Craving some soup to warm you up? From the first steaming spoonful, to that little bit of liquid left in the bottom, these are the best bowls of chow that the Miami Valley has to offer. So, all you serious eaters, get a spoon, get some crackers if need be, and check out our list of MUST EAT soups.
With some help from our Dayton Foodies group, we’ve pulled together some recommendation for Dayton tastiest soups:
FRENCH ONION SOUP 
Any one of Doubleday’s soups could make this list. In a restaurant known for their homemade soups, this one is a favorite. Dayton regulars have stuffed the restaurant for decades, and many have felt the hot, gooey dripping flavor of the french onion soup. Other top mentions for French onion include The Oakwood Club, Buckhorn Tavern and The Paragon Super Club.
THE NEW ORLEANS STYLE GUMBO
New Orleans Gumbo from Jimmie’s Ladder 11
Hearty, rich and just the right spiciness, this soup is one of those “OMG” moments when you take a bite. Known for a strongly flavored stock, meat or shellfish (or sometimes both), a thickener, and the Creole “holy trinity”: celery, bell peppers, and onions. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used, whether okra or filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves). It’s been said that Jimmie’s Ladder 11 has the best gumbo outside of the big easy, but Sands ands Seafood and Sports is fast gaining on them. For a different take on gumbo check out DiSalvo’s Deli for their chicken gumbo. Perfectly carved, generous chicken pieces, line a delicately light broth. The bowl is filled with a treasure trove of vegetables and tremendous flavor.
CLAM CHOWDER
Jay’s Clam Chowder, a Dayton original
This is a soup with cream or milk mixed with ingredients such as potatoes, sweet corn, smoked haddock, clams and prawns, etc. Some cream-style chowders do not use cream, and are instead prepared using milk and a roux to thicken them. The creamy broth, the chunks of fresh clams, and the perfect dash of pepper make this soup. Seajax, Club Oceano, Smith’s Boathouse, Bullwinkles and Jay’s Seafood all have raves for their New England Clam Chowder.
HOT & SOUR SOUP
It happens to be one of the healthiest mushroom soup recipes in the world! A Chinese restaurant favourite, it’s hearty, savory, sour – and as spicy as you want it to be. Filled with mushrooms, tofu and silky egg ribbons, Hot and Sour soup is thickened with cornflour/cornstarch so the broth is beautifully glossy. Fu Mon Lau – hot and sour soup is packed with veggies, low in calories and low in fat. Authentic Chinese hot and sour soup is considered medicinal as it combines healing chicken broth, circulation improving fungus (mushrooms), and antioxidant packed ginger and vinegar. Flavors Eatery in Centerville offers an original house hot drop which combines the heat of hot and sour with a more traditional egg drop soup.
POTATO SOUP
A creamy soup primarily made with cooked potatoes, broth, mil or cream and ofen includes aromatics like onion, celery and garlic. It’s often topped with bacon bits, cheese, and green onions depending on the recipe. Local favorites include The Famous, Salt Block. Biscuit Company, Bullwinkles, Grist, The Dublin Pub and Corner Kitchen, Try Tony & Pete’s for a sweet potato version.
CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
This comforting soup is usally made with with shredded chicken, black beans, and corn and topped with tortilla strips its full of flavor, and very filling! Some of the place you’ll find it are Charlie’s Deli, Mi Lindo Jalisco Mexican Restaurant And Bar, Big Sky Bread Company, Mamacitas Cantina and El Meson.
POZOLE
A traditional soup or stew from Mexican cuisine. It is made from hominy and typically chicken or pork), and can be seasoned and garnished with shredded lettuce or cabbage, chilivpeppers, onion, garlic, radishes, avocado, salsa or limes. It’s time-consuming to make, so restaurants will usually only serve it on the weekends. The owner of Chiapas Mexican Grill tells us he uses grandmother’s recipe for a chicken and hominy soup. The broth is soothing yet spicy. The chicken is tender and shreds of it soak between hominy corn. Radishes float on top of this beautiful looking soup. One of the most unique soups on this list, it is authentic Mexican fare. You can also find it at Taqueria Mixteca, El Vaquero Mexican Restaurant in Franklin and La Michoacana Mexican Market & Restaurant
El Meson
BLACK BEAN SOUP
This flavorful and hearty soup is a staple in Latino cuisine, made with black beans, onion, garlic, pepper, ham hock, olive oil and a bit of vinegar. Pictured here from El Meson, also check it out at Jorrge’s Reataurant Cantina, Nelly’s A Taste of Bolivia and Elsa’s .
TOM KAI SOUP (Coconut Soup)
Rich and creamy yet tangy and salty, this Thai coconut chicken soup recipe is filling but light and positively bursting with flavor from Coconut milk soup, mushroom, galangal root, citrus leaves, lime juice. You can get it made with chicken or veggies or the Seafood Combo (Shrimp, Scallops, Squid) Also availaable from rom Massaman Thai Cuisine, also popular at Penn’s Thai Grille, Thai Table, Sky Asian Cuisine, Singa Thai and White Lotus.
SPECIALTY SOUPS:
THE TURTLE SOUP at THE AMBER ROSE:
Amber Rose Turtle Soup
This soup is exotic, thick and hearty. It is an old recipe, passed down by Elinore, the previous owner of the restaurant. This is one of those things that you eat and immediately want more. Visit Joe Castellano and his chefs and try it for yourself as an appetizer to one of their Eastern European meals.
THE PICKLE SOUP from BLIND BOB’S:
Don’t be fooled by the sound of it, don’t judge a book by its cover. This is one of the best soups in Dayton. The flavor isn’t sharp, it is surprisingly mild and rich. If you like cream of broccoli soup, this is an even better spin on it. This is a great warm up right before you try one of their burger selections!
THE SIZZLING RICE SOUP FROM CHINA COTTAGE: 
For decades they have been serving this white meat chicken, fresh vegetables and steaming rice kernels in an unforgettable broth. The flavor is a perfect balance of mushrooms, carrots, other vegetables and rice in a white meat chicken and broth mixture. North China also has a good one.
SEAFOOD PHO from Pho Mi in Miamisburg
Pho is a veitnamese soup made with broth, rice noodles and herbs and is know asthe national dish of Vietnam. The seafood version is loaded with shrimp, crab meat and squid, and is simply delicious.
SPICY VEGETABLE SOUP from KABUKI. This soup is a fantastic mix of spicy pepper broth, bean sprouts and onions. This can clear your sinuses and make your cold feel better all at the same time. It is the perfect tune up for a sushi feast. Enjoy the color and aroma of the soup, it tastes as good as it looks.
Also don’t forget to check out Dorothy Lane Market for a daily selection of housemade soups. They usually have four or five featured soups, including vegetarian and gluten free options. Check here to check out the soup of the day selections.
Have we missed your favorite soup? Tell us about it in the comments below.
They continue to make improvements each year, adding new walking paths, installed ball dryers and a cover home plate area so they can operate the batting cages in the rain and have added to the landscaping around the farm. In 2017 Young’s on the Moove, their food truck hit the road.
Oyster Fest 2025 is back this month at Lily’s! Now in its ninth year you can enjoy oyster specials from Wednesday, January 15th, through Sunday the 31st, during dinner service only.
Roost, an Oregon District staple since November of 2011 operated by owner/Chef Dana Downs, showcased a menu of Italian dishes with a modern approach. This past August they rebranded as Culina, offering a small plates with a “fine casual” service model.
Just a bit ago we were able to confirm the following communication was sent to Roost staff from owners Dana & Katherine Downs:
Attention coffee enthusiasts and breakfast lovers: All The Best Deli is brewing up something extraordinary to jumpstart your day! Starting today, the iconic New York-style deli is offering $1 bottomless coffee every morning from 7 AM to 11 AM. That’s unlimited refills of rich, freshly brewed coffee for the unbeatable price of just one dollar!
Pair your bottomless brew with fan favorites like:
Today is the soft opening of Troni Brothers Bella Bistro from 4- 9pm. You can be among the first to experience their authentic Italian delights—fresh pasta, crispy New York-style pizzas. Owner Dave Keen first got involved with Troni Brothers Pizza when he was selling them a cash register system. Seeing they were overwhelmed with business, he volunteered to help. He eventually brought his son Riley to work with them as well and over time they agreed to buy the Wilmington Pike location in May of 2022. In July of 2023 Keen and his family opened Troni Brothers Italian Restaurant in Xenia and now the Troy location will be their 3rd restaurant.
Elizabeth told us they’d talked about opening a restaurant for so many years and looked at many locations, but having to move from their current kitchen made it a necessity. They “also want to grow Bella Sorella, be a staple in the community, bring jobs and a cozy family place for people to come and have a great pizza or a fantastic salad and side for lunch. It’s so difficult to find a home grown meal in this area (Northmont).
Tudor Biscuit World- After five years at this location, the chain posted a note closing on Jan 25th, directing their guests to patronize their Xenia location at 810 W. Second Street. By March of this year, Chef Suwapat Whitted, who runs three Thai restaurants, opened 
After 13 years at this location, Thurs, Feb 29th was last day of business at the Ludlow Street location for 
On June 12 Don Patron Fairborn, across the street from Wright State University closed down this location after eight years of business, encouraging guest to visit their Xenia location at 175 Hospitality Drive. The space was taken over by Chai Corner, which should be opening very soon.
After 11 years of being open, the Springfield Roosters at 1720 N. Bechtle Ave permanently closed Monday, July 1st. The restaurant had been removed from the Roosters website, and a phone message outlined the closing.
The Mayfair Hospitality group of Winston-Salem, N.C. opened Est Est Est in the Dayton Arcade in July of 2023 and by July of 2024 it had closed. Now empty for long Table 33, who had secured their own spot at the Arcade chose to instead move into this spot opening this past November.
On July 23rd Ghostlight Midtown, owner Shane Anderson shared, “It is with a very heavy heart, but one full of memories, that it is time for us to say goodbye to Ghostlight Midtown at 800 S. Patterson. Thank you Dayton for your support of this location over the past five (almost) years.” By Sept Greg Innocent, Chris Cheng and Taylor Moberly announded they’d be opening miDDay, “a new cafe with coffee with elevated American cuisine.”
On August 4th the Subway on West Main Street in Xenia closed its doors for the final time. Ta’Quiyo Tortilleria & Taco Shop in Miamisburg called it quits on Aug 25th 
Much anticipation greeted the opening of Taco John’s on Wilmington Pike in January of 2024, but by Sept the doors were locked and a sign was posted saying “closed for rebranding.” No new info has been made available. Troy’s Rapid Fire Pizza placed a“permanently closed” sign on its door in September and 
La Perla Tapatia Mexican Restaurant quietly shut it’s doors this past fall. In October, Yellow Springs 
Troni’s Pizza and Pasta located in the Stratacache Tower downtown opened in July, yet by the end of October the lack of traffic forced them to close their doors. Dayton’s only Pita Pit franchise, located on Brown Street was put up for sale, but not finding a buyer closed down on November 1st. The last TGIFriday‘s in the area closed down its Beavercreek location just two weeks after the chain filed bankruptcy.
Downtown’s Moeller Brew Barn announced its closing for Dec 22nd, the same day Austin Landing’s Taste of Belgium also closed. Another closing downtown when the Red Star bar shut its doors on Dec 27th. 
