Unearth The Voyage
Indiana might not be the first place you think of when craving an amazing sandwich, but locals know better. Hidden across the state are sandwich counters serving everything from towering deli classics to breaded pork tenderloins the size of dinner plates. These aren’t flashy tourist traps but real neighborhood spots where people line up weekly for their favorite bite.
1. Shapiro’s Delicatessen – Indianapolis
Operating since 1905, this legendary deli counter has been piling corned beef and pastrami high for over a century. Walking through the doors feels like stepping into sandwich history, where the smell of rye bread and pickles fills the air.
Locals don’t just visit for lunch. They bring out-of-town guests here like it’s a civic duty, pointing out the hand-sliced meats stacked impossibly high between fresh rye slices.
Ordering the corned beef isn’t just a meal choice. It’s practically a rite of passage for anyone serious about sandwiches in Indianapolis, and regulars will tell you it’s worth every calorie.
2. Don Juan V’s Peruvian Sandwiches – Indianapolis
Family recipes meet Indiana appetite at this small, unassuming spot that brings Peruvian flavors to the sandwich scene. The chicharrón sandwich, loaded with crispy pork and tangy salsa criolla, offers something completely different from typical deli fare.
Owners treat every order like they’re feeding their own family. Fresh ingredients and authentic preparation methods make each bite taste like a trip to Lima without leaving Indianapolis.
Regulars swear by the lomo saltado sandwich too, where stir-fried beef meets French fries inside soft bread. It’s an unexpected combination that works beautifully and keeps people coming back weekly.
3. Bloomingfoods Co-op Market – Bloomington
Who knew a grocery store could hide one of Bloomington’s best-kept sandwich secrets? Tucked inside this co-op market, the deli counter quietly churns out sandwiches that make locals skip the restaurant scene entirely.
Fresh-baked bread meets locally sourced ingredients here. The staff knows regular customers by name and remembers their favorite combinations, creating a neighborhood feel inside a larger store.
Students and professors alike line up during lunch hours, proof that great sandwiches can come from unexpected places. The vegetarian options especially shine, using creative combinations that satisfy even dedicated meat-eaters surprisingly well.
4. The Knuckle Sandwich – Bargersville
Bright colors and chrome accents give this place serious 1950s vibes before you even taste the food. But the retro look isn’t just for show because the creative sandwich combinations inside back up the nostalgic atmosphere.
Locals describe the drive to Bargersville as absolutely worth it. Signature creations mix unexpected ingredients that somehow work perfectly together, from sweet and savory combos to builds you won’t find anywhere else.
The menu changes seasonally, giving regulars reasons to keep returning. Staff recommendations rarely disappoint, and first-timers often become converts after just one visit to this quirky sandwich destination.
5. South Side Soda Shop – Goshen
Chrome stools and checkerboard floors transport visitors straight back to the Eisenhower era. This isn’t a theme restaurant trying too hard but an actual soda fountain that’s been serving the community for generations.
Their club sandwich stacks turkey, crispy bacon, fresh lettuce, and ripe tomatoes between three slices of toasted bread. Simple ingredients prepared right create something special that keeps generations of families returning together.
Order a milkshake alongside your sandwich for the full experience. The combination of classic American comfort food in an authentic vintage setting makes every visit feel like a special occasion.
6. Hoagies & Hops – Indianapolis (Fountain Square)
Fountain Square locals guard this spot like a precious secret, especially during lunch hours when the cheesesteaks come hot off the griddle. Thinly sliced ribeye, melted cheese, and grilled onions create authentic Philly flavors right in Indiana.
Pairing sandwiches with craft beer elevates the casual counter experience. The rotating tap selection means there’s always something new to try alongside your favorite hoagie.
Regulars have their usual orders down pat, but newcomers get friendly guidance from staff who genuinely care about matching sandwiches to tastes. The casual atmosphere encourages lingering over good food and better conversation.
7. Indiana Deli & Catering – La Porte
Plain storefront, extraordinary sandwiches. That’s the surprising reality at this La Porte spot where the unassuming name hides serious sandwich-making skills honed over years of serving the community.
Everything gets sliced fresh that morning, not pre-packaged days earlier. Meats and cheeses come off the slicer directly onto your bread, ensuring maximum flavor and texture in every bite.
Made-to-order means exactly what you want, how you want it. Locals appreciate the attention to detail and consistent quality that makes this deli punch well above its weight class compared to flashier competitors nearby.
8. Hinkle’s Sandwich Shop – Madison
That vintage neon sign still glows after all these years, beckoning sandwich lovers into Madison’s historic downtown. The building itself tells stories, but the real legend here is the tenderloin sandwich that locals defend with hometown pride.
Breaded pork pounded thin and fried golden creates the crispy, oversized tenderloin Indiana is famous for. It hangs over the bun edges dramatically, requiring strategic eating techniques regulars have perfected over years.
Tourists photograph it, but locals just dig in. The combination of historic setting and iconic Indiana sandwich makes Hinkle’s a true treasure worth seeking out in this charming river town.
9. Taste of Philly – Roanoke
A red barn in rural Indiana seems like the last place you’d find authentic Philly cheesesteaks, but locals from across the state make pilgrimages here anyway. The humble exterior hides serious sandwich credentials inside.
Owners apparently learned their craft in Philadelphia itself, bringing back techniques and flavor profiles that satisfy even transplanted Pennsylvanians. The bread gets shipped in specially, and the meat preparation follows traditional methods exactly.
Word spread quickly among cheesesteak enthusiasts. Now people drive surprising distances just to grab lunch at this unlikely location, proving great sandwiches can appear anywhere when made with genuine skill and care.
10. Nick’s Kitchen – Huntington
Claims of inventing the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich in 1908 give this place serious bragging rights. Whether the story is completely accurate or slightly embellished, locals fiercely defend Nick’s Kitchen as tenderloin royalty.
The sandwich itself lives up to the legacy. Perfectly seasoned, hand-breaded, and fried until golden and crispy, it represents everything great about this Indiana classic done right.
Generations of families have made Nick’s Kitchen a tradition. Grandparents bring grandchildren, sharing stories and sandwiches in a place where history feels present in every bite and the recipe remains unchanged for good reason.
11. C.R. Heroes Family Pub – Fishers
Suburban strip mall location might make you drive past without noticing, which is exactly how locals like it. Inside this unassuming pub, fresh-cut pork loin gets hand-breaded and fried to crispy perfection daily.
The sandwich isn’t some frozen patty reheated carelessly. Real pork loin gets pounded thin, coated carefully, and fried to order, creating the kind of quality that turns first-time visitors into weekly regulars.
Families fill booths on weekends, treating C.R. Heroes like their personal neighborhood secret. The combination of pub atmosphere and serious sandwich craft creates a comfortable spot worth returning to repeatedly.
12. McAlister’s Deli – Brownsburg
Chain restaurants usually don’t make local secret lists, but this particular location earns its spot through consistent execution and quality ingredients. Locals repeatedly mention it when discussing their favorite sandwich spots around Brownsburg.
Freshness makes the difference here. Ingredients get stacked high without skimping, and the bread stays soft while holding everything together properly through the last bite.
Regular customers appreciate reliability. Knowing exactly what you’ll get every visit matters, especially when what you’re getting is genuinely good and the staff treats you like a neighbor rather than transaction number.
13. Jersey Mike’s Subs – Indianapolis (S Emerson Ave)
Another chain making the list might seem odd until you understand what sets this location apart. Fresh-sliced meats and cheeses prepared right in front of you create a different experience than pre-packaged alternatives elsewhere.
The Mike’s Way build adds lettuce, tomatoes, onions, spices, and red wine vinegar oil blend that transforms basic ingredients into something special. Locals swear this preparation method makes all the difference in flavor.
Consistency matters when you’re craving a specific taste. This location delivers reliably, which explains why it appears repeatedly in local discussions about quality sandwich options worth the visit despite the chain status.
14. Lumpy’s – Cambridge City
Small towns sometimes hide the biggest flavors, and Lumpy’s proves that rule spectacularly. The hand-breaded pork tenderloin here measures nearly ten inches across, dwarfing the bun underneath in classic Indiana fashion.
Size isn’t just for show because the quality matches the quantity. Each tenderloin gets pounded, breaded, and fried with care, creating crispy edges and juicy centers that justify the fierce local loyalty.
Regulars defend their hometown spot with passion. Mention another tenderloin in conversation, and they’ll insist you haven’t tried the real thing until you’ve tackled the monster at Lumpy’s in Cambridge City.
15. Triple XXX Family Restaurant – West Lafayette
College students and locals share this weird, wonderful spot where sandwich combinations get creative in the best possible way. The peanut butter burger sounds wrong until you actually taste it and realize genius sometimes looks like madness.
Late-night hours make Triple XXX a favorite when hunger strikes after everything else closes. The menu offers both classic comfort and adventurous options that reward brave eaters willing to try something different.
Generations of Purdue students have made memories here, then returned years later to introduce their own kids to the same quirky sandwiches. That kind of lasting loyalty speaks volumes about food that’s genuinely special.
