INDIANAPOLIS — Spring brings new restaurant openings to Indianapolis, and the class of 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory. From a Vietnamese banh mi counter in Speedway to an upscale Italian concept on the near-east side, here are five new Indianapolis-area restaurants worth making a trip for.

Pho 86 (Speedway)

Located steps from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Pho 86 is a compact Vietnamese kitchen serving some of the city's most precise pho broth — simmered for 18 hours with charred ginger, star anise, and beef bones sourced from Indiana farms. Owner Minh Nguyen, who grew up in Speedway and trained under a Vietnamese master chef in Houston, says he wanted to bring authentic Vietnamese flavors to a neighborhood where they were missing. The restaurant seats 30 and is often packed by noon on weekends.

Trattoria Faro (Near Eastside)

Chef Isabella Ferraro brings her grandmother's Sicilian recipes to this warm, candlelit trattoria on the Near Eastside, where housemade pasta, wood-fired vegetables, and an exclusively Italian wine list make for a romantic evening. The space occupies a renovated 1920s commercial building with exposed brick and original tin ceilings.

The Hardy (North Meridian)

A classic American steakhouse concept executed with modern precision, The Hardy focuses on dry-aged Indiana beef, classic cocktails, and the kind of attentive tableside service that has become rare. The restaurant's wine cellar holds more than 400 selections.

Spice Garden (Lawrence)

Authentic Indian street food and regional Indian cooking rarely seen in Indianapolis make Spice Garden a destination. Owner Priyanka Singh offers dishes from six Indian states on a rotating menu that changes with the seasons and her family's pantry.

Canteen No. 4 (Fountain Square)

Part wine bar, part neighborhood canteen, Canteen No. 4 is the most casual of the new openings but not the least interesting. The chalkboard menu changes daily based on market availability. The natural wine list is exceptional. The scene is convivial.

Food explorers in Indianapolis can find more dining recommendations through Best of Indianapolis, which maintains curated dining guides for neighborhoods across the metro area.