Burger Beast loves Indiana; I really do, and I’ve only dipped my toes in the state. Three of my road food trips have taken me through Indiana, which makes sense why it’s known as the Crossroads of America.
The only spot I didn’t list was a late-night stop at Blaze Pizza (Carmel, Indiana) because we didn’t think very much of it.
Burger Beast Loves Indiana
- Hilltop Drive-In – Cambridge City, Indiana
- Lumpy’s Cafe – Cambridge City, Indiana
- Centerville Antique Mall – Centerville, Indiana
- Jack’s Donuts – Carmel, Indiana
- Magic Wand – Churubusco, Indiana
- Brewha Coffee House – Columbia City
- The Nook – Columbia City
- Azar’s Big Boy – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Don Hall’s Tavern – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Halls Original Drive-In – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Penguin Point – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Powers Hamburgers – Fort Wayne, Indiana
- ANTIQOLOGY – Huntington, Indiana
- Fast Food Chains in Terre Haute, Indiana
- White Castle – Terre Haute, Indiana
- Westfield Diner – Westfield, Indiana
Now I need your help; which must-stop restaurant in Indiana should I visit for comfort food?
Hilltop Drive-In – Cambridge City, Indiana
We dropped Marcela off at the Centerville Antique Mall while Fred and I ventured out to find somewhere to eat.
Fred orders the double cheeseburger while he appears to be trying to make a love connection with a local. I’m not sure where he thought that was gonna go since we are leaving town sooner rather than later.
This is where I met one of my current loves, the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. This guy was massive, and the breading reminded me of the crustier-style breading used in South Florida at some Cuban restaurants.
The tenderloin sandwich has a couple of pickles, and that’s it. It did not need anything; it was perfect. The seasoned fries were great too.
All I can say when looking back at this sandwich is…I miss you, babe!
Hilltop Drive-In
705 W Main Street
Cambridge City, IN
(765) 478-5880
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hilltopcambridgecity
Monday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Lumpy’s Cafe – Cambridge City, Indiana
Lumpy’s Cafe is another great local joint that serves a phenomenal breaded tenderloin sandwich.
The menu also includes a great patty melt and coney dog. You can read about my visit in the full Lumpy’s Cafe post.
Lumpy’s Cafe
20 N Foote Street
Cambridge City, IN
(765) 478-6510
Centerville Antique Mall – Centerville, Indiana
Here’s the massive Centerville Antique Mall, where Marcela managed to spend hours while Fred and I were out eating breaded tenderloin sandwiches.
Centerville Antique Mall
200 Union Street
Centerville, IN
(765) 855-5551
Jack’s Donuts – Carmel, Indiana
Jack’s Donuts, founded in 1961, is an Indiana-based donut chain with one location in Bradenton, Florida. While Marcela was asleep, I drove over to Jack’s to grab a couple of donuts and coffee.
You must have the sour cream donut; it was phenomenal.
You can read a little more about my visit in a Jack’s Donuts post.
Jack’s Donuts
516 E Carmel Drive
Carmel, IN
(317) 993-3501
Magic Wand – Churubusco, Indiana
Who knew that a clown-themed burger restaurant existed? Not this guy! If you have an irrational fear of clowns (coulrophobia), Magic Wand is not for you. But if you love tasty burgers, then I have the spot for you.
Read about the full visit to Magic Wand Restaurant in Churusbusco.
Magic Wand
602 S Main Street
Churubusco, IN
(260) 693-3518
Brewha Coffee House – Columbia City
Before leaving Columbia City, Marcela needed a Java fix. Brew’ha came up, and we loved the gothic name. In Spanish, bruja means witch.
Read about the full visit to Brew’ha Coffee House
Brew’ha Coffee House
120 N Main Street
Columbia City, IN
(260) 248-4111
The Nook – Columbia City
I stopped in at The Nook specifically for a coney dog. But then I saw a breaded cheeseburger on the menu. A breaded cheeseburger?
Read about the full visit to The Nook in Columbia City
The Nook
223 W Van Buren Street
Columbia City, IN
(260) 248-8700
Azar’s Big Boy – Fort Wayne, Indiana
I’m a giant fan of the Big Boy brand, so when I found out the last Azar’s Boy Boy was in Fort Wayne, I knew I had to at least snap a couple of pictures. I figured I’d return another day to eat there, but that would never happen. A few months after taking this picture, Azar’s Big Boy in Fort Wayne, Indiana, permanently closed.
Don Hall’s Tavern – Fort Wayne, Indiana
The night before our visit to Hall’s Original Drive-In, we were craving some stick-to-your-guts comfort food. Don Hall’s Tavern at Coventry‘s ice-cold beers and meatloaf fit the bill perfectly.
When it comes to food, brown is the color of love. The meatloaf plate was filled with it, and to say I was excited when I saw it would be an understatement. It was exactly what I wanted, delicious.
Don Hall’s Tavern at Coventry
5745 Coventry Lane
Fort Wayne, IN
(260) 459-2893
Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island – Fort Wayne, Indiana
I was speaking to David Arbetter on the phone when he asked me to get him a t-shirt from Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island. The plan was to eat a coney, buy the shirt, and head back to the hotel. The plan went out the window when I saw a burger gracing their menu.
Read about the full visit to Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island
Fort Wayne’s Famous Coney Island
131 W Main Street
Fort Wayne, IN
(260) 424-2997
Halls Original Drive-In – Fort Wayne, Indiana
I don’t want to get your hopes up about visiting Hall’s Original Drive-In since they closed permanently in December 2021. Marcela and I loved the food, so it’s a good thing that its sister restaurant, Don Hall’s Hollywood Drive-In, carries on its legacy.
Read about the full visit to Halls Original Drive-In
Don Hall’s Hollywood Drive-In
4416 Lima Road
Fort Wayne, IN
(260) 482-1113
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken – Fort Wayne, Indiana
Lee’s uncle was Colonel Sanders, so you know that he learned from the best.
Read about the full visit to Lee’s Fried Chicken
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken
404 W State Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN
260-483-0972
Penguin Point – Fort Wayne, Indiana
Penguin Point was a regional burger joint with nine locations in Indiana. All of the restaurant locations closed abruptly in November 2023.
Read about the full visit to Penguin Point
Powers Hamburgers – Fort Wayne, Indiana
George Motz insisted to me that Power’s Hamburgers was a must stop and he was right. Everything about this spot from the building, the counter seating with stools and food, was right on point. I wish I lived across the street so I could eat here every day, but alas, I don’t.
Read about the full visit to Powers Hamburgers
Powers Hamburgers
1402 S Harrison Street
Fort Wayne, IN
(260) 422-6620
ANTIQOLOGY – Huntington, Indiana
While on road food trips, while I’m searching for old-school burger joints, Marcela is antique shopping. Then we came across ANTIQOLOGY, which is an antique shop with a soda fountain nestled in the back. JACKPOT!
Read about the full visit to ANTIQOLOGY
Fast Food Chains in Terre Haute, Indiana
While Marcela was antiquing, Fred and I were driving around Terre Haute, Indiana.
I was excited to see a Long John Silver’s since Miami no longer has one.
Long John Silver’s
3485 S US Hwy 41
Terre Haute, IN
(812) 235-7787
Rally’s was replaced in South Florida by Checkers more than twenty years ago, so it’s cool seeing that sign. It has since closed.
The one Steak ‘n Shake in Miami can be hit and miss. Since we’re in their home state, this one has to be on point.
Steak ‘n Shake
2900 S 3rd Street
Terre Haute, IN
(812) 235-0242
Then Fred mentions that he’s never eaten at a White Castle, and a change of plans happens.
White Castle – Terre Haute, Indiana
We didn’t know how much time we had; a text from Marcela could happen at any moment. We chose the drive-thru experience.
Fred has eaten the White Castle sliders available in markets nationwide before. He felt that they were just a notch above the ones he’d eaten before, which is a fair assessment.
We liked the crispy chicken breast slider, but Krystal‘s version is much better.
Read about White Castle’s History
White Castle
4340 S US Hwy 41
Terre Haute, IN
(812) 235-5100
Westfield Diner – Westfield, Indiana
Once we got back to the hotel, I only wanted to veg out and watch reality tv. Marcela and Fred were starving, so they headed out to the Westfield Diner.
They know me very well which is how I ended up with a patty melt. Westfield Diner‘s patty melt was perfectly executed
Westfield Diner
781 E Main Street
Westfield, IN
(317) 804-2007
Website – https://westfielddinerin.com
Monday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Thursday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
Sunday 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
Next time try Schoop’s Hamburgers, if you haven’t already. It’s a 1950’s style burger regional chain.
I drove right by one and thought I’d run into another one but never did. One of the biggest regrets on that road trip.