Whether you plan to splurge on a single snack or buy all your meals at the racetrack, there’s no shortage of food options at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. But what is the tastiest treat at the track? Caz, former restaurant manager and our resident gourmand, got an early preview of some of the items on offer and is here to tell you what’s worth the cash, and what you can skip. Read on for her thoughts on what she tried, from worst to best!
Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich: Crispy chicken topped with a golden fried mozzarella cheese stick and rich marinara sauce, served on a fresh bun.
As a Wisconsinite, the notion of frying cheese and sticking it on top of your sandwich is very exciting. I’ll admit I did wait in a long line to get my hands on a Culver’s Curder Burger and I don’t regret it one bit. But here, on top of a fried sandwich, on a thick bready bun, with a rich tomato sauce as the only contrast it’s just so much bread. I know it’s Carb day but yikes, a whole one of these is nap-inducing, not something I’m looking for on a busy day. You get the feeling this would sit like a rock in your stomach, and given what I’ve heard about the public bathroom situation that feels very un-ideal.
Verdict: I’d skip this one, unless bread is like, really your thing.
Hot Pork Tenderloin Sliders: Breaded fried pork tenderloin sliders topped with giardiniera and zesty pickle ranch sauce, for an Indiana favorite
In addition to being a cheese-addicted Wisconsinite, I’m also a brand new Hoosier (look at me go, a veritable poster child of the midwest). I understand the importance of the pork tenderloin sandwich, and I have had and enjoyed many. This just wasn’t one of them. I will acknowledge that the tasting portion messes with the ratio of pork to bun, but I still feel the pretzel bun is too dense and overpowers the flavor from the pork. The pickle ranch was dope, though.
Verdict: If you’re interested in sampling this local treasure I’d do it off track. Find a dive bar one evening and save your IMS money for something more interesting.
Cuban Sandwich: Slow roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on a fresh roll
This was fine. Pork and ham were hot and flavorful, cheese was melted, there were plenty of pickles and mustard. But it wasn’t very interesting. Whether that matters is really up to you.
Verdict: Tasty. Get it if you feel like a ham sandwich with some zing. But don’t expect to remember it next week.
Tater Kegs: Extra-large crispy tater tot, loaded with smoky bacon and melted cheddar cheese, stuffed to perfection for a golden, gooey bite in every mouthful
Imagine a super-sized tater tot, with bacon and cheese inside. Now imagine that tot smothered in cheese sauce and topped with green onions. These are pretty tasty, and the size of the tot gives them a little something special (not to mention they’d be easier to eat forkless than the standard tot). These would probably have been ranked a few places higher had I tried them on a hot afternoon with a beer.
Verdict: Get ‘em. They’re fun, tasty, and shareable. Split these with your group as an app and then treat yourself to one of the following.
Cheesesteak Irish Nacho: Crispy potato chips topped with shaved beef, sautéed peppers and onions, cheddar cheese sauce, for a twist on a classic
This was fun. The different chip type and flavor profile made an interesting twist on the classic nacho, and the shaved beef was both tender and plentiful. The veggies were fresh and a nice bright contrast to the fried chips and heavy cheese. Even the tasting portion was a decent size, and I’m guessing the full sized version would be enough to give most hungry race fans a good fill up. The drawback here is standing eatability. You’ll need either a fork or plentiful napkins and some hand sanitizer for this one.
Verdict: Yum. If you’re prepped to eat cheesy finger food while moving around this is a winner.
“Slaw Dog” 2025 Wienie 500 Winner (Oscar Mayer): All beef Oscar Mayer hot dog, topped with chili sauce and a vinegar based cole slaw
OK, there’s some definite bias at play here, as the Wienie 500 is maybe one of my favorite things that has ever happened. But also this was a genuinely good hotdog. The chili was beefy and satisfying, and the vinegar slaw was the right bright contrast. Plus it’s served in a special hot dog shaped box. It may be simple, but it’s done right.
Verdict: Yup. That’s all.
Carnitas Street Corn Bowl: Slow roasted carnitas served over seasoned rice with fresh pico, and a creamy chipotle may drizzle for a bold, flavor packed bowl
Is this a little out of the norm for sports food? Sure. But none of that matters when something is this tasty. The rice was properly cooked, carnitas and chipotle mayo were nice and spicy, and the pico was bright and fresh. This tiny tasting bowl was my favorite by far (and the favorite of Chef Obrien Tingling). Again this is a fork required situation, but I became supremely unbothered once I took a bite.
Verdict: If I planned to buy one snack at IMS, this would be it.
Alright, if you’ve got your food sorted you’ll need to consider your beverage. In addition to the classic beer and seltzer options you’ve got a few fun mixed drinks available. We only tried two, because we’re at work.
Vodka Cucumber Coolant Mule: Big Machine Vodka, ginger beer, cucumber, lime, mint
Do I want to associate my drinks with coolant? Probably not. But outside of the sketchy name this was a perfect beverage for a hot day. Really crisp with a bit of a bite from the ginger beer. I could sip this all day long.
Boosted Blueberry Lemonade: Big Machine Vodka, blueberry simple syrup, lemonade
Speaking of sip all day long. This one was lighter on flavor than the mule, and I could see putting quite a few down before you really notice what you’re doing. The mule was more suited to my tastes, but this was very refreshing, and felt like a great addition to a hot day.
For a special treat, Caz also got a quick preview of the premium food served in the suites. No point ranking this, as most of us won’t have access to these menus, but it’s nice to take a look at how the other half lives.
IMS Logo Tomahawk Steak: Talk about instagramable. Chef Tingling told us the etching on the bone is done by hand with a laser tool, and adds about 20 minutes to the prep process of each steak. This beautiful piece of meat was served with roasted carrots and a very properly creamy mac and cheese. And I’m picky about mac and cheese.
Heirloom Tomato Salad: A classic, but when you’ve got the good tomatoes why mess with them? A hefty ball of burrata on top takes this from standard and simple to special enough for a suite.
Korean BBQ Meatballs: This is where I became upset I’m not a wealthy woman. These meatballs were tender and juicy, with an absolutely delicious sauce. I would eat way too many of these meatballs if a bowl appeared in my suite.
Dessert Charcuterie: This makes sense for service in a suite – a big dessert board where people can grab as much or little as they’d like. But outside of the cheesecake shooters (which were very tasty) this was something you could assemble with $20 and a quick run to Trader Joe’s. Given the choice between this and a funnel cake I take the pleb food every time.
