International Food in Indianapolis: 9 Global Flavors to Try at The Garage Food Hall

The Garage is the place to be for International Food in Indianapolis.

You could book a flight. Pack a suitcase. Stand in a security line. Or you could come hungry.

At The Garage Food Hall in downtown Indianapolis, one lap around the food hall can take your taste buds across continents. Venezuelan arepas, Brazilian picanha, Greek gyros, Japanese sushi and plenty more are all waiting under one roof.

That's what makes exploring international food in Indianapolis so easy at The Garage. You don't have to commit to one cuisine or one destination. Bring a group, order from different kitchens and turn lunch or dinner into your own global tasting tour.

Ready to go? Here are nine stops to make along the way.

1. Venezuela: Start with an Arepa from Azucar Morena

First stop: Venezuela.

Azucar Morena brings traditional Venezuelan flavors to The Garage with arepas, naturally gluten-free cornmeal pockets stuffed with hearty fillings. The Pabellón Arepa brings together shredded beef, cheese, black beans and sweet plantains for a combination that's savory, rich and just a little sweet.

If you've never tried Venezuelan food before, this is a pretty great place to start. And if arepas are already part of your regular rotation, you probably don't need us to convince you.

2. Brazil: Go Big with Gaucho's Fire

Keep the South American tour going at Gaucho's Fire.

Picanha, a prized Brazilian cut of beef, takes center stage throughout the menu. The Brazilian Steak Sandwich piles picanha onto French bread with grilled onions, provolone, mayonnaise and homemade vinaigrette sauce.

Want something easy to pass around the table? Add an order of Brazilian Cheese Bread. They're small, warm and extremely easy to keep reaching for.

That's the fun of a food hall. Your Brazilian stop can be an entire meal or just a few bites before you keep moving.

3. England: Cross the Atlantic at The Harbour

Next, cross the Atlantic for a proper taste of British pub fare.

At The Harbour Fish & Chips, the Atlantic Cod & Chips keeps things classic with Atlantic cod fried in crispy batter and served alongside steak fries and tartar sauce. If you'd rather start with something smaller, the Scotch Eggs wrap hard-boiled egg in pork sausage before breading and deep-frying it, with spicy aioli on the side.

It's hearty, familiar and exactly the kind of food that makes you want to settle in for a pint before continuing the trip.

But we're only three stops in. There's a lot more ground to cover.

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4. Greece: Pass the Pita at Mama Fofo's

From British pub fare, make your way to the sunny Mediterranean.

At Mama Fofo's Greek Kitchen, the menu gives you plenty of ways to build a Greek-inspired spread. Start with hummus or tzatziki served with pita bread, add an order of dolmades, or go straight for a classic gyro with fries and tzatziki.

This is also where the "around the world" approach gets more fun with a group. One person grabs the gyro. Someone else brings hummus back to the table. Suddenly you've got a little bit of everything in the middle, and everyone is reaching in for another bite.

No passport stamps required.

5. Japan: Roll into Something Different at Rolli

Time to head east.

Rolli Sushi brings Japanese inspiration to The Garage while giving plenty of its rolls a playful twist. The Mango Tango combines tempura shrimp, sweet Thai chili sauce, avocado, pickled mango and yuzu tobiko. Or try the Sunny in Peru, which pairs ahi tuna with scratch aji amarillo mayo, roasted poblano pepper, white onion and cilantro.

That second roll also captures something we love about The Garage. Global food doesn't always fit neatly inside borders. Ingredients travel. Traditions evolve. New combinations happen.

Sometimes Japan and Peru meet in the same roll.

6. The Philippines and Beyond: Make a Stop at Lil' Dumplings

At Lil' Dumplings Noodle Bar, the journey moves through Asian comfort food with ramen, dumplings and buns built around bold sauces and toppings.

A plate of pork dumplings comes topped with house sauce, chili crunch, green onion and pickled red onion, making it especially easy to order for the table before everyone moves on to their next destination. The menu also plays with flavors from across Asia, so this is a good stop for anyone who likes their food tour with a little freedom built in.

The rule here is simple: see something you've never tried? Order it.

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7. Mexico Meets Asia: Try the Fusion at La Chinita Poblana

If one vendor captures the idea of flavors crossing borders, it's La Chinita Poblana.

The fusion taqueria brings Mexican and Asian influences together in tacos that don't taste like anything else in the food hall. The Chicken Tamarind Taco starts with cumin-marinated chicken and adds sweet peanut-chile de arbol salsa, diced onion and cilantro.

Elsewhere on the menu, Korean BBQ steak, crispy Japanese eggplant and tofu jorim keep the crossover going.

This isn't about choosing between Mexican or Asian flavors.

You get both.

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8. Italy with a Peruvian Point of View: Abbiocco

Some of the most interesting food stories don't belong to just one place.

Abbiocco is rooted in Italian comfort food, with fresh pasta and pizza at the heart of the menu, while owner Carla McDaniel's Peruvian background adds another layer of influence to the concept.

That makes it a natural stop on a tour built around how cultures and cuisines connect. Grab a bowl of pasta, share something from the pizza oven and consider it your reminder that "global flavor" doesn't have to mean following a map exactly.

Sometimes the best dishes come from bringing different parts of the world together.

9. Bring It Back Home: American Classics at Clancy's

After circling the globe, bring things back stateside.

Clancy's Hamburgers has been serving classic American burgers for decades, and the Clancy's Topper keeps things unapologetically old school with two beef patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce and Clancy's Sauce on a double-decker sesame seed bun.

You can also take your American stop east with seafood from J's Lobster & Fish Market, where lobster rolls and other coastal favorites bring a taste of New England to Indianapolis.

That's the beauty of this particular world tour. Brazil and Greece can be followed by a burger or lobster roll without anyone asking you to pick a lane.

How Many Countries Can You Taste in One Visit?

That's really the challenge.

Can you order food from different restaurants at The Garage and eat together? Absolutely. That's one of the best parts. Everyone can choose a different vendor, meet back at the same table and turn a regular meal into a tasting tour.

If this is your first trip through the food hall, our First Timer's Guide to The Garage Food Hall can help you get started. Regulars can also revisit our Hidden Gem Menu Items at The Garage and see how many favorites are still waiting to be discovered.

Try turning your next visit into a challenge: everyone picks a different country or cuisine, orders something to share and brings it back to the table.

One roof. One table. A whole lot of destinations.

Start Your Trip Around the World at The Garage Food Hall

You don't need a plane ticket to discover a flavor you've never tried before.

Located in Bottleworks District in downtown Indianapolis, The Garage Food Hall brings independent restaurants and culinary traditions together in one place. Take a lap, follow whatever smells good and see just how far your appetite can take you.

Come hungry. Your next destination is waiting.