16 Under-The-Radar Indiana Spots Where The Pizza Is Shockingly Good
Indiana might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about amazing pizza, but that’s exactly why these places are so special.
Tucked into small towns, hidden in strip malls, and scattered across neighborhoods most people drive right past, these pizzerias prove that you don’t need a famous food reputation to serve up incredible pies.
I have a lot of experience when it comes to trying the best slices across the state, and I can promise you that these spots deliver crispy crusts, creative toppings, and flavors that will make you wonder why you ever doubted Hoosier pizza in the first place.
1. King Dough – Indianapolis
King Dough feels like the kind of place where someone simply shoved a wood-fired oven into a neighborhood hangout and let the dough do the talking.
Pizzas arrive with blistered, leopard-spotted crusts and playful toppings like hot honey, goat cheese, and house sausage, yet the room itself stays easygoing – bare tables, bar seats, and a steady hum of conversation rather than ceremony.
Locals come for creative pies and stay for the laid-back vibe that makes lingering over one more slice an easy decision.
The menu changes with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try.
Address: 452 N Highland Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46202
2. Brozinni Pizzeria – Indianapolis
On the south side of Indy, Brozinni looks more like a family rec room than a destination restaurant – and that’s exactly the charm.
New York–style pies sprawl across metal trays, with foldable slices, chewy rims, and just enough grease to feel nostalgic.
Families push tables together, kids share garlic knots the size of baseballs, and nobody flinches if you ask for another paper plate.
It’s the kind of unfussy neighborhood joint where one more slice is practically a house rule.
I took my nephew here last summer, and he declared it the best pizza he’d ever had – high praise from a ten-year-old.
Address: 8810 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46237
3. Mother Bear’s Pizza West – Bloomington
Mother Bear’s West sits in a busy shopping corridor, but once you step inside, it feels like a well-worn campus legend that just grew up a little.
The walls are covered in signatures and doodles, the booths hold decades of student stories, and the pizzas land at the table molten, cheesy, and unapologetically loaded.
Locals swear by the pan pies, garlic-heavy breadsticks, and early-bird specials that prove this decorated Bloomington favorite still knows how to feed a crowd without any fuss.
The nostalgia is thick, but the pizza is thicker.
Address: 2980 W Whitehall Crossing Blvd, Bloomington, IN 47404
4. Futuro – Indianapolis
Tucked into a low-key building in the Holy Cross neighborhood, Futuro doesn’t waste time pretending to be anything but a temple to thick, pan-baked Detroit-style pizza.
Steel pans emerge from the kitchen loaded with caramelized cheese edges, airy crumb, and toppings spread right to the corners.
Inside, the atmosphere stays casual – industrial tables, stacks of shareable squares, and a relaxed bar where regulars linger over craft sodas and veglord pies.
It’s big-flavor comfort food delivered with zero attitude.
Address: 19 Cruse St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
5. Greek’s Pizzeria – SoBro, Indianapolis
On a busy stretch of College Avenue, Greek’s feels like the neighborhood’s pizza living room.
The menu leans classic – hand-tossed crust, tangy sauce, and generous cheese – with just enough old-school charm to feel timeless.
Locals pop in after games, grab takeout on weeknights, and linger over pan pizzas and stromboli at scuffed wooden tables.
It’s the kind of unfussy spot where the staff knows your regular order and the only dress code is hungry.
My go-to here is the pepperoni and mushroom combo, which never disappoints no matter how many times I order it.
Address: 4901 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205
6. 1000º Wood Fired Pizza – Mt. Summit
In tiny Mt. Summit, 1000º Wood Fired Pizza hums along on the corner like a happy secret passed between friends.
The namesake oven roars behind the counter, turning out thin, lightly blistered pies that taste far fancier than the relaxed, small-town dining room suggests.
Locals slide into booths in jeans and work boots, sip fountain drinks, and tear into pizzas with crisp edges and smoky bottoms, proving you don’t need a big city to eat truly great pie.
The simplicity here is the whole point.
Address: 101 N Walnut St, Mt Summit, IN 47361
7. Puccini’s Pizza Pasta – Greenbriar, Indianapolis
Puccini’s Greenbriar sits in a north-side strip center, the very picture of nothing fancy – until the pizza hits the table.
The crust walks that perfect line between chewy and crisp, the sauce leans savory rather than sweet, and toppings run from classic pepperoni to lively specialty combinations.
Families share big salads and baked pastas, regulars nurse pints at the bar, and the staff keeps things moving with easy, practiced warmth.
It’s dependable, delicious, and delightfully low-key.
Address: 1508 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260
8. Bruno’s Pizza – West Lafayette
Bruno’s has been feeding generations of Boilermakers in a cozy, wood-paneled space that feels like it hasn’t changed much since the first crust came out of the oven.
Deep, cheesy pies and classic thin-crust rounds arrive on tall stands, turning every table into a small pizza landscape.
The vibe is pure old-school: checkered tablecloth energy, pitchers of soda, and that gentle roar of people catching up over slices they’ve been ordering since college.
This place is a West Lafayette institution for good reason.
Address: 2512 Covington St, West Lafayette, IN 47906
9. Magoo’s California Pizza – Avon
Out in Avon, Magoo’s sits off the highway, the kind of unassuming storefront you could drive past if you didn’t know better.
Inside, the mood is easygoing – order at the counter, grab a booth, and watch as bubbling pies loaded with toppings march out of the open kitchen.
The crust leans West Coast-inspired but very Hoosier in spirit: hearty, cheesy, and indulgent.
Locals swing by after practice, on date night, or just because the craving hits.
I stumbled upon this place by accident one evening, and now it’s a regular stop whenever I’m in the area.
Address: 10584 E US Hwy 36, Avon, IN 46123
10. Arni’s – Market Square, Lafayette
Arni’s at Market Square is a Lafayette institution, a thin-crust legend that has been drawing crowds since the mid-1960s.
Families file into the sprawling, memorabilia-filled dining room, sharing platters of cracker-crisp pizza cut into party squares.
The toppings go right to the edge, the salads come piled in signature wooden bowls, and the service has that practiced, hometown friendliness that only decades of regulars can build.
It’s unfussy, familiar, and exactly what locals hope it will be every single time.
Address: 2200 Elmwood Ave, Lafayette, IN 47904
11. Bazbeaux Pizza – Broad Ripple, Indianapolis
Perched by the canal in Broad Ripple, Bazbeaux feels like a neighborhood gathering place that just happens to turn out some of Indy’s most beloved pies.
The dining room is casual and lively, with pizza boards flying past topped with combos like spicy sausage, roasted veggies, and tangy goat cheese.
Diners drift between the patio and the bar, and there’s always someone polishing off one last slice even after they swore they were full.
This is not a fancy night out – it’s a perfect one.
Address: 811 E Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46220
12. Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza – Fort Ben/Lawrence
On a quiet street near Fort Benjamin Harrison, Jockamo Upper Crust buzzes like the neighborhood’s unofficial clubhouse.
The pizza leans gourmet – Thai chicken, loaded veggie, and creative white-sauce options – but the environment stays welcoming and relaxed, more jeans-and-jersey than date-night attire.
Regulars rave about the crisp-yet-tender crust, clever topping combos, and a menu that practically begs you to settle in with friends and share a couple of specialty pies.
The inventive flavors here never get old.
Address: 9165 Otis Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46216
13. New Bethel Ordinary – Wanamaker (SE Indianapolis)
New Bethel Ordinary looks like a classic roadside tavern, and that’s exactly the mood inside – wooden tables, neon glow, and big, bubbly pizzas at nearly every seat.
Locals drive in from the southeast side and surrounding small towns for cracker-thin crust piled with toppings and wings.
It’s loud in the best way: kids coloring on placemats, friends catching up over enormous pies, and servers weaving through the room like they know half the customers by name.
This place has heart, history, and seriously good pizza.
Address: 8838 Southeastern Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46239
14. Brittany’s Brick Oven Pizza – Madison
Down a quiet street in historic Madison, Brittany’s looks more like a little stone house than a restaurant, which is part of its charm.
Inside, the owners tend a roaring Italian brick oven that turns dough into blistered, smoky-edged pies topped with careful layers of cheese and vegetables.
Guests chat with the crew and watch their pizzas slide in and out of the flames.
It’s cozy, personal, and about as mom-and-pop as pizza gets – new ownership and all, the spirit is still very much the same.
Address: 2034 Lanier Dr, Madison, IN 47250
15. John’s Pizzeria – Dyer
In northwest Indiana, John’s Pizzeria is the kind of place that’s woven into family history – birthday parties, team banquets, and first dates have all started with one of their pans of bubbling cheese.
The dining room is warmly old-fashioned and deeply unfussy: wooden chairs, big tables, and the smell of fresh-baked dough drifting from the kitchen.
Thin-crust pizzas come cut into squares, loaded with house-made sausage and gooey cheese, while regulars grab carryout boxes that barely close over their favorite toppings.
Address: 1209 Sheffield Ave, Dyer, IN 46311
16. The Slice – Evansville
The Slice feels like your uncle’s favorite dive bar collided with a New York slice shop – and Evansville is better for it.
Guests order by the slice or hit the pizza buffet, building plates with chili cheese, spinach-feta, gyro, and classic cheese slices that stretch with every bite.
The room is lively but low-key: sports on TV, friends catching up at high-tops, and regulars chatting with the staff who already know their go-to combo.
Under new ownership and a refreshed layout, it’s still all about outrageously good pizza in a relaxed, come-as-you-are setting.
Address: 2011 Lincoln Ave, Evansville, IN 47714