Best Thing I Ate: Four Lexington KY culinary delights to try

These curated articles share a focus on unique culinary experiences in Lexington, Kentucky, that manage to surprise diners with creativity and flavor. Each piece mentions an unexpected twist that elevates the dish beyond its basic concept.

DV8 Kitchen turns ordinary tater tots into Tetris-shaped food that entertains as much as it delights. The unique shape and spice blend make this one of their most surprising creations.

At Double H BBQ, smoked chicken wings come marinated overnight, smoked to perfection, and finally flash-fried for an exquisite texture. These wings, favored by the UK football team, emphasize smoke over heavy seasoning.

Wild Lab Bakery and Olive’s Apron boast Lexington's best chocolate chip cookies. Wild Lab uses einkorn flour and sea salt flakes for a refined taste.

Meanwhile, Olive’s Apron serves a huge, buttery cookie that comforts with its chewy texture. Beau's Cafe serves towering pancakes that defy expectations with their immense size yet remain light and fluffy, thanks to the addition of orange zest and homemade bourbon maple syrup.

Buttermilk Pancakes, Oct. 9, 2024 at Beau’s Cafe in Lexington, Ky. The pancakes are made with Weisenberger Mill flour, orange zest, homemade bourbon maple syrup and whipped brown butter

NO. 1: HERE’S THE SECRET TO HOW LEXINGTON’S BEST PANCAKE IS MADE, AND WHY IT’S SO BIG

Size does matter, and so does taste. These giant pancakes are the best thing I ate this week. | Published October 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

An order of smoked chicken wings from Double H BBQ on Lexington’s Versailles Road, Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2024. The barbecue restaurant frequently sells out of the wings daily. By Brian Simms

NO. 2: I TRIED THE SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS THAT UK’S FOOTBALL TEAM EATS BY THE THOUSANDS

The best thing I ate all week: Chicken with a spicy Bama barbecue sauce. | Published September 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

Two orders of tater tots from DV8 Kitchen, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 in Lexington, Ky. The popular side dish isn’t shaped like normal round tots but instead are in the shape of Tetris pieces.

NO. 3: LEXINGTON’S BEST TATER TOTS HAPPENED BY MISTAKE. THEY ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH AND EAT.

It’s OK to play with your food at this Lexington restaurant. It happens all the time. | Published November 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

A chocolate chip + sea salt cookie from Wild Lab Bakery, left, and a traditional chocolate chip cookie from Olive’s Apron Bakery & Tea Shop, right.

NO. 4: LEXINGTON’S BEST CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES: SOFT, CHEWY COMFORT FOOD THAT ‘FEELS LIKE A HUG’

Everyone has a different taste in cookies. Here are two different versions of Lexington’s best. | Published February 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Brian Simms

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.