20 Mouthwatering Food Trails Every Hungry Hoosier Should Take At Least Once
When you know what you want to eat but don’t know where to dine, let these 20 Hoosier food trails be your guide. Created by the Indiana Foodways Alliance, they feature the best restaurants, breweries, cafes, and more in the Hoosier State.
Indiana is basically full of an endless stream of journeys that you can eat your way through. Check ’em out:
One of the most iconic foods to the state is the tenderloin sandwich, so it should come as so surprise that there is a whole trail of restaurants dedicated to featuring the more than 70 restaurants in the Hoosier State that make this dish. Some are thick and juicy while others are thin and crispy. No matter how you like it, there's a place on this trail that will make it for you perfect.
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Don't miss the tenderloins from The Tasty Freeze!
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Don't miss the tenderloins from The Tasty Freeze!
Hoosiers enjoy their pork in many different ways, and that is very apparent on both of these Hoosier food trails. Of course, on the trail of BBQ restaurants, you'll find it smoked and covered in secret recipe sauces. Many of the 15 hot spots on this list have won awards for their authentic and mouthwatering food that every meat-lover must try.
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Don't miss the ribs from Pit Stop BBQ & Grill!
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Don't miss the ribs from Pit Stop BBQ & Grill!
Some prefer hot dogs and some prefer burgers, and that's why there's this fun family pleaser that has a little something for everyone. Many of the nearly 60 hot spots on this trail are known for their unique toppings that can be piled high on your burger or dog, and each spot features something a little bit different.
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Don't miss the burgers from Fourth Street Bar & Grill!
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Don't miss the burgers from Fourth Street Bar & Grill!
Indiana may be landlocked, but that doesn't mean we don't enjoy some things nautical. Between the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, there are a slew of fabulous seafood joints, and you'll find more than 30 of them on this wonderful trail. Whether you love fried fish, shrimp, lobster, oysters, frog legs, or something in between, you'll find it on this journey.
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Don't miss the seafood from Captains Cabin Restaurant!
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Don't miss the seafood from Captains Cabin Restaurant!
With 25 stops, this is one of our more moderate Hoosier food trails, but there is still much to cover. Whether it's smoked or fried, people in Indiana can't get enough of chicken, and this trail proves it. Discover some of the best down-home family restaurants when you take this trip.
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Don't miss the fried chicken from Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant!
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Don't miss the fried chicken from Joe Huber’s Family Farm & Restaurant!
Fine dining is sprinkled throughout the state, and you can find the best of the best along this trail. Featuring 32 places to dine, this list showcases steakhouses, Italian restaurants, breweries, and resort restaurants.
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Don't miss the fine dining at Beauty and the Bull Bar and Grill, LLC!
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Don't miss the fine dining at Beauty and the Bull Bar and Grill, LLC!
This trail is mostly about the nostalgia of getting ice cream. With more than 25 places on the trail, you're certain to have a brain freeze by the end if you try to visit them all at once. This trail is ideal to try and accomplish during the summer.
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Don't miss the ice cream from The Tasty Freeze!
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Don't miss the ice cream from The Tasty Freeze!
When it comes to Hoosier food trails, none are more popular than this one. Indiana is famous for its sugar cream pie, which has been made famous by the State Fair. The 30 bakeries on this list make many different types of pie though, and you can learn much more about them from previous Only In Your State coverage here.
Don't miss the pies from Lisa's Pie Shop!
Don't miss the pies from Lisa's Pie Shop!
With more than 40 stops, it is obvious that Hoosiers love their sweets. From restaurants to bakeries to candy makers, this trail will take you to the absolute best places to cure your cravings.
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Don't miss the baked goods from Dreams to Reality Cakes, INC!
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Don't miss the baked goods from Dreams to Reality Cakes, INC!
No matter how you like your breakfast, you're bound to find a place or two along this trail of nearly 40 restaurants that makes it right. Whether you eat the same thing every time or like to change it up, there are eateries across the state that will suit your taste.
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Don't miss breakfast at Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery!
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Don't miss breakfast at Bread Basket Cafe & Bakery!
A light lunch can seem hard to find in Indiana, but the state is actually full of them. This trail has 75 stops that offer a simple soup, salad, and sandwich, many of which are farm-fresh.
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Don't miss the soups, salads, and sandwiches from Aaron’s on the Square!
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Don't miss the soups, salads, and sandwiches from Aaron’s on the Square!
Whether you're looking for pizza or more authentic pasta and meat dishes, the 20 stops on this trail of Italian restaurants will give you a nice repertoire of places to dine. From casual to fine dining, there are many places to choose from depending on what fits your mood or occasion.
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Don't miss the authentic Italian meals from Catello's Mozzarella Bar!
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Don't miss the authentic Italian meals from Catello's Mozzarella Bar!
This is a trail of mostly orchards, markets, and farms, but also restaurants that use their farms to produce the items on the menu. You'll be able to buy your own produce to take home at many of the more than 20 stops on this journey.
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Don't miss the farm-fresh meals from Payne's Restaurant!
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Don't miss the farm-fresh meals from Payne's Restaurant!
Get in your favorite car to head out on this trip. It will take you to the best drive-ins in the state. Get ready for a blast from the past and a burst of nostalgia from not just the diners but also the food served at the 15 stops on this list.
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Don't miss the old-fashioned chili dogs and milkshakes from The Tasty Freeze!
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Don't miss the old-fashioned chili dogs and milkshakes from The Tasty Freeze!
If you've ever wanted to travel the world but are weary to leave the state, now is your chance. Eat at the 20+ stops on this food trail for a worldly culinary journey like none other. You'll find everything from Asian to Mediterranean to Mexican to Irish.
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Don't miss the ethnic meals at divvy!
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Don't miss the ethnic meals at divvy!
Featuring 18 exciting stops, this trail will take you back in time to when soda shops were the place to be. Enjoy an old-fashioned root beer or other syrupy drink at these vintage locations.
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Don't miss the old-fashioned sodas from Good's Candy Shop!
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Don't miss the old-fashioned sodas from Good's Candy Shop!
Coffee lovers will go nuts for this one. If you love charming tea rooms and trendy cafes, you'll want to stop into each and every stop on this trail. There are about 20 to check out, and each has a different vibe that will make you want to stay forever.
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Don't miss the coffee from Falls Perk Coffee House!
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Don't miss the coffee from Falls Perk Coffee House!
This is one of the shorter Hoosier food trails with just five stops, and it features actual distilleries in the state. These are the places where they actually make the beer you love so much, so you can try it as fresh as it comes.
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Don't miss the beer from Cardinal Spirits!
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Don't miss the beer from Cardinal Spirits!
If you love small-batch brews, you'll enjoy this trail of more than 30 breweries. Each has grown from someone's passion and since been turned into a thriving business that is calling for your attention.
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Don't miss the craft brews from Backstep Brewing Company!
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Don't miss the craft brews from Backstep Brewing Company!
Vineyards and wineries can be found throughout the Hoosier State. Indiana was actually home to the first commercial winemaking operation before prohibition. There are about 20 spots in this trail that will show you the beauty of Indiana's vino.
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Don't miss the wine from Byler Lane Winery!
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Don't miss the wine from Byler Lane Winery!
Get specifics about each of these 20 epic food trails on the Indiana Foodways Alliance’s website here.
Have you ever enjoyed any of these Hoosier food trails? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us below in the comments.
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