Strange Bird

Equal parts neighborhood watering hole and tropical escape, Strange Bird has been nestled on a quiet corner of historic Irvington, on the Eastside of Indianapolis since 2019. Founder Neal Warner is a Rum and Oyster enthusiast, and on any given night, ornate tropical cocktails and platters of glistening shellfish can be seen floating through a dining room bedecked with bamboo and bac-bac matting. In the kitchen, Chef Kyle Humphreys composes distinctive and resonant bowls of Japanese Ramen, with noodles made in-house and bones simmered for hours. His team pleats dumplings by hand, and plates shattering-crisp cutlets of Katsu alongside deeply savory curry and fluffy rice. The experience is rounded-out by the long-tenured crews’ dedication to warm service. It’s Hoosier hospitality, desert island edition.