Columbus is a city of great food, not only evident by its local restaurants but the popular chains that we know and love today that got their start here.
Columbus is known as a fast-food hub partly because of its history as a breeding ground for successful restaurant chains. But there are a few exceptions Columbus can't take full credit for (technically): White Castle, though based in Columbus since 1934, was started in Wichita, Kansas, before moving its headquarters to the Buckeye state. And New York-style pizza chain Sbarro, despite starting in Brooklyn, moved from New York to Columbus in 2014.
But other chains, like Wendy's and Buffalo Wild Wings, trace their roots back to Columbus and have now expanded across multiple states and even countries.
Here are seven restaurants that got their start in Columbus:
Buffalo Wild Wings
Columbus residents may already be well aware of other Columbus-based chains on this list, but Buffalo Wild Wings may come as a surprise. Buffalo Wild Wings & Weck started near Ohio State's campus in 1982, when founders Jim Disbrow and Scott Lowery were searching for a place for authentic Buffalo, New York-style wings.
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By the 1990s, the popular sports bar known for wings with dozens of sauces and flavors had expanded to around 30 locations, largely in Ohio. Today, the restaurant is based out of Atlanta and is the largest sports bar brand in the U.S., with over 1,300 locations in eight countries.
Wendy's
Wendy's was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas, a former KFC franchisee. The first location opened in downtown Columbus, at 257 East Broad St. That location closed in 2007.
The fast-food chain known for its square beef patties and its iconic Frosty desserts found success rather quickly, expanding outside of Ohio by the early 1970s. Wendy's today has around 7,000 locations in the U.S. and 29 countries and territories worldwide.
Photos:Wendy's, the early years
Bravo Italian Kitchen
Bravo Italian Kitchen (Bravo Cucina Italiana) began in Columbus in 1992, serving classic Italian dishes. Founded by brothers Rick and Chris Doody and chef Phil Yandolino, the restaurant has changed hands, moved headquarters and continued to expand to over 20 locations in 14 states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida.
Today the Doody family runs Lindey's, one of the most respected restaurants in Columbus.
Piada
Owned by former Bravo Italian Kitchen co-owner Chris Doody, Piada is a fast-casual Italian eatery known for its Piadina wraps, an Italian street food dubbed piadas. The restaurant also serves pasta bowls and salads. Founded in 2009 by Doody, the first location opened in Upper Arlington in 2010. The restaurant has since expanded to more than 50 locations in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas.
Charleys Philly Steaks
Charleys Philly Steaks was founded in 1986 by Charley Shin in Columbus, on High Street near Ohio State's campus. Shin, who immigrated to the United States from Korea as a child, started the restaurant as an Ohio State University junior. Originally known as Charleys Grilled Subs, Charleys Philly Steaks now has over 700 locations in 46 states and in 17 countries.
Bibibop Asian Grill
Shin is also the founder of Bibibop, originally a Grandview Heights sensation that has since expanded to over 50 locations in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, California and Washington, D.C. Bibibop, which started in 2013, joins other fast-casual, build-your-own concepts born in Columbus, with customizable bowls featuring Korean cuisine.
Max & Erma's
Max & Erma's was founded in 1958 by Max and Erma Visocnik as a neighborhood bar in German Village, who purchased it from Paul "Slim" Jones. In 1972, Todd Barnum and Barry Zacks took over and turned the restaurant into what is known today. However, the chain is no longer locally owned, and the original German Village location closed in 2017, along with all but one Columbus area location in Lancaster. The regional restaurant now has seven locations — down from over 100 at its peak — in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
From Wendy's to White Castle:Here's why Columbus is a fast-food hub
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