Is Ray's Place Still Open? Best Thing I Ever Ate Update (Kent, OH)
Best Thing I Ever Ate, Season 5 Kent, Ohio
Current status
As of October 2026, Ray's Place is listed open on Yelp, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
What the source shows: Yelp's listing, last updated in August 2026, shows Ray's Place active at 135 Franklin Avenue with 353 reviews, and Tripadvisor ranks it the top restaurant in Kent. How we decide a status →
- Episode Season 5, Episode 7
- Address 135 Franklin Avenue, Kent, OH 44240
- Website No current website found
- Show map
© OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO
What happened after Best Thing I Ever Ate?
"The Best Thing I Ever Ate" featured Ray's Place for its classic bar burger, part of an American pub menu that also includes wings, appetizers like spicy shrimp flatbread, and taco salads. The tavern has operated in Kent, Ohio since 1937 and is known for an extensive draft beer selection alongside its food, serving as a longtime meeting spot near the Kent State University campus. According to Yelp, whose listing was last updated in August 2026, the restaurant remains active at 135 Franklin Avenue with 353 reviews.
Tripadvisor ranks Ray's Place first among restaurants in Kent, with a 4.5-star average across its listed reviews. No closure, sale, ownership change, or relocation has been reported for the tavern since its television appearance, and it continues operating under its original name at the same address.
The episode
Also in Season 5
Season 5: 61 of 104 still open · 7 renamed, moved or under new owners
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Ep 6Bueno Y Sano
Open - Open
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Ep 7City Tavern
Closed -
Ep 7Galatoire's
Open - Open
-
Ep 7La Scala
Open -
Ep 7Tadich Grill
Open - Open
Nearest restaurants
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Kitchen Nightmares
Open -
Bar Rescue
Closed -
Best Thing I Ever Ate
Closed -
Best Thing I Ever Ate · Food Paradise
Relocated -
Best Thing I Ever Ate
Open -
Best Thing I Ever Ate
Open
Before you go: Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.
Sources we checked
- Yelp https://www.yelp.com/biz/rays-place-kent
- Tripadvisor https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g50499-d504636-Reviews-Ray_s_Place-Kent_Ohio.html
We work hard to keep every status accurate and dated, but restaurants change fast and our sources aren't perfect. If something here is wrong — a status, a name, an address, anything — tell us what you're seeing and where you saw it, and we'll check it.
Record btiea-0449 · checked by Cal Marchetti.