Restaurants, diners, bakeries, breweries, markets, and local eats

The Best Food in Indiana

Restaurants, diners, bakeries, breweries, markets, small-town staples, and the Indiana food stops worth planning around.

120k+72k+123k+25k+ Hoosiers already read itOne email a weekUnsubscribe anytime
The short answerUpdated Aug 17, 2026

The best food in Indiana is built on a handful of things the state does better than anywhere else. The breaded pork tenderloin hangs off the bun at places like Mecca Tavern, out between Rockville and Clinton. Una Pizza is the cracker-thin, square-cut Hoosier style. And the old counters are still running: St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis, Olympia Candy Kitchen in Goshen since 1912, and Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island.

Coverage
122 food guides

Indiana Breweries

Taprooms, craft beer, and the breweries worth building an afternoon around.

Aerial view of the Boone County courthouse and downtown square in Lebanon, Indiana, with fall foliage and parked cars lining the street

Guide to Visiting Boone County, Indiana

Zionsville, Lebanon, Whitestown and Thorntown in one trip: where to hike, eat and shop across Boone County, Indiana, from the Big-4 Rail Trail to Titus Bakery.

Cheyne Reiter

A country rock band performs on an outdoor stage under blue skies at WAMMfest in Greenwood, with a singer on guitar and a bandmate in a cowboy hat

WAMMfest Returns to Greenwood on Saturday, August 15

WAMMfest returns to Craig Park in Greenwood on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with Indiana wine, craft beer, local art, and live music for a Johnson County fundraiser.

Cheyne Reiter

The wood-sided storefront of Twin Archer Brewpub on West Charles Street in downtown Muncie, with its brewpub sign and red All Ages Entrance door.

Twin Archer Brewpub: A Hidden Gem in Muncie

Twin Archer Brewpub in downtown Muncie serves house-made comfort food, craft beer and duck-fat fries in an all-ages, arcade-filled spot five minutes from Ball State.

Destany Long

Two people in purple Tenderloin Tuesday t-shirts toast cans of Sun King Premium Light Lager on a restaurant patio in Hamilton County.

Celebrate Tenderloin Tuesday at Sun King Brewery in Westfield

Sun King Brewery in Westfield hosts a free, America 250-themed party for the 17th year of Tenderloin Tuesday on July 7, with tenderloins, giveaways and beer.

Cheyne Reiter

Wineries & Distilleries

Vineyard tastings, distillery tours, bourbon, and the spirits putting Indiana on the map.

9 Wineries to Visit for Chocolate Lover's Weekend 2026

9 Wineries to Visit for Chocolate Lover's Weekend

Sip and savor your way through Southern Indiana during Chocolate Lover's Weekend. Six wineries, two weekends, endless wine and chocolate pairings.

Jarred Porter

Holtkamp Winery & Vineyards: A Hidden Gem in Sunman, Indiana

Holtkamp Winery & Vineyards: A Hidden Gem in Sunman, Indiana

Holtkamp Winery in Sunman, Indiana offers award-winning wine, brick-oven pizza, vineyard views, events, and a relaxed Southeast Indiana stop.

Taylor Huff

Sip and Savor at Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville, Indiana

Sip and Savor at Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville, Indiana

Visit Mallow Run Winery in Bargersville, Indiana for free tastings, live music, and a taste of Hoosier hospitality — just 20 minutes south of Indianapolis.

Destany Long

A Taste of Heritage: Exploring Country Heritage Winery & Distillery in LaOtto, Indiana

A Taste of Heritage: Exploring Country Heritage Winery & Distillery in LaOtto, Indiana

Visit Country Heritage Winery in LaOtto, Indiana. Enjoy wine tastings, vineyard tours, concerts, and craft cocktails at this award-winning family winery.

Taylor Huff

Ice Cream & Sweet Treats

Creameries, candy shops, bakeries, donuts, and the sugar stops worth the detour.

The counter at René's Bakery in Broad Ripple, with glass jars of peanut butter, chocolate chip and chocolate chewy cookies above a case of pastries as bakers work behind it.

René's Bakery: The 400-Square-Foot Broad Ripple Gem With a Cult-Favorite Cinnamon Roll

René's Bakery is a 400-square-foot cottage in Broad Ripple turning out hand-rolled cinnamon rolls and French pastries that Indianapolis locals line up for every weekend.

Jarred Porter

The Mandy's Ice Cream storefront in downtown Brownsburg beside a vanilla scoop in a green cup and a cup of ice cream topped with syrup held in hand.

Mandy's Ice Cream in Brownsburg

Mandy's Ice Cream in downtown Brownsburg scoops creative flavors, sundaes, shakes and boba. A 4.8-star Hendricks County sweet spot for National Ice Cream Day.

Taylor Huff

The Berry Twist ice cream shop storefront in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, with its red sign, dark awning, and outdoor menu boards.

Floyd County Ice Cream Shops: Berry Twist and Polly's Freeze

Berry Twist and Polly's Freeze are two beloved Floyd County ice cream shops. Their owners share the stories, signature treats, and what keeps locals coming back.

Ryan Miller

A Taste of Germany in Indiana: Heidelberg Haus Café & Bakery

A Taste of Germany in Indiana: Heidelberg Haus Café & Bakery

Heidelberg Haus in Lawrence has been serving authentic German food, pastries, and culture since 1968. Here's why this family-run café is an Indiana treasure.

Taylor Huff

Tenderloins & Classic Eats

Breaded tenderloins, smash burgers, BBQ, and the diner classics Indiana runs on.

A packed dining room at the Carriage Inn in Haubstadt, Indiana, with families gathered around tables set with fresh bread, drinks and homestyle comfort food.

A Hidden Gem in Southern Indiana: The Carriage Inn

Carriage Inn in Haubstadt, Indiana, is a nearly 50-year-old hidden gem serving family-style Midwestern comfort food inside a historic early-1900s carriage house.

Taylor Huff

The green storefront and corner entrance of St. Elmo Steak House in downtown Indianapolis, with its Famous Since 1902 sign and a World Famous Shrimp Cocktail window above the door at 127

123 Years of Heat: The Story of St. Elmo Steak House

St. Elmo Steak House has served its sinus-clearing shrimp cocktail at 127 S. Illinois St. since 1902. Inside Indy's oldest steakhouse and its 123-year run.

Jarred Porter

A breaded pork tenderloin sandwich on a brioche bun with sweet potato fries, pickles, and red onion at a Hamilton County restaurant.

Tenderloin Tuesday™ Is Back in Hamilton County for Its Best Year Yet

Tenderloin Tuesday returns to Hamilton County for its 17th year, with 60+ restaurants, daily 'best tenderloin' voting, and Sun King beer, June 30 to July 28.

Cheyne Reiter

New Oberpfalz Brewing (Griffith), Tenderloin

Indiana's Pork Tenderloin Gets a Heat Wave: 5 Spicy Spins Worth the Drive

A viral Reddit post lit a fire under Indiana's favorite sandwich. Here are the spots putting a spicy, creative spin on the breaded pork tenderloin.

Jarred Porter

Hidden Gem Food Stops

Tucked-away places, small-town staples, and local favorites that feel more found than advertised.

The vertical Myers marquee and Dinner Theatre sign on the front of The Harmony Theater in downtown Hillsboro, Indiana, with a message board reading Come as a Guest and Leave as Family

A Night Out at The Harmony Theater in Hillsboro, Indiana

The Harmony Theater in Hillsboro, Indiana, known for decades as Myers Dinner Theatre, still pairs a homemade buffet with live shows in Fountain County.

Taylor Huff

A man in a red sweater working behind the counter at Holly's Package Store in Greentown, Indiana, with shelves of liquor bottles and a hand-lettered store hours sign above him

Hidden Gem: Head to Holly's Package Store in Greentown, Indiana

Holly's Package Store has anchored Greentown, Indiana since 1980. Rich Lacy now runs the family liquor store his father Gary built, just east of Kokomo.

Destany Long

The exterior of The Brick (Brick Bar & Grill), a small red-brick tavern in Jonesville, Indiana, with a covered entry and a Coca-Cola machine.

The Brick: A Hidden Gem in Jonesville, Indiana

The Brick in Jonesville is a hole-in-the-wall Indiana bar serving cheeseburgers, housemade chili, and hot sauce. Here's what to order and how to plan your visit.

Destany Long

Okaya: The Under-the-Radar Sushi Spot Fishers Locals Are Quietly Obsessed With

Fishers’ Best Kept Sushi Secret: Why Locals Keep Hushing the Buzz on Okaya

The salmon nigiri, the Chirashi bowl, and the Volcano Roll. Here's what to order at Okaya Sushi & Hibachi in Fishers before everyone catches on.

Jarred Porter

Best Indiana Food Guides

Roundups and stronger picks for readers who want the short list before they choose where to eat.

Food Events and Seasonal Eats

State fair foods, winery weekends, festivals, markets, and food plans that depend on the calendar.

Best Food in Indianapolis Metro

More in Indianapolis Metro
La Trattoria: Greenwood's Beloved Italian Steakhouse Since 2000

La Trattoria: Greenwood's Beloved Italian Steakhouse Since 2000

La Trattoria in Greenwood, Indiana has served Italian food and steakhouse favorites since 2000. Here's why locals keep coming back.

Taylor Huff

Taco Lovers’ Paradise: Paco’s Taqueria in Indianapolis

Taco Lovers’ Paradise: Paco’s Taqueria in Indianapolis

Paco's Taqueria in Indianapolis serves tacos, burritos, Mexican street food, and local favorites across multiple Indy locations and a food truck.

Taylor Huff

Sahm's Restaurant: Nearly 40 Years of Family Dining in Fishers

Sahm's Restaurant: Nearly 40 Years of Family Dining in Fishers

Discover Sahm's Restaurant in Fishers - famous coffee cake, Monday tenderloins, and fresh local ingredients since 1986 in this family-owned gem.

Jarred Porter

Salt Dining: Indianapolis' Hidden Gem for Fresh Seafood and Coastal Vibes

Salt Dining: Indianapolis' Hidden Gem for Fresh Seafood and Coastal Vibes

Discover Salt Dining's three Indianapolis-area locations serving fresh daily seafood, sushi, and coastal cuisine. From Mass Ave to Carmel City Center - Indiana's best seafood restaurants.

Jarred Porter

Food questions people actually ask

Written to answer the thing you actually searched for, not to pad the page.

Indiana is known for pork tenderloins, sugar cream pie, farm markets, diners, pizza traditions, breweries, small-town bakeries, and regional local favorites.

Still have a question about this part of the state?

Ask the desk

Stay IN the Know

Join 25k+ who know where to go, what's happening, and what's worth their time. Free every Thursday, from all 92 counties, positive news only.

120k+72k+123k+25k+ Hoosiers already read itOne email a weekUnsubscribe anytime