FOODIES, REJOICE: HERE'S YOUR ULTIMATE LOUISVILLE SUMMER FOOD GUIDE

In case you haven't stepped outside, summer and all the heat it brings is officially here and The Courier Journal has your ultimate Louisville summer food guide to the places where you can enjoy your favorite summer treats.

Some places are centered around one particular option, but others have several treats in one to make the trip worthwhile.

(If you're looking to take advantage of some of the other hallmarks of summer, we have guides for those, too, including, pools, free movies and even spray pads.)

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Here are places to enjoy summer treats in Louisville:

More: Want to dine outside? Here are 22 Louisville-area restaurants with patio seating

Where to find breweries in Louisville

This one is for the adults in the room. A cold beer can feel refreshing, especially during the summer heat.

Many breweries around Louisville have outdoor patio space, which make it a good place to grab a pint with friends.

Here are some places to enjoy a beer this summer:

• Bluegrass Brewing Company (300 W. Main St.; 502-562-0007; bbcbrew.com)
• Mile Wide Beer Company (636 Barret Ave.; 502-409-8139; milewidebeer.com)
• World of Beer (9850 Von Allmen Court, #108; 502-690-4280; worldofbeer.com)

More: Here are 12+ local breweries with outdoor patio space to try around Louisville

Where to find burgers in Louisville

Louisville is not short of places to enjoy a good cheeseburger. While this treat can be enjoyed all year, a good burger straight out of the grill is a summer must.

Here are just some of the places to enjoy a cheeseburger this summer:

• Jack Fry's (1007 Bardstown Road; https://www.jackfrys.com/)
• Mussel and Burger Bar (113 S. Seventh St.; 9200 Taylorsville Road; mussel-burger-bar.com)
• Shenanigans Irish Grille (1611 Norris Place; shenanigansbar.com)

More: Looking for more beef? 10 dives to find great burgers in Louisville

Fried chicken in Louisville: Check out these local spots

The Bluegrass State is known for Kentucky Fried Chicken, but the famous chain is not the only place to get a piece of fried chicken this summer.

No matter how you eat it ― spicy, in a sandwich or with mac and cheese — Louisville has fried chicken options for every palate.

Here are some places to get fried chicken in Louisville:

• Chick'n & Mi (1765 Mellwood Ave.; 502-890-5731; chiknandmi.com)
• Royals Hot Chicken (736 E. Market St., 502-919-7068; royalshotchicken.com)
• Waldo's Chicken & Beer (10700 Meeting St., Prospect; 502-434-4035; waldoschicken.com)

More: 8 of the best places to get fried chicken in Louisville

Hot dogs in Louisville

Whether it's while watching a game or just spending time outside, enjoying a hot dog is a summer tradition.

There are plenty of places to enjoy everything from a classic frank to the full foot-long in Louisville, and many ways to customize it to your liking, whether it's smothered in chili and cheese or in a poppy seed bun, topped with the pickles, tomatoes and more that make a classic dog in Chicago.

Here are some places to find your favorite dogs around Louisville:

• Lonnie's Best Taste of Chicago (121 St. Matthews Ave.; 502-895-2380; lonniesbesttasteofchicago.com)
• Red Top Gourmet Hot Dogs (Atrium Brewing,1154 Logan St.; food truck hours and locations vary; redtopdogs.com)

More: It's National Hot Dog Month! Here's 10+ places to get a hot dog in Louisville

Best places for iced coffee in Louisville

While a hot coffee makes the winter feel less cold, an iced coffee easily makes the summer cooler. (Don't worry, you can still find a hot cup of joe at any of these locations, too.)

Louisville is not short of coffee chains — including Heine Brothers, Quills Coffee and Sunergos Coffee — but there are also individual gems around the city.

Here are places to get an iced coffee around Louisville:

• Bean Roastery and Cafe (1138 Goss Ave.; beangtown.com)
• Fante's Coffee (2501 Grinstead Drive; fantescoffee.com)

More: Get your caffiene fix: 10 places to get a great cup of coffee in Louisville

More: 11 iced or cold brew coffee drinks you can only find in Louisville

Where to find ice cream parlors in Louisville

What's better than drowning the summer heat with cold ice cream?

While you think of an answer, check this list of some places to eat a delicious cone or cup of creamy goodness, including seasonal favorites and year-round joints.

• Dairy Del (1516 S. Shelby St.; 502-709-4660; https://www.facebook.com/DairyDel/)
• Dairy Kastle (575 Eastern Parkway, 502-634-8990, https://www.dairykastle.com/)
• Ehrler's Ice Cream (201 East Main St.; 2500 Bardstown Road; https://ehrlers.com/)

More: 7 spots to get ice cream in Louisville for National Ice Cream Day (or anytime)

Steakhouses in Louisville

Summertime can invoke a lot of memories, but for many, it brings back vivid visions of backyard barbecues. Besides burgers and hot dogs, there's one more thing that begs to grace the coals from Memorial Day to Labor Day: a big, juicy steak.

Grilled steak is a summer pastime and fortunately, Louisville has no shortage of options if grilling your own steak seems a little too daunting.

Here are some places to enjoy steaks in Louisville:

• Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse (325 W. Main St.; jeffruby.com/louisville)
• Le Moo Fine Steakhouse (2300 Lexington Road, lemoorestaurant.com/)
• Pat's Steak House (2437 Brownsboro Road; patssteakhouselouisville.com/)

More: Here's your guide to 18 of the best steakhouses in the Louisville area

Where to find tacos in Louisville

Fish tacos. Chicken tacos. Birria tacos.

If you are now craving tacos, you're in luck: There are plenty of taco shops around Louisville to find some (and maybe chips and margaritas while you're there.)

Along with individual spots, there are several taco chains you can only find in Derby City — including Bandido Taqueria, I Love Tacos, Taco City Louisville and Taco Luchador.

Here are more places to get tacos in Louisville:

• Bakersfield (1064 Bardstown Road; bakersfieldtacos.com)
• El Molcajete (2932 S. Fourth St.; facebook.com/elmolcajetelouisville)
• Limon y Sal (10000 Brownsboro Road; limonysal502.com)

More: Spread the taco love: 12+ places to find tacos in Louisville

Vegan food in Louisville: Try these spots

Meat and chicken are not the only food options to enjoy this summer, or year-round, in Louisville.

There are many ways to enjoy a plant-based diet in Derby City, including the fifth annual Bluegrass VegFest on Saturday at the Mellwood Art Center, 1860 Mellwood Ave. It will feature favorites from Louisville and outside the state.

Here are vegan eateries in Louisville:

• Heart & Soy/Roots (1216 Bardstown Road; 502-452-6688; heartandsoy.net)
• Naïve Kitchen + Bar (1001 E. Washington St.; 502-749-7856; eatnaive.com)
• V-Grits (Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St.; 502-889-6333; vgits.com)

More: Looking for vegan restaurants in Louisville? 7 great spots and what to try there

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Foodies, rejoice: Here's your ultimate Louisville summer food guide

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