Best Pork Tenderloin Sandwich in Indiana: A Guide

The best pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana arrives on a plate where the meat hangs far over both sides of a small bun. It is a thin cutlet of pork, pounded flat, breaded and fried, and it is a Hoosier lunch tradition from the cornfield diner to the city bar. Most Hoosiers point to Nick's Kitchen in Huntington.

Most people eat it with their hands, though a fork helps with the overhanging edges. Order a side of fries and a slice of sugar cream pie for the full Indiana lunch.

What makes the best pork tenderloin sandwich in Indiana?

The best versions share a few features. The pork is pounded thin so it cooks quickly and stays tender. The breading is crisp and seasoned, often with cracker crumbs. The bun is soft and small, and the fun is that the cutlet hangs over the edge. Toppings are usually plain, such as pickles, onion, mustard and lettuce, so the pork stays the main event.

Judge a tenderloin by the crunch of the coating, the juiciness of the meat and the balance between breading and pork. A good sandwich is crisp when it arrives and still tender at the last bite.

Another test is how the sandwich handles a bite. If the breading slides off in one piece, the cutlet was not pressed into the crumbs firmly enough. If the meat is dry and stringy, it was cooked too long or pounded unevenly. The best versions hold together and stay juicy even at the thin edges, which is harder than it sounds.

Where did the Indiana breaded tenderloin begin?

Most Hoosiers trace the Indiana breaded tenderloin to Nick's Kitchen in Huntington, a diner often described as the birthplace of the sandwich. Visit Indiana has called its tenderloin the state's best, and the restaurant is a regular winner when Hoosier voters weigh in. Enjoy the history as a story the diner tells.

Huntington is a drive from Indianapolis, so make it a day trip. Plan to eat there and pair it with another stop in northern Indiana.

Where can you find an Indianapolis tenderloin?

Indianapolis has plenty of choices. Mug-n-Bun in Speedway is a local favorite, and its breaded tenderloin is massive, hanging off both sides of the bun and drawing fans for its consistency. The Aristocrat Pub has a tenderloin that many call the most famous in the city. Indianapolis Monthly once ran a feature on picking a favorite, and the magazine's reviewers did not always agree, which tells you how seriously locals take the question.

Because opinions run strong, the best plan is to try two or three and decide for yourself.

How do you eat a tenderloin sandwich?

Do not fight it. Use both hands, take a bite from the middle where the bun is, and then pick up the overhanging pork with your fingers. Many people eat the edges first, like a cutlet, and then finish the center with bun. How to eat a tenderloin sandwich is a matter of taste, but the rule is to eat it fast while the coating is crisp.

Ask for sauce on the side if you want to preserve the crunch. Order fries or onion rings, and split a plate if you are sharing. A single tenderloin is plenty for one person. A fair rule is to order the plain version first, with pickle and onion, so you can judge the pork. Save the extras, such as cheese, bacon or a fried egg, for the second sandwich.

Why does sugar cream pie belong on the table?

Sugar cream pie is the other Hoosier classic. It is a simple custard pie of sugar, cream and flour, often called Hoosier pie, and the Indiana Senate made it the official state pie in 2009. Wick's Pies in Winchester, a family business, makes a well-known version and runs a restaurant and outlet store.

A slice after a tenderloin is a classic Indiana finish. The pie is sweet and plain, and it cuts the richness of the fried meat. If a diner offers it, say yes.

Is the tenderloin only found in diners?

No. Tenderloins show up at county fairs, high school football concession stands, bars and restaurants across the state. A roadside diner in a small town may serve a better sandwich than a city restaurant, because the cooks have made it for decades. The sandwich is also popular in neighboring Iowa, where it has its own contests.

Look for handwritten signs, a short menu and a busy lunch counter. Those signs often mean a kitchen that fries to order.

What else should you eat around Indiana?

Pair this guide with the Mass Ave Indianapolis restaurants guide for dinner in the city and the cheap eats in Indianapolis guide for a budget day. For a road trip, read food worth a drive in Indiana. The US guides page lists more.

How do you settle the Indiana tenderloin argument?

Hoosiers disagree about the best tenderloin, so keep your own score. Rate each sandwich by the dish, add a note on the crunch and the bun overhang, and tag the stop Good Portions when the cutlet hangs over the edge.

Keep an Indiana list of tenderloin stops and share the invite link, so a friend driving through gets a short, honest route.

A tenderloin is a dish that begs for a score. Get the Mosey app, rate each sandwich by its crunch, its pork and its bun, and build an Indiana list that settles the argument over the best one.