Hidden gem restaurants to check out in Indianapolis, IN

Indy has so many local restaurants, it can be hard to keep up — so we’re sharing some hidden gems you should know about.

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Tlaolli is a family restaurant with traditional Mexican dishes and fresh olive oil tamales on the near east side.

Photo by @amandashares

Whether it’s truly hidden location-wise or just deserves more attention, we’re sharing some hidden gem restaurants to try around the Indy area.

Bosphorus Istanbul Cafe | 935 S. East St.

This cozy restaurant between Fletcher Place and Bates-Hendricks is Indy’s first restaurant that features a variety of authentic hand-crafted Turkish Mediterranean appetizers, soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.

Tlaolli | 2830 E. Washington St.

Tlaolli (Tlah-Oh-Lee) is a carryout restaurant with fresh, local tamales and traditional Mexican dishes — all reinvented with a modern take on flavor and style.

His Place Eatery | 6916 E. 30th St.

A Southern transplant on Reddit called this traditional diner serving smoked meats “a taste of home.” Others recommended the smoked meatloaf and baked beans.

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant | 825 N. Pennsylvania St.

This restaurant with traditional Ethiopian dishes has been serving the Indianapolis area since 2015.

Tick Tock’s bloody mary is stacked with skewers of bacon, olives, tater tots, and a celery stick.

Photo by @girls.eat.good

Tick Tock Lounge | 2602 E. 10th St.

This “dive bar” is known for its bloody mary’s and laid back atmosphere.

Mama’s Korean Restaurant | 8867 Pendleton Pike

This restaurant opened more than 30 years ago and claims to be the only place you can taste authentic Korean food that’s cooked home-style with recipes that have been passed down through generations.

Chris’ Ice Cream and Mexican Food | 1484 E. 86th St.

This Nora spot got lots of love in a Reddit thread shouting out local gems. One user said they had the “best steak burrito of [their] life” at Chris’.

Want to bring your favorite spot out of hiding? Give it a shoutout .

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Nicole is based in Indianapolis, IN and graduated from Franklin College with a degree in multimedia journalism. She previously worked as a digital editor for the local NBC News affiliate WTHR. In her free time, she loves checking out new restaurants + businesses around downtown and attending local events.
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