Five years in, the Chicken & Beer Fest, organized by Bradley Houser of EatHere, has set forth its mission: “To celebrate the city’s food culture through the ultimate comfort combo — chicken and beer.”
After taking a gander at the list of 40+ food, beverage and dessert vendors — most of which I’d never tried — I pulled up to the festival on Oct. 18 at University Park and grabbed my VIP wristband. I was there on my own mission: To discover some local eateries, meet some great people, and give you reviews of my top 5 on my Bite Scale!
These vendors — food trucks, caterers, restaurants — are in Indy and the surrounding areas, so I’ve added links to their sites or socials so you can find them and eat local. Great job, ya’ll — can’t wait for year 6!
The best: Chef Oya’s top 5
Chili garlic chicken slider
Get it: Chef Paul’s Kitchen (food truck and event catering)
3 Bites
A super juicy, crispy chicken tender tossed in Chef Paul Dickens’ delicious, well-balanced chili garlic sauce, topped with garlic aioli and a juicy pickle slice. This was the first bite of the day and the best bite.
Chicken from Big Mike’s Barbeque falls off the bone Oct. 18, 2025, during the Chicken & Beer Fest at University Park.
Smoked whole wings
Get it: Big Mike’s Barbeque (catering)
2.7 Bites
This hefty, delicious smoked wing fell apart, a good sign that Big Mike knows his way around a smoker. Heavy smoke flavor, charred bits of skin and fat with house-made spicy sauce. Yes.
Fried chicken wings with house buffalo sauce.
Get it: T Street Eatz, 40 E. St. Clair St. (inside Central Library)
2.5 Bites
A perfectly crispy, well-seasoned fried party wing paired with the best classic buffalo sauce I’ve had in a long time.
Cookies and cream ice cream
Get it: Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream, 427 Massachusetts Ave.
2.5 Bites
Creamy, rich, almost buttery and chocked full of chocolate sandwich cookies. This is some of the best ice cream in Indy, period!
Chef Oya Woodruff tastes wing and turkey tips from Smokey Waters (left and bottom right), and the family who runs Smokey Waters poses for a picture (top right) on Oct. 18, 2025, during the Chicken & Beer Fest at University Park.
Smoked turkey tip
Get it: Smokey Waters, 5130 W. 38th St.
2.3 Bites
This tender, juicy turkey tip bite surprised me! I wish the mild barbecue sauce had a bit more body and depth, but the smoke, flavor and texture on the tip were immaculate.
The rest: The runners-up
Pork lumpia, Bay Area Bistro Filipino Cuisine
(found at Fort Ben and Fishers farmers markets)
1.7 bites
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Oya Woodruff is a Mirror Indy freelance contributor. You can reach her at chefoya@chefoya.com.
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