This Indiana Sandwich Counter Is Guarded By Locals Who Treat It Like A Sacred Tradition
Indianapolis holds a culinary treasure that locals refuse to share without a fight: Shapiro’s Delicatessen.
Since 1905, this unassuming sandwich counter has survived everything from world wars to modern food trends, and it’s still slinging the same legendary pastrami and corned beef that made it famous.
For Hoosiers, this isn’t just lunch, it’s a rite of passage, a family tradition, and a badge of honor rolled into one delicious, overstuffed sandwich.
A Century-Old Counter That Never Lost Its Charm
Shapiro’s has been serving Indianapolis since 1905, surviving wars, recessions, and food fads while keeping its old-school deli counter format. It’s one of the few remaining Jewish delis in the Midwest still run by the founding family.
That kind of longevity alone makes it more than a restaurant, it’s a living piece of Hoosier history. While other restaurants chase trends and remodel every few years, Shapiro’s stays true to its roots.
Walking through those doors feels like stepping into a time machine where the atmosphere still honors its heritage, and the commitment to quality remains as strong as ever, even as the menu has evolved slightly over time.
Sandwiches As Big As The Stories Behind Them
Famous for towering pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, Shapiro’s doesn’t mess around with minimalism. Their sandwiches are famously generous, often weighing close to a pound and stacked high on house-baked rye bread, served the classic way, no shortcuts, no skimping.
Locals joke that one sandwich is two meals in disguise. First-timers often stare in disbelief when their order arrives, wondering if they accidentally ordered for the entire table.
But regulars know the drill: you take your first bite, meat spills everywhere, and suddenly you understand why napkins come in stacks here.
The Secret Ingredient: Tradition (And A Lot Of Pride)
Every recipe, from the brisket to the matzo ball soup, has been handed down through four generations of the Shapiro family. The deli’s commitment to slow roasting, hand-slicing, and in-house prep isn’t nostalgia—it’s a sacred code.
As Brian Shapiro, the current owner and fourth-generation family member, says: “We do it the same way because it still tastes better that way.” While the deli has modernized some operations, its core cooking methods remain remarkably faithful to the originals.
When your great-grandfather’s technique still produces the best brisket in town, why would you change it? This stubborn dedication to doing things right is what keeps people coming back.
A Counter That Connects Generations
Walk into Shapiro’s at lunchtime and you’ll see grandparents introducing grandkids to the same Reuben they’ve ordered for decades. Office workers, cops, and politicians line up shoulder to shoulder—no reservations, no table service, just a line that moves with purpose.
The counter isn’t just where food is served—it’s where community happens. Everyone becomes equal when waiting for their sandwich, and conversations flow naturally between strangers.
It’s the great equalizer, a cafeteria-style line where people from every walk of life bond over pickle preferences and debate whether the corned beef beats the pastrami.
More Than A Meal, It’s A Ritual
Regulars have a routine: grab a tray, slide it along the glass, exchange quick banter with the servers, and watch their favorite sandwich piled high before their eyes. The rhythm hasn’t changed in decades.
It’s fast, familiar, and oddly comforting—like a spiritual lunch service that only locals truly understand. There’s something meditative about the process, a choreography perfected over countless visits.
You don’t just eat at Shapiro’s; you participate in a ceremony that’s evolved over time but still feels timeless, a ritual of flavor and familiarity passed down through generations.
A Slice Of New York Soul In The Midwest
Though planted in Indiana soil, Shapiro’s has the heart of a classic New York Jewish deli—the pickles, the brisket, the knishes, the attitude. But what sets it apart is its Midwestern warmth.
The portions are New York-size, but the smiles and small talk are pure Indianapolis. You get the authentic deli experience without the big-city rush or attitude.
It’s like someone took Katz’s Delicatessen, gave it a Hoosier hospitality makeover, and planted it right in the heart of Indiana. That comparison isn’t far off, Shapiro’s blends New York-style deli tradition with Indiana friendliness, making it uniquely its own.
Guarded By Locals, Loved By Everyone
For Hoosiers, Shapiro’s isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a piece of family identity. Locals bring out-of-towners here like a badge of honor, eager to show off their secret (that’s not really secret anymore).
Visitors might see a counter; regulars see a legacy. In a city constantly reinventing itself, Shapiro’s remains sacred, proof that some traditions deserve to be fiercely protected.
Ask nearly any longtime Indianapolis resident about iconic local food, and Shapiro’s will almost always make the list, often accompanied by a story about a family meal or their first corned beef sandwich. That’s not marketing, that’s love.