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Strange Bird

4.5 (388 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 3 weeks ago

Strange Bird Photos

Business Info

STRANGE BIRD ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Intimate

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Recommended Reviews - Strange Bird

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Reviews With Photos

Lindsey C.

Why do I wait so long between visits to Strange Bird when everything is always amazing?! As soon as you walk in the doors, you are greeted with the cutest tiki themed area. Comfy couches and chairs to wait for your table and intimate lighting throughout. The place is not large, so I do recommend reservations. The food and drinks! The drinks are beautiful and fun - they have have zero proof! I recommend the pina nolada. As for the food, you literally can't go wrong. From the gyoza, wings, katsu curry, or ramen- you will be so happy! I can't wait to go back next time to get some oysters!

Gyoza
Abbie M.

If you are looking for an all around cool experience this is the place. The tiki bar interior is super fun, drinks are creative and tasty, and then you add flavorful ramen... YUM. Made a reservation to sit on the bar side and was glad I did. Fun to see the bartender making the cocktails, felt alittle more lively. Tried a few of their cocktails; Scorpion reef would usually be my go-to because I love mezcal (plus the presentation is awesome- they set the drink on fire!) but the Gold Rush took the cake. Ramen wise, as long as you like a little spice go Tantanmen all the way. By FAR the best flavor. Curry wings were a hit or miss for my group. Personally thought that they were saucy and tasty. Meat fell right off the bone. Server was friendly. Definitely trying to make drink sales but who can blame the guy haha. All in all fun place to take friends if you are looking for something completely unique!

Tera N.

Dental phobia friends BEWARE! The blender or I don't know exactly what but I assume the blender sounds exactly like the dentist chair drilling. It is very triggering. Someone needs to warn us Homies that had less than ideal Dental experience growing up. Also, what in the world it was Saturday and Last call at 7:40...what?! we had two different kinds of Ramen, and order of the wings, we also had the rice bowl, oysters, and the gyoza dumplings. The desserts were sold out by the time we arrived for a 6 o'clock reservation, the only option we could have was rum cake. The drinks were delicious as expected, but no dessert and the dental triggering made it difficult to enjoy my evening out with friends.

Waikiki Gold Rush
Sheila D.

Went here to celebrate my birthday. Unique tiki style interior and love that the menu isn't five pages long. We made a reservation as I heard it can get pretty busy. We were seated immediately. All of the dishes were delicious and the drinks looked like the pictures on the menu. The broth in the ramen was rich and flavorful. You definitely will not leave here hungry. Look forward to coming back.

Hibiscus tarte
Jaimeson W.

First time there and we sat at the bar. The bartender was so nice even though he was so busy. Loved that they have mocktails that are actually pretty and delicious! We had happy hour oysters that were delicious, ramen that was legit and then desserts that we inhaled -- pineapple hibiscus tarte and key lime pie. There is a nice island vibe with lofi music which makes for good chill background. We will be back for sure!

Amy M.

Super cute tiki restaurant with delicious offerings from tiki themed cocktails to Asian comfort foods. We shared oysters, bao buns, gyoza, and crudo. We also had drinks and ramen dishes. Everything was delicious. It was a great experience. We came early hoping to beat a crowd on a Friday night, which worked. It filled up pretty quickly and they had a wait when we left.

Sarah F.

Was here for a great oysters and bubbles class, and had time to kill before it started, so I enjoyed a great holiday drink before the class started! It was festive and a tasty combo of spiced rum and cream, even better it came in a cousin eddy glass from Christmas vacation! Love it!

Sheena P.

This was another one of stops after Imbibe Magazine featured in Indy. We took a weekend and stopped at most of their recommendation. This place earns its name from the strange make up of menu items. This was the first time I had raw oyster and craft ramen in the same meal - both were awesome! To top is off they have great cocktail menu!

strong order
Jennifer B.

Came in to try the tiki drinks and saw they had ramen that could be veganized. Sat at the bar. Lots of seating options, but we like to take to the bartender. She was pleasant, but not friendly. Ordered two drinks: Strong Order and Scorpion Reef. Both okay, but not good enough to order more drinks. Strong Order was supposed to have Chartreuse in it, but you couldn't taste a drop. Split a ramen soup. Nothing special on the soup unless you count the cherry tomatoes in it. That was a first. The place was good for a one and done. The bill lowered my review significantly. The kitchen gratuity was a surprise (3%). I'm all for getting something to back of house. Just let your customers know. The worst part of the bill was a $2 uncharge for "spice on the side". We didn't request this and it was pushed by the bartender ("do you want the spice on the side?" Uh, sure I guess). Now I know why they suggest because they make money on it. What a joke. In summary: this bar is tiki adjacent, but not tiki. Drinks are good, but not great. Food prices are high for what you get. The ramen is good, but not great. Vegan options are limited to switching the broth to vegetable. Wouldn't go back.

Tofu katsu curry
Rachel K.

This place is so fun!! The ambiance inside is quirky and playful. Our service was great for a large party. I ordered the kayak curry with tofu, and it was delicious!!! The tofu was super crispy on the outside and the curry was flavorful. I would come back for this! I didn't order a drink but they had lots of super fun looking cocktails. A great spot

Some of the unique bar and design
Suzanne K.

We were told if you weren't in line at 5 you may not get in. It was true. On Sunday's they serve 1/2 price oysters. We were greeted right away. Although they had outdoor seating we were concerned about the weather. We requested indoor seating and were seated in the bar area. The whole restaurant is decorated in a tropical decor. It is like stepping into an old movie set. Just so unique! After a few minutes our server came over to explain the tropical drink menu. (It looked like a menu out of an old black and white movie. I loved it) I ordered a gin colada. My husband order mai tai. My drink came right away. My husband's drink did not come until I asked the bartender if they had a drink for our table. They didn't but checked with the wait staff and got it right to us. (The manager comped the drink) We had the oyster special. I don't believe that I have ever had fresher,colder or shucked as well as these oysters.lim We were asked if we wanted extra sauce with our oysters. I wanted Franks but they make their own. It was too hot. My husband ordered seafood sauce. Each extra sauce is $2. They serve the oysters with a mignonette that is frozen. It was delicious They use soy in everything except chicken tenders. I had the chicken due to my soy allergies. They also serve Rama noodles. My husband had some kind of spicy beef. We ended our dinner with key lime pie. It was ok but had some funny sauce in it. It was a unique place to go to. We both said we would go back for oysters and to drink a beer. No plates or napkins were served with the oysters. We had to ask. They had no seafood folks. Ok. These oysters were so well shucked they didn't need a fork Wait staff was not real attentive but did know the menu We will go back for oysters but the menu does not allow me anything I can eat

4.29.25 #ReviewsByRL
Raena L.

I've written 493 Yelp reviews, and this is only the 3rd 2-star ever. And honestly I debated making it my 1st 1-star. Sorry, it's a long read, hope you'll hang with me! I've been to Strangebird numerous times; have always enjoyed it. I bring my mom here when she is in town, because we love the half price oysters (5-6pm only), and she doesn't have anyone to eat them with where she lives. So we went at the very end of April 2025 (it's taken me some time to want to write this.) Hubs joined us for dinner, too. Hubs & I had a cocktail (the Painkiller in the skull mug, and the Lost Lake in the flamingo mug), and my mom has a very pretty colada mock tail. The drinks are absolutely gorgeous, even though this time it was definitely heavy on the crushed ice and not a lot of liquid, it was still really yummy. For food, we ordered the bao buns, 4 dozen oysters (we ordered 2 doz, then 2 doz more), the shoyu ramen, the katsu curry, and a dessert. Everything was very beautiful & tasty (see pics). 5 stars if we stop here. Now here's the rub. The waiter brings our bill (which is nearing $300 with a tip). It contained the taxes and also an additional kitchen fee (not server gratuity) - which I expected, because this was listed on the menu that it would be charged. Then I notice that 3 of the doz oysters were listed at half price ( on the receipt as "doz happy hour oysters") , but the 4th was charged full price. I point this out to our server, and say, this is an error, we ordered this before 6pm, and he tells me, "oh it's just 1 doz per person for the half price." I explain that this is neither posted on the chalk board, nor on the menu, nor was it mentioned by him. He basically says, "well that's the way it is." I say, "that doesn't feel good - it's really just not a fair way to charge a customer." He argues with me a bit (not loudly, but also not doing anything), I mention "let's talk to a manger," then on the 4th time I say a little more firmly "how about we talk to a manger" - so he goes to get one. A gentleman comes to our table. I think it might be the person who was actually shucking the oysters. I explain the situation, say, it wasn't listed or said to us anywhere, so it just doesn't seem fair. He Immediately agrees, says no problem, and says our server will get that adjusted for us. Easy-peasey and very nice! -- That felt like really great customer service. I'm thinking about my Yelp review, and I'm getting ready to sing praises! Back to 5 stars! Our server brings the receipt, I thank him for handling that, and even joke "well hey now I can just put even more to your tip!" and he laughs at that. I glance at the receipt, it lists 4 doz all together now, and we pay and leave. We get about a min away when I ask my husband to turn the car around. I realize that, while they have written the 4 doz oysters differently, they have NOT adjusted the price. Line reads $96, but should be $78. I go back in. I wait several minutes at the front (no other patrons waiting). Another man comes to the counter. I explain the situation and say, so we are still really still owed $18. He tells me, no, we are getting half price on the specialty per oyster price, not half price on the dozen happy hour price. (Which by the way, I ordered the happy hour chefs choice dozens, not the specialty per piece ones). He then says this has always been their policy. I reply that well, my first receipt rang up as "half price happy hour dozen" and also, the numerous times I've eaten there, then all of the servers then must have just been generous and kind because that is the way it's always been charged to us. (And also, see my previous reviews where I talk about this!) I restate that we enjoyed our meal, we are frequent visitors, but it's the principal of the error should be absorbed by the establishment, not the customer. He says something else that I can't really remember, but I do remember that my response was, "Well would you rather that I just write a bad review?" On that, he takes money out of his wallet and slaps a $20 on the counter, telling me to keep the change. I pick up the money. He then asks me if I'm really going to take that & nickel and dime them and take "his" money?! I ask, is he really going to do that do a customer instead? I thank him for his attention and leave. So y'all, thanks for hanging with a long read. It took a while to write. Might I eat there again for half price oysters and limit myself to less? Meh, no. Let's face it, I spent almost $300 for dinner (after tip), so yes, I could have spent an additional $18. Or I could have had 2 drinks instead of 1, that's about the same price to easily spend more. But it's the principal of really feeling like they were trying to pull a fast one -- and thinking they did, but they got caught - that will make me take my business elsewhere. They're probably don't care, they'll be plenty successful without me. Just sad! #ReviewsByRL

For starters the ambiance is incredible, very tiki-chic in a way that feels well thought and playful. The drinks are so beautifully crafted and uniquely served, but overall the presentation was more impressive to me than the drinks themselves. They were so heavy on the ice that it didn't feel like they could be savored long enough to justify the cost. The service was fine once we were seated but incredibly slow, we arrived a bit early and had a cocktail but we weren't able to sit at the bar to enjoy it, despite a few empty seats, which was strange instead we were directed back to their entry/lounge where we waited around 25 minutes past our reservation time. We were offered a complimentary appetizer for the wait but were so disappointed to find that they were completely out of oysters, which is a big part of what they do and the main reason we wanted to check it out. The food was really great, the ramen broth really blew us away and the wings were flavorful and unique. Over all, I would not go in a rush or super hungry because it did feel a bit painfully long but for a quirky and aesthetic fun night out that feels more novelty than anything in the area we have been to lately.

Fox in the Snow, Three Dials on the Dash, Bao Buns

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

All the stuff. Menu changes often. Explore! Catch them when the Raw Oysters are in season!

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

The food and the atmosphere were incredible!! The Toga Blood Wings were great! We also loved the Pain Killer and Unknown Depth drinks!!

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Great atmosphere and ambience. Unique and gorgeous. Food was amazing as well as the painkillers.

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3 years ago

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1 year ago

Food flavor was fantastic. Love that they carry Mexican Coke. Ramon was delicious as well as the Boa buns. Wings were amazing.

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 months ago

loved the food and drinks!!! service was great too! pho amazing!!!! best i have had in forever

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

The service was great but The food was so-so. I wasn't blown away and had limited items to choose from.

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1 year ago

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6 years ago

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1 year ago

Great service. Ramen is legendary and well known for a reason. The place has some tropical decorations which are awesome.

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2 years ago

Incredible food, starters, oysters, ramen... All top shelf. Nice little restaurant with ambiance to spare.

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Page 4 of 10

Ask the Community - Strange Bird

Does this restaurant take reservations?

Strange Bird does not take reservations.

Can this restaurant accommodate a table for 6?

Yes, they can. But seating is limited. I would definitely call first.

Do you have to be 21 to eat here?

The bar is 21+. The dining room & patio are all ages.

Are they doing indoor seating now?

Not as of last weekend. They have gas heaters over some of the tables.

How many people are allowed at a table right nkw?

I believe 4 or 5

Is it 21+ only?

All ages are welcomed!

Does anyone know the hours of this place?

Tuesday-Sunday 5pm to late

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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It was a cold and rainy day and there's nothing better for that weather than noodles. Yujo looked…read moregreat based on previous reviews so I gave it a shot. The interior was a vibe with dim lighting that made the rainy meal experience even cozier. Ordering is easy either through the staff or a self ordering kiosk. I ordered a Hokkaido Miso ramen and sat down. Before I could pull out my phone my ramen came out piping hot. As I sipped and slurped my way through the ramen I tasted a rich and savory broth. It had a soft red miso flavor to it which complimented the fresh veggies, chasu and the egg. The chasu was thick and tender. The noodles were cooked perfectly too. I liked the addition of corn to finish up the soup at the end. If I'm in the area again I will be stopping for bubble tea as the menu looked great!

Woke up feeling stuffy and blah. Gray skies. Cold office. Back-to-back Zoom meetings. I needed a…read morewarm, comforting bowl of ramen in the worst way. Thankfully, Yujo Ramen & Boba Tea was right up the road. It's tucked into the commercial strip off Meridian and 96th--you could almost miss it if you're not paying attention. I'll be honest: I arrived around 1:30pm and it was completely empty, which caught me off guard. But the vibe was nice and calming, the menu was extensive (ramen and boba options for days), and I landed on the spicy miso ramen--exactly what I needed to warm me up. Nailed it. The broth was rich, savory, and comforting with just the right amount of heat. Every ingredient tasted vibrant and fresh. The green onions, tender pork, and perfectly marinated soft-boiled egg were the ideal companions swimming in that spicy miso goodness. On a gray, cold Indianapolis day, this bowl absolutely hit the spot. Can't wait to come back and try the boba.

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My boyfriend and I wanted ramen this week's date night. He suggested Oishi because they were close…read moreto the house and were open late. It's on Mass Ave which is a popular mixtape- mix of happenings in Indy. We were greater promptly and were seated immediately. It was no else but us. We ordered spicy ramen with shrimp! It came out steaming! Now I'm a spice lover but I couldn't gulp the broth like I wanted because it spicy! Lol The shrimp were plump and juicy like I like em. Give me my mint worth, you know. The veggies were blended in nice. My boo wanted dessert but is. It a fan of mochi ice cream which is all the had on the menu. So we just had ramen this time, which is still a win. It hit the spot. I couldn't wait to get home in bed.

My kids hate sushi, so I was thrilled to have a lunch hour date with my partner who shared my…read moreaffinity for sushi. We were seated right away and had our food within minutes! The lunch special came with two sushi rolls and a salad of soup. On a cold autumn day, the miso ginger soup was the right choice! The presentation of the sushi was absolutely gorgeous! When you can add some pops of color to sushi plates, I think you're winning at life because you're going above and beyond...and Oishi Sushi sure did! Everything that went into my mouth was delectable, and the price was right. It was a perfect lunch without the kids!

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Was looking for something warm and cozy on this cold winters night so what better than Ramen to…read morewarm you up. Upon entering we were greeted and seated within a minute or so. We opted to sit downstairs as this was our first time visiting and that was a little bit of a mistake as it was very cold with the door opening frequently. Our server came over promptly however she kept wanting us to order everything at once drinks, apps and entrees so I did feel a little rushed to make decisions. The service was fairly slow to receive our food and we never received a refill that we asked for on our drink. Which is why I opted for 4* for the review. Bar drinks Smoked old fashioned smelled amazing and is lit table side. Very strong and warm. Raspberry drink that I can't remember the name of but it was amazing and smooth not to sweet just right The food however was really good. The gyozas are the perfect mix of friend and steamed with a good balance of mix inside. I had the birria ramen. The meat was tender and flavorful. The noodles paired well with the meat. Broth was flavorful. I did add some hot sauce to it table side for an extra kick. Hubby ordered the spicy chicken ramen with a seasoned egg at the spicy level but could have went with a little more of kick so he added on spice table side as well. Chicken was tender. The broth was flavorful. The egg was cooked perfectly with the yolk just barely done inside. Would have liked to had more chicken as the portion was a bit small. The temp of broth was edible not so hot that you can't enjoy it We done one meal as a combo and had the Tokyo curry and salad to share. The salad was very plain and not much dressing. The curry on the other hand was delicious and the sticky rice was perfect We signed up for rewards and received a free mochi ice cream chocolate flavored. It was very good. One of the best I've had and I don't typically like mochi ice cream. Overall decent experience with the food.

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Strange Bird - tikibars - Updated May 2026

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