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Fat Dan's

4.2 (574 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Fat Dan's Photos

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FAT DAN'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Fat Dan's

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Reviews With Photos

Dirty Tots
Amy L.

On a quest to find a good local Italian beef, and although the original Mr. Beef in Chicago remains my GOAT (thanks, The Bear!), Fat Dan's puts up a very respectable sandwich. A generous size, and I appreciated that it was wrapped in foil and served with a plastic knife and fork. I asked for mine "dipped," and felt like it could have been MORE dipped. I really like the bread sopping wet with jus, this was a little dry. Still, tasty! Be forewarned, when they say spicy giardineira, they are NOT kidding. Whew. My kiddo and I each got a sandwich (served with potato chips), which turned out to be way more food than we needed on top of sharing an order of dirty tots (with pulled pork, cheese sauce, hot sauce and scallions). We could have easily gotten away with splitting one beef, and took home enough food for at least another whole meal. The patio was lovely on a warm, fall evening, and our server was great.

Reuben
Linda F.

I highly recommend the beef sandwich. We also ordered the Reuben which was very good. Fresh cut fries were delicious. There is a parking lot behind the building. Lots of pot holes so watch out for that. This location is near Butler University. The service was quick and friendly. I ordered my beef sandwich dry with the gravy on the side and got the usual "look" because that's not how to order it. But I don't like soggy bread. The restaurant has dive bar vibes. It was a nice place for a quick lunch after attending the Nutcracker Ballet at Clowes.

Inside (Front Entrance)
CJ D.

In loving memory of Troy Reeder and William Walls, the greatest Dan's advocates of their time. You want a landing spot, let it be this. It's proven sufficient time and again. Let proof be the "going for two" order from my last visitation. First burger was so good I had to get another. I'll revisit this incident momentarily. Look at the chalkboard for display, yet as always, order an Old Style. Look over the menu and pick something different, it's all worth a goer at least once. Each loyal tenant will find a favorite, but keeps a host of viable options for rainy days and off nights. If you need a starting block, my friends swear by the "crunchy nugs" with honey mustard. What prompted this review, after many neglected opportunities to write, was my showstopper. She'd never sat before me, but has since left an impression. The Blackened Wells St. Fat Burger. I'm never afraid of a flavor-induced exclamation, yet this took a step further. Proudly sighing, some may even say moaning, next to three grown men. That's the quality of this burger. Laugh at me, sure, but don't count me a fool! This will remain my FDD staple for some time to come. My last parting word of wisdom is to get a large fry for the table. The grubby hands climbing this pile of potato is enough to get any table talking. Loosen ya right up for what's to come! Much love to Dan and his disciples, y'all rock.

Old Milwaukee on draft. When in Chicago or a Chicago themed deli go for it
Randall S.

Fat Dan's has been my go to for comfort food. Went yesterday for a low key Valentine's Day lunch and had the ribs. They have always been excellent. I found them to be undercooked. Flavor was OK but not fall off the bone. They were undercooked a bit "tough" and I should have complained but did not so that's on me. Next time I will order the half slab to make sure their quality is back. Just a bit disappointed

Ashli A.

I love Fat Dans and have been coming here for years now. No matter what you get it's always fresh and delicious. Can't beat a cheeseburger and Old Style with a side of fries. Great place to watch the game whether Butler, Bears, etc.

Fat Dan's Slow Smoked Wings
Katie E.

If you're missing Chicago, this place has you covered with plenty of hometown eats and beers. Not gonna lie--the fryer oil has seen fresher days, but the wings? Worth every trip back. They're the real MVP here.

Hot Pastrami & Corned Beef
Christopher F.

We stopped in for a quick lunch today after an event out of town. Service was very speedy and our food was great. My friend had Italian beef and I had the pastrami sandwich. I love the atmosphere of the bar and how it relates back to Chicago and the Chicago Cubs. They had some good drink specials, but we were unable to partake because of work. Will certainly come back again soon.

Ghost burger
Lizz M.

The burgers are always amazing! This is my favorite spot to this day! The beers are ok, I'm here for the burgers and either tots or fries. Very so often I get chicken wings and the dry rub is the best! The bartenders are always busy but they are always on top of it! I usually sit at the bar so I can get a good view of the tv during games. On game nights is always packed but never rowdy. It's a great place to bring the family. One thing, if you're sensitive to smells, they do have an open kitchen so you'll leave smelling like it.

Wells St. Fat Burger
Paige T.

Food: The burger was by far my favorite! Ribs were moist. Wings were good smoked but I think I just prefer mine fried. Beer cheese fries were good. They're creamy and very filling. They have no ranch in the facility so don't ask. lol. It's a running joke at the establishment. Service: Very good. Attentive but not overwhelming. Ambiance: Pretty good parking availability. Outdoor seating available. Tables and high bar seats available. I like how this location can open up the "garage doors" so it's open air. Makes for a nice ambiance on a really good summer day.

Italian Sausage, Smoked Wings, and fries.
Abigail W.

We used to live in Bloomington, so we are very familiar with Fat Dans. And this location is no different - *chefs kiss*! While we always mix up the entree, my husband and I order ONE order of the most perfect fries, to share (it's a giant order). The smoked wings are some of the best I've ever had and my husband enjoyed his Italian Sausage. You really can't go wrong here, and it's so affordable!

Dirty Tots, Fat Dan's Fat Burger, Wells St. Fat Burger
Aidan K.

Fat Dan's Deli is a great place to get some heavy, fried, good for the soul, bad for the heart kind of meal. We got the loaded tater tots which were incredible, and burgers which were also fantastic. This food will fill you up quick but every bite is delicious. The service here was amazing, as our server did a great job of being attentive and friendly without hovering. We sat out on the patio area which is on College Ave. which would occasionally get loud due to passing cars but was really nice for people watching and enjoying Broad Ripple.

Fat Dan's Slow Smoked Wings

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3 years ago

Great wings! Great service! Good ambiance ! Need to try the other items but the wings are it!

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4 years ago

Great wings and the Chicago dog taste like home. Next time in Indy I will definitely go back.

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8 years ago

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4 years ago

Always liked this place. Never had a bad meal here. Some of the best wings in Naptown. I would recommend this spot no question.

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Page 4 of 15

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Big Hoffas

Big Hoffas

4.3(918 reviews)
13.3 mi
•$$

This is the best barbecue in Central Indiana. The ribs, brisket, and pulled pork are outstanding…read more Make sure you try the habanero cole slaw. For lunch, I often get the teriyaki bowl.

My husband and I have repeatedly been told how good the food is at Big Hoffas, so it's been on our…read morelist to visit for a loooong time. That is why it pains me to be giving this 3-star review. It's not that anything was bad, but after all the hype, we just weren't impressed. Let me start off by saying that the space is very cool. I loved the dark, swamp-themed mural painted on the wall, the banging playlist and the inclusion of a bar in the back as well as the ice cream counter. The staff were jovial, accommodating and extremely pleasant to interact with. My husband and I both ordered 1/2 slab rib combos. My 1/2 was much larger/meatier than his, so we swapped. The combo comes with two sides. We both ordered the baked beans, he had the coleslaw, and I had the macaroni and cheese. Categorically, everything was ok...good even, but not great or amazing, which were the words that we'd heard from others. Perhaps we didn't order the right items. The ribs were beautiful with the perfect smoke ring. They were seasoned well, but they were not as tender as I would've liked. I like my ribs to be fall-off-the-bone tender, but I know that isn't necessarily the industry standard. The sauce options were mild and hot, but I could barely distinguish the difference between the two. Hot is not spicy. The macaroni and cheese could've used some salt and pepper, but the baked beans were spot-on. The beans were on the sweet side, which is just how I like them. The platter is also served with soft, buttery, rolls with garlic.

Photos
Big Hoffas - This was one of the flickering lights

This was one of the flickering lights

Big Hoffas - The 1834 sandwich

The 1834 sandwich

Big Hoffas - Outside view of the building

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Outside view of the building

Trax BBQ

Trax BBQ

4.5(327 reviews)
12.1 mi
•$$

Four of us had lunch here yesterday. Fantastic is all we can say! Brisket was awesome and the Mac…read more& Cheese is the BEST we have ever had. Will be back...

I hate writing this because about a year ago Trax BBQ had some of the best brisket around. Back…read morethen the brisket was moist, flavorful, and you could actually request fatty or lean cuts. The fatty brisket especially was incredible. Tender, juicy, packed with flavor, and honestly didn't even need sauce. This recent visit felt like a completely different restaurant. Apparently you can't request fatty or lean anymore, and the brisket I received was so dry it literally crumbled apart like beef sawdust. There was basically zero fat left on it, which also meant very little flavor. For the first time ever, the sauce wasn't optional... it was rescue equipment. The ribs were okay, but even they weren't what they used to be. They used to have that perfect fall-off-the-bone texture, and now they were just kind of there. Not terrible, just disappointing compared to how good this place once was. I'm not trying to trash Trax because I know how great they can be. That's actually what makes this frustrating. It feels like the brisket went from "Texas smokehouse masterpiece" to "beef jerky with a college degree."

Photos
Trax BBQ - Seating area. Scarlet Lane towards the back.

Seating area. Scarlet Lane towards the back.

Trax BBQ - Chicken wings, dark meat chicken, lean brisket, broccoli salad, pickles, coleslaw, yummy bread, and green beans

Chicken wings, dark meat chicken, lean brisket, broccoli salad, pickles, coleslaw, yummy bread, and green beans

Trax BBQ - Trac BBQ

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Trac BBQ

Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Chopped Chicken Sandwich with Kickin' Slaw at Smokin' Barrel BBQ

Smokin' Barrel BBQ

4.6(76 reviews)
12.1 mi

This was definitely a different setup compared to most. This small establishment is run out of the…read moreSertoma Community Center on the southeast side of the Indy Metro area. It does not look as though you are entering a restaurant when you approach, but you are. I think they are configured more for takeout, but they have access to the large event area with cafeteria-style seating. So there is plenty of room to eat in if you'd prefer (which we did). The hours seem a little limited so be sure to check before you go. The menu, including the specials, is on a white board as you walk in. The selection is streamlined, BBQ-dominated and carnivore-oriented (other than the sides). The system is a walk-up and order from the kitchen doorway. My wife chose the Pulled Pork Sandwich with Baked Beans while I opted for the Chopped Chicken Sandwich with Kickin Coleslaw. The food was very good. The proprietors were very friendly and engaging, and that was a plus. The prices were quite reasonable. With drinks and tip, it was about $14 each. My wife actually took enough away from hers for another meal, so it was a good deal. Our daughter and son-in-law live close, so we hope to try this place again when we visit.

Normally great food & service but this time the owners were not there and our wings were hard and…read moreburnt! The first time we had the wings they were done to perfection. I believe because they just opened for the morning that the workers were rushing to get them done and over cooked them. Maybe this was just a training problem and will be corrected on our next visit. The brisket was delicious & so was the potato salad!! I'm still giving four stars because of our past experiences which were wonderful.

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Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Smokin Barrel New Palestine location

Smokin Barrel New Palestine location

Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Pulled Pork

Pulled Pork

Smokin' Barrel BBQ - Storefront for Smokin' Barrel BBQ

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Storefront for Smokin' Barrel BBQ

Bar-B-Q Heaven - BBQ pig foot with green beans and Macaroni & Cheese

Bar-B-Q Heaven

3.3(97 reviews)
3.6 mi
•$$

Been coming here for years. It is a staple in Indy for ribs, and BBQ in general. My go-to orders…read moreare the rib tips and the pig feet. You can order the meat only or get a dinner that includes 2 sides and your choice of bread (white, wheat, or cornbread). They provide very generous portion sizes. The rib tips are the best that I have had in Indy thus far. They are tender and the seasoning they use is delicious. You could eat them without any sauce. However, the sauce is what takes it over the top for me. They offer sweet, medium, hot, or they will mix the sauces for you. The hot has a pretty good kick as a warning if you are sensitive to spice. I recently tried the Bar B Q bun, which is essentially a pulled pork sandwich. The pork is finely shredded and the sauce is poured on top of the pork. It's almost a fork and knife sandwich, as the bottom bun gets soaked in the sauce. Their sides have definitely reduced in quality over the years. I recently tried the mac and cheese and greens. As a note, they only have greens Friday - Sunday and they often times run out on Sunday if you do not get there early. The mac and cheese was dry and had little flavor. The greens, which used to be my favorite in the city, reminded me of cooked spinach and weren't seasoned. The service remains great. With the amount of people waiting while I was there, they were friendly and efficient. I wanted to order chess pie and there were not any readily available behind the counter. They told me they had some coming out of the oven in the kitchen if I was willing to wait and they brought it over once done. It is carry-out only, so be prepared to take it elsewhere to eat. You can call ahead to place your order as well.

We went for lunch today- everything tasted great. The staff were kind and helpful. They have a…read morepatio you can eat on but we took it to go. I got the BBQ bun dinner with mac and cheese and green beans. I liked the flavor of it all. I wish I got the sauce on the side for the sandwich as my bun was drenched by the time I ate it. I will come back!

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Bar-B-Q Heaven - Outside

Outside

Bar-B-Q Heaven - Rib tips

Rib tips

Bar-B-Q Heaven

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Fat Dan's - delis - Updated May 2026

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