A State-by-State Guide to the Most Iconic Foods in America

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Indiana: Pork tenderloin Sandwich

Indiana’s culinary claim to fame is the breaded pork tenderloin sandwich, a Hoosier classic that’s bigger than your head (literally, the meat often far exceeds the bun in size). This sandwich features a pork tenderloin pounded out until it’s thin and huge, then breaded and fried to crispy perfection. The result is a golden schnitzel-like cutlet, usually spilling out from a small hamburger bun. It’s typically dressed simply with pickles, onions, and mustard or mayo – though every Indiana diner has its own twist. The pork tenderloin sandwich has roots in German immigrants’ schnitzel, but Indiana made it its own, and you’ll find it on menus from Indianapolis to the smallest farming towns. Hoosiers have a real soft spot for this meal; it’s the kind of unfussy, filling comfort food that generations grew up eating. If you ask an Indiana local about iconic foods, chances are they’ll excitedly point you toward a spot to try a truly great pork tenderloin sandwich, proudly breaded and fried the “Indiana way.”