City Editor Shea here. If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s this: Mac and cheese is my love language.
I’ve spent the entirety of my time in Indy tasting all of the macs the city has to offer, and I’ve assembled a few of my top picks for you to try. You’ll thank me later.
Easy Rider | Let me just describe the Mac and Queso to you: Rich, velvety white cheese. Tender pork belly. A drizzle of hot honey. Crispy breadcrumbs. If you like your mac with a bit of southwestern flair, this is the dish for you.
Metro | This is probably a sleeper pick, but anyone who’s spent a very (very) late night dancing their way through Mass Ave’s clubs knows how important it is to fuel up. I didn’t expect Metro’s chicken bacon mac to hit the way it did, but I truly believe it helped me survive a Halloweekend a couple years back.
Baby’s | It’s so on-brand for me + my pink hair to love Baby’s and its bright, Barbiecore aesthetic. But it’s really earned a spot on this list for its amazing Talbott Street mac. Bonus: Every once in a while, Baby’s will offer a special mac on its Instagram, which is how I came to enjoy the variation pictured here.
The Eagle | Who says you can’t have mac and cheese for brunch? The Eagle’s is delicious in its simplicity (just noodles, sauce, and breadcrumbs), and I order mine with a fried chicken breast so it’s basically a balanced meal.
Pa & Ma’s Backyard BBQ | I used to eat here every Thursday when I lived around the corner (a full meal is a wee $6.50), and my box always included mac. Add some rib tips, green beans, and hot water cornbread and you’re good to go.
I know there are dozens of other macs you love, especially from all the barbecue joints in town. Send me your noods and we’ll do a part two.
