It’s Soup Season: Here’s Where to Find the Best Soup in Indianapolis
The weather outside is frightful, but I feel like I can’t even complain because until two weeks ago, it was unseasonably warm.
The bad: It’s cold.
The good: When it’s cold, it’s soup time.
The extra good: There is no shortage of restaurants, cafes, and markets selling great soup in Indy. Here’s where to find them.
Beef Pho: Chao Vietnamese Street Food
Starting out strong with one of my favorite ways to consume broth and noodles: pho. Chao is tucked away in a strip mall on the northeast side — technically in Fishers, but right off of 96th Street and I-69. They have a good banh mi, but we’re here for pho.
Beef pho from Chao Vietnamese Street Food
I always order the beef (eye round) pho, but they have several options, including chicken pho, beef ball pho, vegetarian pho, and a mixed pho. When they set down your steaming bowl of pho, they also provide you with a plate of bean sprouts, jalapeños, and lime to garnish your pho exactly the way you like it. Don’t miss their Chao-racha hot sauce, their own take on Sriracha.
7854 E 96th St, Fishers, IN 46037
Soup of the Day: Subito
If you work in downtown Indianapolis, chances are you’ve had Subito. It’s a favorite of office workers, construction workers, blue collar workers, and basically everyone who spends their lunch hour downtown — and rightfully so. Their speedy service and delicious soups and sandwiches make them a great mid-day stop.
Their soup changes daily, but they typically have two or three options to choose from, ranging from classic Italian wedding soup to gumbo to clam chowder and beyond. Check their menu online to see what their options are. They typically post the entire month’s menu at once so you can plan your visit around their soup schedule. Note: They’re only open for lunch, and only during the week.
34 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Chicken Pho: Sandra Rice & Noodles
Head to Sandra Rice & Noodles for pho when you don’t want to drive all the way to Fishers. Sandra Rice & Noodles is located in the Lawrence/Fort Ben area, also in a strip mall. While they don’t have as many pho options, they cover the basics with beef and chicken phos. They also have a dry pho, which is served with noodles and broth separate.
10625 Pendleton Pike, Indianapolis, IN 46236
Parmesan Soup: Petite Chou
When you think of Petite Chou and soup, you think of their onion soup, right? As you should — it’s excellent, topped with plenty of melty cheese and the requisite crouton. But have you tried the parmesan soup?
Parmesan and onion soups at Petite Chou
The parmesan soup fell into the “that sounds good, maybe next time” category for me for years, and now I’m left wondering why I went so long without it. It’s ultra creamy and luxurious without being too much (unless you hate cheese, in which case, what are you even doing here). The herb-y oil and tiny crunch croutons on top put it over the top. It’s hard to imagine a better thing to eat when it’s cold and dreary out. Bon appétit!
823 E Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
Shoyu Ramen: Shoyu Shop
If you’re new to the world of ramen, shoyu ramen is one of the three main styles of ramen in Japan. It’s soy sauce-based, but don’t let that scare you away — it’s perfectly balanced, and yes, a little salty. The aptly-named Shoyu Shop serves shoyu, shio, and tonkatsu ramen, so you take your pick, but my favorite is the shoyu.
Shoyu ramen from Shoyu Shop at Strange Bird
Chewy handmade noodles, chicken, pork belly, plenty of green onion, and a soft-boiled, soy-cured egg make this the perfect soul-warming dish. The char on the pork belly is the stuff of dreams, and it brings a flavor to the meat that, to me, is difficult to find outside of Japan.
128 S Audubon Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Even More Pho: Egg Roll #1
Ok, I know – you get it. Pho is good. But there are a great many places to get a great bowl of pho in Indy, and I can’t leave this southside spot off the list. Their lunch special is off-the-charts good (in flavor and in price), and yes, pho is included.
The menu is extensive, spanning both Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. They’re always busy, so you know the food is fresh. This is a great Friday night takeout joint.
4540 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Tomato & Crab Bisque: Sangiovese
I asked my community — that’s you — for your favorite soups around town, and this one caught my attention. Sangiovese Ristorante is slinging roasted tomato bisque topped with fresh basil and blue fin lump crab. Excuse me? Tomato bisque WITH CRAB? Yes. Please. I will be indulging this winter.
2727 E 86th St #110, Indianapolis, IN 46240
Thai Noodle Soup: Bodhi
“Bodhi” means enlightenment, which is fitting because you’ll feel enlightened after you try their Thai noodle soup, or Guay Tiew Tom Yum. Porky, spicy, and a little bit sour from lime: stopping at Bodhi is a great way to warm up after a brisk winter walk on the Cultural Trail. A bonus of eating at Bodhi? I find their portions to be generous, so there’s a good chance you’ll have leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch.
922 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Rotating Soups: Circle City Soups
Circle City Soups was a lunchtime staple for me at their former City Market stall, but it’s been a few years since they closed shop there. From time to time, though, they pop up with their sister shop, Circle City Sweets, to sell their soup by the quart. My favorite soup of theirs is the My Dad's Sweet Corn chowder, but they also offer incredible flavors like Brown Butter Mushroom Gorgonzola. Follow Circle City Sweets on Facebook for soup updates (soupdates?) from their spot at The Amp Food Hall.
