The Towel Rack Roundtable: Local Recommendations For Incoming Fans
After we received a message from an Indiana Hoosiers fan looking for some local eating places to check out while they were in Bowling Green…
After we received a message from an Indiana Hoosiers fan looking for some local eating places to check out while they were in Bowling Green for the big game, it spurred a huge discussion among all of our writers.
If there’s one thing we all love, it’s food and we have all spent time on campus and in the area and fell in love with certain local eating places. This article will have some of our favorite local recommendations not just for fans of an opposing team coming to town but also other people that may already live in the area that want to support some local places and try something new.
Most of our writers have contributed either a recommendation or a description of a place already mentioned to this article making it one big collaborative piece. Most of the comments are made by Jared, Matt, Devin, or Jacob.
Breakfast
Q Coffee Emporium
Q quickly became one of my favorite local coffee shops in all of Bowling Green. Knowing the owners and seeing this place come to be has been so awesome to see as they are now close to opening yet another location in town.
As a barista and coffee nerd, the lattes and coffee is great and one of the other trademarks of this place is their bagels and pastries. They bake everything in house and have amazing seasonal bagels and pastries. It’s also a great location to hang out at and study, have a meeting, or relax for a while.
Spencer’s Coffee
Spencer’s has been a local coffee icon in Bowling Green for years. Nestled right on fountain square downtown, the main and original location has been a safe-haven for WKU students for a while.
Their coffee is delicious and the first time I ever tried nitro cold brew was here (if you are extremely tired it has the most caffeine so definitely recommend if you need that extra energy boost). The fireside latte is still my all time favorite and they also offer some really good cafe food as well.
Corner Bakery
Owned by the same guy who started Rafferty’s and Double Dogs, this is a cozy breakfast place not too far from the Rafferty’s location on Scottsville road. They offer some solid pancakes and scrambled eggs.
Mexican Food
Local Taco
Everyone loves tacos, right? Local Taco is technically a chain that also has locations in Brentwood and Murfreesboro in Tennessee but it’s by far the best taco place in BG (in my opinion, of course). The fish tacos are amazing as well are the Korean BBQ taco. They also have some drinks as well so you can pair the tacos of your choice with a margarita.
Cabrera’s
As we were talking in our group chat, I noticed no Mexican type of suggestions. Sure, there is El Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta that will likely show up in a search, but those are more mini-chain restaurants. I’d say the most unique Mexican restaurant is Cabrera’s. Really close to campus and a spot the WKU Equipment Room and Support Staff would frequent pretty often “back in my day”. Man, I’m old!
Que Buenos
Not too far from campus this place has some great Mexican food for the price. The taco salad is incredible and I could usually make a full meal just of the appetizers and chips and salsa but save room for the main meal because they give you plenty!
El Mazatlan (aka El Maz)
There’s a ton of these in the southern KY area now but it’s hard to go wrong with some El Maz. It’s hard to go wrong with some top notch Mexican food and get a drink or two from the cantina. I love a good fajita every now and then and this place excels with them. It’s great Mexican food and a great atmosphere.
Asian Food
Tsunami
Tsunami is a Vietnamese restaurant off of Campbell Lane across the street from Barnes and Noble. One of the things I love most from this place is a Vietnamese soup called pho. It hits the spot on a cold day and if you aren’t feeling to well, it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It’s a great price and they have other good food as well.
If you like Asian, they’ve got it. A really good menu with lots of choices that are all good. If you’ve got a cold or gastro issues, the pho will straighten you out, no questions asked. Friendly tip: If you handle the jalapenos, don’t rub your eyes and then run to the toilet and use the bathroom before washing your hands! Talk about double trouble!
Ichiban
Ichiban is a favorite of mine. The sushi is great for the price, hibachi is decent, but there’s better places, most likely though my nostalgia comes in because my wife and I ate here on our first date.
You can get cheap pitchers, warm sake, and cheap food that tastes GOOD. Bonus is to ask for the yum yum sauce and mix it in your rice.
Samurai
If you’re looking for a good place to eat hibachi, this is it. Right next to Southern Lanes Bowling Alley, this place has been my favorite Japanese place in the area. It doesn’t matter what kind of hibachi you do, it’s great. When I actually have money to spend on food I do the steak and lobster and it’s absolutely spectacular. Their fried rice is my absolute favorite.
Sports Bars/Bar and Grills
Mister B’s Pizza and Wings
This place is a staple in Bowling Green. Don’t go to B dubs and get only wings in a sports bar environment when you can go to Mister B’s and get wings AND some delicious pizza as well.
Classic sports bar that has good pizza and pretty good wings. Been around for a while. Can’t go wrong here.
Motor City Bar & Grill
I had never heard of this place until I went one day randomly with my parents, but you talk about hole-in-the-wall under the radar, I think this is a good one. Kind of a grungy bar restaurant type of feel, but really good food all day and they serve liquor if that’s your thing.
Hilligan’s
If you want the full WKU game day experience, you gotta go to Hilligan’s at least once. It’s walking distance from campus at the bottom of the Hill by Cherry Hall and has been one of the premier sports bars in all of Bowling Green. They have great deals and discounts all the time and the environment here on game day is super fun.
American
Mariah’s
Another staple in BG that has been around since 1980. Right next to the Hot Rods stadium this place offers a little bit of everything and does it well. They even offer a really good brunch as well. I love their pasta but it’s impossible to go wrong here, in my opinion.
Smokey Pig BBQ
Classic hidden BBQ gem that will knock your socks off. Great place, good options, good BBQ that’ll give any place in Kansas City a run for it’s money.
Definitely the best BBQ joint in the area. Can’t go wrong with some pulled pork smothered in a nice and smoky BBQ sauce. Great price as well.
Rafferty’s
While it may technically be a chain, it started here in Bowling Green. Just a classic sit down restaurant with good steak and other American cuisine. The rolls with honey butter are delicious.
Dessert
Chaney’s Dairy Barn
If you love ice cream, you have to stop here. Ever since this place opened off of 31W it’s been a go-to stop every hot day when you’re out and about in BG. It’s more out of the way and further south than most places we’ve listed but with their big selections of ice cream made from the milk of the cows right there on their farm, it’s still worth the stop.
Stakz Frozen Yogurt
This place is basically right behind Rafferty’s and offers a ton of different flavored froyo that is self serve and you can add all the toppings and such yourself. Hits the spot on a hot day for sure.
There’s a ton of other local places that while they may not be on our list, are still really good. These are some of our personal favorites. If you’re a fan of another team coming to town for a game, we hope you enjoy your stay in Bowling Green and choose to support one of our locals businesses!