Columbus' large immigrant population Is a source of pride, strength and cultural diversity that enhances life for both visitors and locals. The city's growing influx of foreign-born residents has resulted in a colorful culinary melting pot that strengthens the city's economy and contributes to the region's celebrated diversity.

The city's sizable international population has driven a boom in Columbus' ethnic food scene. Once-defunct suburban strip malls have been reborn, as immigrant restaurateurs from around the world set up shop. As a result, visitors and locals alike can travel the planet in one strip center.

In order to help adventurous eaters navigate these diverse global offerings, Columbus food blogger Bethia Woolf launched Columbus Food Adventures in 2010, creating a tour company that turns taste testing into a rich cultural experience. Because Columbus' ethnic population is not enclaved, but rather interwoven, it's easy to experience incredible diversity of cuisine in one trip; visitors can try Vietnamese, Somali, Nigerian, Persian, Mexican, Salvadorian, and other cuisines -- all within a few blocks of one another.

The owner of Momo Ghar, a new Nepalese restaurant in Columbus, joyfully introduces guests to her country's food while describing its popular momo dumplings. As a result, Momo Ghar has quickly risen to become Yelp's No. 1 restaurant in Columbus and was just listed in its Top 100 Places to Eat in 2017. At longtime local Laotian restaurant Indochine, every guest is treated like a regular, despite possible unfamiliarity with the cuisine. The result is a comfortable and welcoming experience -- even for first timers.

 “Columbus has incredible breadth in the diversity of its ethnic restaurants, beyond the typical offerings found in even much larger cities,” said Woolf, co-owner and tour coordinator at Columbus Food Adventures. “The fact that we have so many African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latino restaurants, and the fact that you can find them all within one neighborhood, makes the experience ideal for travelers. Our Alt Eats Tour is special because it lets our guests explore ethnic diversity and new American cuisines, such as Somali food, with which people may be unfamiliar.”