Struggling to choose where to dine? Take your cue from Evansville Living readers. Every year since 2001, they have taken to the magazine’s Best of the City contest to name their favorites across different categories of everyday life, including food and drinks. From pizza and coffee to doughnuts and cocktails, these establishments have multiple Best of the City prizes in their trophy cases. Bon appetit, and cheers!
BRU Burger Bar
222 Sycamore St.
BRU’s story is special: The Cunningham Restaurant Group eatery is housed in a former Greyhound bus station, with its original neon sign still glowing. Renovations took two-plus years, and readers named it Best New Restaurant in 2018. Three subsequent wins followed for its gourmet burgers. Try the Black & Bleu with a side of onion rings and a hand-dipped milkshake.
Cork ‘N Cleaver
650 S. Hebron Ave.
Readers love “The Cork,” especially for special occasions. Its 15 wins since 2001 include for romantic meals, celebratory dinners, and power lunches. The steaks and seafood options are some of the city’s finest, and its stocked salad bar is a crowd favorite. Plus, you can choose an entree from a menu embossed on a cleaver.
Donut Bank
11 locations in Evansville, Newburgh, and Princeton, Indiana, and Henderson, Kentucky
Want to be an office hero? Grab a dozen baked goods from Donut Bank on your way into work. Opened by the Kempf family in 1967, Donut Bank’s dozen awards are split between coffee and — naturally — doughnuts, from chocolate iced long johns and cinnamon twists to cream- and jelly-filled Bismarks.
Gerst Haus
2100 W. Franklin St.
Readers have said “Ein Prosit!” five times for Gerst’s vast and global beer choices. Nod to the West Side’s German heritage with a cold fishbowl, which pairs well with Gerst’s Bavarian menu.
Honey Moon Coffee Co.
4 locations in Evansville and Newburgh
Celebrating 10 years in 2026, Honey Moon’s java has captured four consecutive Best of the City awards. Order a seasonal drink or a signature like the Beekeeper Latte, and enjoy it with a fruit-topped bubble waffle or breakfast burrito in a relaxed, casual setting.
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream
7 locations in Evansville, Newburgh, and Vincennes, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky
Dating to 1950, “Lloyd’s Ice Cream” now goes by “Lic’s” and has branched out from dairy treats — although those are readers’ favorites and have garnered 10 wins since 2005. Sample more than 20 flavors, from fresh banana and birthday cake batter to cotton candy, in sundaes, shakes, smoothies, malts, and cones, and take a pint of the hard chocolate-exterior choco creme balls to go.
Los Bravos
4 locations in Evansville and Boonville, Indiana
Readers have honored Los Bravos 11 times for its fresh Mexican food — Chicken on the Beach is a local favorite. Any plate of fajitas or enchiladas pairs well with a hand-shaken margarita, and readers have also given a thumbs-up to its tacos, burritos, and affordability.
La Campirana
724 N. Burkhardt Road and 900 Main St.
More recently, La Campirana has captured the Best Latin American Restaurant crown three times. Its birria garners gotten rave reviews, as do the gorditas, tortas, and flautas.
Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
Four locations
Call Hacienda the Swiss Army knife of the dining scene. Its five awards have been for Best Chips and Salsa, Best Margarita (twice), Dessert To Kill Your Diet, and, in 2024, Best Ranch Dressing. In fact, diners love Hacienda’s ranch so much, they often order containers to go.
Mo’s House
1114 Parrett St.
You may, indeed, feel like you’re entering Moriah Hobgood’s home when you walk into her namesake bar. It is readers’ go-to spot for Fernet-Branca Fridays and cocktails including old fashioneds, capturing four awards since 2021 for its drinks and upscale-yet-relaxed ambience. It keeps an active live music calendar, which spills outside onto the patio when the weather allows.
The Pizza Revolution
A six-time pick for Best Food Truck, Pizza Revolution stands out because it operates a custom-built brick oven inside a 1986 Leyland Olympian double-decker bus. Diners can sit on the second level to enjoy specialties such as Buzz Kill’a, Fig-n-Pig, Fun Guy, and Quattro Formagio.
Turoni’s Pizzery & Brewery
3 locations in Evansville and Newburgh
Pizza is big business here, and Turoni’s cracker-crust variety has earned raves since it debuted in 1963. Since 2001, Turoni’s has earned 17 Best of the City awards — the most of any food industry business. Local love is so strong that, when 2023’s contest didn’t include a category for Best Pizza, readers campaigned and snagged Turoni’s the write-in award. We recommend an Iron Man or Stromboli Pie with garlic cheese toast and a house-brewed beer.
Yen Ching
406 S. Green River Road
An eight-time winner for its Asian cuisine, Yen Ching has served Peking duck, Mandarin pork, and more for four-plus decades with an elegant vibe recalling Old Beijing’s summer palace.
Ma T 888 China Bistro
5636 Vogel Road
Speaking of Asian delicacies, Ma T — or China Bistro; it’s known by both names — tied Yen Ching in 2025 and has earned two more awards on its own. Bring a date or a group and share handmade dumplings, fusion pho, custom dim sum, and more in a white tablecloth setting.
