I finally found Injera bread in Indianapolis. Also known as Enjera. Up till now, I only saw it at the Abyssinia Restaurant, 5352 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46254. Phone: 317-299-0608.
But now you can buy the bread without having to dine out at a restaurant. It is for sale at Addis Market Exotic Ethiopian Store, 3654 W 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46222. Phone: 317-972-7880.
Update, December 21, 2008: This store is now closed. 😦
Location: 19 E 126th St – Carmel, Indiana, 46032. Phone: 317-575-8421. SE corner of 126th Street and Range Line Road, in the very corner of the strip mall. Due to trees, you won’t be able to see their sign until you pull into the parking lot.
This place recently opened. The operators are no amateurs. The decor, service, and food all indicate they’ve done this before and know what they’re doing.
The decor was nice. A blend of what you’d expect in a nice upscale strip-mall restaurant in Carmel, but also enough that told you it was Thai or at least Asian. A frame of photos of previous Thai kings (or presidents), and one that is likely the current first family of Thailand.
Just about everything seems new. They have cloth tablecloths, folded cloth napkins in the long-stemmed crystal water glasses, stainless steel utensils sitting on a hand-folded paper napkin. Every table had plastic flowers and a yellow porcelain pepper holder in the shape of a chicken.
The dining area has 8 tables-for-two, 3 tables-for-four, and 2 tables-for-six. The latter could probably squeeze in 8 diners each.
I didn’t realize when I ordered, but the dinner came with one appetizer included. I had a steamed type of spring or vegetable roll. It came with two excellent sauces. The presentation was nice, it was not just thrown on a plate.
I had the chicken and vegetables. Excellent. The rice is served in a convered stainless steel serving dish, and the entree came on a separate china serving plate. This facilitates diners sharing and trying each others’ meals.
I could tell from the happy banter I heard from the kitchen that the chef enjoys his job, and the food shows it. It was great. All three employees seemed to be speaking Thai, so it seems genuine. My meal was equal to the best I’ve had other Thai restaurants.
The choice of spiciness here is 3 levels: mild, medium, and hot. At other Thai places they usually served one level higher than what I had ordered. But here, “mild” was indeed “mild”. So I will ask for “medium” next time.
The waitress and the hostess knew what they were doing, and were very polite and sweet, and did a great job. They know how to make the customers feel important.
There were only two other tables occupied while I was there. But there were several customers there for take-out, so the locals are already zeroing in on this place.
The hostess suggested the Fried Banana and Ice Cream for dessert. Everything else was great, so I ordered it. However, I was sort of expecting it to be mushy and overly sweet like Central/South American fried plantains. That was not the case. The fried banana was much lighter than expected, lightly crisp on the outside, and not mushy or overly sweet. So if you can afford the caloric intake, go for it.
If you’re allergic to peanuts, beware. Not everything that has peanuts says so in the menu, such as the sauces for the spring roll appetizers.
Hours: Monday – Friday 11am to 3pm, and 5pm to 9pm. Saturday and Sunday: Noon to 9pm.
Hong Kong Inn, 8079 E 38th St – Indianapolis, Indiana, 46226. Phone: 317-898-0613.
Location is on the SE corner of Franklin Road and East 38th Street. They are in the very corner of the strip mall.
Visually, the bar is completely separate from the dining area, but there does seem to be some cross-over ventilation. So those who need to avoid bars may also feel out of place even in the dining area.
The decor was grand and elegant in its day, back in the 70’s and 80’s. Walking in was like going through a time-warp. But it’s now in need of remodeling, new ceiling tiles, etc.
There were five other tables of customers in addition to me at about 6:00pm. But the dining area was much bigger, so it was still relatively empty. Throughout the time I was there, there was just about always someone waiting in front for take-out.
The menu specializes in Cantonese cuisine. I ordered my standard Moo Goo Gai Pan. The recipe was indeed Cantonese (South China, or Hong Kong) as opposed to the usual Mandarin preparation at most strip-mall Chinese restaurants and buffets.
My very experienced waitress, a lady who appeared to be in her 60’s, did a great job. She had a wonderful combination of confidence and being at ease at her job, combined with politeness and attentiveness. She’s sort of a Chinese version of the 60-something life-long professional waitress you might meet at a diner or Waffle House who instantly makes you feel at home.
My dinner plate seemed like real China, and appeared to be hand-painted. Utensils were stainless steel. I was not offered chopsticks. Ice water was served in a glass tumbler.
The food is served in those stainless steel bowls with stainless steel lids. The portions are huge. One order is enough for 2 people, or 1.5 at least. You then spoon from the steel serving bowl to your plate. Great for sharing and sampling each others’ meals.
The food is a good deal in terms of portion size, but it’s also GREAT! I haven’t had a Chinese entree this good in a long time. Whoever was in the kitchen was a true chef, who knows Chinese/Cantonese food!
I can’t recommend this place for the ambience, it’s not going to impress in that regard. But I can recommend it for the quality and quantity of food. If you’re a lover of Cantonese food, then this is worth going out of your way for.
Marmite, the UK version, is available in Indianapolis at:
KB International Market
5425 N. Keystone Ave, Suite 400
Indianapolis, IN 46220
ph: 317-202-2402
(Update: This place closed sometime in 2008 or early 2009.)
Egg Roll House, 6625 E 82nd St – Indianapolis, Indiana, 46250. Phone: 317-595-0942.
On the South side of East 82nd Street, just two blocks West of I-69, corner of Craig Street.
Very new, opened just two months ago (about July 2007). Very shiny sparkling clean. Immaculately spotlessly clean.
The chef is from Vietnam, and the Moo Goo Gai Pan entree I had reflected a Vietnamese recipe for that dish. It was reminiscent of the Chinese cuisine that I’ve had at other Vietnamese-owned restaurants, such as Sizzling Wok on the West side of town.
The menu has 3 sections: Quart-sized take-out items from $5 to $7.50, Lunch specials for $4.50 (11 am to 3 pm), and combination plates for $5.25 to $6.00. Most of the 1 Quart items come with a side of rice in addition to the quart container.
The deal on lunch specials and combo plates is if you buy 4, you get 1 free.
Clean, inexpensive, large seating area. This should prove popular with the lunch crowd in the Castleton area for both shoppers and office workers.
Maybe we can talk the owners into offering some Pho and Bun dishes.
They are closed on Sundays, which I admire.
These are my four favorite pizza joints in Indianapolis:
1. Cugino’s, 4751 N Franklin Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46226. 317-545-3663. Carry-out or Delivery. No dine in. This is absolutely the best pizza in Marion county. I’d rate it better than Bazbeaux’s, though it’s just not as trendy. I’d say the pizza is a cross between Bazbeaux, Chicago-style, and Papa John’s. The pizza crust is home-made perfect. It doesn’t have that industrial tasteless-ness of most chains. The sauce is exactly the way I like it. It’s flavorful, but doesn’t burn or bite going down. The toppings are cut thick and generous. Perfect crust + perfect sauce + thick/generous toppings = Perfect pizza. I used to order regularly from them when I lived in Lawrence, and NEVER had a bad pizza or any complaint. They’re across the street from Marsh on Franklin Rd, and south a couple of blocks.
2. Saviola’s Italian Cafe, 4709 N Shadeland Ave, Indianapolis, IN, 46226. 317-546-3020. Dine in or carry-out. Excellent mom-and-pop pizza/Italian place. I had a regular crust pizza and loved it. Very generous toppings. I like the uniqueness of the pizza recipes that you find at these mom-and-pop places. Pizza sauce and spices were very flavorful with NO acidic bite that you can get at some chain stores. And the cheese topping was noticeably good.
Exceptionally clean, including the men’s room.
They do dine-in and carry out. The menu says ask for their full-service catering menu.
Regular menu has:
Pizza, 7″-12″-14″-16″. Toppings: pepperoni, Italian sausage, Italian beef, ham, bacon, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, tomatoes, pineapple, black olives, green olives, jalapeno peppers, anchovies, extra cheese.
And: breadsticks, wings and sauce, salads, hot Italian subs (pizza sub, paninni, Italian beef, meatball, Italian Sausage, chicken Italiano), spaghetti, cheese ravioli, soft drinks, imported canolli, cheese cake, and fresh baked cookies.
Daily specials (call): lasagna, stuffed shells, fettuccini alfredo, manicotti.
Dining area consists of 6 tables-for-four and 2 tables-for-two.
I was the only one eating-in from 5:30pm to 6:15pm, but there was a steady stream of take-out customers. So the locals must have discovered them since they moved here from Carmel.
Their location isn’t the greatest for drive-by traffic. It’s on Shadeland, between 46th Street and where Shadeland crosses over I-465.
But it’s easy to get to if you know where to look. If you’re coming from the North on I-465, just take the Shadeland exit (the one between 56th St and Pendleton Pike). If you’re coming from the South on I-465, get off at Pendleton Pike, go West on PP to Shadeland, then go North on Shadeland. From the West or East, you can get to Saviola’s via 46th St, then go N on Shadeland.
It’s not a fancy/romantic/elegant place to wine and dine your sweety. But it’s a very clean homey neighborhood place with excellent food.
If you’re looking for a cozy mom-and-pop Italian place, with red and white checkered table-clothes, this place is worth going out of your way for.
3. Magoo’s California Pizza, 4919 West 38th St, Indianapolis, IN, 46254. 317-293-4411. Dine in or carry-out. This is another unique mom-and-pop ethno-pizza combination along the lines of Brownsburg’s Adriatic Pizza, but close by on West 38th street, just west of Georgetown Rd. His business model is similar to Eduardo’s “Charlie Biggs Chicken with Filipino-on-the-side,” i.e., cater to American tastes to pay the bills, but also share your own speciality on the side.
In short: Indian/Pakistani Halal-Zabihah* Pizza !
The owner, from either Pakistan or India, wants the restaurant to be known as _American_ cuisine, specifically California style pizza. Their signature pizza crust is crispy on the bottom, and soft and delicate on the top. I loved the crust on the pizza I had, it was not heavy and chewy “industrial dough” like most of the big chains.
The menu includes standard American pizza shop fare, cheese sticks, wings, potato wedges, curley fries, onion rings, garlic bread, green salad, Philly steak sub, New York steak sandwich, cheeseburgers, California style cheese pizzas with your selection of the standard toppings (but no pork products), oven baked chicken, and fried chicken pieces.
However, the attraction for us ethnic food lovers are the Pakistani items, and the Indian style pizza with ginger.
They offer chicken burgers, chappli burgers and chappli kabab, based on Pakistani recipes. Chappli is minced beef with spices.
They also have a “Chicken Tikka Pizza,” and an Indian style vegetarian pizza with _ginger_.
Their other speciality pizza is a Chicken of Beef combo, with Halal-Zabihah* meat of course. (All meat served in the restaurant is Halal-Zabihah.) The Chicken or Beef combo Pizza comes with either a Red Pizza Sauce, or a Creamy Garlic Sauce.
I had the Indian style vegetarian pizza with ginger. They ask you what level of ginger spice you want. I requested “medium”, but that was still enough for the ginger to have a noticeable after-bite, and lingering after-taste. But that’s what I like about ginger. The toppings (mushrooms, olives, green peppers, onions, tomatoes) were cut in small pieces, but were generously applied.
I’m going back to try the chicken burger and the chappli kabab.
But even as a “pizza only” place, it’s worth going there just for the pizza.
They don’t deliver at present, but do have carry out. The dining area is very large, with a large screen TV. They invite you to hold your party there, with free room rental when you order the food from them. Hours are 11am to 10pm.
The dining area was clean and orderly, but without decorations. The men’s room was cleaner than I expected.
* “Halal” means “permitted/allowed” [meat] (sort of “kosher”) to a Muslim, and “zabihah” means it was slaughtered according to Islamic regulations.
4. Harsi’s Subs & Pizza, 3337 Georgetown Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46222. 317-290-0025. Dine in, carry-out, and delivery. What Cugino’s is on the NE side, Harsi’s is on the West or NorthWest side. Harsi’s is a LEGEND in the Eagledale neighborhood. MUCH better than ANY of the chain pizza stores. THICK and GENEROUS toppings. None of that thin cut skimpy stuff. I think Harsi’s pizza rivals Bazbeaux’s, it’s just not as “trendy” or “cool”, but
the pizza is what counts! Harsi’s is also a family-owned small business.
Crud. They’re now closed. (As of 2010.)
Mix 5/Iraqi Shish Kebab. 2989 W 71st St, Suite 3 – Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268. Phone: 317-298-5355
They’re located on the South-West corner of W 71st Street and Michigan Road. They are next to the Army surplus store in the very corner of a little L-shaped strip mall. You might not see the sign from a distance.
The dining area has been expanded. There were 4 booths-for-4, and 6 tables-for-4. The store part still has middle-eastern foods and other items.
The owner is extremely friendly, eager to please, and helpful with suggestions and explanations.
My dining companion and I shared the $19.95 combo platter, and ordered an extra salad. It was a very good deal. The meats in this combo are cooked as kabobs, but are removed from the skewer before being served. The Tandoori chicken pieces were my favorite.
Spiced meat dishes change flavor when they cool off to room temperature. They taste best when eaten still warm. So if you take home left-overs, be sure to re-heat them before eating. If you linger too long over your meal, you’ll also note a slight change in taste.
My favorites food staples from this type of store (in the same business as the restaurant) are whole wheat “atta” flour for making bread and home-made noodles, basmasti rice, canned/bottled olives, extra-virgin olive oil, figs, etc. This is the only store of it’s kind I know of in NW Indy. You’d have to go over to Broad Ripple, or down to Lafayette Square area to find similar.
The outside neigbhorhood and the inside ambience certainly have room for improvement, but I think it’s worth going out of your way to impress someone with the food here. If you’re hosting visitors or business associates in the Park 100 or College Park area, a side-trip here would be a welcome change from the corporate cookie-cutter restuarants and normal business-man’s fare.
These are my favorite Vietnamese restaurants in town:
Long Thanh, Vietnamese, 5707 E 71st St, Indianapolis, IN, 46220, 842-6499.
Not much on atmosphere, but very authentic, clean, and reasonably priced.
Saigon Restaurant, Vietnamese, 3103 Lafayette Rd, Indianapolis 46222. 927-7270.
Very nice. Upscale. Very popular. Has bubble tea.
Sandra Rice and Noodles, 10625 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN, 46236. 823-8383.
New, authentic, very fresh food, upscale decor. Also has some nice “Asian fusion” dishes.
Sizzling Wok Hai, Vietnamese, 4351 Lafayette Rd, Indianapolis IN, 46254. 297-3441. Nice ambiance, good prices, authentic, reasonably priced. Great service.
it’s what’s for dinner!
This is mainly going to be my food blog. I also participate as an amateur restaurant reviewer at www.IndyEthnicFood.com, which is a non-profit web site run by a couple other guys in Indianapolis.
You can see my restaurant ratings for 2007 here, and see my 2006 restaurant ratings here.
Indianapolis food & restaurant reviews 