8 Indiana Restaurants Serving the Most Out-of-the-Ordinary Foods

I have always believed that the best meals are the ones you never saw coming. Indiana might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of adventurous eating, but this state has a way of surprising you at every turn.

From globally inspired small plates to brunch menus that push every boundary, the food scene here is anything but ordinary. I went searching for restaurants that go beyond burgers, fries, and the familiar comfort foods, and what I discovered genuinely blew me away.

Each bite felt like a little revelation, from unexpected flavor combinations to dishes that seem impossibly inventive yet perfectly executed. If you’re ready to step off the beaten path and try something completely new, Indiana has a table waiting for you; and trust me, it’s worth the trip.

1. Love Handle

There is something almost rebellious about a restaurant that refuses to play it safe with its menu, and Love Handle on Massachusetts Ave in Indianapolis does exactly that. This is not your typical sandwich shop.

Every item on the menu feels like it was designed by someone who grew up loving comfort food but also spent years cooking in kitchens that challenged every assumption about what a sandwich could be.

The bread is baked in-house, the proteins are slow-cooked with real care, and the flavor combinations are the kind that make you stop mid-bite and just think. One visit might mean a sandwich stacked with pickled vegetables and house-made aioli, and the next might bring something completely different depending on what is fresh and seasonal.

Love Handle sits right in the heart of the Massachusetts Avenue Arts District, which means you can walk off your meal while exploring galleries, boutiques, and coffee shops. The nearby Bottleworks District is just a short stroll away and adds even more energy to the neighborhood.

The restaurant itself is small, which means the kitchen team genuinely focuses on quality over quantity. If you want a meal that feels like someone actually cared about every ingredient on your plate, this is the place to start your out-of-the-ordinary food journey in Indianapolis.

2. Pizza Twist

Pizza Twist in Greenwood takes everything you thought you knew about pizza and flips it on its head in the most delicious way possible. This restaurant blends Indian flavors with Italian-style pizza, and the result is something you genuinely cannot find anywhere else in the state.

The concept sounds bold, but one bite of a tikka masala pizza or a paneer-topped pie and it all makes perfect sense.

The crust is chewy and well-seasoned, the sauces range from creamy and mild to richly spiced, and the toppings are layered with a confidence that only comes from a kitchen that really knows what it is doing. Vegetarian options here are not an afterthought.

They are front and center, making this a rare find for plant-based eaters who are tired of the same old cheese pizza at every other restaurant.

Located at 997 E County Line Rd in Greenwood, Pizza Twist is easy to reach from the south side of Indianapolis. The surrounding area has plenty of shopping and family-friendly spots, making it a great stop before or after a meal.

Kids who are a little hesitant about unfamiliar flavors often end up being the biggest fans once they take that first slice. Pizza Twist proves that two beloved food cultures can come together and create something genuinely extraordinary without losing what makes each one special.

3. Union Jack Pub

Most people think of a pub as a place to grab something predictable, but Union Jack Pub on Broad Ripple Ave in Indianapolis is a completely different kind of experience. This spot brings authentic British pub culture to the heart of one of Indianapolis’s most vibrant neighborhoods, and the food alone is worth a dedicated trip.

Scotch eggs, proper bangers and mash, and meat pies show up on a menu that feels genuinely imported from across the Atlantic.

What makes this place stand out is how seriously the kitchen takes the food. These are not Americanized versions of British classics.

They are the real thing, made with care and served in a warm, lived-in atmosphere that feels nothing like a chain restaurant. The Scotch egg in particular is a revelation if you have never had one, with a perfectly cooked yolk wrapped in seasoned sausage and a crispy breadcrumb coating.

Broad Ripple itself is a fantastic neighborhood to spend an afternoon. The Broad Ripple Farmers Market runs on Saturdays nearby, and the Monon Trail is just steps away if you want to walk before or after your meal.

Union Jack Pub has been a fixture in this community for years, and locals treat it like a second living room. If British comfort food sounds like an adventure to you, this pub will not disappoint.

It is one of the most authentically unusual dining experiences in all of Indiana.

4. The Inferno Room

Walking into The Inferno Room on Virginia Ave in Indianapolis feels like stepping into a different world entirely. The tiki-inspired decor is immersive in a way that most restaurants simply are not, with carved wood details, dim lighting, and a visual language pulled straight from mid-century Polynesian culture.

But the food is what keeps people coming back long after the novelty of the atmosphere has settled in.

The menu leans into bold, tropical-influenced flavors with small plates and appetizers that mix Asian, Caribbean, and Pacific Rim ingredients in ways that feel genuinely creative. Pork belly, plantains, and spiced sauces show up in combinations that reward the adventurous eater.

Nothing on this menu is trying to be safe, and that is exactly what makes it so exciting.

The Inferno Room is located in the Fountain Square neighborhood, which is one of Indianapolis’s most artistic and eclectic communities. Nearby you will find the Fountain Square Theatre Building at 1105 Prospect St, a historic landmark that adds to the neighborhood’s character.

The Murphy Art Center is also close by and worth a visit before dinner. The Inferno Room draws a crowd that appreciates creativity in all its forms, from the art on the walls to the food on the plate.

If you want a dining experience that genuinely transports you somewhere unexpected, this is the most atmospheric and food-forward stop on this entire list.

5. The Monk’s

Carmel has a reputation for being polished and upscale, and The Monk’s fits right into that energy while still managing to surprise even the most well-traveled diners. Located at 13080 Grand Blvd in Carmel, this restaurant blends global culinary influences into a menu that changes often and rewards repeat visits.

The kitchen is clearly led by people who have eaten widely and thought carefully about what makes a dish truly memorable.

Expect to find flavor profiles that pull from Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, and Latin America all on the same menu, sometimes on the same plate. The approach is bold without being chaotic, which is a much harder balance to strike than it sounds.

Dishes are presented with real attention to detail, and portions are generous enough that you leave satisfied rather than searching for a second dinner.

The Arts and Design District in Carmel is right nearby, making The Monk’s a natural stop on a day of gallery browsing and boutique shopping. The Carmel City Center at 800 S Rangeline Rd is just a short drive away and adds to the upscale, walkable energy of the area.

The Monk’s attracts a loyal crowd of regulars who appreciate that the menu never goes stale. For anyone in the northern Indianapolis suburbs who wants a meal that genuinely challenges their expectations, this restaurant delivers something that feels fresh and exciting every single time.

6. Ripple Bagel and Deli

Bagels sound simple, and at most places they are. Ripple Bagel and Deli on Broad Ripple Ave in Indianapolis is proof that simplicity is not the same thing as boring.

The bagels here are made fresh daily, and they have the kind of chewy, golden-brown crust that comes only from proper technique and real ingredients. Once you have had one, grocery store bagels start to feel like a completely different food.

What makes Ripple unusual is how creative the sandwich combinations get. The menu goes well beyond cream cheese and lox, though those are excellent here too.

You might find a bagel loaded with roasted vegetables and whipped feta, or one stacked with house-cured meats and pickled onions that bring a real punch of flavor. Every ingredient feels intentional, which is rare for a casual breakfast and lunch spot.

The Broad Ripple neighborhood is one of Indianapolis’s most walkable and lively areas, and Ripple fits right into that energy. The Monon Trail, one of the city’s most beloved greenways, runs nearby and makes for a perfect pre-meal walk.

The neighborhood’s independent bookshops and local coffee spots add to the charm of spending a morning here. Ripple Bagel and Deli is the kind of place that resets your expectations for what a simple meal can be.

It is low-key, unpretentious, and genuinely delicious in a way that earns its spot on this list without any hesitation.

7. Marrakesh Moroccan Cuisine and Bar

Moroccan food is one of the most layered and aromatic cuisines in the world, and Marrakesh Moroccan Cuisine on N College Ave in Indianapolis brings it to life with a level of authenticity that feels genuinely rare in the Midwest. The moment the food arrives at your table, the smell of cumin, coriander, and preserved lemon fills the air in a way that immediately transports you somewhere far from Indiana.

Tagines are the star of the menu here, slow-braised stews served in traditional clay pots with tender meat, olives, and vegetables that have been cooking long enough to absorb every bit of flavor from the spices surrounding them. The couscous is hand-rolled and fluffy, nothing like the instant version most people have tried at home.

Mezze plates make for a fantastic way to try several dishes at once, and the bread served alongside is perfect for soaking up every last drop of sauce.

The restaurant sits in a neighborhood that also includes some of Indianapolis’s best independent coffee shops and small restaurants, making it a great evening destination. The nearby Newfields art campus at 4000 Michigan Rd is one of the city’s cultural gems and pairs well with a Moroccan dinner for a full cultural evening out.

Marrakesh is the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like you have genuinely traveled somewhere new without ever leaving the state of Indiana.

8. Milktooth

Milktooth on Virginia Ave in Indianapolis has been called one of the best brunch restaurants in the entire country, and after one meal there it is very easy to understand why. Chef Jonathan Brooks built this place around the idea that breakfast and lunch deserve the same creative energy and technical skill that fine dining gives to dinner.

The result is a menu that genuinely has no comparison in Indiana and very few comparisons anywhere else.

The Dutch baby pancakes alone are worth planning a trip around. They arrive puffed and golden from the oven, topped with combinations that might include cultured butter, seasonal fruit, and house-made jams that change based on what is fresh.

Savory dishes are equally inventive, with grain bowls, fermented vegetables, and soft-cooked eggs appearing in combinations that feel both surprising and completely right. Every element on the plate has been thought through carefully.

Milktooth is located in the Fountain Square neighborhood, just a short walk from The Inferno Room and surrounded by the creative energy that defines this part of Indianapolis. The Murphy Art Center at 1115 Prospect St is close by, and the neighborhood’s murals and independent shops make it a great place to spend a full morning.

Lines can be long on weekends, and the wait is absolutely worth it. Milktooth is the kind of restaurant that reminds you why food, at its best, is a genuine form of art.