If there’s one thing Chad Johnson said over the past year, it was “I’m lovin’ it.” The former Bengals wide receiver frequently gathered with football stars old and new during the team’s 2022-2023 season, posting his exploits on social media and eating his way through town. Sure, he continued his $1,000 tips for Cincinnati restaurant staff, and sure, he often ended up at Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse just like many athletes and celebrities do. But Johnson also made no bones about his love for McDonald’s, particularly the location in Covington. In a genius move, he brought Mickey D’s to Jeff Ruby’s, proceeding to chow down on both $2 burgers and $250 Wagyu steak at a fancy-schmancy table. That combination just may be the city’s most expensive Happy Meal — no toy prize necessary. mcdonalds.com, jeffruby.com.

1. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant


2. Cloud 9 Sushi


3. Kanji OTR


4. E+O Kitchen


5. Wabi Sabi


6. Izen’s Drunken Bento


7. Wild Ginger


8. Teak OTR


9. Green Papaya


10. Kyoto Japanese Cuisine

1. Mazunte


2. Agave & Rye


3. Condado Tacos


4. Tortilleria Garcia


5. Bakersfield


6. OLLA Taqueria Gutierrez


7. Texas Joe Tex-Mex


8. Gomez Salsa


9. La Mexicana Restaurant


10. Frida 602

1. Dewey's Pizza


2. Eli's BBQ


3. City Barbeque


4. Gomez Salsa


5. Mazunte


6. Pig Candy BBQ


7. Lucius Q


8. Currito


9. Good Plates Eatery


10. Revolution Rotisserie

1. Churchill's Fine Teas


2. Jungle Jim's International Market


3. Mom 'n 'em Coffee & Wine

1. Teak OTR


2. Thai Express


3. Green Papaya


4. Wild Ginger


5. Thai Taste


6. Bangkok Bistro


7. Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine


8. Thai Namtip


9. Mai Thai Restaurant TIE


10. Siam Orchid TIE


11. Asiana Thai & Sushi

1. Aladdin’s Eatery


2. Melt Revival


3. Loving Hut


4. Rooted Juicery + Kitchen


5. Harmony Plant Fare


6. W Bar + Bistro


7. Tuba Baking Co.


8. Condado Tacos


9. Café Alma


10. Good Plates Eatery

1. Tickle Pickle


2. Krueger's Tavern


3. Nine Giant


4. Nation Kitchen & Bar


5. Arthur's


6. Dead Low Brewing


7. Goose & Elder


8. Taste of Belgium


9. W Bar + Bistro


10. Maplewood Kitchen and Bar

1. Pho Lang Thang


2. Wild Ginger


3. DOPE! Asian Street Fare


4. Saigon Noodle Bar


5. Pho Kimmy


6. Saigon Subs and Rolls


7. Pho96


8. Pho Viet


9. iPho Vietnamese Cuisine


10. Pholicious

1. Incline Public House


2. Primavista


3. Montgomery Inn Boathouse


4. Moerlein Lager House


5. City View Tavern


6. The Chart House


7. The View at Shires' Garden


8. Eighteen at the Radisson


9. Le Bar a Boeuf


10. Via Vite

1. Jeff Ruby's The Precinct


2. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse


3. Sotto


4. Ivory House


5. Pepp & Delores


6. Dewey's Pizza


7. Boca


8. Abigail Street


9. Losanti


10. Tuba Baking Co.

1. Montgomery Inn Boathouse


2. Cabana on the River


3. Moerlein Lager House


4. Buckhead Mountain Grill


5. Chart House


6. The Monkey Bar & Grille


7. Pirates Cove Tropical Bar and Grill


8. Sinners & Saints


9. Skipper's on the River


10. Eighteen at the Radisson

1. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant


2. Ripple Wine Bar


3. Sotto

1. Sixteen Bricks


2. Blue Oven Bakery


3. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli


4. Allez Bakery


5. North College Hill Bakery


6. Wyoming Pastry Shop


7. Baker's Table Bakery


8. North South Baking Co.


9. Breadsmith


10. El Camino Baking Co.

1. The BonBonerie


2. Servatii Pastry Shop & Deli


3. Brown Bear Bakery


4. North College Hill Bakery


5. Wyoming Pastry Shop


6. The Cheesecakery


7. Cafe Mochiko


8. North South Baking Co.


9. Happy Chicks Bakery


10. Makers Bakers Co.

1. Five Guys Burgers & Fries


2. BRU Burger Bar


3. Culver’s


4. Red Robin


5. Frisch's


6. Smashburger


7. Gold Star Chili


8. Freddy's


9. The Rusty Bucket


10. Swensons Drive-In

1. Zip's Café


2. Tickle Pickle


3. Nation Kitchen & Bar


4. Turf Club


5. Quatman Cafe


6. Bard's Burgers & Chili


7. Sammy's Craft Burgers & Beers TIE


8. Arthur's TIE


9. W Bar + Bistro


10. Roney's


11. Delwood

1. Dewey's Pizza


2. LaRosa's Family Pizzeria


3. Goodfellas Pizzeria

1. Taglio


2. Adriatico's


3. Strong's Brick Oven Pizzeria


4. Trotta's Pizza & Drive Thru


5. Two Cities Pizza Co.


6. Krimmer's Italianette Pizzeria


7. Saint Francis Apizza


8. Catch-a-Fire Pizza


9. Fireside Pizza


10. Cork N Crust

1. Sotto


2. Jeff Ruby's The Precinct


3. Ivory House


4. Pepp & Dolores


5. Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse


6. Agave & Rye


7. Incline Public House


8. Boca


9. The Eagle


10. Taste of Belgium