Indiana is a Midwestern state known as the 'Crossroads of America,' celebrated for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana Dunes National Park along Lake Michigan, a vibrant craft brewing scene, and rich Native American and Civil War history. From the urban energy of Indianapolis to the rolling hills of Brown County and the sand dunes of the Lake Michigan shoreline, Indiana offers surprising variety for travelers.
Indiana's food scene centers on hearty Midwestern comfort food elevated by a farm-to-table movement. The iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich — a deep-fried pork cutlet dwarfing its bun — is the quintessential Hoosier dish. Indianapolis has emerged as a serious food city with diverse neighborhoods, James Beard-nominated chefs, and a thriving craft brewery and distillery scene. Sugar cream pie is the state's official pie.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Indiana.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
St. Elmo Steak House
A downtown Indianapolis institution dating to 1902, this is a clubby, old-school steakhouse of dark wood, white tablecloths and framed photos of decades of regulars. The kitchen sticks to a classic chophouse formula: dry-aged beef, simple preparations, and a menu that hasn't needed to chase trends.
Known for: The horseradish shrimp cocktail sauce is legendarily spicy — a rite of passage for Indianapolis visitors
127 S Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Milktooth
A small, industrial-leaning brunch spot on Virginia Avenue in Fletcher Place, built around a chef-driven approach to the first meal of the day rather than a diner-style stack-it-high menu. Plates are composed and seasonal, closer to a tasting menu sensibility than typical brunch fare.
Known for: One of the most celebrated brunch spots in the Midwest; frequently listed in national food publications
534 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Bluebeard
Set in a converted industrial building in Fletcher Place, this is a farm-to-table restaurant built around a wood-fired oven and relationships with Indiana growers. The menu shifts with the seasons and leans on house-made pasta and charcuterie rather than a fixed rotation of signature entrees.
Known for: Named after the Kurt Vonnegut novel; housed in a historic warehouse with seasonal menus driven by Indiana farms
653 Virginia Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Rook
A narrow, casual restaurant on Virginia Avenue from the same Fletcher Place restaurant group as Bluebeard, serving a menu that pulls from Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese cooking without pinning itself to one cuisine. The space is compact and informal, built for sharing plates rather than a sit-down courses format.
Known for: Chef Carlos Salazar's Asian-American fusion draws local food enthusiasts; small plates concept
501 Virginia Ave Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Cafe Patachou
A local breakfast-and-lunch chain that started as a single Indianapolis cafe and grew into several neighborhood locations, this one on North Pennsylvania serving a straightforward, ingredient-focused menu in a bright, casual room. It's counter-order casual rather than a sit-down brunch spot.
Known for: Beloved local chain that helped put Indianapolis on the national culinary map; fresh, seasonal ingredients
4901 N Pennsylvania St, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Cerulean
A contemporary fine-dining restaurant in downtown Indianapolis focused on dry-aged beef and Indiana-sourced ingredients, plated with more technique and restraint than the city's older steakhouses. The room is modern rather than clubby, aimed at a special-occasion crowd.
Known for: Intimate fine dining with Indiana-sourced ingredients and an award-winning wine list
339 S Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Workingman's Friend
Popular American Diner / Burgers restaurant in Indiana.
Known for: A 1930s diner that has barely changed; beloved by locals for its no-frills smash burgers and cold beer
234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
Bru Burger Bar
A regional burger-and-craft-beer chain with a location on Massachusetts Avenue, serving a straightforward menu of griddled burgers alongside a rotating list of craft beers on tap. It's a casual, high-turnover spot built for the Mass Ave bar-and-restaurant strip.
Known for: Popular Mass Ave gastropub with creative craft burgers and extensive local Indiana craft beer selection
410 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
American
Vera
Known for: A surprising find in Terre Haute; sources from Midwest farms with a rotating seasonal menu
655 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47807
R bistro
Known for: Long-running Indianapolis farm-to-table pioneer with a changing menu reflecting Indiana seasons
888 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Mesh on Mass
Known for: A Mass Ave staple for brunch and dinner on Indianapolis's arts corridor
725 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Shoreline Brewery & Restaurant
A brewpub in downtown Michigan City, close to the Lake Michigan shoreline, brewing its own beer on site alongside a straightforward American pub menu. The dining room and bar are casual, geared toward pairing a house beer flight with fried or grilled seafood.
Known for: Great base for Indiana Dunes visitors; excellent local craft beers brewed on-site
208 Wabash St, Michigan City, IN 46360
Tom's Main Street Diner
Known for: A classic Indiana roadside diner on the old National Road (US-40); the pork tenderloin is one of Indiana's best
309 W Main St, Centerville, IN 47330
Seasons Lodge Restaurant
The dining room of a lodge just outside Nashville, Indiana, set up to serve travelers visiting Brown County State Park with hearty, comfort-leaning American cooking. The room has a rustic, wood-heavy lodge feel with views toward the surrounding hills.
Known for: Overlooks Brown County hills; great base restaurant for state park visitors and fall foliage seekers
560 State Road 46 E, Nashville, IN 47448
The Owlery
Known for: Best vegetarian/vegan restaurant in Indiana; very popular with Indiana University students and faculty
613 W 7th St, Bloomington, IN 47404
Triple XXX Family Restaurant
Indiana's oldest operating root beer stand, running near the Purdue campus since 1929, now a short-order diner with a soda-fountain counter and booth seating. The kitchen sticks to griddle-cooked classics and old-fashioned drugstore-style treats rather than anything reinvented.
Known for: A 1929 Purdue University landmark famous for the peanut butter burger; frequently named among America's best classic diners
2 N Salisbury St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
McNamara's Cafe
Known for: A beloved lunch spot inside Indianapolis City Market since 1988; ideal for a quick weekday lunch downtown
222 E Market St (City Market), Indianapolis, IN 46204
Hard Truth Distilling Co. Restaurant
Part of the larger Hard Truth Distilling Co. campus outside Nashville, this restaurant serves Southern-style smoked barbecue built to pair with the property's own bourbon and spirits. It functions as the dining wing of a destination distillery rather than a standalone small-town spot.
Known for: Award-winning distillery set in rolling Brown County hills; tour the distillery and dine in the same visit
4520 State Road 135 N, Nashville, IN 47448
Artists Colony Restaurant
Located in Nashville's historic Brown County arts-colony district, this restaurant serves Indiana regional cooking such as pork tenderloin and skillet cornbread, drawing on the state's rural food traditions. The dining room carries the same craft-town character as the galleries and shops around it, but at a slower pace.
Known for: Located in Nashville's historic arts district; serves traditional Indiana regional cuisine including persimmon pudding
105 S Van Buren St, Nashville, IN 47448
King Ribs Bar-B-Q
Known for: Indianapolis institution for over 40 years; widely regarded as the best BBQ ribs in the city
2910 E 34th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218
Italian
Albano's Pasta Villa
Known for: A northwest Indiana institution for generations; proper Italian-American cooking near the dunes
6310 US-6, Portage, IN 46368
Iozzo's Garden of Italy
A red-sauce Italian American dining room on the near south side of Indianapolis, the kind of place built around large portions and family recipes rather than reinvention. Expect heavy, well-seasoned classics served in a dimly lit, old-school setting with white tablecloths.
Known for: A historic Indianapolis Italian institution serving the neighborhood since 1933; generous portions and warm atmosphere
946 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
Cajun
Yats Cajun Creole
A no-frills, order-at-the-counter Cajun and Creole spot that is part of the small Indianapolis-based Yats chain. The kitchen runs a rotating daily menu of Louisiana-style stews and rice dishes rather than a fixed printed menu, so what's available changes day to day.
Known for: Indianapolis-born Cajun-Creole chain; beloved for its cheap, hearty rice bowls and bread bowls
5363 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220
European
Scholar's Inn Bakehouse
A bakery and cafe near the Indiana University campus in Bloomington that mills and bakes its own bread on site, with the ovens and proofing racks visible from the counter. The menu leans European in style, built around laminated pastry and long-fermented loaves rather than a full sit-down kitchen.
Known for: Beloved Bloomington institution for artisan baking; perfect before or after visiting IU campus
717 N College Ave, Bloomington, IN 47404
Steakhouse
Club Soda Restaurant & Bar
Known for: Fort Wayne's oldest continually operating restaurant; beloved for its classic steakhouse atmosphere
235 E Superior St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Food tours & tastings in Indiana
Eat your way through Indiana with a guide.
Browse food experiences in IndianaWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Broad Ripple Farmers Market
Hours: Sat 8am–12pm (May–Oct)
Indianapolis City Market
Hours: Mon–Fri 7am–3pm
Bloomington Community Farmers Market
Hours: Sat 7:30am–12pm (Apr–Nov)
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Restaurants in Indianapolis take reservations via OpenTable or Resy — book 1–2 weeks ahead for popular spots.
The Mass Ave corridor and Fountain Square neighborhoods have the highest density of independent restaurants.
Tipping is expected: 18–20% is standard.
Many Indiana restaurants close on Mondays — check ahead.
The best value lunches are at local diners, where the pork tenderloin sandwich averages $8–12 (USD).
Most Indiana restaurants have vegetarian options. Vegan and gluten-free options are more widely available in Indianapolis and Bloomington (college town) than in rural areas.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |