Support Us Button Widget

Trending foods around the Circle City

From squid ink to ube, we’ve got you covered with a number of restaurants serving up some of Indy’s most trendy dishes in 2023.

A dish of squid ink pasta

You can grab this squid ink pasta for lunch at newly opened Vicino on Mass Ave.

Photo by INDYtoday team

Table of Contents
Ube

As City Editors, we see a lot of menus. If you’re an Indy foodie like us, you might have noticed a lot of restaurants serving up similar dishes.

We’re giving our top three recommendations to try each one of them.

Squid ink pasta

Vicino | 350 Mass Ave., Ste. 150 | The brand-new modern Italian eatery has a funky atmosphere to enjoy while you’re taking a stab at this almost-black seafood pasta with heavy tomato notes.

Nesso | 339 S. Delaware St. | Called the “Cappelletti Nero” at this downtown Cunningham Restaurant Group spot, its take on the pasta has more of a kick to it.

Convivio | Carmel + Zionsville | This “Nero” noodle dish incorporates lobster, shrimp, and crab in its lobster cream sauce.

A hand holding an ice cream cone

Natural State’s most recent soft serve flavor is banana cream pie.

Soft serve with a twist

Natural State Provisions | 414 Dorman St. | You can bring your pup to enjoy this soft serve, which regularly rotates flavors like Thai tea, samoa cookies, and banana cream pie.

Beacon | 2201 E. 46th St. | We got the scoop that this new eatery next to Black Circle will be dishing out soft serve froyo soon — just in time for summer.

Red’s Super Rose | 5365 E. Washington St. | The Irvington flower variety shop switches up its flavors all the time.

Hand holding up a ube iced latte

You can get this pineapple ube latte at Commissary downtown.

Photo via @salamatcookies

Ube

Commissary Barber + Barista | 304 E. New York St. | This coffee shop’s pineapple ube latte is a perfect introduction to the sweet purple yam flavor.

Salamat Cookies | Indianapolis pop-ups + online orders | Salamat has become popular at other local businesses like Garden Table + Parched by offering up its ube in syrup form.

Ube Love | Bloomington farmers markets | Okay, this spot isn’t necessarily in Indy, but because it includes the popular ingredient in literally all of its treats, we had to include it.

A table full of Asian dishes, including bao buns

You can see the bao buns on the left, among several other dishes from Benyue (formerly Lucky Lou).

Photo via @rdklove

Bao buns

Benyue Restaurant | 6020 E. 82nd St. | We recommend the barbecue pork bao buns, along with Benyue’s classic dim sum.

Modita | 850 Mass Ave., Ste. 110 | These buns are filled with grilled pork belly, asian slaw, and miso aioli.

Saraga International Grocery Store | 3605 Commercial Dr. | The small carryout place, Asian Snack, inside Saraga offers a bao-nty of options.

More from INDYtoday
We want to know — which Indy restaurant or meal sparks nostalgia in your heart and belly, and why?
Looking for a new furever friend, or just a cuddly afternoon while supporting local animal rescues? Take a meow-se through our guide.
The Blue and Gold have heightened expectations following last seasons success. The season tips off at home on Sunday, Oct. 27.
Are you registered to vote? We’re sharing everything you need to know to perform your civic duty.
Bird migration is in full swing this fall. Here’s how you can help our little feathered friends fly safely over Indy.
Sometimes you get the munchies late at night, so we’re helping out with a list of spots that stay open late around Indianapolis.
We asked ChatGPT which travel destinations are most similar to Indy. See what the artificial intelligence program said.
Indiana National Guard members have been aiding in search and rescue efforts down south — but there are still ways that Hoosiers at home can help Hurricane Helene victims.
The cult classic is returning to stages and screens all around Indy.
Where would you take one of the most famous people on the planet? Ahead of her tour stop in the Circle City, we did some itinerary planning.