What is a breaded pork tenderloin sandwich?

The breaded pork tenderloin, or BPT, is Indiana's unofficial state sandwich. It features a pork loin pounded thin, breaded, and fried, traditionally served on a bun far too small to contain it. The classic version sticks to simple toppings like mayo, mustard, and dill pickles, though spots around the state are increasingly putting creative and spicy spins on it.

Where can I find a spicy pork tenderloin in Indianapolis?

Pawn Shop Pub on E. 54th Street serves its giant tenderloin buffalo style for a kick of heat, and the Historic Steer-In on E. 10th Street offers a seasoned tenderloin with a savory bite. Blind Owl Brewery is also worth a stop for its scratch-made tenderloin and bold, chipotle-forward menu.

What is the Indiana Breaded Pork Tenderloin Trail?

The Breaded Pork Tenderloin Trail is a self-guided route highlighting some of the best tenderloin spots across the state, especially in Northern Indiana. Stops like New Oberpfalz Brewing in Griffith are known for elevated, thicker-cut versions of the classic sandwich.

Indiana's Pork Tenderloin Gets a Heat Wave: 4 Spicy Spins Worth the Drive

If you want to start a fight in Indiana, skip politics and sports. Just ask a room full of Hoosiers what makes a perfect breaded pork tenderloin.

The rules have been more or less settled for generations. The pork gets pounded thin, it has to hang way over the edges of the bun, and the flavor stays close to home: pork, salt, pepper, and the grease of a fryer that has seen things. For the purists, anything past a swipe of mayo and a few dill pickles is pushing it.

But the breaded pork tenderloin is one of those topics that lights up Indiana Reddit threads on a regular basis, and lately more of those conversations are about heat and creativity. Hoosiers are starting to want a little fire on their hubcaps. If that sounds like you, here are four spots putting a genuine spin on the state's most sacred sandwich.

1. Pawn Shop Pub (Indianapolis)

This Midtown institution has been around since the mid-1970s and won Indy's Best Pub, and the giant tenderloin is the reason people keep showing up.

The Address: 2222 E. 54th St., Indianapolis, IN 46220
The Hours: Mon-Wed and Sun 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Thu-Sat 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Spin: The tenderloin here is massive, and the move for heat seekers is ordering it buffalo style. They'll also do it Italian style if you want to go a different direction. Either way you get that signature crunch with way more meat than bun, the way it should be. Pair it with a cold draft and the cornhole league out back if you time it right.

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