13 Ohio Dishes That Confuse Visitors (And That’s Just How We Like It)
Ohio’s food scene has a playful side that keeps visitors guessing. From unexpected flavor combinations to regional specialties with quirky names, each dish tells a story locals have grown up loving.
Some might raise an eyebrow, others a fork, but all are packed with character and tradition.
Embraced with pride and served with flair, these culinary curiosities show that in Ohio, surprising the palate is part of the fun, and confusion can taste delicious.
1. Polish Boy
Picture a kielbasa sausage nestled in a bun, piled high with french fries, coleslaw, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce.
Sounds chaotic? Welcome to Cleveland’s Polish Boy, a sandwich that laughs in the face of culinary rules.
Born in the city’s working-class neighborhoods, this beast of a meal combines carbs on carbs with tangy slaw to cut through the richness.
Visitors stare in confusion, locals devour with pride. It’s messy, it’s massive, and it makes zero sense until that first bite hits.
2. Shaker Lemon Pie
Most lemon pies use juice and zest, but the Shakers had other plans. They sliced whole lemons, paper-thin, rind and all, then macerated them in sugar for hours before baking them into a pie.
The result? A sweet, tart, slightly bitter masterpiece that confuses anyone expecting Key lime smoothness. Each bite delivers intense lemon flavor with a texture that’s both custardy and chewy.
Waste not, want not, the Shakers said, and Ohio still agrees wholeheartedly.
3. Brier Hill-Style Pizza
Youngstown’s Brier Hill neighborhood gave birth to a pizza that breaks the cardinal rule: no cheese.
Instead, you get a thick, doughy crust topped with tomato sauce, green bell peppers, and sometimes a sprinkle of Romano.
Italian immigrants brought this style over, and locals never looked back. Outsiders ask where the mozzarella went, while Youngstown natives shrug and take another bite.
It’s old-school, it’s authentic, and it proves cheese isn’t always the answer to pizza perfection.
4. Ohio Valley-Style Pizza
Cold cheese on hot pizza sounds like a mistake, but in the Ohio Valley, it’s a tradition. The pizza bakes without cheese, then gets topped with cold shredded mozzarella or provolone right before serving.
The heat from the crust slightly melts the cheese while keeping it cool and creamy. First-timers recoil in horror, then cautiously try it and often convert.
This quirky method creates a temperature contrast that’s strangely addictive once you get past the shock factor.
5. Columbus-Style Pizza
Columbus decided thin crust wasn’t enough, so they made it cracker-thin, cut it into tiny squares, and loaded toppings edge to edge.
No crust to hold, no folding allowed, just crispy, crunchy squares you pop like potato chips.
Local joints like Donatos and Tommy’s perfected this style, creating a pizza experience that’s more snack than slice. Visitors expect floppy New York slices and get architectural marvels instead.
It’s geometry class meets dinner, and Columbus wouldn’t have it any other way at all.
6. Lake Erie Perch Sandwich
Freshwater fish sandwiches perplex coastal visitors who think seafood means ocean. Lake Erie perch, lightly breaded and fried, gets tucked into a soft bun with tartar sauce and maybe some lettuce.
The mild, sweet flavor of perch makes it perfect sandwich material, though tourists often hesitate at the idea of lake fish. Locals know better and line up at lakeside shacks every summer.
It’s proof that great seafood doesn’t need salt water, just a Great Lake nearby.
7. Lake Erie Walleye Sandwich
Walleye reigns supreme in Ohio’s fishing culture, and nowhere is that clearer than the beloved walleye sandwich. Thick fillets get breaded, fried golden, and served on buns that can barely contain them.
The flaky, mild fish has a devoted following, with restaurants competing for the title of best walleye sandwich in town. Out-of-towners question the hype until they taste the perfectly seasoned, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Once you’ve had walleye fresh from Lake Erie, ocean fish just doesn’t hit the same anymore.
8. Cleveland Clambake
Cleveland sits on a lake, not an ocean, but that hasn’t stopped locals from hosting clambakes. These gatherings feature steamers, corn, potatoes, sausage, and sometimes lobster, all cooked together in massive pots.
The tradition came with New England transplants who refused to give up their coastal customs. Now it’s a summer staple, confusing visitors who wonder where the clams even come from.
Spoiler: they’re shipped in, but the spirit of the feast remains authentically Cleveland through and through.
9. Cincinnati Cheese Coney
A hot dog topped with Cincinnati chili, shredded cheddar, mustard, and onions sounds simple until you remember Cincinnati chili is nothing like Texas chili. It’s thinner, sweeter, and spiced with cinnamon and chocolate.
Skyline and Gold Star have perfected the cheese coney, creating a flavor profile that baffles and delights in equal measure. First-timers expect traditional chili and get a Greek-inspired meat sauce instead.
It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’s the only way Cincinnatians will eat their hot dogs.
10. Cleveland Cassata Cake
Sicily has its cassata, but Cleveland said, ‘Let’s make it our own.’ This version features layers of sponge cake soaked in rum syrup, filled with custard cream and strawberries, then frosted with whipped cream.
It’s lighter than the Sicilian original and became a staple at Cleveland weddings and celebrations. Bakeries guard their recipes fiercely, and locals argue over which shop makes the best.
Visitors expecting dense Italian cake get a fluffy, boozy surprise that’s distinctly Cleveland instead.
11. JoJo’s (Akron-Style Potato Wedges)
Akron’s answer to french fries comes in the form of JoJo’s, thick potato wedges seasoned with a secret blend of spices and fried until crispy. They’re bigger, heartier, and more flavorful than regular fries.
Local restaurants and bars serve them as the default side, and residents consider them non-negotiable. Tourists ask what makes them special, and the answer is always, ‘Just try them.’
One bite of those perfectly seasoned, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside wedges explains everything beautifully.
12. Cleveland Corned Beef Sandwich
New York thinks it owns corned beef, but Cleveland’s Jewish delis have been piling it high since the early 1900s. Hand-sliced, never pressed, and stacked so tall you need two hands to hold it.
Slyman’s is the most famous, but nearly every deli in town has a version worth trying. The meat is tender, peppery, and served on fresh rye with just mustard.
Visitors underestimate the portion size and end up taking half home, vowing to return soon.
13. Mock Turtle Soup (Cincinnati)
No turtles were harmed in the making of this Cincinnati classic, despite the name. Mock turtle soup uses ground beef or veal, seasoned with warm spices like allspice and cloves, then garnished with hard-boiled egg and lemon.
It originated as a cheaper alternative to real turtle soup and became a Cincinnati institution. The rich, complex flavor confuses modern diners who can’t quite place the spice blend.
It’s old-fashioned, oddly delicious, and still served at traditional Cincinnati restaurants with pride and history.
14. Buckeye Candy
Named after Ohio’s state tree, buckeye candies are peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate, leaving a circle of peanut butter exposed to resemble the nut. They’re sweet, rich, and dangerously addictive.
Every Ohio grandmother has a recipe, and they appear at every holiday gathering without fail. Outsiders mistake them for fancy truffles until they bite into pure peanut butter bliss.
They’re simple to make but loaded with state pride, proving Ohio’s love for buckeyes goes way beyond football.
15. Goetta
Cincinnati’s German immigrants created goetta, a breakfast sausage made with pork, beef, and steel-cut oats. It’s formed into loaves, sliced, then fried until crispy on the outside and tender inside.
The oats give it a unique texture that confuses people expecting regular sausage. Locals eat it with eggs, on sandwiches, or straight up with syrup.
It’s hearty, economical, and so distinctly Cincinnati that even nearby cities don’t quite understand the obsession completely.