Kent, Ohio: the ideal little college town, where everything is within a few blocks and at a comfortable walking distance. You must always consider the walking distance when you think about the limited parking crisis facing downtown Kent. It's a small enough area, where the longest you'll have to drive to get food is ten minutes, and anywhere else will just lead you to Stow. Oh, and make sure you know the difference between Kent and Stow. Although Kent Road leads all the way to Stow, the two cities are, in fact, very separate. Don't make the same mistake I did when talking to someone from Stow.
Downtown Kent has some incredible places to eat, and if you're from the area or if you go to Kent, you'll know these places. But if you haven't dined at any of these places, put them on your Kent bucket list, otherwise, you're really missing out on delicious and Instagram-worthy food.
Taco Tontos
First and foremost, an incredible hidden gem of downtown Kent. If you haven't eaten at Taco Tontos, stop what you are doing right now and go eat there. Considering that most have a go-to item when it comes to Mexican restaurants, I'm not even going to recommend anything. I mean, even going there solely for the chips is enough, and don't forget to keep the extra salsa.
Newdle Bar
Beer, wine, sushi, where can one go wrong? The food is just as great as the clever name. Whether or not you're a fan of sushi will determine if you try this place out. However, sushi and a bar is just about every college student's dream.
Pufferbelly
All you can eat, need I say more? Pufferbelly offers some incredible all you can eat buffets, so if you want to pig out on food that's pretty close to a home-cooked meal, check out Pufferbelly. This place used to be a railway depot, and that adds to the very unique atmosphere that this restaurant offers. You won't regret dining here.
Ray's Place
Long Island Iced Tea. Heaven in a cup. If the signature and delicious Long Islands don't get you there, then the food just might. But if the Long Islands don't, then really, what's wrong with you? You Mo-Fo. Just kidding, but really you should try the MOFO Burger at Ray's place. This burger has been tried and raved about by Food Network stars.
Twisted Meltz
Grilled cheese in all its glorious shapes and forms. The possibilities are endless at Twisted Meltz. Not to mention all of their sandwiches are named after someone famous. From the wonderful Kent drop-out Steve Harvey to the quite handsome New England Patriot Julian Edelman, Twisted Meltz in Kent, Ohio is a place you need to try.
Mike's Place
Quite possibly every Kent State student's favorite place. It's not located in downtown Kent, but it's more than worth the detour. There's the most chaotic theme on the inside, but in the best possible way. There's always something new to look at. The portions are huge and the food is delicious. This is the place you go to cure your weekend hangover, because without a doubt you can stuff your face. Mike's Place gives you more than enough food to do so.
When it comes to eating in downtown Kent, your options are endless and delicious. So if you haven't tried all of these places, stop what you're doing and make some dinner plans, because food is calling your name. Kent read. Kent write. Kent pass up on this awesome food.
