Gary, Indiana, is known for its large steel mills and being the town that is the birthplace of the famous musician Michael Jackson and his family. If you’re visiting the city, there are many hidden food places that you don’t want to miss. With a wide range of different ethnicities, the town has a good selection of many types of fusion cuisine.
Looking at other lists, you may miss out on some of the best eateries in the area. Most restaurants on this list are secret hidden mom-and-pop shops that generally don’t get any attention online. Today, we plan to introduce you to the ten best restaurants in Gary, Indiana, that you should try.
When it comes to finding the best places to eat, we mainly rely on word of mouth versus any other method. The locals know some hidden gems that other websites may not pick up. Below, we list the best restaurants we’ve found in Gary, Indiana, that you don’t want to miss.
1. Great Lakes Cafe
The Great Lakes Cafe is your classic small cafe that sells homemade soups, salads, and all-day breakfast.
The owners are often at the shop and love talking to anyone who visits. Great Lakes Cafe is perfect for a quick brunch and for those who want a very friendly small-town vibe with hearty food and a good ambiance.
What to Eat:
Some favorites include the country-fried steak with eggs and potatoes, homemade biscuits, and any of the omelets. Aside from that, favorites for dinner include corned beef, Philly cheesesteak, and dessert! The coffee is also another worthwhile mention.
2. Miller Pizza Company
Miller Pizza Company is the perfect place to go when craving some deep-dish pizza. They specialize in crafting the cheesiest and sauciest deep-dish pizza anywhere around.
Aside from that, they have all the extra dishes you could want, including wings, salads, and cheesesteaks.
What to Eat:
Anyone here loves the small stuffed Chicago-style pie with sausage, mozzarella sticks, and salad. If you’re going alone, they offer an MPC lunch special that is perfect for one person and provides two deep-dish pizza slices and a drink.
Cafe 339 is a breakfast and brunch joint that offers homestyle breakfasts and crepes. It’s a local family dinner that has been family-owned since 2010.
This small diner is the perfect place to pick up brunch and a daily cocktail. They have a wide selection of breakfast and brunch foods and is the ideal place to kick back and relax.
What to Eat:
Favorites from Cafe 339 include delicious loaded oatmeal, strawberry cheesecake, french toast, and their crepes. Their breakfast panini, omelets, and breakfast croissants are for those who enjoy more savory dishes. We highly recommend their alcoholic beverages, such as their mimosas, house martini, and bloody mary.
4. Philly’s Steak & Lemonade
If you’re looking for a truly loaded Philly cheesesteak, then look no further than Phillys Steak & Lemonade. They are a late-night joint with award-winning Philly Steaks, Philly Chickens, and Gyros. The restaurant also includes all the possible specialties, including sandwiches, loaded fries, desserts, and even a twist of Mexican specials.
What to Eat:
The best food on their list includes any of their Philly cheesesteaks, such as the Philly Steak and Philly Chicken. However, they aren’t known for being Phillys Steak & Lemonade Inc for nothing! They also have homemade fresh lemonade in multiple flavors such as strawberry, fruit punch, and even grape.
5. Kelly’s Soul Kitchen
If you’re looking for your good Southern soul food, you should give Kelly’s Soul Kitchen a try.
They specialize in soul food such as fried chicken, wings, and catfish. Their meals also come with delicious sides such as Mac & Cheese, Candied Yams, and Mashed Potatoes.
What to Eat:
With soul food, there’s no skipping trying the fried chicken. Aside from that, their $5 lunch special is a steal served from 11 am-1 pm. They also include daily specials such as jerk chicken wings, pork chops, and rib tips.
6. Zante’s Restaurant
Zante’s Restaurant is a fast-food restaurant that serves subs, burgers, hot dogs, and gyros. They also have other tasty fast treats, including polish sausages, Focaccia sandwiches, and patty melts.
If you’re looking for an affordable yet quick bite, you can’t go wrong with Zante’s Restaurant.
What to Eat:
One of their specialties that locals enjoy is the gyro plate and the souvlaki, which are served with delicious greek potatoes and lemon rice soup. Other recommendations include the Rib Tips, patty melt, and burritos.
Zel’s Roast Beef first opened its doors when they worked out of a gas station. Since then, they have moved up and got their own building.
They specializes in roast beef sandwiches, and locals highly recommend this as one of their favorite places to grab a bite to eat.
What to Eat:
Don’t forget to try out their chili cheese fries, shakes, and roast beef sandwich. Others recommend chili cheese dogs, polish dogs, hamburgers, and cheese fries. Anything on the menu is guaranteed to be tasty.
8. Tequila and Tacos
Tequila and Tacos is a bright and authentic Mexican restaurant specializing in tacos and mixed drinks.
All of their food is made from scratch using authentic Mexican ingredients. They also have a wide selection of meats, including beef, barbacoa, salmon, chicken, and shrimp.
What to Eat:
No matter what you order, you can’t go wrong, especially any of the tacos. However, most locals enjoy the salmon, steak, and vegetarian tacos. You also don’t want to skip out on their freshly made chips, guacamole, or signature drinks!
9. Big Daddy’s BBQ
Big Daddy’s BBQ is a barbeque joint that you don’t want to skip out on. They include a wide selection of Chicago-style barbequed meats, including rib tips, ribs, chicken, jerk chicken, and turkey tips.
Their most famous for their wide selection of meats, but they also made delicious sides and desserts that pair well with the meal.
What to Eat:
They are most famous for their BBQ rib tips, so you won’t want to skip out on those. However, others have listed that the turkey tip/link combo is good and the limited Saturday special of gumbo. It would be best if you didn’t skip the side dishes, as many recommend the mac and cheese.
The last on our list is the New York Plate which specializes in Mediterranean comfort food. As the name suggests, their Mediterranean-style food includes New York-inspired flavors. They also include Philly plates, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches on their menu.
What to Eat:
You can’t go wrong with the Manhattan Plate, which includes3 meats: chicken gyro and steak.
If you love flaming hot Cheetos, you might want to look at their Flamin’ hot menu, including flaming hot cheese sticks, hot wings, burrito, and more.
Their Philly cheesesteaks are also delicious and are packed full of meat and cheese. However, everyone’s favorite is the Brooklyn plate and gyros.
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