CINCINNATI — Get your tastebuds ready, Cincinnati. After three years of waiting, Taste of Cincinnati returns Memorial Day weekend and it’s expected to be bigger than ever.
What You Need To Know
- The Taste of Cincinnati returns to downtown over Memorial Day weekend
- A collection of 36 restaurants and 18 food trucks; a food truck preview is set for Monday at lunchtime
- There will also be local beer, musical acts and other entertainment
- Organizers canceled the in-person event the last two years due to COVID-19
The Taste takes place Saturday, May 28 through Monday, May 30 along Fifth Street in downtown Cincinnati.
A collection of 36 restaurants and 18 food trucks will line the roadway from Main Street to the ramps of Interstate 71 and Columbia Parkway, making it the largest selection of food vendors in event history, according to the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, which hosts the event.
Vendors will feature a combined 300 menu items. There will be a wide variety of local and craft beer, mixed drinks and other beverages.
On Monday, May 16, Taste organizers will preview of some of the food truck menu items at Longworth Hall (700 W. Pete Rose Way). From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., a group of judges will decide the best items in the categories of appetizer, soup/salad/side, entrée and dessert. The winning dishes will then be made available to the public so they can help carve out their personal tasting menu before the weekend-long event.
The public is welcome to attend the preview as well. Food will be available for purchase.
“This year, we had a record number of applications from food trucks and restaurants,” said Spencer Mapes, the lead manager for the event. “From well-established restaurants to brand new businesses in the region, everyone is excited about the return of Taste.”
The Taste of Cincinnati is a three-day celebration of not only food but also Cincinnati culture. Plans call for a variety of entertainment options, including musical acts. A diverse entertainment lineup of 36 musical acts will appear on four stages throughout the weekend.
“The Cincinnati Music Accelerator is excited to continue our partnership with Taste of Cincinnati,” said Kick Lee, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator. “We aim to make Cincinnati to be known and recognized as a music city and this continues to be an opportunity to highlight the amazing level of diverse musical talent we have within our region.”
Born in 1979, Taste of Cincinnati has become a holiday tradition for families across the region. It’s also an annual showcase for dozens of regional small food businesses.
With more than 550,000 attendees every year, the food extravaganza has grown into one of the nation’s largest street festivals.
The last true Taste of Cincinnati took place in 2019. Organizers canceled the in-person events the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, Cincinnati USA turned to virtual events and digital offerings to continue its promotion of the local food scene.
“Over the past three years, the Taste of Cincinnati program was proud to support local establishments through virtual programming and grant opportunities,” said Jill Meyer, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Chamber. “We are thrilled to bring the Taste tradition we all know and love back to the region.”
Check out the full list of food vendors and musical acts below. Additional details about the event are available at TasteOfCincinnati.com.
2022 Taste of Cincinnati restaurants
Alfio's Buon Cibo
BBQ Highlife
BEBO’s Burgers + Frappes
Better Blend
Ché
Chicago Gyros
China Gourmet
Council Oak Steak and Seafood / YouYu Pan Asian Street Food
Deme Kitchen
Eddie's Southern Style BBQ and Catering
El vaquero
F&N Goode Chick'n Tenders
Gee's Caribbean style
Herban Vegans
Izzy's
Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint
Just Q'in BBQ
Kabobske
LaRosa's Pizza
Latin House
Mazunte
Mecklenburg Gardens
Mcks BBQ
Pompilio's Restaurant
Roll On In/Buzzed Bull Creamery
Sawasdee Thai Cuisine
Sweets & Meats BBQ
Thai Express
The Cheesecakery
The Cookie Shop
The Melting Pot
The Surfin’ Salmon
Tickety-Boo Treats
Tickle Pickle
Tom + Chee
Wing Champ
2022 Taste of Cincinnati food trucks
Adena's Beefstroll
Buffalo's Best
Cups 'N Cones
Dine-In Hawaiian
El Chevito
Empanadas Aqui
House Cafe & Catering
MamaBear's Mac
Marty’s Waffles
Mel’s Soul Food
Off The Hook
Quite Frankly LLC
Red Sesame
S.E.A. Cuisine
Streetpops
Sweet Jazz Treats Bakery
Texas Joe Tex-Mex
Wicked Hickory
2022 Taste of Cincinnati musical performances
Beer Garden at First Financial Plaza
Saturday, May 28
Missy Werner Band, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Jason Owens Band, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Kevin McCoy Band, 7:30 to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Eric Bolander Band, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Danny Frazier Band, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
The Casey Campbell Project, 8 to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Michelle Robinson Band, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Derek Alan Band, 2 to 5 p.m.
Varner/Netherton Revival, 6 to 9 p.m.
Beer Garden at P&G Gardens
Saturday, May 28
Ingrid Rachel Project, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Audio Graffiti, 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Liberty Deep Down, 8 to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Vinyl Countdown, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Catalyst, 3:30 to 7 p.m.
Buzz Bin, 8 to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Tracy Walker Band, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Leroy Ellington's Sacred Hearts, 3 to 5 p.m.
Azúcar Tumbao, 6 to 9 p.m.
Rhinegeist Food Truck Alley
Saturday, May 28
Transatlantis, noon to 3 p.m.
Ralph and the Rhythm Hounds, 4 to 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Joya Band, 8:30 to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
RICKY NYE INC., noon to 3 p.m.
Jack Burton Overdrive, 4 to 7 p.m.
3 Day Rule, 8 to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Burning Caravan, 11:30 to 2 p.m.
The Sunburners, 3 to 5:30 p.m.
J Vaughn, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Taste of Findlay Market
Saturday, May 28
Kryst Kruer, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Maria Keck, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Elizabeth Walters, 7:30 to 11 p.m.
Sunday, May 29
Tracy Walker, noon to 3 p.m.
Courtney Holloway, 4 to 7 p.m.
Mockery, 8 to 11 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Damon Mitchell, noon to 2 p.m.
Daniel Van Vechten, 3 to 6 p.m.
Amy Mcfarland, 7 to p.m.