington, Ky.
The alleyway beside Roebling Point Books & Coffee is laced not only with plants peeking through a sidewalk, but the wafting scent of warm, doughy bagels — made with chutzpah. They serve up both sweet and savory takes. Want a classic cream cheese variation? They got you. Or, try ‘em sandwich style, with variations like The Gawd Father (pimento cheese, bacon, bibb lettuce and pickled green tomato) and The Bad Judy (hummus, baba ghanouj, turmeric pickled jicama, radishes and spicy greens).
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Lil’s Bagels

308 Greenup St., Covington, Ky.
The alleyway beside Roebling Point Books & Coffee is laced not only with plants peeking through a sidewalk, but the wafting scent of warm, doughy bagels — made with chutzpah. They serve up both sweet and savory takes. Want a classic cream cheese variation? They got you. Or, try ‘em sandwich style, with variations like The Gawd Father (pimento cheese, bacon, bibb lettuce and pickled green tomato) and The Good Judy (hummus, baba ghanouj, turmeric pickled jicama, radishes and spicy greens).
Photo: Jesse Fox

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Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru

3501 Werk Road, Westwood
This family-owned pizzeria advertises their daily pizza by the slice option through their Twitter, @trottapizza, so be sure to log in before you head by for lunch, unless you’re opting to purchase an entire pie, in which case Trotta’s is known for ample toppings and a crust you can’t pass up. Since you’re in Cincinnati, you might as well get goetta on top. Does any other pizzeria in the city offer goetta?
Photo: Devin Luginbill

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Trotta’s Pizza & Drive Thru

3501 Werk Road, Westwood
This family-owned pizzeria advertises their daily pizza by the slice option through their Twitter, @trottapizza, so be sure to log in before you head by for lunch, unless you’re opting to purchase an entire pie, in which case Trotta’s is known for ample toppings and a crust you can’t pass up. Since you’re in Cincinnati, you might as well get goetta on top. Does any other pizzeria in the city offer goetta?
Photo: Devin Luginbill

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