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The first thing I searched for when I moved to Indianapolis for a summer internship at Mirror Indy was “Vietnamese food near me.” I was longing for the plethora of Vietnamese food I had back home in California. After two months of searching, I found the places that remind me of the cuisine I used to get with my family every weekend.

Hidden in strip malls and inconspicuous business centers, there are some true Vietnamese gems to be enjoyed. From phở to bánh mì, Hoosiers can get a taste of Vietnam right in the heart of Indiana.

Best for budget-conscious friends

Egg Roll #1 is a Chinese-Vietnamese spot in Beech Grove that is best for budget-conscious eaters. I was shocked to find that the price of their meals are cheaper, and sometimes better, than back home.

Its Vietnamese menu is small but mighty, with phở, bún, hủ tiếu and chả giò. The chả giò, an eggroll, has a thin wrapper with a satisfying crunch, providing a great contrast if you order the Bún Thịt Xào Chả Giò, a vermicelli meat dish with eggrolls.

Best phở

Known for its steaming bowls of phở, King Wok, in the westside’s International Marketplace neighborhood, provides a cozy environment for Vietnamese food lovers. The signature dish, Phở Dặc Biệt, is loaded with meatballs, flank and slices of beef.

If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry. King Wok has plenty of variations of signature Vietnamese meals including a vegetarian phở and a vegetarian cơm tấm, a rice dish.

Best bánh mì

As the name suggests, Hanna’s Bánh Mì Bakery and Cafe in Castleton, is most known for its delicious Vietnamese sandwiches. The most popular dish is the Bánh Mì Thịt Heo Quay, a crispy pork belly sandwich with cilantro and pickled carrots. But, their Bánh Mì Dặc Biệt reminds me most of the sandwiches my parents used to get me for lunch.

Its smooth and creamy paté pairs well with the BBQ pork and ham, with the pickled carrots providing a satisfying sweetness to the sandwich.

Best for fine dining

If you’re looking for fine dining, Eating Fresh in Broad Ripple is the place to go. Chef Ricky Phan prioritizes fresh ingredients while still offering authentic Vietnamese dishes. His specialty is the phở, which takes over 40 hours to prepare the broth.

His Bánh Mì Dặc Biệt blends traditional Vietnamese cold cuts and the chef’s choice of house-made meat. For drinks, the traditional Vietnamese tea Trà Nóng has a smooth sweetness, which pairs well in-between savory bites of food. Eating Fresh is also one of the only places in Indy that serves Bánh Cam, a fried sesame ball treat that my parents would bring home to me.

Best for people who can’t decide

Pho Real in Carmel is a great place to bring a group of friends who can’t decide what to eat. Offering Vietnamese, Laos and Thai dishes, Pho Real has options for the most indecisive groups. Their signature is the the Phở #2, a meatball-packed bowl of noodle and soup. The broth is less sweet than most places and leans more on the savory side.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Claire Nguyen is a Dow Jones Fund digital media intern at Mirror Indy. Contact Mirror Indy at hello@mirrorindy.org.

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Where to find Vietnamese food in Indy

by Claire Nguyen, Mirror Indy
July 31, 2025

<h1>Where to find Vietnamese food in Indy</h1> <p class="byline">by Claire Nguyen, Mirror Indy <br />July 31, 2025</p> <p>The first thing I searched for when I moved to Indianapolis for a summer internship at Mirror Indy was “Vietnamese food near me.” I was longing for the plethora of Vietnamese food I had back home in California. After two months of searching, I found the places that remind me of the cuisine I used to get with my family every weekend.</p> <p>Hidden in strip malls and inconspicuous business centers, there are some true Vietnamese gems to be enjoyed. From phở to bánh mì, Hoosiers can get a taste of Vietnam right in the heart of Indiana.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-budget-conscious-friends">Best for budget-conscious friends</h2> <p><a href="https://www.eggroll1.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Egg Roll #1</strong></a> is a Chinese-Vietnamese spot in Beech Grove that is best for budget-conscious eaters. I was shocked to find that the price of their meals are cheaper, and sometimes better, than back home.</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide" style="--aspect-ratio:calc(1024 / 682)"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57388" data-id="57388" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EGG-ROLL-1_CN031-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Bún Thịt Xào Chả Giò is served with peanuts, pickled carrots, grilled onions and an egg roll in addition to a choice of meat.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57387" data-id="57387" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EGG-ROLL-1_CN023-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Three chả giò, or eggrolls, are served with nước mắm. The chả giò had a crunchy wrapper with meat filling.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57389" data-id="57389" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EGG-ROLL-1_CN034-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">The savoriness from the marinated pork and the saltiness from the nước mắm pair well together with the rice noodles in Bún Thịt Xào Chả Giò.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57386" data-id="57386" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EGG-ROLL-1_CN004-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Bún Thịt Xào Chả Giò with pork comes in a large bowl with ample nước mắm, a salty fish sauce.</figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>Its Vietnamese menu is small but mighty, with phở, bún, hủ tiếu and chả giò. The chả giò, an eggroll, has a thin wrapper with a satisfying crunch, providing a great contrast if you order the Bún Thịt Xào Chả Giò, a vermicelli meat dish with eggrolls.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-phở">Best phở</h2> <p>Known for its steaming bowls of phở, <a href="https://www.kingwokindy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>King Wok</strong></a>, in the westside’s International Marketplace neighborhood, provides a cozy environment for Vietnamese food lovers. The signature dish, Phở Dặc Biệt, is loaded with meatballs, flank and slices of beef.</p> <p>If you’re vegetarian, don’t worry. King Wok has plenty of variations of signature Vietnamese meals including a vegetarian phở and a vegetarian cơm tấm, a rice dish.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-banh-mi">Best bánh mì</h2> <p>As the name suggests, <a href="https://hannasbanhmi.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Hanna’s Bánh Mì Bakery and Cafe</strong></a> in Castleton, is most known for its delicious Vietnamese sandwiches. The most popular dish is the Bánh Mì Thịt Heo Quay, a crispy pork belly sandwich with cilantro and pickled carrots. But, their Bánh Mì Dặc Biệt reminds me most of the sandwiches my parents used to get me for lunch.</p> <p>Its smooth and creamy paté pairs well with the BBQ pork and ham, with the pickled carrots providing a satisfying sweetness to the sandwich.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-fine-dining">Best for fine dining</h2> <p>If you’re looking for fine dining, <a href="https://eating-fresh.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Eating Fresh</strong></a> in Broad Ripple is the place to go. Chef Ricky Phan prioritizes fresh ingredients while still offering authentic Vietnamese dishes. His specialty is the phở, which takes over 40 hours to prepare the broth.</p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter" data-effect="slide" style="--aspect-ratio:calc(682 / 1024)"> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper"> <ul class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper"> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57391" data-id="57391" data-aspect-ratio="682 / 1024" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EATING-FRESH-SELECTS_CN002-682x1024.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Eating Fresh’s Bánh Mì Đặc Biệt is served with traditional cold cuts of meat and the chef’s choice of house-cooked meat.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57392" data-id="57392" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EATING-FRESH-SELECTS_CN003-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Phở is topped with bean sprouts, sriracha and hoisin sauce. The meatballs are made fresh in house.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57393" data-id="57393" data-aspect-ratio="682 / 1024" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EATING-FRESH-SELECTS_CN004-682x1024.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Bánh Cam with sweet red bean filling is served with the Dim Sum menu, providing a Vietnamese spin to a traditionally Chinese menu.</figcaption></figure> </li> <li class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide"> <figure><img alt="" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-57390" data-id="57390" data-aspect-ratio="1024 / 682" src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/EATING-FRESH-SELECTS_CN001-1024x682.jpg" /><figcaption class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption">Eating Fresh’s Phở Đặc Biệt is served with bean sprouts and Vietnamese mint. </figcaption></figure> </li> </ul> <p><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white" role="button"></a><a aria-label="Pause Slideshow" class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause" role="button"></a></p> <div class="wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white"></div> </div> </div> <p>His Bánh Mì Dặc Biệt blends traditional Vietnamese cold cuts and the chef’s choice of house-made meat. For drinks, the traditional Vietnamese tea Trà Nóng has a smooth sweetness, which pairs well in-between savory bites of food. Eating Fresh is also one of the only places in Indy that serves Bánh Cam, a fried sesame ball treat that my parents would bring home to me.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-for-people-who-can-t-decide">Best for people who can’t decide</h2> <p><a href="https://phorealindy.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Pho Real</strong></a> in Carmel is a great place to bring a group of friends who can’t decide what to eat. Offering Vietnamese, Laos and Thai dishes, Pho Real has options for the most indecisive groups. Their signature is the the Phở #2, a meatball-packed bowl of noodle and soup. The broth is less sweet than most places and leans more on the savory side.</p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/where-to-find-vietnamese-food-in-indy/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;&lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=58144&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/where-to-find-vietnamese-food-in-indy/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;</p> Copy to Clipboard

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