GF Gomae Salad - The Star of the Show
GF Teriyaki Twice Fried Wings
Scorpion Reef
#yum #ReviewsByRL
The ceilings and lighting are so fun here!
Drink
Gyoza & Pina Colada
"Wipeout" served with flavor & flame
Ambience
Mai tai and Saturn
Interior (oyster shucking bar)
Drink
close up of Pearl Diver #yum #ReviewsByRL
Inside
Painkiller
Strong Order Cocktail
TANTAN MAZESOBA
interior
sushi and sashimi
Inside
Atmosphere was all tiki bar vibes and the waitstaff was hip
Alesha M.
Mar 4, 2025
Strangebird is among the 10 places you should go before you leave Indiana... die... whatever - it's just that good okayyy..It is always busy. IT IS ALWAYS BUSY, please be prepared to wait and don't be rude. You can have a pre dinner cocktail in the lovely, hipster, vintage, tiki glow while you wait..Get the Gomme salad. Period. They house make the pickled veg and it is something I will crave forever, I have tried and failed many times to replicate it and no they won't tell you and no they won't sell you the pickled veg, I've tried..Tonight we got the Ramen. Their Ramen features handmade noodles and house made broth 3 options (chicken/ pork, chicken, or veg) using local sourced proteins and ingredients..My order from tonight - Shoyu - clear chicken broth with a little ginger, noods, soy saucey egg, chicken, *ORDER WITH NO PORK AND NO FISH BITS. (Cause seafood allergy and pork makes me feel like I've had 3 bottles of very high tannin wine, but that's me)..Mocktails are fabulous. Cocktails are delicious, too delicious they're sneaky strong proceed with caution..Skipped dessert but it's all good - silent plea to bring back the miso basque cheesecake though..Anyways in conclusion it's the bomb, go with friends order one of everything and share it all.
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Matt L.
Mar 3, 2025
probably a 3.5, but rounding upCame recently on my drive through Indi. This is a tiki bar themed place, but there is also a separate section of the place which is more of a traditional dining areai came here because i was specifically interested in having ramen, and this place apparently has some of the better ramen in the city. i got that, along with the spring rolls. i thought everything was good. i really don't think it was anything special, but i think it's nice that there is ramen to be found in indianapolis in general, and that should be celebrated
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Emily M.
Feb 22, 2025
Strange Bird is my favorite neighborhood spot. I love everything on the menu (and we go so often I think we've tried it all) and the staff are SO friendly! Cannot recommend the ramen and oysters enough. Their mignonette and horseradish sorbets that come with the oysters are incredible.They do not take reservations though so I recommend showing up slightly early and having a drink or going on a little Irvington walk while you wait.
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Erin D.
Feb 19, 2025
Strange Bird is so cozy in the winter and fun in the summer. To me, tiki bars are great any time of year to make me feel like I'm on vacation. The food and drinks here are high quality and include a mix of elevated classics and unique creations. I love how everything is served with a little extra flair - a gold paper crane garnish "flying" just above my drink or decorative dishes that make the experience more fun. I love the lighting and interior design details throughout.I've had the wings a few times and enjoy them. I appreciate that they can be gluten free! My new favorite is the Gomae Salad. I ordered it just to add some nutrition to my meal and was surprised by how much I loved it! The dressing was creamy and peppery, the radish added unexpected zing, and the spiced almonds added the perfect crunch. My husband loves the curry. The servers are down to earth and friendly. It seems like the owner has a lot of passion around the sourcing of ingredients and offering a unique rum selection. I wish I could try the ramen, but I feel like a gluten free version wouldn't be authentic and I appreciate the options I have.
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Madison C.
Feb 22, 2025
I previously left a review that went into more depth, but I got to try their ramen and take pics so I had to leave these here:-) The Saturn is my go-to drink. It's so so so good. The ramen was actually crazy. I've had ramen at other places before, and trying strange bird's made me realize that I have not been eating good ramen lol. It was delicious, unlike anything I've ever had before. Thank you, Strange Bird!! Until next time--
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Rachael J.
Feb 3, 2025
Super good ramen! Definitely a must try if you are in the Irvington area after 5pm. They don't have a ton of seating inside but bar seating is an easy option. If you go between 5-6pm the oysters are on special, or all day on Sunday. The oysters were really good with a fun little onion vinegar frozen spread to eat them with. My husband and I both ordered ramen. I tried the tonkatsu and added spice. It was very good but the broth was mild and I'm glad I ordered the extra spice with it. The egg was super tender and jammy, the pork cooked perfectly and the in house made noodles were springy. He ordered the Spicy Tantanmen which he loved too.We tried a few fun cocktails and they definitely put time into creating them. Will be back to try more things!
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Mardeisha P.
Mar 2, 2025
When I say this place is worth the hype, I mean it. I've lived in places with great ramen & I was pleasantly surprised Indy had this spot. I had the Tonkutsu with added spice which I highly recommend. Also, tasted one of the soupless ramens and it was even better than the broth based ramen! Moving to beverages, the drinks aren't just cute to look at, they actually got some strength to them. They have cute names & glasses. I'd recommend the painkiller & scorpion reef. The service is good with the waiting area allowing you to order drinks while your table comes available. I will warn that the wait in the evening can be a bit crazy at an hr+ but I just take that as a sign it's a well-liked business.
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Katie E.
Jan 26, 2025
While this is a great funky place, hipster for sure, the value isn't there. Food is good, but nothing special verse other ramen available in the area. Also their cocktails are more about the appearance than the value again. Fun place, we just left hungry and underwhelmed with a $125 bill. I would go again, just had to be the right occasion now that the expectation is set.
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Emi M.
Nov 7, 2024
It was my second visit to Strange Bird. I was there for drinks with friends. It was Saturday so the place was very busy, but they took my name and we were able to get a table in 10-15 minutes. Our server was very nice. Even though we had more people coming and had to ask for a big table, he accommodated us with a smile.Mocktails have been my new favorite and I tried the Piña colada with no alcohol. It was so refreshing and delicious. They have such unique drinks and it's a lot of fun. I love their interior too.
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Naomi E.
Oct 20, 2024
I really like the tropical vibe here with the decorations, lighting, and music. There are two different sections for inside seating as well as a separate patio for outdoor seating. The parking lot is small but you can park on the street.The service was friendly and inviting. We ordered a couple of their very unique cocktails. The Scorpion Reef and the Zombie were refreshing and strong. They have a limited menu. We had the Gyoza for our appetizer and they were like any Gyoza I've had but the Tonkotsu ramen was delicious, full of flavor and the ingredients all worked well together. My friend had the Wings which she said had a kick and was great but they only had carrots for a side and she wished there were more options to choose from. This is a cool spot and I plan to come back.
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