Earlier this year, I set out to support more local eateries. Now, I want to celebrate local gems by shining a light on those with the most memorable bites.

Some of these included an outstanding doughnut shop in Hanover, a shrimp appetizer bursting with flavor, a show-stopping cheesesteak with unorthodox ingredients, and a fiery, yet refreshing papaya salad.

I've had the pleasure of meeting incredible people, and hearing heartwarming stories that I've been lucky enough to retell, all while tasting some unforgettable dishes.

And here they are:

Savory

Coconut Curry Chicken - Global Cafe

34 W. Philadelphia St., York

Having heard rave reviews about Global Cafe at Central Market, I knew I needed to check it out. If you find yourself there on market day, you'll probably have to wait in line, but trust me, it's worth it.

Opting for the coconut curry chicken bowl, accompanied by a vegetable rice mix, black beans, sweet plantains and cabbage, made for a hearty meal with a delightful blend of flavors. If you're looking for a kick, ask for their signature hot sauce: it's fiery, delicious and elevates the entire dish.

Gnocchi - Tutoni's

108 N. George St., York

We all deserve a night out, and if you're feeling particularly fancy one night, I highly recommend dressing up and heading to Tutoni's in downtown York, especially for their homemade potato gnocchi.

Piled high with braised short rib, Swiss chard, shredded Grana Padano and crispy potatoes, this dish was a showstopper, both visually and in its richness and flavor.

Indo-Chinese Chicken- Hamir's Indian Fusion

24 S. George St., York

This Indian Chinese inspired entree is a sweet and spicy stir fry with bell peppers, onions and chicken sautéed in fresh ginger and garlic with scallions and cilantro, served beside a bed of rice. Comfort on a plate, this dish is the perfect balance of spices and flavors. It's the kind of meal you crave on a rainy, cold day, or, let's face it, any day.

Kale Pork Rice - BBQ Cup

34 W. Philadelphia St., York

Seeing Lydia Kim, owner of Korean food stall BBQ Cup, on market days always brings a smile to my face, and her kale and pork rice always makes my day. This dish combines stir-fried minced pork and kale, served over steamed rice and topped with a fried egg. For an extra kick of flavor, ask for it to be made spicy.

If you're looking for a healthy side dish for the next day's lunch, I highly recommend her kimchi: a delicious bite of spicy pickled Napa cabbage and vegetables.

Garlic Shrimp - Mesa Moreira

58 W. Market St., York

Speaking of dishes I could eat every day, next on the list is Mesa Moreira's Portuguese-style garlic shrimp, finished off with a sour, sweet and spicy piri piri sauce and a sprinkle of cilantro. One bite and you won't want to eat shrimp any other way again.

Papaya Salad - Viet Thai Cafe

2535 E. Market St., York

Often one of the more underrated dishes on a menu, it's rare go to a restaurant specifically for the salad, but that's not the case with Thai or Laotian cuisine.

A must-order at any Thai restaurant, this sweet, salty and sour papaya salad is the perfect balance of freshness and heat. It combines shredded papaya with carrots, fresh chilies, tomatoes, peanuts and optional meat.

The Goblin - Ghouls and Grinds

701 3rd St., Hanover

This summer I had the pleasure of visiting and covering the new location of Ghouls and Grinds Coffee Shop. It's always a pleasure to speak with owners Amber Mitchell and Martin Horn, who gave me a tour of their new location and showed me the new menu, which includes a number of bagel sandwiches.

The Goblin, one of their most popular sandwiches, is made with scallion and herb cream cheese, smoked turkey, tomato, spinach, and crispy onions on an everything bagel. It was delicious and packed with tasty ingredients, and beautifully sliced to show the clean layers. I might have finished it in less than five minutes.

Tikka Masala - Chef Lama Indian Cuisine

3320 E. Market St., York

It's bright red in color and spicy. The creamy tomato sauce was packed full of flavor, as were the tender chunks of roasted chicken served over rice.

Chicken and Waffles - Roost Uncommon Kitchen

35 W. Market St., York

The Chicken and Waffles at Roost was the perfect way to start a Sunday morning. The crispy, moist fried chicken breast is topped on a soft waffle with an out-of-this-world homemade apricot butter. Order an extra side of fruit for added sweetness.

Fish Tacos - Holy Hound Taproom

57 W. Market St., York

A surprisingly excellent pairing with my hard cider was the fish taco appetizer at Holy Hound. Two tacos of fried cod are stuffed with a spicy slaw, a sweet Thai chili sauce and fresh cilantro. I also recommend the smoked pork tacos stuffed with BBQ sauce and a tart apple slaw.

Pad Ma Keau - District Thai

1057 N. George St., York

My go-tos at any Thai restaurant are usually papaya salad and some kind of stir-fry. District Thai exceeds expectations on both counts. The pad ma keau dish stands out. Bright purple Chinese eggplant meets chicken, onions, fresh Thai basil, and bell peppers in a spicy black bean sauce. Served on a bed of jasmine rice, this dish captures the essence of sweet and spicy.

Stew Chicken - Caraballo Sisters

380 W. Market St., York

Justine Caraballo may be a one-woman show at her Penn Market stand, but for her customers, she brings it. Packed with flavor, this lunch special comes with a juicy, tender and flavorful braised chicken, served beside "arroz con gandules," or Spanish rice with pigeon peas. Ask for your rice to be topped with chicken sauce and you will not be disappointed.

Cheese Pizza - Paesano's Pizza of Jacobus

35 N. Main St. Suite F, Jacobus

For more than 20 years, Anna and Andrea "Andrew" Musso, owners of Paesano Pizza in Jacobus, have been serving up New York-style pizzas, sandwiches and Italian-style pastries.

Their New York-style cheese pizza is made with a thin crust that is foldable yet crispy and cut into large and wide slices. It was perfectly simple, and delicious. Prepare to feel full, and like family, when you leave.

Build Your Own (BYO) Pizza - Archetype Pizza

33 W. Market St., York

My go-to spot downtown for some pizza and cider, the menu at Archetype takes you on a creative journey, through their array of delicious appetizers and pizzas, boasting an enticing selection of crusts, sauces and toppings. Each creation I've tried so far has been delicious, but I must say my personal favorite was the pizza I crafted myself during a memorable night out.

I ordered a 16-inch round crust, topped with homemade red sauce, adorned with brisket, mushrooms, banana peppers and caramelized onions. This pizza was out of this world. If you're feeling adventurous one night, I suggest you order your pizza this way, the "Lena" way, as I call it, and let me know what you think!

Asiago Bagel Sandwich - Lori V's

34 W. Philadelphia St., York

This cozy stand in Central Market serves handmade New York-style bagels and pizza.

Walking by the stand one day, I noticed out of the corner of my eye a stack of giant bagels that looked more like doughnuts than the bagels you see at the grocery store. I knew they had to be good.

I ordered a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich with crispy bacon that was greatly enhanced by the aroma and freshness of the homemade bagel.

Broc N' Salmon Cheesesteak - Pecan Tree Cafe

287 W. Market St., York

One of Philly-born owner Kevin Byard's original creations, this cheesesteak is unconventional for Philly, but packed with flavor. A fresh roll is slathered in a light layer of mayonnaise and topped with American cheese before it hits the griddle. The toasted bread is then stuffed with an entire fillet of cooked salmon and steamed broccoli. The sandwich wouldn't be complete without Byard's signature secret sauce.

Soft Pretzel - Foltz's Pretzels

34 W. Philadelphia St., York

Having been surrounded by a handful of Philly pretzel factories around me growing up, it is safe to say that my affinity for a well-made soft pretzel is deeply ingrained. After moving to York, the soft pretzels from Foltz's Pretzels in Central Market have claimed the title of the best I have ever had. If I could, I would happily indulge in one every day.

Panang Curry - World Grills

29 E. King St., York

A hidden gem of Thai street food, World Grills serves up my all-time favorite Thai curry, and does it well. A thick and creamy blend of sweet and spicy chili paste, coconut milk and broccoli meet the zesty flavor of makrut lime leaves.

Sweet

Cinnamon Bun - Belmont Bean Company

18 S. Belmont St., York

I stopped in for a coffee one morning when the sweets in the pastry case looked all too tempting to resist. I decided on the gigantic cinnamon bun topped with a mountain of cream cheese icing.

It felt like it could have weighed three pounds, and I was very much excited to go in for a bite. The dough was soft, yet flaky, and had a hint of sweetness and cinnamon. The icing was a luscious blend of butter and cream cheese, reminiscent of a homemade essence.

Strawbery Glazed Doughnut - Decked out Donuts

1185 High St., Hanover

Each day the shop is open, owner Amy Lovisone arrives at 3 a.m. to start making her yeast doughnuts from scratch − and it shows.

Pillow-soft dough, topped with a freshly made, bright pink strawberry glaze and a hint of sprinkles for texture, the Strawberry Glazed Doughnuts are as fresh as they come and would make Homer Simpson very proud.

Pan Dan Gelato - Essan Thai

30 N. Beaver St., York

Essan offers an ever-changing 5-course prix fixe dinner every weekend. As if that weren't unique enough, they even offer homemade gelato and sorbetto, made in small batches with local milk and imported Italian ingredients. In fact, I stopped in one night just for the gelato.

The bright green pan dan flavor caught my eye. It is made with the fragrant leaves widely used to flavor Southeast Asian cuisines, and it offered a delicious, fresh, coconut-like taste.

Brioche French Toast - Round the Clock Diner

222 Arsenal Road, York

This year I set out to spend 24 hours in a local diner, documenting the people I met, the conversations I had, the unusual events I witnessed, and at the end of the project I enjoyed a delicious plate of brioche French toast, along with bacon, egg, and a fresh cup of coffee, which may have been my second or third at that point. Still, this breakfast was a winner.

Have you tried any of these dishes? Email Lena at etzivekis@ydr.com and let her know the best dish you've had in York County.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Here are the best things I ate at York County, Pa. restaurants in 2023