Bloomington's food scene is a collection ofan impressivelyrobust variety of cuisines — you'll findThai curries and Tibetan momos, elevated burgers and upscale pub plates, vegan hand pies and gluten-free cupcakes, handspun milkshakes and organic acai bowls, and so much more. If you're in B-Town on a mission to eat like a local, look no further than this list of local-favorite establishments.
Anyetsang's Little Tibet
Those who enjoy experiencing other cultures' cuisine will find great joy and delicious flavors at this local Himalayan restaurant. Located on 4th Street,Anyetsang's Little Tibetoffersa wonderful variety of dumplings, curries, soups, and noodle dishes, perfect for warming up in the midst of winter or enjoying with a Thai iced tea during the summer.Sitting in the garden next to a bubbling fountain and eating momos — Tibetan dumplings —on a balmy summer night in Bloomington is its own kind of bliss.
Bloomington Bagel Company
Bloomington Bagel Company is the place to get a bagel in B-Town. The local chain carries an impressive variety of bagel flavors and an equally-robust selection of "schmears" — their term for cream cheese spreads. It doesn't stop there, though. BBC also offers a menu of mouthwateringly-tasty bagel sandwiches for every occasion. Order the Hangover to cure yourself from a late night out, the Hot Mess for a particularly ravenous morning, or the Lotsa Lox for a taste of the Scandinavian sea. Bonus: BBC serves up convenience as well, with four locations in Bloomington.
BuffaLouie's
BuffaLouie's is the localgo-to for wings, especially on game days. The eclectic jointhas been named one of the best wing destinationsin the country by USA Today, and they definitely live up to the accolade. Crispy wings (bone-in, boneless, and vegetarian) anda huge variety of sauces &sides give you the freedom to customize every order. Before you leave, be sure to check out their incredible collection of IU sports memorabilia lining every inch of the restaurant's walls.
The Chocolate Moose
The iconic Chocolate Moose shack may be gone, but this cold treats hot spot is still popular as ever. The Chocolate Moose has 20+ homemade ice cream flavors (some of thembeing vegan), plus soft serve, coffee, slushies, Dole Whip, cookies, kombucha, and more. They're even offering a variety of hot sandwiches & burgers these days! It's a one-stop-shop for all things sweet+ in Bloomington. Bonus: the side of their building features a cute mural — the perfect backdrop for your Instagram photos.
Crazy Horse
A local-favorite watering hole andplace to watch IU sporting events, Crazy Horse is one of Bloomington's most beloved taverns. It's a particularly fond location for university students and alumni, due to the daily drink specials for the former and the nostalgia of many-a-night spent at the tavern in college for the latter. Their menu is comprised predominantly of classic American pub food, but some dishes feature an unexpected twist, such as Scott's Pulled Pork Nachos. Crazy Horse's large patio is also known as one of the best places in Bloomington to people watch and kick back for a few hours with friends.
The Elm
The Elm is one ofBloomington's newest culinary sensations. Selectedoneof USA Today's Best Restaurants in the U.S. in2023, The Elm's ingredients are sourced locally and sustainably so you may see the same ingredient used in several dishes with a different twist.The menu may changeseveral times a season as new items are available. Located in the Elm Heightsneighborhood on the near south side, The Elm prides itself on making every meal an experience, while providing exceptional hospitality. Small plates to share will start you on your delicious journey, and don't forget to save room for their decadent desserts, better yet start there.
Hinkle's Hamburgers
Hinkle's Hamburgersis Bloomington's no fuss, no frills burger joint. Serving the community since 1930, Hinkle's is that hole-in-the-wall establishment you want to find in every town you visit. Their burger selection is extremely simple: theHinkle Burger, theHinkle Burger with Cheese, the Double Hinkle, and the Double Hinkle with Cheese.King ofcheap lunches.Be sure to save room for a hand-dipped milkshake for the perfect cherry-on-top ofyour nostalgic diner meal.
Janko's Little Zagreb
Photo byJanko's Little Zagreb
Janko's Little Zagrebis a local-favorite steakhouse, offering daily hand-cut selections grilled to perfection in a casual, IU-themed atmosphere. Aside from their incredible steaks, Janko's is also known for their famous Meatballs Bucharestand robust wine selection. It's always a good idea to make a reservation when you want to dine at the Little Zagreb — the steakhouse is usually booked on the weekends and special occasions, especially when parents of IU students are in town.
Lennie's
Photo by Lennie's
Lennie's isBloomington's modern-day version of Cheers — cozy, welcoming, and full of conversation & laughter. Lennie's started out with gourmet pizzas, but the menu has grown to also include gigantic salads, even bigger strombolis, and delicious pasta plates. Lennie's sources local produce &animal products, uses an extensive composting &recycling program, and carries local Bloomington Brewing Company beers, making it the perfect place to dine if you want to support Bloomington down to the last penny.
Mother Bear's Pizza
Mother Bear's Pizzais a food experience that all visitors should check off theirB-Town bucket list. Over the years, they'vebeen named "Best Pizza in Bloomington" by the Indiana Daily Student, "one of America's top nine pizzas" by People Magazine, "Best Pizza in Indiana" by USA Today, and haveearned Final Four status at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas twice. Their unique, delicious pies are made withtoppings and cheese all the way to the edge of the pizza for maximum flavor in every bite. Order one of their signature pies or create your own— everything that comes out of this B-Town mainstay's pizza oven is pure perfection.
Nick's English Hut
Nick's English Hut, simply put,is a Bloomington and Indiana University icon. Every square-inch of the restaurant's interior isadorned withhistoric IU memorabilia, and the food &drinksare everything you want out of a classic pub meal. For the complete experience (for those of-age), be sure toplaya game of Sink the Biz (a drinking game in which an empty, weighted glass — the Biz —is placed in the middle of a metal bucket full of beer, and players must take turns pouring beer from their own glasses into the floating cup. The player who sinks the Biz must recover the glass and drink its contents.) and ordera bucket ofBiz Fries to share.
Osteria Rago
Located in the alley betweenVillage DeliandTracks,Osteria Ragois one of Bloomington's best hidden gemsand mostdelicious Italian restaurants.The restaurant'sowners wanted to mimic the best eateries in Italy, often found off-the-beaten-path in narrow alleys & ancient passageways — which is a large part of the restaurant'scharm. Osteria'smenu includes options for every budget and every Italian craving: sandwiches, wood-fired pizzas, house-made pasta, traditional entrees, and incredible Italian desserts — all of which are positively molto bene. And we'd be remiss not to mention this fun fact: Nick's is Osteria Rago's sister restaurant!
Runcible Spoon
Photo by@katerudl on Instagram
Seated near the very top of the list of local-favorite restaurants is the charmingly quirky Runcible Spoon.The Spoon's eclectic, Bohemian-style decor sets the restaurant apart from others in town, and theirincredible menu of affordable fare is what keeps people coming back. Breakfast is where The Spoontruly shines, so much so that they serve it all day. You can enjoy classic egg-toast-protein combos, as well as pancakes & French toast, or you can branch out to try one of their signature dishes, such as the Smoked Salmon & Croissant Bennie or the Corned Beef Hash. Coffee fanatics should also be sure to try a cup of Runcible's brew of the day, as the restaurant began as Bloomington's first coffee roastery in 1976.
Siam House
Serving incredible Thai fare on 4th Street, Siam House is loved by locals for their flavorful food and whimsical patio. Their authentic dishes come piled high enough for leftovers or to split between two people, and everything on themenu is priced very affordably considering the amount of food you get with any dish. Siam House's Pad Thai and Orange Chicken are practically famous around these parts, and there's no better way to enjoy them than on their shady patio on a mild spring, summer, or fall day.
Taste of India
When it comes to authentic Indian cuisine, Taste of India is a stand-out favorite among Bloomingtonians. Family-owned and operated on 4th Street(have you caught on to the international restaurant theme of this iconic Bloomington street?), Taste of India's menu features cuisine from both the northern &southern regions of India and isthe only Indian restaurant in town to offer Southern Indian fare. The restaurant's robust menu features vegetarian dishes and those of a wide variety of proteins, so there's something for everyone to savor. Their patio is also noted as one of the best in town, so be sure to snag a seat outdoors when the weather allows it.
Trojan Horse
Trojan Horse has been a cornerstone of Bloomington since 1978 — a quite literal statement, as the tavern sits on the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Walnut Street. Their gyros and falafel are some of the best in town, and both locals & visitors love peering in the window of their public-view kitchen to seelamb and beef being carved on the spit. Designed to mimic the feel of traditional Greek sandwich shops in Chicago,Trojan Horse does so while maintainingBloomington's eclectic downtown atmosphere. Stop in for all your Greek &American favorites, and don't skip their house-made baklava —order it a la mode with theirbaklava ice cream, the only of it's kind in B-Town!
Upland Brewing Co.
Upland Brewing Co.has been alocal-favorite since 1998 for many reasons: their quirky-cool ambiance,elevated &unique take on several classic dishes, and extremely robustline of Uplandbrews are just a few. Their menu changes on a seasonal basis, so there's always something new and exciting to try, but you can also expect a few favorites to stick around throughout the year. In addition to excellent food and beer, the brewpuboffers a large,dog-and-family-friendlypatio, which is one of the very best spots to soak up the sun and catch up with friends duringthe warmer months. It just doesn't get much more Bloomington than an Upland Dragonfly IPA with a Bad Elmer's Fav Burger and a side of Brewery Fries. Was that your stomach growling or ours?
Uptown Cafe
Another of Bloomington's most beloved restaurants,Uptown Cafeis known for their upscale New Orleans-style cuisine and warm, soulful atmosphere. Specializing in elevated renditions of Cajun-Creole classics, Uptown is a bit of Louisiana right here in B-Town. Offering a sizeable menu of breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner plates, there's a savory dish waiting to be devoured by you at every stage of the day — and none of them disappoint when it comes to bold, dynamicflavors. Be sure to pair one of their signature co*cktails with your meal for the full Uptown experience — it's one that'll keep you coming back to townfor more.
Village Deli
Right up there with Runcible Spoon in terms of beloved breakfasts joints is Village Deli. So good that the patio is often jam-packed and the sidewalk is full of breakfast-goers waiting to be seated, dining at the Kirkwood deli is pretty much a bucket list experience.Their plate-sized buttermilk pancakes and Paxton's Potatoes are two of their most-talked-about dishes, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. If you're visiting during fall, you'd be remiss not to order their famous plate-sized pumpkin pancakes, made with local Dillman Farm Pumpkin Butter. To make the experience as magical as possible, dine on the patio amidst the fall leaves and roaming football fans on a mild Saturday morning.
Looking for more local favorites? Check out these blogs:
- Bloomington's Best Brunch Spots
- Bloomington's Most Iconic Restaurants
- Drink Like a Local in Bloomington
