Taylor Huff

July 8, 2025

Tenderloin or Bust: A 4-Day Backroad Binge

Hit Indiana’s backroads on a 4-day tenderloin tour. 10 local spots, no chains, just golden, crispy pork sandwiches bigger than your plate.

Hidden Gems
Food

Tenderloin or Bust: A 4-Day Backroad Binge

When it comes to iconic eats, Indiana doesn’t mess around—especially when there’s a pork tenderloin sandwich involved. This isn’t just any sandwich. We’re talking about a Hoosier masterpiece: a juicy, crispy, breaded cutlet that’s bigger than the plate it’s served on, tucked inside a modest hamburger bun that’s usually hanging on for dear life. From small-town diners to roadside bars, the pork tenderloin is Indiana’s unofficial state dish and a rite of passage for anyone hitting the backroads. It’s golden, it’s glorious, and around here, it’s basically a food group.

When you take the interstate, you get where you're going. But when you take the back roads? You find things. Brandon Gentry grabbed a couple friends and went to find the best pork tenderloins in Indiana. Ten tenderloins in four days, no chain restaurants and only backroads. Watch the road trip and discover some tenderloin hidden gems!

Here are 10 tenderloin spots to hit up on your next road trip! 

  1. Weenee World (New Castle)

  2. Waylon’s Bar (Marion) 

  3. Kermit's Food Shop Bar & Grill  (Andrews) 

  4. Nick's Kitchen (Huntington)

  5. Brewery Lodge (Michigan City)

  6. Three Sheets Bar & Grill Inc  (Michigan City)

  7. One Eyed Jack's (Winamac)

  8. The Sixth Street Dive (Lafayette)  

  9. Shipley’s Tavern (Madison)

  10. Hinkle's Sandwich Shop (Madison) 

Tenderloin or Bust: A 4-Day Backroad Binge

When it comes to iconic eats, Indiana doesn’t mess around—especially when there’s a pork tenderloin sandwich involved. This isn’t just any sandwich. We’re talking about a Hoosier masterpiece: a juicy, crispy, breaded cutlet that’s bigger than the plate it’s served on, tucked inside a modest hamburger bun that’s usually hanging on for dear life. From small-town diners to roadside bars, the pork tenderloin is Indiana’s unofficial state dish and a rite of passage for anyone hitting the backroads. It’s golden, it’s glorious, and around here, it’s basically a food group.

When you take the interstate, you get where you're going. But when you take the back roads? You find things. Brandon Gentry grabbed a couple friends and went to find the best pork tenderloins in Indiana. Ten tenderloins in four days, no chain restaurants and only backroads. Watch the road trip and discover some tenderloin hidden gems!

Here are 10 tenderloin spots to hit up on your next road trip! 

  1. Weenee World (New Castle)

  2. Waylon’s Bar (Marion) 

  3. Kermit's Food Shop Bar & Grill  (Andrews) 

  4. Nick's Kitchen (Huntington)

  5. Brewery Lodge (Michigan City)

  6. Three Sheets Bar & Grill Inc  (Michigan City)

  7. One Eyed Jack's (Winamac)

  8. The Sixth Street Dive (Lafayette)  

  9. Shipley’s Tavern (Madison)

  10. Hinkle's Sandwich Shop (Madison) 

Tenderloin or Bust: A 4-Day Backroad Binge

When it comes to iconic eats, Indiana doesn’t mess around—especially when there’s a pork tenderloin sandwich involved. This isn’t just any sandwich. We’re talking about a Hoosier masterpiece: a juicy, crispy, breaded cutlet that’s bigger than the plate it’s served on, tucked inside a modest hamburger bun that’s usually hanging on for dear life. From small-town diners to roadside bars, the pork tenderloin is Indiana’s unofficial state dish and a rite of passage for anyone hitting the backroads. It’s golden, it’s glorious, and around here, it’s basically a food group.

When you take the interstate, you get where you're going. But when you take the back roads? You find things. Brandon Gentry grabbed a couple friends and went to find the best pork tenderloins in Indiana. Ten tenderloins in four days, no chain restaurants and only backroads. Watch the road trip and discover some tenderloin hidden gems!

Here are 10 tenderloin spots to hit up on your next road trip! 

  1. Weenee World (New Castle)

  2. Waylon’s Bar (Marion) 

  3. Kermit's Food Shop Bar & Grill  (Andrews) 

  4. Nick's Kitchen (Huntington)

  5. Brewery Lodge (Michigan City)

  6. Three Sheets Bar & Grill Inc  (Michigan City)

  7. One Eyed Jack's (Winamac)

  8. The Sixth Street Dive (Lafayette)  

  9. Shipley’s Tavern (Madison)

  10. Hinkle's Sandwich Shop (Madison) 

Written By:

Carson Whiteman

Written By:

Taylor Huff

Taylor Huff

get indiana newsletter

Be the first to know about trending events and new attractions.

Free. Straight to your inbox. Every weekday morning.

get indiana newsletter

Be the first to know about trending events and new attractions.

Free. Straight to your inbox. Every weekday morning.

get indiana newsletter

Be the first to know about trending events and new attractions.

Free. Straight to your inbox. Every weekday morning.

Hidden Gems Sponsor

Khamis Fine Jewelers

Hidden Gems in Indiana are powered by Khamis Fine Jewelers, where beauty has gone beyond the surface for the last 30 years in Indianapolis. Uncover rare stones, unique settings, and one-of-a-kind treasures waiting to be found.

Hidden Gems Sponsor

Khamis Fine Jewelers

Hidden Gems in Indiana are powered by Khamis Fine Jewelers, where beauty has gone beyond the surface for the last 30 years in Indianapolis. Uncover rare stones, unique settings, and one-of-a-kind treasures waiting to be found.

Hidden Gems Sponsor

Khamis Fine Jewelers

Hidden Gems in Indiana are powered by Khamis Fine Jewelers, where beauty has gone beyond the surface for the last 30 years in Indianapolis. Uncover rare stones, unique settings, and one-of-a-kind treasures waiting to be found.

Small Town Breakdowns

Share Your Favorite Small Towns

Help us uncover Indiana's most unique small towns. Submit your favorites and we'll highlight what makes them special!

Small Town Breakdowns

Share Your Favorite Small Towns

Help us uncover Indiana's most unique small towns. Submit your favorites and we'll highlight what makes them special!

Small Town Breakdowns

Share Your Favorite Small Towns

Help us uncover Indiana's most unique small towns. Submit your favorites and we'll highlight what makes them special!

Hidden Gems

Share Your Indiana Hidden Gems

Know a secret spot in Indiana? Share your favorite hidden gem—trails, eats, oddities, or local legends—for a chance to get featured.

Hidden Gems

Share Your Indiana Hidden Gems

Know a secret spot in Indiana? Share your favorite hidden gem—trails, eats, oddities, or local legends—for a chance to get featured.

Hidden Gems

Share Your Indiana Hidden Gems

Know a secret spot in Indiana? Share your favorite hidden gem—trails, eats, oddities, or local legends—for a chance to get featured.

Discover the heart of the Hoosier State with Get Indiana, your go-to source for everything Indiana. Dive into a wide range of topics, from local events and hidden gems to business, travel, food, and more. At Get Indiana, we bring you reliable, comprehensive, and engaging articles that keep you connected to the pulse of our state. Enjoy fresh perspectives on community stories, insightful features, and in-depth guides, all crafted with a commitment to accuracy and local pride.

Explore Indiana effortlessly with Get Indiana, your trusted resource for all things Hoosier. Join us on a journey through the diverse and vibrant life of Indiana, delivering a rich and dynamic reading experience.

Discover the heart of the Hoosier State with Get Indiana, your go-to source for everything Indiana. Dive into a wide range of topics, from local events and hidden gems to business, travel, food, and more. At Get Indiana, we bring you reliable, comprehensive, and engaging articles that keep you connected to the pulse of our state. Enjoy fresh perspectives on community stories, insightful features, and in-depth guides, all crafted with a commitment to accuracy and local pride.

Explore Indiana effortlessly with Get Indiana, your trusted resource for all things Hoosier. Join us on a journey through the diverse and vibrant life of Indiana, delivering a rich and dynamic reading experience.

Discover the heart of the Hoosier State with Get Indiana, your go-to source for everything Indiana. Dive into a wide range of topics, from local events and hidden gems to business, travel, food, and more. At Get Indiana, we bring you reliable, comprehensive, and engaging articles that keep you connected to the pulse of our state. Enjoy fresh perspectives on community stories, insightful features, and in-depth guides, all crafted with a commitment to accuracy and local pride.

Explore Indiana effortlessly with Get Indiana, your trusted resource for all things Hoosier. Join us on a journey through the diverse and vibrant life of Indiana, delivering a rich and dynamic reading experience.

Discover the heart of the Hoosier State with Get Indiana, your go-to source for everything Indiana. Dive into a wide range of topics, from local events and hidden gems to business, travel, food, and more. At Get Indiana, we bring you reliable, comprehensive, and engaging articles that keep you connected to the pulse of our state. Enjoy fresh perspectives on community stories, insightful features, and in-depth guides, all crafted with a commitment to accuracy and local pride.

Explore Indiana effortlessly with Get Indiana, your trusted resource for all things Hoosier. Join us on a journey through the diverse and vibrant life of Indiana, delivering a rich and dynamic reading experience.

COPYRIGHT © GET INDIANA. 2024 / DESIGNED BY TUSCAN AGENCY
COPYRIGHT © GET INDIANA. 2024 / DESIGNED BY TUSCAN AGENCY
COPYRIGHT © GET INDIANA. 2024 / DESIGNED BY TUSCAN AGENCY

GETINDIANA.

MENU

GETINDIANA.

MENU

GETINDIANA.

MENU