In recent years, the food scene in Richmond, Virginia has earned numerous accolades, garnering attention from Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic, Travel and Leisure, and others. Local restaurants reflect the diversity of the people, with various price points, ethnic backgrounds, and more.
These five picks from “100 Things to Do in Richmond Before You Die” represent just a few of Richmond’s best food spots. Whether you are visiting or are a local who wants someone else to do the cooking, try these spots.
Five top spots in the food scene in Richmond
Stella’s
See Why It’s All Greek to Us
Two waves of immigration brought entrepreneurial Greeks and their culture to Richmond’s melting pot. Greek restaurants and an annual festival have affirmed locals’ appreciation for that culture, especially the food. The Greek Festival, held at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral, began in 1976 and presents food, dancing, cathedral tours, a market, and opportunities to learn about the Greek culture and Eastern Orthodox religion. Several Richmond restaurants offer access to Mediterranean fare year round. The most notable, Stella’s, opened in 1983 and is named for matriarch and chef Stella Kafantaris Dikos. Stella’s restaurant and its gourmet market offshoots use fresh ingredients and Greek authenticity to bring the best of the Old World to Richmond. Think pastichio, moussaka (see the feature image, above), spanakopita, souvlaki, tabouli, and flaming saganaki cheese. Opa!
TIP: Be early or be prepared to wait at Stella’s and the festival. You can get prepackaged Greek foods at Stella’s markets, though fresh is always better. Don’t miss Stella Dikos’s favorite, the spanakopita.
1012 Lafayette St., 804-358-2011
stellasrichmond.com
Try this Greek Layer Dip Recipe
ZZQ
Appreciate the Evolution of BBQ
Many regions stake their claim on barbecue, but Virginia has reason to boast of being the birthplace of the pit-cooked meat – a slow-roasted fusion of indigenous and African American cooking methods with European sauces. Since those early days, Virginia barbecue has embraced influences from elsewhere, too. In fact, one of Richmond’s best-loved ’cues comes straight from the heart of Texas. ZZQ pitmaster Chris Fultz was raised in Central Texas. The stacks of lumber and line of commercial cookers beside the restaurant hint at the mouth-watering smoky goodness inside. Treat yourself to ribs, brisket, pulled pork, sausage, or smoked seitan, with stick-to-your-ribs sides like jalapeño mac and cheese, blackstrap collards, terlingua coleslaw, and much more. The always-popular, freshly prepared foods often sell out, and hours are limited, so get there early.
3201 W Moore St., 804-528-5648
zzqrva.com
Edo’s Squid
Conjure a Beloved Italian Grandmother
The dimly lit stairwell leading up to Edo’s Squid is quaint and quiet – it makes you feel as if you’re visiting your Nonna’s apartment. When you pass through the door at the top of the stairs, though, you step into a lively dining room and are greeted by the scent of fresh garlic. If you get there early, you might even see garlic cloves spread across a table as the staff prepares for another busy night. That’s the first sign of the kitchen’s use of fresh ingredients. The next sign comes with your first bite of the authentic Italian cuisine. You’ll have plenty of choices and hearty portions, in an everyday atmosphere. In addition to nightly specials and lots of seafood, look for ongoing selections, from appetizers, like braised fennel and fried squid, to pasta dishes with marinara and other sauces, with mixed seafood and broccoli rabe and sausage. Cin! Cin!
411 N Harrison St., 804-864-5488
edossquidrva.com
Try your hand at this Italian Wedding Soup Recipe
Shyndigz
Spoil Your Sweet Tooth
Since 2010, Shyndigz has been serving up creative, delicious, generous, and eye-catching desserts. Staples include the cream cheese-frosted Fresh Fruit Cake, Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, Peanut Butter Pie, Swamp Bar, Lemon Bars, and more – with special cakes, pies, cobblers, and other equally amazing treats sprinkled lavishly into the mix. The business started as a sweet-focused restaurant, and then shifted to a to-go market during the pandemic. Since desserts can be enjoyed anywhere, no table service is needed and business continues to thrive. Conveniently, the owners also operate The Fancy Biscuit nearby, piling Southern-style biscuits with regional staples like country ham and pimento cheese. And if the biscuit spot is closed, look for Fancy Biscuit savory options in Shyndigz’s market case (or, coming soon, a 24/7 sweets vending machine!). As the business evolves, the attention to scrumptious sweets remains consistent.
1831 W Cary St., 804-938-3449
shyndigz.com
The Jasper
Find Your Cheers
What do you get when two talented mixologists team up with an experienced restaurateur, all with an appreciation for heritage? You get The Jasper, a bar both sophisticated and approachable. The name pays homage to Jasper Crouch, a Black freedman who was cook and bartender for Chief Justice John Marshall in Richmond in the early 19th century. (Crouch’s legendary drink, Quoit Club Punch, is always on the menu.) Creative, modern cocktails mix ingredients in unexpected but brilliant blends, from booziest to refreshing. Liquor lovers can partake of Penicillin Shots, Nitro Bourbon & Ginger, and classic cocktails, too. Or customers can order up a beer – domestic or craft – wine, or a non-alcoholic “tipple” (like the NA-groni!). Food is minimal but satisfying, made to accompany the drinks, not vice versa. In December, stop by for Miracle on Cary. The bar sports its best Christmas décor, music, and themed cocktails. Get there early!
3113 W Cary St.
jasperbarrva.com
Find dozens of additional restaurants, plus music and entertainment, sports and recreation, arts and culture, and shopping and fashion in the book, “100 Things to Do in Richmond Before You Die” by Annie Tobey (Reedy Press, 2023, updated 2025).
