Fat Dan’s Deli

The name sake burger was good, but not quite worth the ride to Broadripple from Zionsville. Overall, I would rate the atmosphere and live band higher than my meal.
Rob J.

I love this place. I have not had a bad meal here, ever. It’s basic, and loud, and small, and a Cubs fans paradise. Try the Dirty tots with their bbq sauce instead of the hot sauce… A+++. Sit outside and bring your dog.

The best! Turkey burger and Wings are amongst my favorites… but it’s ALL so goooood!

Fat Dan’s is a must-​try when in the SoBro area. Their wings are arguably the best in the Indy area if you ask me.
Mariam H’s review about it being a place for dudes still holds true today. I was in this past Monday around 3pm and at least 4 guys were seated at the bar alone. My boyfriend can’t get enough of this place.
It is a no frills place with paper utensils and plates. They offer a great draft beer selection as well. The service is not my favorite, as the servers always seem as though I am bothering them to ask for anything.

I’m still new to Indy, I’m used to SoCal cuisine, so finding decent food is somewhat difficult going by just online reviews, so when I heard more than a few people saying how amazing the food was, I couldn’t resist! I don’t often go out for a Ruben, but when I do I expect awesome, Fat Dan’s delivered! Great place, definitely will be coming back!!!

2^nd time in here for me and I got the brisket again. It is cooked for a ridiculous amount of time and is bursting with flavor. It comes out on a bun, by itself, so if you want lettuce or something on it speak up. It comes out with hot or sweet sauce and comes with chips, but the fries are good here, just sliced up potato’s deep fried. They must have some sort of seasoning, but if one thing could be said, it is keeping it simple and fantastic. Cool atmosphere, right in the heart of So Bro. Stop by for some local craft beer, a great sandwich, and a cool venue to sit and watch people walk by. You will not be disappointed.

5 stars for being great at casual, family-​pet friendly restaurant.
The man who took out order outside was actually the owner, very friendly and funny. They have dog dishes, which is a blessing for folks who take their pups to dinner with them.
I had a very flavorful, but a little squishy veggie burger. I think the avocado was just a bit too thick.
My parents had a pork sandwich and ordered the large set of fries, which were seasoned and cooked well.
Overall, fun and casual with yummy food and craft beers.

Hate to leave 3 stars with this place, but underwhelmed about sums it up. I know I will be back and update, but for now, here it is. The pastrami and corned beef sandwich may have been the smallest sandwich that I have ever paid for. It’s thickness was comparable to 2 pieces of thick cut Bologna with cheese and was equal parts beef and pastrami. All on toast. And not buttered delicious toasted bread, but toast. My fingers were hardly greasy and my toddler could have eaten the sandwich. I did not take a pic because all the pics in Unilocal clearly show a skinny version of that sandwich.
Skip over to the Wells St burger and I’ll start with this, why can nobody cook a medium burger? It doesn’t ruin it for me. But why ask if you can never deliver Indianapolis?! And once again skimpy, skimpy toppings. Big yummy burger patty with enough toppings for a mcdouble… The flavor was there, but this was not a Chicago experience. In Chicago I would have paid less and gotten more.
I really think overall this is a killer spot. Most of the pics are a testament to this. And, the flavors were all on point. I hope I just had a bad experience and next time will rock this memory out of my head.

I’m a big fan of any place that brings out your food on deli paper. In the words of Matthew McConaughey in «True Detective,» Fat Dan’s is «nothin’ snooty.» The fries are insane, the Chicago dog is the real deal, and the reuben doesn’t disappoint. Nothing fancy, just solidly good food all around.

A must go-​to in Broadripple. I went for my first time last night and loved it! Very much a cubs bar. so if you are a cubbies fan, you must go immediately,
The atmosphere was great! Pretty packed for a Thursday night. They had a wide selection of beer on draft. Live music was an extra plus.
I ordered the smoked wings and holy-​moley… these might be the best wings i’ve ever had! They fell right off the bone and I was in heaven. They come in 5 or 10. Get the 10 and enjoy the extras for lunch the next day! Fries were a good side as well.
My friend said he’s tried almost everything on the menu and hasn’t come across something he hasn’t liked once. I am looking forward to trying their veggie burger next time. I don’t eat meat so I greatly appreciate that Fat Dan’s offer’s other options for everyone! Can’t wait to go back.

If you haven’t been to Fat Dan’s yet, go yesterday. You will not regret it. I have yet to have a bad experience there or have a meal I didn’t like. With that being said, if you don’t like greasy, unhealthy food… this is not the place for you.
All of their burgers are gigantic and delicious. Some of my favorites are the North Ave, The Wake n Bake and the Wells Street Fatburger. You can also feel free to make your own burger. I suggest adding a fried egg to anything you order because protein and why the hell not? If heat is your thing then don’t pass up the Ghost Burger. The first time I had it, I started sweating. And I wasn’t mad about it. It’s that hot. For sides, definitely get the dirty tots because they are a game changer. I’ve never had Fat Dan’s hungover but I’d assume these dirty tots are an instant hangover cure. I usually go here when I want a burger, but sometimes I’ll opt for the wings because they are some of my favorite in Indianapolis. I’m not a huge fan of saucy wings. I prefer smoked wings and these do not disappoint. Juicy w/​tons of flavor and a lot of meat on the bone.
As for the beer, they always have a ton of local beer on tap. There’s always something for everyone. They also serve a few different wines.
The atmosphere is relaxed and super fun in the warmer months when the garage door is open and people are out on the patio. I believe Thursdays they have live music which is always a treat. It tends to get super packed so make sure you get there at a decent time to get a table!
Enjoy!

These past few months have been an epic chicken journey for me. The best fried chicken I’ve ever had made its way from Cinci to Mass Ave. The best (and spiciest) hot chicken I’ve ever had came from a magical Fountain Square establishment with the same name as a pretty cool car.
And now the best chicken wings I’ve ever tasted, I’ve found out, are just down the street at Fat Dan’s. If you hadn’t noticed in my other reviews, I appreciate texture more than flavor. These things were unimaginable. Crispy little pieces of char were present in sufficient quantity to add to the smoky flavor without a hint of carbon flavor. Under that was the most uniformly cooked layer of slightly less crispy… not a touch of soggy… outer layer (for lack of a better term). Then you get down to the meat. Soooooo juicy. It’s like the most perfectly cooked fall-​off-​the-​bone ribs, but chicken. And hell, even the bones were tasty. No, I didn’t eat those, but you better believe I sucked every speck of meat off of them like you do with salted peanut shells.
Oh, and the flavor was stellar as well. Smoky, spicy, salty, and a little bit of sweet. I can’t wait to get back and be a carnivore of a different «prey», but until then I’ve got my dreams of chicken wings dancing through my head.

I think I am Fat Dan. I had wings, fries, sides of blue cheese and beer cheese. I’m Danny. I am Fat Dan. Except I don’t own a successful business. Fat Poor Dan.
I was in Broad Ripple and been meaning to stop into Fat Dans. It was NOT what I expected. I expected quick service. It’s sit down. I went in with basketball shorts and a rain coat. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a dive, but I didn’t know what to do since I was alone. Fat Poor Lonely Dan.
I ordered the wings and fries as previously mentioned per the recommendation from the server. The fries were extremely crispy, almost to the point of burnt. I loved it. The beer cheese was not super flavorful so I would leave it be next time.
The wings. Hello naughty naughty wings. They outside was coated in dry rub while the inside was so juicy, fall off the bone tender, smoked meat. It was fantastic. Hands down — best wings in Indy. I will dream about that wing. If I can figure out where the smoker is, hell have no fury like I will go for those wings. Fatter Poor Lonely Dan.
Parking is a pain, but unrelated. Dan can only control so many things, ya know?

Just when you think their Reuben sandwich couldn’t get any better… oh it can. It twas’ the night after Winterfest and my stomach was in some serious food desperation. It was eager to soak up the cornucopia of beer I just consumed. The smell of smoked meat lingered in the air, I knew this was going to be a fabulous meal. Our server recommended the Beef Brisket Reuben (*not found on the menu) and I obliged. Hot damn this sandwich was legit. The brisket was flavorful, tender, juicy and balanced perfectly with the kraut, swiss and relish. As most delicious sandwiches should, the juices dripped down my chin.
Fat Dan should surely invest in some bibs as his meats are not only some of the juiciest around but they bring on tears of joy. A bib would make a great accessory and catch all. In summery — whatever you do just order this sandwich, you will be happy that you did.
**For extra precaution bring your own bib for juices and tears.

Lost a customer.
Screw these guys. Pretentious girl with the nose ring thinks that her place in SoBro is the hottest thing since sliced bread.
Find a different burger.

Pretty upset that my 5 has to be marked down to a 4. My 4 is straight up in line with them marking down the service from a friend who should get 5 star to 4. After Winterfest we were certainty somewhat drunk, but she is an amazing person and missing out on Fat Dans is a travesty.

Meat. This is place is quite freaking amazing. When I say amazing. I mean greasy sandwich in my mouth with the tag «judge me or join me». Everything is good here just depends on the mood that you’re in. Their smoked wings are amazing and are packed with flavor. The Reuben sandwich is so good and if you’re just wanting to try an amazing sandwich that’s not your common one… Get the pastrami and corned beef sandwich. Then call me, tell me you love me, and offer to buy me one too. Fat Dans should be called Fat Olives because it’s worth getting fat over. Disclaimer* it doesn’t really make you fat… Only if u skip the gym… And eat one of their large fries by yourself

The absolute best place to satisfy your fried food fix in Broad Ripple. Whatever you decide to order, which for me is always the «Vertically Challenged Corn Dogs», should definitely be prefaced by eating a more than friendly amount of their signature fries.
A fun atmosphere with walls decorated in Chicago team flags and perfect place to sit outside for lunch on a warm day.

Food is amazing, specifically the wings. The flavors are very well done and unique for the city. The beer list is ever changing and match the food very well. One complaint is that the décor and the bathrooms need updated, as this isn’t a dive bar location and should not be treated as such. My suggestion for two people: Order one large fry and a large wings. Wash down with plenty of beer. You will leave happy.
Service is always superb, as the manager does a great job.

This place is unreal. The food will change a man and the service is always on point. I’ve literally had to alter my monthly budget to include Fat Dan’s due to my average $ 500+ spend there every month. Best investment I’ve ever made.

This place is unreal. I had to buy a whole new wardrobe because I’ve gained so much weight from eating here a couple times a month the past 2 ½ years. Officially wearing size 36 – 38 waist pants now and I do not regret it.
Top items: dirty tots, wings, meatloaf, patty melt and Griffins cubby.

Yup! If this place isn’t the cat’s pajamas, I don’t know what is!
I came here super pregnant and all dressed up on an unseasonably warm December night and sat at the bar. To anyone that’s been to Fat Dan’s you can imagine the hilarity behind this scenario. I was greeted with kindness and amazing attentive service, which I was not expecting, as I was feeling like such a misfit, I was surprised how comfortable I felt at the establishment.
Now what you care about— the Food! Goodness was it delicious– the tots, the fries, the spicy burger, the BLT. Every bite was amazing. No, I did not eat all of this myself, my husband was permitted a nibble or two as well.
I cannot wait to return and take down a few super cold beers, watch a Blackhawks game (oh yeah it’s a bar with Chi-​Town heart) and enjoy a post-​baby meal!

Seriously, is this place heaven?! Hands down the best french fries ever! Their secret ingredient… sugar. And oh a large size is huge and of course totally worth it! I also love their brisket with hot BBQ sauce. Fat Dan’s slow smokes it to perfection as it is perfectly tender. I also got their wings, which are so much better than BDubs wings! They are big and flavorful! They also have lots of beers on tap including local Ciders! I have a gluten sensitivity and have never had a problem here! :)
GO! And don’t forget a side of fries!

I remember the first time I ate at Fat Dan’s, solely because I think the I finally passed the Wake N Bake I ate over two months. That was DELICIOUS. I came here with some friends (one of them is regrettably a Bears fan) and this may have been the smartest suggestion that’s ever left their mouths.
We started with the Dirty Tots and the spice alone made my backside twitch. They LOAD those bad boys up with hot sauce, pulled pork and cheese. This will almost certainly feed 4 unless you’re me, than just yourself. For the entrees I’ve gotten the Wake N Bake and the Wells St Fat Burger. You can’t go wrong with either, unless you don’t order either of them.
Another thing I like about this place is the rotating draft board. There’s always a good mix of beers and if you’re a skinny jean wearing, flannel shirt sporting, beard sporting hipster they even carry your badge of honor Old Style on draft.

My friends and I have a competition to see who has the best wings in town. This weekend it was Fat Dan’s Deli’s chance to shine. The place was pretty busy, but luckily we were able to get a table right away. They had a nice beer selection that included a number of local craft beers. If you’re looking for liquor, this place only has beer and wine. Given that they are known for their wings, bbq and brisket I think bourbon might be a good add to their bar menu. That’s just me though ;) I ordered their wings with their hot bbq sauce. The wings were very meaty and juicy. The seasoning was good, but the hot bbq sauce could have been a little hotter. I enjoy spice. They also do something a little different in that you dip your wings into the sauce. I’m not so much a fan of that. I think they would be better if they were already tossed in the sauce.
Service was okay. Not a lot of enthusiasm going on with our waitress. But she filled our drinks and brought our food so I won’t complain.
I will say the wings themselves were good, but I do enjoy the flavors of some other local favorite wing spots. If only I could mesh the two.

For living right down the street from Fat Dan’s, and never going… shame on me!
I went for the italian sandwich — hot, and let me tell you… best sandwich I’ve had in a LONG time. Like… I thought about it for days, no joke. At first I was caught off guard by the whole no plates, no silverware, but it was refreshing to just do you without having to be all polite and stuff.
I went on a Wednesday night and there was live music inside, but the patio game was strong and so I went for sitting outside. If you haven’t been here before, you need to add this to your «must try» list!

As a diehard Cubs fan, there’s no other place in Indy to go to watch a Cubs game. Let’s start with the food. Wings with the dry rub are pretty much the best in the city. You can expect no frills bar food– Italian beef, hand cut fries, Chicago-​style hot dogs, and tater tots. All their food comes out on paper– no plates, no glass, no frills. You WILL need extra napkins, no matter what you order.
But better than the food is the ambiance here. Dan has created a little slice of Chicago three hours south of the real city, and it’s just a joy to be here for a Cubs or Blackhawks game. Chicago sports paraphernalia lines the walls, and the beauty of Fat Dan’s is that there are only two tv’s in the entire tiny but comfortable place. For those looking for a Buffalo Wild Wings experience with 50 tv screens and a thousand games, this isn’t your spot. But if you want a casual, loving (yes, loving) place, Fat Dan’s is it.
Extra points for the fact that they play «Go Cubs Go» between innings of Cubs games, and when the Cubs clinched the NLDS, Dan gave everyone Old Style on the house. Nothing but love for this place.

Great spot with a Chi-​town feel.
The smoke wings are by far the best item I’ve tasted there. Never disappoints. I’m not a beer drinker but they have a good selection of beer plus hard cider.
You should def give them a try!

So we had an opportunity to visit Fat Dan’s. There was a lot of anticipation to try this local favorite.
Upon entry (for a first timer) I was slightly confused as to if I’m seated or if I seat myself. We just decided to go ahead and find a seat. The hospitality wasn’t great. When someone finally did recognize, it was with lackluster enthusiasm. That’s fine… whatever, I came for the food.
My hubby and I decided to have their wings and their duck fat fries. Service wasn’t long actually; we got our food in good time. There was a lot of food for just the two dishes we ordered. The wings were good; very flavorful and I loved the smokey taste they had. The fries were a little disappointing. I thought they would be more flavorful than what they were.
So all in all, it was alright, nothing spectacular.

Fat Dan’s! Oh how I’ve been longing to try your greasy, heart-​clogging goodness. I dove in head first ordering the North Ave. FatBurger teriyaki glazed with Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms. Big, delicious, and just the right amount of sloppy. I also decided to order a huge sack of tater tots because why on earth not? It was great.
I did a carryout order, and by the time I made it to my location, the tater tots were essentially leaking through the sack. Yum. I got a side of blue cheese and went to town. They have amazing looking food – Chicago dogs (an addiction of mine), reubens, BBQ, brats, chicken sandwiches, and many burgers. It’s a greasy heaven everyone should try out. They also have wine and beer, which is a plus for any location!

I was on the search for a delicious Italian Beef Sandwich here in Indy. Since I was in Chicago for the weekend and was lucky enough to have Portillo’s, I wanted more. (Greedy!) All my research showed that Fat Dan’s was the best spot in Indy for a chicago-​style Italian Beef.
Beyond that, my husband and I were on the hunt for some sloppy, greasy, delicious food– Fat Dan’s seemed to have it down to an art. The atmosphere was very dive bar. They serve everything in a disposable way, which is pretty cool. Server/​Bartender were both really helpful and on top of things.
Italian Beef– Large portion size, the beef was extremely good, and they offer to serve it dry, dipped or wet. (I went with dry, sauce on the side.) Then they top it with a lot of giardiniera (maybe a little too much.) I think the only thing I wasn’t completely fond of was the softness of the bread. I think a little bit of crust makes for a better texture on sandwiches like this, but overall it was pretty good! (Although Portillo’s is still miles better.
Dirty Tater Tots– My favorite! They are tater tots, layered with cheese sauce, pulled pork, house made hot sauce, and scallions. As a heat lover, the hot sauce was still a little much. It was DRENCHED. Next time (oh yes, there will be a next time) I will ask for it on the side. My side will have a hefty amount, but my husband isn’t quite the spice lover as I am. Huge serving, HELLA delicious.
Wake-​N-​Bake Burger– Hubs had this, and he was impressed with the medium cook of the burger. It was HUGE, and had ham, bacon, an egg, and a layer of smushed tater tots on it. I tried a bite, and have to agree… it was pretty great. He’s the burger lover though, and says it was above average, but not his favorite.
Overall it was a great experience and the food was good. HOWEVER. When we got home, my husband was sick for the rest of the night. I was a little sick for a little while. This would be 5 stars if we weren’t just so sick so soon after eating the delicious fatty foods. Given, it’s bound to happen with this kind of food. But we have had some great, greasy, grubby food without such a bad «after experience.»

Popped over for a quick lunch today. Interesting selection of craft beers, a number of choices.
This may be random but I love their corn dog. Not too much breading and deep fried to perfection. Order tots as a side.
Lots of good options on the menu. Hubby wemt with the Italian beef and wondered what had taken him so long to try it.

I’ll be as straightforward as my lunch.
Here’s what I ordered:
–Smoked Brisket Sandwich
–Hand-​Cut Fries
Here’s what I really, really liked:
–Smoked Brisket Sandwich
–Hand-​Cut Fries
Here’s what I’ll come back for:
–Smoked Brisket Sandwich
–Hand-​Cut Fries