About John's Famous Stew
John's Famous Stew at 1146 Kentucky Ave in Indianapolis, Indiana has been operating since 1911 — tucked away in an industrial corridor just west of downtown, off the beaten path enough that first-timers need a navigation app to find it. The tenderloin is enormous, the stew is a secret recipe that goes back to the original John, and the combination of the two on the same plate is one of the more unusual and satisfying tenderloin preparations in the state.
The breaded pork tenderloin sandwich at John's is thick and juicy — a half-pound by the menu's own reckoning — served on toasted stew bread with the standard toppings. The Tenderloin Supreme is the move: a breaded or grilled tenderloin topped with John's own trademarked stew in mild, medium, or hot. The stew is described as husky with beef and vegetables in a savory gravy, and Roadfood documented the original experience of having it ladled atop the tenderloin as a kind of uber gravy. One reviewer called it "a delight" and possibly the best BPT they'd ever had. The other reviewer who stopped in for stew acknowledged leaving with an entire second sandwich to take home.
The rest of the menu is a classic Indiana lunch counter: Reuben on marbled rye, stuffed peppers, homemade chili, and the full stew menu in three heat levels. The waitstaff at John's is part of the experience — Pauline, who clued in a Roadfood writer to the mysteries of the recipe, has been there for decades. The chef has come out personally to talk history with customers.
John's Famous Stew is open Monday through Saturday for lunch only, closing at 4:00 PM. Get there before noon or risk running into the lunch rush that occasionally clears the kitchen out entirely. For any tenderloin enthusiast in the Indianapolis metro area, this west side Indiana institution at 1146 Kentucky Ave is a mandatory stop.
Customer Reviews
Rory G.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Stopped in for lunch today and had their breaded pork tenderloin (with mustard and jalapeños), fries, and goulash stew. The stew was good. I ordered a cup of goulash medium heat, but didn’t really taste the spice. It tasted good on a cold day, though!
The tenderloin was huge. I cut it in half and folded it into a double-decker sandwich. It was still way larger than the bun. It is pretty thin, but it tasted great. I took the other half home. The fries were just average. Overall, I’d say their breaded pork tenderloin is good but I’d rather go back for their famous stew.
Jason S.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Damn good eatin’!!👍🏼👍🏼
Scott T.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Thick, juicy, flavorful - A DELIGHT! Perhaps the best BPT I have ever had!
Jeffrey M.
- 5 out of 5 stars
So big they serve it in a pizza box.
Kris J.
- 5 out of 5 stars
Tenderloin Supreme never disappoints!
