In terms of culinary variety, Buffalo is really a gold mine for good food. Every year, new and exciting establishments are popping up with an incredible display of food while household names are innovating and improving menus like never before.

Growing up in the Queen City, we were lucky to be exposed to a great spread of options from all over the world. With a recent trip back to Buffalo for a weekend visit, we were not disappointed.

Here’s a look at what we ate, where we ate it and why we’re most certainly coming back for more.

First up was brunch at Acropolis (708 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo)

The Greek restaurant on Buffalo’s popping Elmwood Avenue strip has in recent years become a go-to for Buffalo locals, with an impressive menu. Never satisfied with huge breakfast meals that leave you in a food coma before noon, we decided to split three appetizer dishes.

The falafel plate (pictured above) was a taste of Acropolis’ crispy chickpea fritters with lemon, tzatziki and pita. We also shared the chicken portobello flatbread (pictured below) with kalamata spread, olive oil, mozzarella, portobello mushrooms and balsamic glaze.

The flatbread in particular was a great portion and had some fantastic flavor with the balsamic and olive tapenade spread. Highly recommended, event for those who might not be too fond of mushrooms.

Rounding out the meal, we went with the spanakopita made with spinach, feta, phyllo and a side tzatziki. So light, Acropolis’ take on this dish is so good. Would even go with a full order as a meal in itself, instead of the starter we chose.

Next on our trip, we stopped by a waterfront favorite: Liberty Hound (1 Naval Park Cove, Buffalo).

For a light lunch, Liberty Hound has been a summertime favorite in Buffalo, with their seafood heavy menu and great mix of flavor and spices. This is a crew that is not afraid of trying new things. 

For my dish, I went with a special off the menu: Coconut Curry Mussels. Tossed with onion, scallions and other spices, this plate packed a delicious punch of flavor. Would be definitely something I’d like to see on the regular menu for sure. Especially with the incredible leftover broth and toasted bread that accompanied it.

Mom’s lunch selection was the Mahi tacos (which can also be served as shrimp tacos) that included charred tomatillo sauce, pico de gallo, slaw and cotija cheese with a nice side salad and lime. Fresh and tasty, these are a great light lunch choice.

Kristin’s choice for lunch was the fantastic yellow fin tuna sandwich. Served as a tuna steak, this isn’t your mama’s tuna sandwich. Pan seared with Asian vegetables and ginger wasabi aioli, this is one of my favorite dishes at Liberty Hound.

Finally, rounding out the trip was a stop at Kaydara Noodle Bar (777 Main Street, Buffalo).

No surprise here, our family can never say no to a good noodle. We stopped by Kaydara with one thing in mind — pho. A chilly day with the first signs of autumn clearly approaching, all three of us chose the somen noodles, with raw beef and spicy broth.

Compared to our favorite pho spot in Buffalo (Pho 99), Kaydara’s broth was much sweeter and on the darker side. But they did have a great menu that included udon, crispy egg noodles, fresh rolls (pork/chicken/enoki, nuoc mam) and more. Worth a visit if you’re up for some Asian fusion.

Overall, coming home and enjoying the best that Buffalo has to offer is never a disappointing trip (or meal). We’ll continue to happily eat our way through the city as new places pop up.