8 places to go for a great bowl of chili in Indianapolis
By: Liz Biro Source: http://www.indystar.com
New England clam chowder? We’re obligated at this point in the Colts-Patriots rivalry to say one big “meh.” What we want to know during football season is “Where’s the beef ?” I’m talking chili, big rich, spicy bowlfuls and loaded with meat. I sampled a ton of chili in and around Indianapolis this week. These were my favorites. Let me know if I missed one you love. And, oh, by the way, one is vegetarian and one is made with turkey.
Tie Dye Grill
Meat lovers rejoice. This is chili. All meat, all chili pepper flavor and oh so rich. You’ll want the pickled jalapenos between bites. The ground meat is tender. Get a couple containers to go and use it to make a spicy lasagna or a topping for mac and cheese. $5 a bowl.
1311 Shadeland Ave., (317) 353-9393, www.thetiedyegrill.com
John's Famous Stew
You know how the ground beef in chili can taste like a whole bunch of washed-out nothing? Not at John’s. Walking up to the front door feels like entering the Chili Secret Service. The plain-box entryway opens into a wide, blast-from-the-past neighborhood bar and restaurant where the waitress still calls you “sweetheart.” Chili chunky with tomato, onion, a few red beans, crisp-tender green bell pepper and big ground meat pieces full of beef flavor stand in tawny broth that’s not too salty, allowing the chili pepper flavor to burst. $4.95 a bowl.
1146 Kentucky Ave., (317) 636-6212, www.indysfamousstew.com
The Mousetrap
After sampling five bowls of chili in one day, I was breaking down by the time I arrived at The Mousetrap. The kitchen’s chili reignited by taste buds. The fiery blend itself was thick with lots of tender ground beef and not too many meltingly tender red beans. The toppings sealed this chili’s fate as my favorite in Indianapolis. Crunchy bacon added flavor and a striking textural contrast. Finely diced jalapeños and Bermuda onion plus a little cheddar and a sour cream dollop added extra to each bite. $5.50 a bowl.
5565 N Keystone Ave., (317) 255-3189, www.themousetrapbar.com
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