Little Grand Market debuted in Grandview Heights over the weekend, the sixth food hall in our region to open in the last four years.

Why it matters: These food-court-like setups are more than a place to grab a bite. They're buzzy and boozy gathering places, bringing new life to historic buildings and giving area chefs cheaper opportunities to try new concepts.

Zoom in: Combined, the six halls lease space to about 60 diverse food and drink vendors. Many are brand-new concepts.

• Some, like Pitabilites and Dos Hermanos, started as popular food trucks.
• Others, such as Momo Ghar and Hoyo's Kitchen, have ditched their brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Yes, but: While their popularity is exploding nationwide, the local food hall bubble has already burst in other cities.

• "Food hall fatigue" has been reported in New York City and Las Vegas. Two of New Orleans' three halls closed last year, though another recently debuted.

What they're saying: It's a valid concern, but one that should drive local competition, David Moeser, food and beverage director for Little Grand developer Thrive Companies, tells Axios.

• "There definitely can be too many in a market, but if you're on the top of the rung, if you're the best food hall, then that's not an issue you have to worry about," Moeser says.
• One of Little Grand's distinguishing features is its three-acre park with outdoor drinking, which will soon host events like movie nights and Buckeyes viewing parties.

The intrigue: Public markets date back longer than you might expect. North Market, one of Columbus' most popular attractions, opened in 1876.

• "No offense to the new guys. I love what they're doing, but we have the benefit of authenticity," North Market executive director Rick Harrison Wolfe told 614 Magazine in 2021.

💭 Alissa's thought bubble: With food halls spread across a wide area and appealing to different crowds, I don't think we're oversaturated just yet.

• Budd Dairy in Italian Village has late-night DJs and karaoke, for example, while the spacious patio at Center Street Market in Hilliard is filled with suburban parents like myself.
• Bonus: The plentiful options mean avoiding the dreaded "What's for dinner?" debate.

📬 Let us know: Which food hall is your favorite? Has Columbus reached its limit, or could we accommodate more? Reply to this newsletter with your hot takes.

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Travel the world via your plate as you visit Central Ohio's seven food halls.

🐔 North Market, 59 Spruce St.

• The local icon that started it all, way back in 1876.
• What to try: Momo Ghar's Himalayan dumplings, a favorite of Guy Fieri.

🍺 Center Street Market, 5354 Center St., Hilliard

• Crooked Can Brewery and a family-friendly patio anchor this hall that opened in 2020.
• What to try: Meatball Mafia's Italian-American pizza and subs, a concept created by Youngstown transplants.

☘️ North Market Bridge Park, 6750 Longshore St., Dublin

• A modern offshoot of the downtown classic debuted later in 2020.
• What to try: Pablo's Havana Café's tasty Cuban sandwiches.

🐄 Budd Dairy Food Hall, 1086 N. Fourth St.

• Opened in 2021, converting a former milk-bottling plant into a three-story venue with a rooftop bar.
• What to try: Pokebap's Hawaiian-inspired poke bowls, Korean barbecue and sushi.

🚎 East Market, 212 Kelton Ave.

• Opened in 2022, repurposing a historic trolley barn.
• What to try: Winston's Coffee and Waffles, where it's always breakfast time.

🫧 Bubbly Hall, 6065 Central College Road, New Albany

• Opened in 2023, offering a vendor market and a banquet hall.
• What to try: Hoyo's Kitchen, Somali cuisine inspired by a mother's recipes.

🌞 Little Grand Market, 710 Grandview Crossing Way

• The newest option is nestled inside the sprawling Grandview Yard apartment development.
• What to try: Los Agavez Taqueria's famous birria-style tacos.

👋 Alissa here. This local eatery deserves a chef's kiss for embracing the "KISS" principle: "keep it simple, stupid."

Frying the news: Just Chicken debuted at the East Market in 2022 with an uncomplicated menu featuring only dishes made with … well, you know.

• I visited its new stall in Little Grand Market at a VIP party last week.

Dig in: Choose between a sandwich, tenders, a salad or loaded fries and prepare to be amazed by perfectly crispy chicken.

• I promise my meal tasted as good as it looks.
• Don't sleep on the perfectly salted golden fries.

The bottom line: Sometimes less is best. There's a reason Raising Cane's is popular.

• But honestly, after eating here … Cane's who?

What we're watching: The Columbus-based concept is apparently doing well — Just Chicken recently expanded to food halls in North Carolina and Maryland.

Stop by: 11am-8pm Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday and noon-8pm Sunday at East Market.

• 11am-8pm Sunday-Wednesday, 11am-9pm Thursday and 11am-11pm Friday-Saturday at Little Grand Market.