Indiana Cuisine: Cultural Wasteland or Hidden Gem?

[92ThoStro]

The top thing I miss most about the Bay Area. The overall diversity.

Thai restaurants
Vietnamese
Japanese
Indian restaurants
All the little Latin joints
Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

And even the fast food

Tapioca Express
In -n Out burger
Jolibee

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

I'm not talking about fancy cuisines, I am talking about 10 or so dollar meals. Cheap family owned restaurants. I don't want to pay 20 bucks for some fancy stuff.

Where is the nearest place to Noblesville that has drinks like Tapioca Express " Pearl Drinks " Bubble Tea, etc. I know Evansville, Hammond? I could walk to a dozen different places back in CA instead of driving half way across the state LOL

Appears to be a single Pho restaurant in Avon IN. Never been there but it's probably way over priced.

Where can I buy spicy fried Calamari like I can buy french fries at Mc Donalds?

 

[RedneckReject]

I'm still looking for a place that I can get a good cheesesteak. Not the Penn Station version of one. A real cheesesteak that I would think I got from a vendor's cart somewhere in center city. I've been to numerous places that advertise they're authentic. Nope. Not even close.

 

[92ThoStro]

I'm still looking for a place that I can get a good cheesesteak. Not the Penn Station version of one. A real cheesesteak that I would think I got from a vendor's cart somewhere in center city. I've been to numerous places that advertise they're authentic. Nope. Not even close.

Cheesecake wasn't part of the food culture in the Bay Area. I would love to try some real cheese cake if there is a big difference. I'm assuming you are not a fan of the Cheesecake Factory's cheesecake It was pretty good to me, went to the one in Palo Alto a few times by the Stanford mall

 

[RedneckReject]

Cheesecake wasn't part of the food culture in the Bay Area. I would love to try some real cheese cake if there is a big difference. I'm assuming you are not a fan of the Cheesecake Factory's cheesecake It was pretty good to me, went to the one in Palo Alto a few times by the Stanford mall

Cheesesteak. Not cheesecake. Although I am a bit picky about that too.

But yes the Cheesecake Factory does have some delicious ones

 

[Bennettjh]

Cheesecake wasn't part of the food culture in the Bay Area. I would love to try some real cheese cake if there is a big difference. I'm assuming you are not a fan of the Cheesecake Factory's cheesecake It was pretty good to me, went to the one in Palo Alto a few times by the Stanford mall

Cheesesteak. Not cheesecake. Although I am a bit picky about that too.

But yes the Cheesecake Factory does have some delicious ones

If it's got cheese in the name, I'm eating it! Cheesesteak, cheesecake, it doesn't matter.

Indiana is corn!

 

[Roadie]

The top thing I miss most about the Bay Area. The overall diversity.

Thai restaurants
Vietnamese
Japanese
Indian restaurants
All the little Latin joints
Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

And even the fast food

Tapioca Express
In -n Out burger
Jolibee

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

I'm not talking about fancy cuisines, I am talking about 10 or so dollar meals. Cheap family owned restaurants. I don't want to pay 20 bucks for some fancy stuff.

Where is the nearest place to Noblesville that has drinks like Tapioca Express " Pearl Drinks " Bubble Tea, etc. I know Evansville, Hammond? I could walk to a dozen different places back in CA instead of driving half way across the state LOL

Appears to be a single Pho restaurant in Avon IN. Never been there but it's probably way over priced.

Where can I buy spicy fried Calamari like I can buy french fries at Mc Donalds?

There are several Vietnamese/Pho, Indian, and Japanese joints in Indy..

Pho #1 in Beech Grove is amazing and about $6 and up for Pho

 

[lww]

Not sayin' there isn't good food here in Indiana, just sayin' I miss Primanti's!

Primanti Bros. Restaurant - Pittsburgh's "Almost Famous" Sandwiches - Primanti Brothers Restaurant

 

[danielocean03]

The top thing I miss most about the Bay Area. The overall diversity.

Thai restaurants
Vietnamese
Japanese
Indian restaurants
All the little Latin joints
Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

And even the fast food

Tapioca Express
In -n Out burger
Jolibee

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

I'm not talking about fancy cuisines, I am talking about 10 or so dollar meals. Cheap family owned restaurants. I don't want to pay 20 bucks for some fancy stuff.

Where is the nearest place to Noblesville that has drinks like Tapioca Express " Pearl Drinks " Bubble Tea, etc. I know Evansville, Hammond? I could walk to a dozen different places back in CA instead of driving half way across the state LOL

Appears to be a single Pho restaurant in Avon IN. Never been there but it's probably way over priced.

Where can I buy spicy fried Calamari like I can buy french fries at Mc Donalds?

Bubble Teas near northeast Indy:

http://m.yelp.com/biz/teabuds-brewing-carmel

http://m.yelp.com/biz/taiwan-tea-house-indianapolis

http://m.yelp.com/biz/la-paix-cafe-indianapolis

 

[mayor al]

Over my 70 years, I have lived in several regions/states in the USA. of those 31 of those years were in SoCal, and 19 have been here in Indiana. Toss-in some NY, NJ, Mass. and Idaho to give some alternatives, and I can honestly say that I have tried living about everywhere except the Deep South, and we have visited there over the years.

I have little patience with the whining I read here. If Detroit or Chicago or NYC is so great, why aren't you there instead of here in Hoosierland ?? I'll tell you why-- Life is better here than in the expensive, crime-ridden, over-crowded cities that do have some great choices for eating-out, but put life and property in jeapody everyday you live there.
Enough of the 'counter-whine', with a brief comment. I choose to live in a semi-rural area of Southern Indiana. I am 30 minutes from downtown Louisville, yet I got three deer-legally- last season, sitting on my back deck here in Floyd County. Try doing that in Chicago !! I am a retired teacher. The cost of living here compared to the major urban centers, makes Indiana a real 'nice' place to live.

Now about food choices- Yes the urban areas have a much broader choice range for dining out. I have been a Moderator on the Roadfood.com website for a decade. Lots of folks there use the site for reviewing good (and not so good) restaurants they find as they travel the USA. Here is a link to the Indiana list on that website. Some places have changed (up and down) since their review, but you can see what folks seem to look for when they come to Indiana.

Roadfood.com - Restaurant Search Results

As far as my personal choices-- When we have visitors from 'elsewhere' we may take them to-
1. Huber's Family Farm Restaurant in Starlite. ON.
2. Moonlite BBQ in Owensboro, KY
3. Rocky's Italian Grill, on the River in Jeffersonville
4. Mike Linings Fish Camp on the L-ville side of the River.
5. We used to go to Lynn's Paradise Cafe in L-ville, but it closed this past winter.

We do several medically related trips to IUPUI in Indy annually. Those always get a lunch or dinner or both. Since we come in on the South side we thend to stay there for our meal-stops.

Two places are favorites for us.

Shapiro's Deli on Meriden near the Stadium. Not Katz Deli in NYC, but a reasonable choice for those who want to get close to what a Deli should be.

Jonathon Byrd's Cafeteria at exit 99 on I-65. A real 'full-service' cafeteria, big, inexpensive,solid food in a casual but "Non-Buffet' ambience.

AND (Honorable Mention)- St Elmo's Steakhouse, downtown. We've only visited here a couple of times, but the food was outstanding and the ambience makes me go look for a necktie before calling in a reservation !

OK, it is time to stop whining, and add suggestions to all those listed in this thread. Thanks to the Hoosiers who give us BPT and 'Roastin' Ears'!!

 

[merotek]

Before I moved here, we came to visit 1 or 2 times a year, and we always had to put Gray Brothers Cafeteria on the list of must eat places while we were here. It is home style Cooking in a cafeteria setting. Some of the best pies you can find in Indy.

555 South Indiana Street
Mooresville, Indiana 46158

 

[mayor al]

I may have missed a couple of pages in this thread....but Have we heard from any of the guys in S E Indiana who have contact with some of the fine fried chicken places along I-74 as you get closer to the Ohio Line?

Aurora, Brookville, can't recall the names of the towns, but I have read of several old hotel restaurants that do a German-style pepper/spicy-fried chicken that has quite a good reputation among the traveling public.

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

At any number of great Viet joints in Indiana.

I like the Pho here near my office at Greenleaf.

Indianapolis and Bloomington have some great Vietnamese joints too.

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

No, we just spent 20+ pages disproving that.

There ain't no deals at gun shows, er, I mean the food sucks is made by people that don't read INGO.

 

[Indy317]

I may have missed a couple of pages in this thread....but Have we heard from any of the guys in S E Indiana who have contact with some of the fine fried chicken places along I-74 as you get closer to the Ohio Line?

Aurora, Brookville, can't recall the names of the towns, but I have read of several old hotel restaurants that do a German-style pepper/spicy-fried chicken that has quite a good reputation among the traveling public.

Batesville and Oldenburg are the places you are thinking of. Batesville is right off an I-74 interchange, with Oldenburg just to the north.

Wagner's Village Inn and The Brau Haus are both located in Oldenburg. The Sherman Housem, Pearl St. Pub, and Lil' Charlie's are both located in Batesville. All seem to have good reviews on the various on-line websites.

Lil' Charlie's had one of the best blackened chicken breast I've ever eaten. Wife's burger was great as well. Might try the others in the future.

Never heard of anything in Aurora or Brookville.

 

[bobbittle]

The top thing I miss most about the Bay Area. The overall diversity.

Thai restaurants
Vietnamese
Japanese
Indian restaurants
All the little Latin joints
Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

And even the fast food

Tapioca Express
In -n Out burger
Jolibee

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

I'm not talking about fancy cuisines, I am talking about 10 or so dollar meals. Cheap family owned restaurants. I don't want to pay 20 bucks for some fancy stuff.

Where is the nearest place to Noblesville that has drinks like Tapioca Express " Pearl Drinks " Bubble Tea, etc. I know Evansville, Hammond? I could walk to a dozen different places back in CA instead of driving half way across the state LOL

Appears to be a single Pho restaurant in Avon IN. Never been there but it's probably way over priced.

Where can I buy spicy fried Calamari like I can buy french fries at Mc Donalds?

The Pho joint in Avon is quite good, and fairly cheap as well.

 

[mayor al]

Batesville and Oldenburg are the places you are thinking of. Batesville is right off an I-74 interchange, with Oldenburg just to the north.

Wagner's Village Inn and The Brau Haus are both located in Oldenburg. The Sherman Housem, Pearl St. Pub, and Lil' Charlie's are both located in Batesville. All seem to have good reviews on the various on-line websites.

Lil' Charlie's had one of the best blackened chicken breast I've ever eaten. Wife's burger was great as well. Might try the others in the future.

Never heard of anything in Aurora or Brookville.

AURORA --- BATESVILLE, When I get over in that part of the State, all I can think of is that the Two Biggest CASKET Companies in the USA are located within a few miles of each other in those two towns... Somehow I got an image of that mixed with the Fried Chicken places you mentioned. I have read good comments about the Oldenburg places.

 

[mrjarrell]

The top thing I miss most about the Bay Area. The overall diversity.

Thai restaurants
Vietnamese
Japanese
Indian restaurants
All the little Latin joints
Where can I get some Pho at in Indiana?

And even the fast food

Tapioca Express
In -n Out burger
Jolibee

The food in IN just plain SUCKS.

I'm not talking about fancy cuisines, I am talking about 10 or so dollar meals. Cheap family owned restaurants. I don't want to pay 20 bucks for some fancy stuff.

Where is the nearest place to Noblesville that has drinks like Tapioca Express " Pearl Drinks " Bubble Tea, etc. I know Evansville, Hammond? I could walk to a dozen different places back in CA instead of driving half way across the state LOL

Appears to be a single Pho restaurant in Avon IN. Never been there but it's probably way over priced.

Where can I buy spicy fried Calamari like I can buy french fries at Mc Donalds?

Let's see...there's a pho place in Castleton, right behind the mall, next to Downtown Comics. As for bubble tea, you might have to go to some place and buy the ingredients to make your own. Indiana isn't the Bay Area and never will be. But there are little rays of sunshine. Shoot, I used to live in what is now Little Afghanistan in Fremont. I miss taquerias and real huevos rancheros. And no-one does lunch and dinner better than Tommy's Joynt in the City.

 

[the1kidd03]

At any number of great Viet joints in Indiana.

I like the Pho here near my office at Greenleaf.

Indianapolis and Bloomington have some great Vietnamese joints too.




No, we just spent 20+ pages disproving that.

There ain't no deals at gun shows, er, I mean the food sucks is made by people that don't read INGO.

Is that "LLG" place in Broad Ripple that makes the awesome BBQ which you mentioned early in this thread still around?

 

[Scutter01]

Bubble Teas near northeast Indy:

Bubble tea is hideous. I can't imagine what was going through the inventor's mind. "Hey, this smoothie is pretty good, but you know would would make it great? If I watered it down and dumped in a bunch of tapioca!"

 

[TwinTurbo]

Thai Kitchen in Fishers is a great family owned place for Thai food using fresh ingredients. Their hottest spice level has had me on the crapper in pain numerous times, but I regret nothing.

 

[CathyInBlue]

Thai Kitchen in Fishers is a great family owned place for Thai food using fresh ingredients. Their hottest spice level has had me on the crapper in pain numerous times, but I regret nothing.

You have my attention. Do tell me more.

I've lived in Terre Haute for 20 years and have yet to hit up Gerhardt's Bierstube. I need to remedy that. I also need to hit up Ambrosini's. There's also Rick's Smokehouse for melt in your mouth BBQ pork et al. I've opted not to ever patronize The Saratoga because the owner is such a Liberal partisan that he hosted Hillary Clinton on her swing through the area on the campaign trail, 2008. That and his TV ads were the worst form of insipid trash.

Best "local" cuisine I've found is at the Jade Garden behind Honey Creek Square Mall. If you like thermonuclear food, try the Hot Pepper Chicken with Hot and Sour Soup and an egg roll. Be very ginger with the little spoon in the mustard sauce when you put little dollops on the egg roll. If you over do it, it CAN put you in the hospital. If you're a coward, don't bother to stir the mustard sauce to reincorporate the spice that has settled out to the bottom and just use the comparatively weaker sauce on the top.