Discover standout local restaurants in Bloomington with handpicked features, insider highlights, and magazine-style writeups.
The Best of B-Town: Food & Drink Edition 🍕🍣☕🍩🍻
We asked, you answered — and now it’s time to celebrate the local legends, greasy spoon heroes, and caffeine-slinging champions that fuel our beloved community. Whether you’re on a quest for the crispiest crust, the fluffiest bagel, or a cocktail that makes you rethink your life choices (in the best way), these are the spots that make Bloomington taste like home.
Think we missed your favorite hole-in-the-wall, secret sushi joint, or that one place with life-changing donuts? Don’t just stew about it — nominate them! Send us a suggestion, tag us, or whisper it to us dramatically across a crowded cafe. However you do it, we want to hear from you.
Without further ado, here are the current MVPs of munchies and mixology in the Bloomington area. Pick a food below to jump to it.
Listed in the order readers voted. Hearts show once a place has 3 or more.
🍕 Best Pizza
Da Vinci Pizza and Pasta
Family-owned Italian restaurant at 250 S. Washington St. serving hand-stretched Neapolitan pizza from a wood-fired oven, house-made pastas and salads.
Mother Bears Pizza West
West-side Mother Bear's on Whitehall Crossing Blvd., part of the pizza business that started in Bloomington in 1973 as a Bear's Place offshoot.
Pizza X Ellettsville
The Ellettsville Pizza X store, part of a Bloomington pizza company founded in 1982 with specialty pies, hand-tossed and thin crusts, and delivery.
Avers Pizza North
Gourmet pizza made in-house, available for carry out and delivery from Aver's north-side store on Kinser Pike, open until 2 a.m.
DeAngelo’s Italian Creole Restaurant
Italian classics with a Creole twist on East 3rd Street, with scratch-made pizza, pasta and salads and delivery to visiting teams.
Goodfellas Pizzeria
Kirkwood Ave. pizzeria serving hand-tossed New York-style pies and late-night slices, with a Wiseguy Lounge cocktail and bourbon bar upstairs.
Trailhead Pizzeria
Pizzeria on State Road 446 with made-from-scratch dough, trail-named specialty pizzas, wings and cocktails, plus catering, parties and reservations.
Bucceto’s Pizza Pasta
A family-friendly pizza and pasta restaurant on West 3rd Street with specialty pies, vegan and gluten-free options, calzones and beer and wine.
Also named by readers: Hank's Pizza, Chicago's, Butch's
🥡 Best Chinese
Uncle Wang’s Alley 王叔那嘎哒
Chinese restaurant at 3rd and Lincoln with a below-street-level dining room, American Chinese and Szechuan dishes, and online ordering.
Lucky Express
Homestyle Chinese cooking is provided in a humble, dinerlike space near Indiana University.
Golden China
Chinese restaurant at 2478 S Walnut Street with online ordering and daily hours listed on its website.
Longfei Chinese Restaurant
Chinese restaurant at 113 S Grant St with a menu split between American Chinese and authentic dishes, for dine-in, pickup and delivery.
Judy’s Kitchen
A Chinese and Taiwanese restaurant on East 3rd Street with Taiwanese popcorn chicken, spicy shrimp, noodle soups and bubble tea.
Chow Bar
Chinese restaurant at 216 S. Indiana Ave. in downtown Bloomington, with a lunch buffet and Uber Eats delivery.
China Star Restaurant
A Chinese restaurant on West Richland Plaza serving takeout and eat-in, with online pickup ordering and a broad menu of classic dishes.
Peach Garden
Long-running Chinese restaurant at 536 S College Avenue in the Seminary Square shopping area.
Sunny Palace
Chinese-American takeout and delivery near College Mall, with online ordering and dishes like Mongolian beef, orange chicken and lo mein.
China Wok
China Wok is a take-out restaurant at 4013 S Old State Road 37 in Bloomington.
Also named by readers: Dragon West, Panda Express
🍣 Best Sushi
Asuka Japanese Restaurant
Hibachi steakhouse, sushi and Chinese dishes on East 3rd Street, with tableside cooking, takeout and online ordering.
Sakura 15
A Japanese restaurant on College Mall Road serving sushi, sashimi, ramen and hibachi, with a modern dining room and online ordering.
Homey Hot Pot & Sushi
Hot pot and sushi at 306 N. Walnut St., with dine-in, takeout and delivery.
Japones
Japones is a Japanese restaurant and sushi spot downtown on Walnut Street, opened in January 2026 in the former Princess Theatre building.
Domo Steak & Sushi
Japanese restaurant on South Franklin Road with hibachi grill, sushi and sashimi.
Restaurant Ami
Sushi bar and kitchen on East 3rd Street near the IU campus, with nigiri, rolls, bibimbap and curry rice, plus an outdoor patio.
Sushi Bar LLC
Sushi Bar on East 10th Street serves sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi and hot dishes like teriyaki and noodles, with takeout by phone or online.
☕ Best Coffee
Hopscotch Coffee
B-Line Trail coffee shop and kitchen on W. Dodds St, serving house-roasted coffee plus weekday breakfast and lunch and weekend brunch.
Soma Coffeehouse and Juice Bar
Four-location Bloomington coffeehouse and juice bar with online pickup ordering, whole-bean coffee and tea, gift cards and catering.
Verona Coffee House
European-style cafe on Sare Road with specialty lattes, cold brew, pastries and breakfast, plus catering and a space to rent for events.
Needmore Coffee Roasters
Woman-owned Bloomington coffee roaster and cafe on the east side, serving organic, direct and fair trade coffee since 2014.
The Inkwell Bakery & Cafe
Downtown Bloomington cafe on North College Avenue with house-roasted coffee, fresh pastries, and breakfast and lunch; a second shop is near campus.
Cafe Bali
Family-owned Indonesian kitchen near campus serving noodles, rice bowls, soto ayam, takoyaki and bubble tea, with online ordering for pickup.
🥯 Best Bagels
Bloomington Bagel Company Downtown
Scratch bagel bakery at 113 N Dunn St, hand boiling and baking bagels in downtown Bloomington since 1996.
Gables Bagels
New York-style bagels, sandwiches and coffee from owner Ed Schwartzman, with shops on E. 3rd Street and E. Kirkwood Avenue.
🍩 Best Donuts
Parlor Doughnuts
Evansville-born doughnut shop on Kirkwood Avenue serving layered sweet and savory doughnuts, vegan and keto options, coffee and breakfast.
Square Donuts West
A carry-out-only donut shop on West 3rd Street from the Terre Haute family business that has made square donuts since 1967.
Cresent Donut
Longtime Bloomington donut shop on South Adams Street, founded in 1961, known for classic glazed and filled donuts.
Rainbow Bakery
All-vegan bakery in the Historic I. Fell Building at 4th and Rogers, making donuts, cupcakes, hand pies and cinnamon rolls, with special orders.
🥐 Best Baked goods
Crumble Coffee & Bakery Campus
Campus-area Crumble shop on S. Swain Ave. serving espresso, tea, locally roasted coffee and in-house pastries, with gluten-free and vegan options.
Two Sticks Bakery
Women-owned, from-scratch bakery on South Washington Street with daily pastries, cake by the slice, custom cakes and pies, and Quarrymen espresso.
Muddy Fork Bakery
Muddy Fork Farm & Bakery bakes sourdough, croissants and granola in a wood-fired oven in northern Monroe County, sold online and at farmers markets.
Rainbow Bakery
All-vegan bakery in the Historic I. Fell Building at 4th and Rogers, making donuts, cupcakes, hand pies and cinnamon rolls, with special orders.
Also named by readers: Wild Side, Underground Bakery
🍳 Best Brunch
The Runcible Spoon
Eclectic downtown cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner since 1976, and one of Indiana's oldest coffee roasteries, by its own account.
🍗 Best Wings
BuffaLouie’s
Chicken wings and burgers since 1987, now served in the historic Gables building at 114 S. Indiana Ave. in downtown Bloomington.
Nick’s English Hut
IU-area Kirkwood Avenue landmark since 1927 serving pizza, strombolis and beer, with upstairs rooms, a Wall of Fame and game day menus.
WingsXtreme U
Late-night wing restaurant near Indiana University with dozens of sauces, online ordering and DoorDash delivery.
Mother Bears Pizza West
West-side Mother Bear's on Whitehall Crossing Blvd., part of the pizza business that started in Bloomington in 1973 as a Bear's Place offshoot.
Also named by readers: Fat Dan's
🍸 Best Cocktails
C3 Bar
Locally owned cocktail bar and restaurant in Renwick Village Center with hand-crafted cocktails, a seasonal chef-driven menu, a patio and private dining.
The Dunnkirk Library
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar tucked off Kirkwood Avenue in the Upstairs Pub, with classic, island and literary-themed cocktails.
The Elm Restaurant
Seasonal dinner restaurant in the former Elm Heights Bloomingfoods, with Sunday brunch, a morning coffeehouse and a cocktail bar.
Also named by readers: Village Pub
🍺 Best Beer selection
Crazy Horse
Kirkwood Avenue restaurant and bar in a c.1900 building, known for its 80-beer challenge, patio, weekend brunch and nightly drink specials.
The Tap Brew Pub
Craft beer bar and brewery at 101 N College Ave with 200+ craft beers, house-brewed originals and a pub menu led by Tap Fries.
🏈 Best Sports bars
Nick’s English Hut
IU-area Kirkwood Avenue landmark since 1927 serving pizza, strombolis and beer, with upstairs rooms, a Wall of Fame and game day menus.
Kilroys on Kirkwood
Kirkwood Avenue bar and grill with weekly specials, a 21st birthday program, whiskey menu, private party bookings and VIP bottle service.
Brothers Bar & Grill
Downtown Bloomington bar and grill at 215 N. Walnut St. with a big tap list, bar food, daily drink specials and late hours.
Yogi’s Bar & Grill
IU-themed bar and grill just north of the downtown square, serving wings, tenders, nachos and smashburgers, with a kids menu and game-day hours.
Also named by readers: Switchyard Brewing Company
Own one of these places, or want to be on this list?
Readers choose the winners, and we keep the cards current from each listing. The better your listing, the better your card looks and the more likely a visitor is to pick you tonight.
- Add a clear photo of your food or storefront. It becomes your card image.
- Keep hours and your menu link current. Cards link straight to both.
- Ask regulars to tap the heart on your listing. Hearts show on your card once you have 3.
- Check your listing stats. Owners can see how many people viewed their page.