From a local deli, salad bar and kabobs to Indian, sushi, and modern American cuisine, we’ve gathered a comprehensive list of the highest rated restaurants in Columbia, MD. Breakfast on the go, quick workday lunch, happy hours and romantic dinners — you’ll find what you’re looking for in one quick read.Â
We’ve also highlighted what stands out to us, from website experience, restaurant ambience, menu, quality, service and more.Â
These are in order of highest ranked on Google. Find out more about How We Choose here.
1. Chop Chop Salad
Years in Business: 10+
Overview
- Website: www.chopchopsalad.net
- Cuisine: American, featuring salads, wraps, soups
- Menus:Â Breakfast, Lunch, early dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $10-20
- Overall ambience: casual, located in the mall
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes–vegan, vegetarian
- What they are known for: fresh ingredients, cuisine
Our Highlights
- large menu (although the full menu isn’t viewable on their website)
- notated: Organic, Halal
2. Bi Bi Cafeteria
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: *no website!* but menus viewable here
- Cuisine: American, featuring Salads, Wraps, Soups
- Menus: Breakfast, Lunch, early dinner – click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $10-20
- Overall ambience: casual, relaxed deli feel, very little outdoor seating, located in a business park
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: n/a
- What they are known for: fast service, consistent quality, friendly people who care to remember your name!
Our Highlights
- Amazing following and ratings online, despite not having a website
- They always have specials, and the food is always fresh!
3. Royal Taj
Years in Business: 30
Overview
- Website: www.royaltajmd.com
- Cuisine:Â Indian
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $30-50
- Overall ambience: *Romantic*, sophisticated and elegant but dress code is casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: Vegan, Vegetarian, No Onion or Garlic
- What they are known for: elegant restaurant with exceptional Indian cuisine
Our Highlights
- Voted the 14th Most Romantic Restaurant in the U.S. by Yelp
4. Sushi King
Years in Business: 20+
Overview
- Website: www.sushikingcolumbia.com
- Cuisine: Japanese Sushi
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $30-50
- Overall ambience:Â
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: no specifications
- What they are known for: exceptional sushi and excellent service
Our Highlights
- Omakase offered several days of the week
5. Glenwood’s (formerly known as Stanford Grill)
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.glenwoodsdining.com/columbia/
- Cuisine: American
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $30-50
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: live jazz trio every evening
- Dietary options notated on menu: they have a separate ‘Gluten Free Menu’
- What they are known for: great food, great service, and live jazz 7/days a week
Our Highlights
- Make sure you plan to stay for freshly pressed coffee and a tremendous dessert!
6. Cazbar – Columbia
Years in Business: 15+
Overview
- Website: www.cazbar.com
- Cuisine: Turkish
- Menus:Â Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $$
- Overall ambience: upscale casual, trendy and elegant
- Live music and events: Belly Dancing Shows
- Dietary options notated on menu: vegan options
- What they are known for:Â great food and entertainment
Our Highlights
- Belly Dancing Shows
7. Iron Bridge Wine Company
Years in Business: 40+
Overview
- Website: www.ironbridgewines.com
- Cuisine: American
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $50-100
- Overall ambience: fine dining
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan
- What they are known for: food, wine, flights, and creme brulee
Our Highlights
- What stands out to us:Â looks like a great date night!
8. Cured / 18th & 21st
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.cured1821.com
- Cuisine:Â American
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $$
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: live jazz every night, view calendar here
- Dietary options notated on menu: some labeled gluten free, vegan or vegetarian
- What they are known for: unique, beautiful jazz supper club separate from the main restaurant; creative menus and events including classes
Our Highlights
- Live jazz every nightÂ
- “Modern Supper Club”
- “Due to the nature of the experience at 18th & 21st we request that all diners be over the age of eighteen.”
9. Chutney Indian Restaurant
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.chutneymd.com
- Cuisine:Â Indian
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $20-30
- Overall ambience: casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: vegetarian
- What they are known for: a great buffet
Our Highlights
- Large menu with several protein choices
10. The Food Market
Years in Business: 12+
Overview
- Website: www.the-food-market.com/about-columbia
- Cuisine: American
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner, Happy Hour, Brunch –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $
- Overall ambience: casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: brunch
Our Highlights
- What stands out to us: a great variety of non-alcoholic beverage choices and types of dishes to suit any appetite and taste.
11. Clove & Cardamom Restaurant
Years in Business: less than 5
Overview
- Website: www.clovencardamom.com
- Cuisine:Â Indian
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $20-30
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: “Our elaborate menu offers choices of vegetarian, non-vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options while maintaining focus on fresh and healthy food.”
- What they are known for: outstanding Indian fusion cuisine, Bollywood fries and apple cake
Our Highlights
- What stands out to us:Â the menu is incredible and they have outdoor seating in a perfect courtyard setting.
12. The Kings Contrivance
Years in Business: 40+
Overview
- Website: www.thekingscontrivance.com
- Cuisine:Â American, Fine Dining
- Menus:Â Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $50-100
- Overall ambience: fine dining
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: gluten free options available
- What they are known for: crab cakes, good place to celebrate anniversaries
Our Highlights
- Specifies “smart casual dress”
- “New American cuisine with European and Asian influences in a relaxed atmosphere”
- voted Howard County’s finest dining for over thirty years
13. Anegada Delights Caribbean Cuisine
Years in Business: 38+
Overview
- Website: www.anegadadelights.com
- Cuisine:Â Caribbean
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $10-20
- Overall ambience: very casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: n/a
- What they are known for: cabbage and stew chicken
Our Highlights
- great place to pick up quality food on-the-go.
14. Boro Kabob
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.borokabob.com
- Cuisine:Â Persian
- Menus: Lunch, Dinner – click here for hours (scroll near the bottom) and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $20-30
- Overall ambience: very casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: serves Vegetarian dishes
- What they are known for: best kabobs in Columbia
Our Highlights
- excellent choice for great food on-the-go
15. Sushi Sono
Years in Business: 20+
Overview
- Website: www.sushisonousa.com
- Cuisine: Japanese
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $$ on Google
- Overall ambience: “date night spot by the lake”
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: great location by the lake; overall atmosphere
Our Highlights
- location, location, location!
16. Dok Khao – Columbia
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.dokkhao.com
- Cuisine:Â Thai
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $20-30
- Overall ambience: colorful, fun, active, upscale casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: atmosphere, overall vibe, creative food and drink menus
Our Highlights
- Fantastic unique menu and décor!
17. Xenia Greek Kouzina
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.xeniagreekcouzina.com
- Cuisine: Greek
- Menus:Â Lunch, Happy Hour, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $50-100
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: excellent Greek cuisine, especially lamb shanks
Our Highlights
- outdoor seating available
18. Curry and Kabob Restaurant
Years in Business: ?
Overview
- Website: www.curryandkebob.com
- Cuisine:Â Indian and Nepalese
- Menus:Â Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $20-30
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: n/a
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: buffet and Nepalese cuisine
Our Highlights
- not your average buffet!
19. Rudy’s Mediterranean Grill & Turkish Cuisine (Honorable Mention – qualified on platforms outside of Google)
Years in Business: 25+
Overview
- Website: www.rmgrill.com
- Cuisine:Â Mediterranean Grill and Turkish Cuisine
- Menus: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner –Â click here for hours and to view menus
- Price range for main plates: $$ on Google
- Overall ambience: upscale casual
- Live music and events: they occasionally have live music; see events here
- Dietary options notated on menu: yes
- What they are known for: excellent Turkish cuisine, especially lentil soup
Our Highlights
- This is a staple for Turkish Cuisine in Howard County; a must-try!
Celebrating Small Businesses in Maryland
The Best of Maryland Blog is proud to support small businesses in Maryland such as these featured in this article. We hope you found this list useful! Let us know about your experiences and if you have a suggested business for us to feature.Â
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