Guide to 8 Weird Foods in Central Ohio That You Need to Try ASAP

The food scene in Columbus is up there with some of the best in the world thanks to our unique melting pot of cultures.

And with that unique melting pot comes innovative, original, and sometimes weird culinary creations that you simply have to try before you even think about passing judgement.

While some of these foods are definitely weirder than others, for the most part, we think everyone will agree that they’re all super delicious and have no business being as tasty as they are….

But we’ll let you be the judge.

Weirdest Foods in Columbus and Central Ohio

Katalina’s Pancake Balls

📍 Multiple Locations

If you live in Columbus or Central Ohio and you still haven’t stuffed your face with Pancake balls, you haven’t been properly indoctrinated to Central Ohio culture. Yes, it sounds harsh, but when you’re missing out on something as incredible and innovative as PANCAKE BALLS, sometimes a little tough love is what you need. Choose your pancake fillings between Nutella, Dulce de Leche, and Katalina’s Organic Pumpkin-Apple Butter and enjoy the sweet and savory thick-cut bacon that comes with it. It’s pure bliss.

Crunchwerks’ Crunchwrap

📍 2210 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43201

Taco Bell paved the way, but have since dropped the ball on the execution of the Crunchwrap. Half the time they’ll forget key ingredients (like the crunchy shell that is responsible for all the crunch!) or it’ll be colder than a January night in Ohio when you bite into it. But at Crunchwerks, you never have to worry about these issues. Their Crunchwraps are hot, fresh, and absolutely MASSIVE. Who even needs Taco Bell when you have Crunchworks? The answer? No one (sorry Taco Bell).

Oshio Sushi Panini

📍 974 W 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212

As soon as we heard that there was a place that served a sandwich made out of sushi, we immediately knew what we were doing for dinner that evening. With panko fried rice serving as the “bread” along with avocado and your choice of spicy tuna, spicy salmon, spicy crab, or vegetables, the Sushi Panini at Oshio is a culinary experience that will make you wonder why no one thought of this sooner.

DK Diner Donut Burger

📍 1715 W 3rd Ave, Grandview Heights, OH 43212

This concept has been attempted by a few certifiably wild establishments in the past, but it’s hard to argue anyone does it better than DK Diner. Aside from already offering some of the best burgers, breakfast, and diner food in Central Ohio, DK Diner has some truly delectable donuts. Seriously. They’re insane. Throw a patty, some cheese, and bacon in between two grilled halves of a glazed donut and you have yourself one of the tastiest concoctions that has ever graced planet Earth. We also highly recommend the Donut Sandy, which is a grilled glazed donut with eggs, cheese, and smoked bacon.

Happy Little Treats’ Vegan PopTarts

📍 1203 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201

We all love PopTarts. But Happy Little Treats’ Vegan PopTarts are head-over-heels better than Kellogg’s version. Why? Because Happy Little Treats’ outer crust is way more buttery, flaky, and delicious while the insides are made of fresh fruit. Plus, they do NOT skimp out on toppings — not even a little bit! And being vegan, you can convince yourself that you’re actually being healthy while eating them, which is always a nice added benefit.

Columbus Hibachi House’s Hibachi Smash Burger

📍 2225 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229

All the magic of hibachi food shoved between two yum-yum-sauce-toasted-buns PLUS a steak smash burger? As crazy as it sounds, we’re surprised it took so long to invent this! The hibachi onions and mushrooms add the perfect savory depth to the burger that would’ve already taste good without all the added frills. Kudos, Columbus Hibachi House. You guys already had my heart… but now? You’ve got my soul, too.

Hounddogs Pizza’s Breakfast Pizza

📍 2657 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202

We’ve all heard of (and probably tried) breakfast pizza before, and I think the general consensus is that it’s just “meh.” But believe me when I tell you, Hounddogs Pizza’s version of a breakfast pizza is in a league of its own. Loaded with queso, bacon, ham, cheddar cheese, sausage, onion, pepper, eggs, and fries, you’d think they spilled an entire brunch buffet onto a pies of pizza dough and just threw it in the oven for the hell of it. But the craziest thing about this pizza is the shape of the potatoes… they curl up like Fritos and look so peculiar, yet have a perfect crispiness and fluffiness that’s impossible to replicate.

Delaney’s Diner’s Pasta Salvi

📍 Multiple Locations

This one is so weird (and so legendary), we had to dedicate an entire article to it, which you can find here:

This Deep-Fried Brick of Pasta Was Columbus’ Most Famous Dish… Then Disappeared

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