Gotta Get Your Goetta in the Cincy Region

Skylin​e Chili and Graeter's Ice Cream are Cincy Region staples that are well known (and loved!) throughout the states of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. There's a lesser-known dish, however, that many Cincy locals also enjoy, goetta. Pronounced get-uh, this meaty dish is unique to the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. It's a local favorite, with millions of pounds consumed each year.

So, What is Goetta?

Goetta is a tasty mix of ground meat (typically sausage, ground pork and ground beef) and steel-cut oats, flavored with bay leaves, rosemary, salt, pepper, and thyme. The best way to describe goetta's flavor is savory but sweet, with a pleasantly chewy texture. Comparable in concept to the Pennsylvania Dutch's scrapple, but, of course, much better. 

The dish originated from German settlers who immigrated to the Cincy Region in the 19th century looking to stretch their food supplies. It is a variation of the German "gruetzwurst", also known as grutzwurst or götte, which is a sausage or dish made with coarse grains. 

Today, you’ll find goetta on local restaurant menus alongside eggs and omelets for breakfast and brunch, as well as a incorporated in a variety of creative dishes - like goetta hushpuppies and eggrolls - available at lunch and dinner. An especially esteemed goetta-centric dish? The goetta-egg-and-cheese breakfast sammie at The Anchor Grill in Covington, Kentucky. While Cincinnatians may argue over loyalties to local chili parlors - goetta is one thing everyone can agree on. 

Glier's Goetta, located in Covington, Ky., is the largest commercial producer of goetta. The company produces more than 1,000,000 pounds of goetta annually and around 99% of it is consumed in the Cincy Region! Eckerlin Meats at Findlay Market and Queen City Sausage also produce goetta.

Visitors can order theirs online, have it shipped back home or pick some up at local grocery stores while in town at Jungle Jim's, Kroger, Remke Markets, Sam's Club, Wal-Mart and Meijer.

Taste Goetta at Glier's Goettafest - July 24 - 27 and July 31 - August 3

Goetta is such a local delicacy that we celebrate it with Glier's Goettafest at Newport on the Levee every year. One weekend isn't enough for this popular foodie festival, prompting Goettafest to expand the festivities to two weekends! In 2024, the dates for Goettafest are July 24 - 27 and July 31 - August 3.

Enjoy live music, inflatables, drinks, and a jaw-dropping variety of inventive goetta dishes. We're talking goetta empanadas, goetta balls, goetta rangoon, goetta nachos, goetta fried rice and MUCH more. There are even goetta-themed games during two weekends of goetta-filled fun on the Newport, KY riverfront. Don’t miss this family-friendly food fest!

Ready to plan your trip? Find perfect places to stay in the Cincy Region this summer and order your free Official Visitors Guide today.