Home is where the stomach is. That is the old saying, isn’t it? Perhaps not, but that sounds about right to me, considering that my hometown is Columbia, Missouri. Columbia is conveniently located smack dab in the middle of the state, halfway between Kansas City and St. Louis on I-70. It is the perfect place to stop for any type of food at any time of day. Because I’ve been a resident of Columbia since I was 2 years old, I’ve developed a pretty good idea of places locals would recommend.

Of course, Columbia hosts a multitude of chain restaurants that are pleasant to eat at, but why eat somewhere that can be found in any sizable city? I encourage you to step outside of your chain of chains and experience nationally recognized Columbia cuisine. Especially in the downtown area, countless locally owned restaurants serve cuisines that range from fast to fancy, burgers to Thai food. There is something for everyone — I promise you will not be disappointed and neither will your stomach.