I'll admit, it's been quite some time since I last visited a Gold Star, and I'd been craving it a bit recently. Luckily, my lady was on board too, so we decided to visit this one for lunch. They're currently open for both carry out and limited dine-in. We opted for dine-in and the place was very clean. They sanitized the table between guests and all the staff wore masks. Our server was very friendly too. As for our lunch, we ordered a few coneys, a plate of chili cheese fries, and a regular 3-way. For a little extra kick, we asked for their habanero ghost pepper cheese on the coneys and 3-way. Everything was very tasty and the cheese had a nice kick (I still added hot sauce to mine because I love it extra spicy). When it comes to Cincinnati chili, I'm definitely Gold Star over Skyline, and I have a feeling I'll stay that way. It's always really good and at a great price! read more

horrible customer service now I see why people of Cincinnati prefer skyline...I order 2 vegetarian chilli cheese sandwichs with everything I n them,5 mins into my drive pull my food out only to realize they gave me beef chili and had hot dogs In them... Now mind you guys I'm a vegetarian...I turn around to return the food they give me another order now they give me beef chilli cheese sandwiche...Bro how many times do I have to come thru the drive thru to remind you vegetarian sandwiches with no hot dogs...Today will be my last day ever eating goldstar...And the old man making the food not even looking at the screen to make people food smh never again gold star You get 0 rating horrible customer service read more

Gold Star - Doesn't taste like vegan, no beans...and presentation was horrible...i know beef when I see it.... - Fast Food Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I frequent here. . tonight I got a half chili salad - I asked for no tomato no chipotle ranch sub ranch extra ranch. I got a salad covered in so much chili and chipotle ranch and ranch it was unappetizing. I get this salad normally and the chili comes on the side but this time there were mounds of chili spooned over. I live 5 minutes away and had a soggy mess of a salad when I got home which was so disappointing. When I called to try to complain and get a credit or return to get a new one . I was hung up on . Super disappointed regular customers over here who now have a soggy salad and can't take half as lunch like I usually do. :( read more

Gold Star - Chili salad - Fast Food Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a newish building and looks clean and modern inside. Burger Week brought us in and they were hopping in the drive thru for 6p on a Monday. We were the only people eating inside. With only three employees, they were efficient and friendly, covering the kitchen, dining room, and drive thru like a well oiled machine. The burger I had, bacon cheeseburger, was fantastic. The fries were perfect. For $7, I had a burger, fries, and a soft drink. You can't beat that. read more

Can't come to Cincinnati and not stop at a Gold Star, we don't have these in Florida. Staff is super friendly, we were seated quickly and the food was made to order. The 4 way with onion, never disappoints, the coneys were good. The habanero cheese option now was a nice surprise. Will absolutely be back the next visit! read more

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It's been a decade since I've had Gold Star Chili. I love chili but it's not first on my list to eat. I have to crave it. My Mr has been wanting chili for a long time so we decided to dine in (which it is open, but limited space). Their menu is simple with no combos. Salads, deckers, coneys, three ways, fries and kids menu. They restaurant itself was very clean and staff took extra precautions of keeping safe and sanitize the areas/tables. We ordered: 3 Cheese Coneys (extra .25) for habanero cheese with onions and mustard Three way (habanero cheese) Chili cheese fries (habanero cheese) We got our lunch very quickly and I must say that all was delicious! The Habanero cheese had a good kick. Chili was seasoned just right. Not a runny or salty. The buns were soft/fresh. Our server was great. Very friendly and checked up on us. Pricing is definitely reasonable. I can honestly say that I would choose Gold Star over Skyline. Overall a great experience and this location was really good. read more

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Gold Star is not my chili fave but stopped in for Cincinnati Burger Week. I had never had their burgers so took the opportunity. The single burger combo with lettuce, tomato and pickle and mayo with fries and a drink for $7. You do a double combo for $8. You can also add bacon and/or cheese for extra charge. The burger was good and the toppings fresh. They used leaf lettuce as a nice touch. The crinkle cut fries were fresh and it compares to a cooked at home burger. The store was empty and the service was superb. Everyone was friendly and it was pretty quiet. Went to the Ridge Rd location near my home. I'm a Skyline guy but I could return for the burger. read more

Best Gold star in town... seriously the brothers always are so nice and make the food perfect, u want the best come to Ridge

I got 3 cheese coneys and added sour cream. Weird request I know, but the sour cream was rotten or old/ had something else in it. I ate it and puked when I went into work all over the floor. When I went in to have them remake they thought I was speaking Chinese and looked at me like I was crazy. Not coming here again. read more

Fast and friendly service. Always tastes amazing. I go in for the habanero cheese mostly but I will get anything. Very impressed with how quick the service is here and how friendly the people are as you don't see that often. read more

Did you know Gold Star Chili has burgers? Did you know they are pretty legit ? Had a lot of friends recommend their burgers from the chowdown Cincinnati Facebook page and it's true gold star burgers are legit fire , I would give them 5 stars but I ordered cheese fries with my burger and only was given regular fries , also tried the garlic parmesan fries which weren't much to my liking (I'm not a fan of garlic parmesan) but those that do like it I guarantee you'll enjoy it ... stop in and try their burgers ! You'll be surprised! read more

I having been coming to this location on Ridge for years and they never disappoint. The staff is so friendly and attentive, just like family. The food is always fresh and delicious!! I am also very happy to have the dining room open. The refreshed look of the store is very nice Keep up the great work! read more

This location does not disappoint. We usually order the Chicken Bacon Ranch sandwich through the drive thru. Service is quick and efficient. The food is made to order and always fresh & crispy. Thank you! read more

This is the beat gold star Ive ever had. Im addicted to gold star now! But only from here. Their chili is hot and like a chili. Other gold stars are more like a sloppy joe mix and warm at best. The staff is friendly especially when you eat inside. I appreciate they have had their doors open instead of closed like many other fast dood places with drive through only. read more

One of the Cincinnati chili fast food chains, this restaurant is located along a commercial strip on Ridge road. It's usually a little less busy than you'd think and seating is usually plentiful. They have a menu similar to Skyline, although there are often different promotions. There are a wider variety of combo meals and always feel like more of a drive thru destination than Skyline. That being said, the taste is essentially identical. Some of the promotions are also great; the day they came out with the 10 cheese coneys for $10 was one of the happiest of my life. read more

Gold Star - Five-way and cheese coney combo! - Fast Food Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Ordered three cheese coneys Wednesday, 12 April 2023. Coneys had only a dribble of chili on them, and later that night I had explosive diarrhea! This is unacceptable! read more

Expecting mediocre. Left excited to return to get my chili crave on. Thank you for the refills , the awesome chili & the endless smiles. Keep doing chili read more

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Seeing as how Cincinnati chili is this city's foremost native culinary offering, and seeing as how I've already written a Skyline review, it makes sense to address Skyline's primary competitor, Gold Star. Gold Star is something like Skyline's drabber, homelier cousin. As transplants to this city, we don't really have a dog in the Skyline vs. Gold Star fight that seems to preoccupy some of the natives, but Skyline is our distinct preference. By comparison, Gold Star is kind of blah and feels second-rate. The actual Skyline chili product has some complexity to it, with notes of cinnamon, chocolate, and other seasonings that give it a somewhat Eastern European flavor. Really nice. Gold Star chili, by comparison, is just kind of bland-tasting, although the thinner, more al dente spaghetti is a plus. Skyline is definitely the better stuff, but when you're talking about a five-way chili order, with the pasta, beans, cheese, and onion to obscure the taste of the chili, a plate of either Skyline or Gold Star actually isn't too terribly different. Many Skyline locations (I've been to the Oakley, Fairfax, Clifton, & 4th & Sycamore locations the most) have an inviting, comforting diner-like atmosphere. Gold Star--at least at this location and the one other location we've been to--has the sterile garishness of a fast-food joint. (The red and gold color scheme brings to mind a transmogrified Hardee's.) It's not exactly an enticing place to dine. This one's location on a seedy stretch of Ridge Road doesn't help. But it's been clean, and the service has been competent and pleasant. Interestingly, Gold Star has two official hot sauces, the creatively named "Hot Sauce" and "Very Hot Hot Sauce." Even the "Very Hot" falls short of a one-alarm fire. Another plus over Skyline is that Gold Star seems marginally cheaper and offers more specials. "Innocuous" is pretty much the best Gold Star descriptive. Three stars, but barely. UPDATE (8/2013): Contrary to one of the reviews above, a diner does not require a birth certificate that says "Cincinnati, Ohio" to make judgments about Cincinnati chili or the Skyline vs. Gold Star debate. In fact, a transplant or out-of-towner may in fact be BETTER SUITED to make judgments about the stuff, not being swayed by childhood or family prejudices. read more

This place sucks!!!! The chili had NO seasoning what so ever and the very thing they are supposed to pile on...is the least item CHEESE I came for a cheese coney sir not some bullshit!!! Pleasant ridge chili never fails me read more

Was kinda excited about going to these Cincinnati chili joints while out here on vacation, I wasn't impressed. While I must say this place was a tad bit better then what I got at skyline chili, it's still disappointing. Service was good. First the chili around here is not to my liking, taste funky and kinda watery. The Coney's are tiny. Ways... I don't really get Ways, where I'm from we eat spaghetti with tomato sauce not chili. Getting the 5 way was the way to go for me, the beans and onions were needed to make it edible for me. read more

First off, I find it hysterical that out-of-towners give a debate on which franchise is better...Skyline or Gold Star. I tell ya what...when you grow up your entire life feasting on Cincinnati chili, you can then accurately list the pros and cons between the two. That being said, Skyline and Gold Star are NOT identical, and any Cincinnati native will tell you that. I prefer Gold Star. Both franchises are similar, but the discerning palate can tell the difference. Skyline is a much sweeter chili. In my opinion, they use too much cinnamon for my taste. Gold Star has a bolder flavor, and their cheese is tastier. This location on Ridge is always quick to get out your order, whether in the drive through or dining room, and the staff is always nice and friendly. For the NYorker who called it "greasy"...please...go back to NY and suck on one of your street vendors weenies. read more

Best Gold Star in the city! Just a great place, the owners are amazing and caring. I've lived in pleasant ridge for 2 years and this location has been so consistent. I know when I come here I will be taken care of! read more

Good food like always but the service was slow to answer us at the drive through and they forgot my water

Their fryer was down (understandable) but when I ordered milkshakes, the guy taking my order said "we're not doing those right now." I was the only person in line. Don't offer something you're not going to provide. I drove quite a bit out of my way to order what we like off of your menu. Nothing like driving across town to be told the people working the store don't feel like doing their job. read more

Gold star B of Goldstar Chili: I gave details of how your store on Reading Road would not accept my drivers license ID that has "armed forces" printed on it. The cashier at drive through showed me a copy of a print out of acceptable forms of ID obviously made up by corporate. Driver's license with "Armed Forces" didn't make the list. I don't want any freebies from your generous corporation. read more

Went through the drive thru and was waited on by a Mr. Hassan. I had to repeat myself quite a few times but he heard when i spoke in quietest of tones so it wasn't a volume issue. Eventually it happened so many times that i just pulled to the window. Someone needs to listen and pay more Attention to his drive thru guests. read more

Pretty good food. Only complaint is they shut there fryer of early but hey, that means they clean it right? 5 stars for clean grease gold star. Go You! read more

The young man that took our order in the drive thru was extremely pleasant. He reviewed our order with us in the drive thru and then again at the window. We pulled up to a huge smile and a positive attitude. This is during the lunch hour rush too. Another young lady handed us our food, she was also very pleasant and a huge smile. My wife is vegetarian so we ALWAYS check our food before leaving which was made easy because they added bright green Vegetarian stickers to the lids of the boxes! Everything was perfect! read more

Never thought I would give Gold Star 5 Stars, but their new vegetarian 3-way is delicious!

I decided on a double decker for lunch today for myself and my husband and got my son a cheese coney. There was pretty much NO cheese on his coney. Didn't notice until I got home. I should have checked before hand because this has happened a few times at this location. My son is 1 and loves cheese. I had to take cheese out of my fridge and put it on the coney for him. Then our sandwiches where made sloppy. It was ridiculous. I guess I am going back to skyline. read more

The food is always good and warm and the day crew is really friendly. I'm a regular because of the crew they turned me from a skyline lover to a gold star lover. read more

Place was recommended by many locals. Not bad for a semi-fastfood place. Average cleanliness and average tasting chili. Nothing to rave about but it was extremely cheap and I had great service so I cannot complain. Only things I would change is to clean it up a little more and spice up the firehouse chili. read more

This is a wonderful restaurant. I stop there not long ago, I came back to move help move my son and daughter in law to Texas. I mentioned to the staff that it was Gold Star Chili that had unknowingly started a 20 yr old tradition in my household. I had had eaten there for the first time while living in Cincinnati for a short time and loved it so much that when we moved away, I started making the 3 and 5 way chili spaghettis for my kids. Didn't realize that until I had taken them there to eat that my kids thought that I had invented it lol. The wonderful gentleman in charge was so amazing that when we had left, he said to stop back before we leave for Texas... which was my plan anyway because I love it. The night before we got on the road I had sent my son back with a list of menu items just for me to eat and reheat while I finished their packing into the night. That amazing man remembered my son and made a care package for me with a few of their Goldstar Chili seasoning packs, 2 cans of their unique chili and Goldstar crackers and condiments. I won't lie, I teared up at the kindness and personable effort a stranger showed me just for a story I shared with him while waiting for my food. I have saved that specific location in my phone and when we pass through Cincinnati again to visit family in northern Ohio for holidays, I will make sure that my route includes that store. Thank you sir, stopping at your store was the only thing that went right that trip and what an incredible impression you left. Your kind gifts will not go to waste I promise! read more

This is the worst Gold Star Chili I've ever been to. The restaurant and and staff are dirty and my order has been wrong 2 of 3 times I've been here. I complained to the manager last time and I was told they wouldn't make my order right. I won't be coming back. read more

Greasy chili and not anywhere near as good as Skyline. The cleanliness of the restaurant also left plenty to be desired.

This has to be the best Gold Star in all of Cincinnati! The employees are so friendly and always make my family and I feel welcomed. The place is always so clean and the food is always hot and fresh. You always know what to expect when you come to this location! read more