This place is an institution. If you don't like rough, unapologetic places that have earned their place in a culture, move along. We don't need you anyway. This place is for people who want simple & delicious food, blunt & abrupt service, & surroundings as if you somehow found yourself in a 50's diner after a rough couple of decades (which, let's be honest, they have been). Do yourself a favor, get a chilled beer in an ice cold mug and exalt in the beauty of whatever variety of their historically smashed burgers & expertly fried onion rings you choose. Sure, you can try the other sandwiches, soups, salads, & sides and perhaps you'll be happy, but I've rarely been as contented as having an ice cold beer, a double cheeseburger (or two), & onion rings at a place that has become a becon & mainstay for a large amount of people from Indy. Workingman's Friend. If you haven't been, it's time. read more

I'm not even a fan of hamburgers, but this place is great. It is rare that I will order a hamburger when I go out to eat, but this is one of the few places that I will go to for a burger. The smash burgers are thin and crispy, but not greasy. I went for the double with cheese and bacon, and it was perfect. The cup of chili was so-so. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to write home about either. This place has been around for ages, and is worth a visit. They are CASH ONLY, so stop by the ATM on your way in. read more

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Most American place you can possibly eat. Come here to eat, drink and be hardcore 'murican. If this joint was in Canada, Justin Trudeau might ask owners to rename this place to workinghuman's friend, but fortunately for us there are no maple leaves on our beautiful flag of stars and stripes. You know this place is legit, its got a freaking cigarette machine next to the door! If you don't know of this place, its a genuine old school staple of the west side. The menu is simple, and its freaking awesome. Get yourself a burger / tenderloin, chili & fries/onion rings, all are terrific and all will fill you up! The chili is huge, and its Cincinnati style, I am a huge fan. Situated conveniently on Belmont, which may be regarded by many as the border of the hood, this place is not some bougey brunch spot for mimosas and hashtags. If you are "basic", come here to pretend you eat at local greasy spoon hole in a wall, it might shatter your world and make you realize Milktooth is a pretentious ripoff! read more

Workingman's Friend - Chilli!! - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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CASH ONLY! Prepare accordingly because you don't wanna mis this! Top notch smash style burgers and onion rings along with Chili and fries. Alternate menu also with various American traditional items! Long bar with experienced bartender! Lunch is the favorite time for locals. Stop by you wont regret it! read more

I love the "no pretty pressure " ambiance,the cigarette machines the delicious messy burgers and nod to a simpler time. While they say you can't go back home again you can go back to the working man's friend and pretend for a little bit. read more

Crispy edges and tender in the middle. A classic burger that everyone should experience at least once, but we will definitely go back. Fries were hot with just the right amount of crunch. Jenna, our server, was working the floor alone on a Friday night and did a great job. Don't forget your cash (it's the only option) and enjoy the nostalgia of this no nonsense diner. read more

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Great quality diner that feels preserved from the older days. Menu is simple, delicious and a low price! Cash only. Burgers are great and side fries/tots/etc are a good size. Look at the chalk board behind the bar to not miss any specialty items. Get there early when they open to get a seat especially with a bigger group. They do serve alcohol or cans of pops with glasses of ice. I went with a group of about 7. We self seated right when they opened and was out of there in about 45 mins (not feeling rushed). If you like hometown diners highly recommend! read more

This is a cash only business No credit cards. I usually do not carry cash and was given a heads up. This place is not fancy but has a warm friendly vibe. Reasonable prices and friendly attentive staff. The food smelled delicious. Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to eat here due to time. The people I was with highly recommended their cheeseburgers and onion rings. The draft beer was really reasonable and came in a large frosted glass. A fun place to hang out after a long day. read more

For me, Workingman's Friend is a great old skool environment. The service has consistently been good and for the price the food is good. I know some people won't like the cash only approach they use but for me I consider it to be a part of the experience. read more

This is likely a superfluous review considering the legacy of this place but here is goes... The first thing you need to know about TWMF is in the title, they are here for those out there busting their butt.. This is a no frills bar that serves some of the best food in Indy at friendly prices. It's loud here, but the voices you hear are from folks who are community oriented thoughtful, and caring. The staff strait up hustle during open hours., so don't expect white glove 5 star treatment, but don't think for one sec a friendly eye isn't looking out for you. Now the food... best smash burger in town by far. The chili is garlicky and super tasty, do not pass this up! Many of the other items are just as time taste bud tested as the burgers so don't be afraid to explore. This is a destination place for out of town folk, and a must if you live in Indy. read more

Workingman's Friend - Double cheese burger, and a cup of super tasty chili! - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I got here at 11 am, and there were several people waiting for them to open. I got the double cheeseburger and onion rings. They have smash burgers, and they are really good, and the onion rings were really good too. The waitress was very friendly and answered all our questions. I want to go try their breaded tenderloin and the chili real soon. By the time we were ready to leave, the place was pretty full. I will probably be going here once a week from now on. read more

Old school! Love this place. Great history run by (I believe) a third generation owner. All female staff that works hard to get your order to you in a timely manor. Get the hamburger and fries. The burgers are so good! Do the old school way. I also liked the chili and noodles. Not from the Midwest so I had to try it. If you do not have to return to the office have the big beer. It is served in this huge goblet looking glass. Closed Sunday and Monday. Open 11-3:00 Tuesday - Saturday. Must by 21 to enter. Cash only no credit cards. If you're looking for some good dinner style food or a great burger give this place a try. You won't regret it! read more

My husband and I visited this restaurant last week! I had heard they had the best hamburgers in Indiana! They did not disappoint us! I am very picky about my hamburgers and it was perfect! The service was second to none and very friendly! We met the owner and loved hearing about the history of the restaurant! We will definitely go back! Thank you everyone that works there! Jason and Carol read more

The hubby and I had a day date downtown today. I had been here before but he had not. Anytime I see fried mushrooms or zucchini on a menu, I have to get them (hence our excessive side order). The other yelp reviews swore by the onion rings so we had to get those as well. All were good (I mean it's fried veggies-what could be bad about those?!) The portion size is nothing crazy but we did have leftovers to take home since I ordered so much. :) The star of the meal was the double cheeseburger. The burger had two thin perfectly cooked patties. The edges were nice and crispy with the rest being juicy. The cheese was melted perfectly and served with LTO. For being a double cheeseburger, it didn't leave you feeling overly full/stuffed. It's somehow "light". FYI-this place is cash only. I knew this because a regular patron took me here before but as someone who is usually cash-less, thought I'd point this out for others like me. It's definitely one of the best burgers I've had in Indy. We don't get downtown too often so it'll be a bit before we come back but we definitely will be back. read more

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I have a friend that comes to Workingman's once a week for burgers so I finally tagged along. I'm not a meat eater so it wouldn't normally make my radar. A few things to know... it's cash only, limited hours, pot holes make parking challenging but that seems to be most of Indy anymore. This place is kind of a step back in time and totally unpretentious. Menus are on the walls, there's a cigarette machine and don't trip over the peeling linoleum floor. Definitely go for the burgers and tenderloins! They pour a huge beer so that's pretty enticing as well. My friends favorite are the cheese burgers which looked and smelled great. I ordered a pork tenderloin to go for my mother and she loved it. Lots of tender meat and not just fried breading. I gave the fish sandwich a try which wasn't bad but stick with the other items. The sandwiches are good sized but I was surprised that there were so few fries. Our server was very friendly. I understand why this place has such a loyal following it's worth checking out. read more

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Workingman's Friend is a must when visiting Indy. It has a "town hall" feeling to it. The burger is in my top three in Indy. Absolutely fantastic. read more

Workingman's Friend - Great burger and atmosphere. Burger is in my top three best burgers in Indy. Cash only, so bring your cash. - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Best burger in Indy hands down. Still the same bar I have gone to for 35 years and my dad says it hasn't changed in the 60 years he has been going. It is worth the trip. CASH ONLY read more

This is my second time having food from here. Today was a bit off putting. The lady that took my order was a real ass for lack of better terms. As I was ordering she kept talking over me about the price of things. I said 3 different times that I don't care about the price as I've been here before. The food here is great. But the that one person can ruin the whole experience with terrible customer service and lack of professionalism. 3/5 due to poor customer service. Highly recommend the food but the the service. read more

The best cheeseburger in Indianapolis. Make sure you get there early before the lunch rush hits!

The food is basic pub fare. Chilli, burgers, various deep fried items like fries and breaded mushrooms. It's a decent stop and inexpensive. Just a bit out of the way for most since it's tucked into an industrial park area. If you're a smash burger fan, it's definitely worth a stop to try out. They get the patty edges browned to a crisp. Otherwise, it's pretty similar to a large number of places in town including 5 guys. Ambiance is legion hall-esque. The usual bar decorations in a very basic room, table and chairs. Service is decent if a bit slow. Try to catch them during off hours - say after 1 PM if possible. Overall, it's a decent meal at a very reasonable price. Being in an out of the way location has to help with that. If you can, find other things to take you out that way. There's some decent tamale shops nearby to check out while you're out that way. read more

Awesome food! Good prices & friendly staff. Glad I rediscovered this place. Be sure to check the hours & they are cash only. read more

If you love strong drinks, a relaxed atmosphere and crispy flavorful burgers this is the place for you. I went for lunch and the burger was so good. I love crispy edges on a burger and the long island was amazing. I had lunch, one drink and went home and had the best nap of my life!!! read more

Great, friendly service, great food, and great atmosphere. You can't fake the look and feel of this place. You'll see people in suits, shorts and T-shirt, first responders, construction workers, etc. it's always a great mix of people. I've been coming here for years and have never had a bad experience. I've only ever tried a few things off the menu, but they were all tasty. I highly recommend the big double burger and tenderloin. The chili is very good and you can't go wrong with tater tots, in my opinion. While many have never tried braunschweiger, I grew up eating it and it's on the menu. Ice cold beer is on tap and served in an old fashioned schooner glass. Don't be in a hurry when you come here. While the service is excellent, your food will take a little while and will be served fresh and hot. Relax, put your phone away, and have a conversation with your table mates. You'll be rewarded with a great experience that will leave you wanting to come back. Remember, CASH only, so come prepared. read more

I didn't give them five stars because they aren't open long enough. This is a place that has a lot of history with regards to immigrants, the Midwest and frankly how we developed the wealth of our nation. They can show you the menu that was in place back in the day, where you paid 3 dollars for a steak. To me it was all very interesting, they have a 60 foot bar, the decor is vintage 60's, and have old cigarette machines (my 24year old daughter was fascinated by that alone). That said, it's incredibly limited in terms of food & beer, but it's an experience that you need to have, the cigarette machines alone can make it worth the trip. read more

Fun little cash only diner that has THE BEST BURGERS IN INDY. Super simple menu but I think that's one of the things that makes this place special. Onion rings were delicious. Soda comes in a can with a sweet little glass of ice. It definitely screams 50s style diner and a great place to take your grandparents when they come to town. Just wish they were open all the time! Haha. read more

Workingman's Friend - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Well my review is going to sound like most of the others on here. We also had the double cheeseburgers with onion rings. DELICIOUS! Shelly was quick to tell us it is cash only and was friendly and informative. We will return for tenderloin and chili with a big ole beer !! 100 years in business says a lot!! Great place read more

Workingman's Friend - New favorite place!! - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

CASH ONLY! There is no ATM inside, so grab some cash before coming. This place is iconic! The menu is simple. You can choose from the classic double cheeseburger or a single patty. The patty is smashed and thinner. They also have tenderloins, grilled cheese and a few other items. Popular side options are fries (thicker cut), beer battered onion rings or a cup of soup. The parking lot fills up quick, but you can park along the street, so I've never had trouble finding a spot. The only thing lacking here is the service sometimes. Some of the waitresses are very grumpy. The last time I went in we had a great waitress, but it's hit and miss. If you live in Indianapolis this is definitely a must try. read more

I don't understand the hype for this to be the 'best burger in Indy'. It was a good burger, sure. Honestly the whole thing was dry. I even asked for no center bun after reading some of the other reviews when ordering the double cheeseburger. Fries were nothing special either. I also thought the price would have been less with the name and all. Overall, a little disappointed. read more

After reading reviews ranging from 'to die for' to 'meh', I decided to try WF for that amazing smashed double burger, if nothing else. I chose to go in on a Tuesday at about 1:30 pm to try to avoid any of the busy-ness I'd read about. As it turns out, there fairly few patrons there at this time. So, good call there. I ordered the double cheeseburger. I wanted seasoned fries but was told they no longer offered those--it's just seasoned salt, by the way, people. So, that was a little goofy. But, oh well, I got onion rings instead. The burger was definite meh. I know it's a smashed burger but it was super thin, very well done (not burnt, but close). More importantly, though, there was virtually no flavor. I kid you not, I salted bites as I ate to try to get more taste out of it. There just wasn't much there. Onion rings were OK but not my favorite style. With only ice water to drink, my bill before tip was $15! (And, yes, I did tip, and well.) Definitely steep for just an mediocre burger and onion rings. But I had to try the place ay least once. However, I don't think I'll be going back anytime soon, in fact probably not ever. I think the guy who reviewed and suggested Steak 'n' Shake instead may have had the right idea. read more

If you're in the mood for a burger- do you and everyone else a favor and visit- bring cash not because it's expensive- but they don't take cards. Absolutely delicious read more

Great little well established dive lunch joint only 5 minutes from IU Health and IUPUI campuses downtown. CASH ONLY. 21 Years Old and Older Only. Cheap and yummy burgers and pork tenderloin sandwiches with a full bar. Seat yourself and share a table if need be. Even with it packed to almost full capacity, a group of 3 of us were in and out in less than an hour. The burger patties are thin and they recommended the double which was a good size especially for only $6.50. A friend ordered the pork tenderloin sandwich which was massive and delicious, also for about $6.50. Great find and we will be returning! Open from 11am-3pm every day except I believe they are closed Sunday. read more

Workingman's Friend - Double deluxe cheeseburger with onion rings - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I've lived on the west side since I was born but have never been here. My husband and I went today and it was fabulous. Service was great, diner style food was top of the line - I know I'll be a customer for life. read more

Workingman's Friend - Salami on Rye - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Making America Great or at least the burgers.......Heres what you need to know. The name is truly befiting and well deserved after 100 years of service and an authentic decor that hasn't been changed since the 1950s. Grab a double cheese burger some fries or onion rings and a 32oz scooner of Americana - Bud or Bud Light and just enjoy. Now the service at the bar was deliverd from a busy female not long or personality or warmth but she got the job done. The vibe is very Trumpian and near completley vanilla but hey the food is good and the rest is just atmosphere. read more

Workingman's Friend - Cold beer and humble distilled selections - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

A total wonderful homey dive that you feel at home right away for some reason. I can't really say anything that hasn't been said. Burgers, fries and onion rings are the way to go and never disappoint. However, she is now having Tenderloin Tuesdays. And don't forget about the yummy grilled cheese, ham and cheese sandwich and chili. Also don't forget to ask if there are any specials. Occasionally the owner gets a wild hair and fixes something delicious that's not on the menu. Other than that... enjoy... read more

Workingman's Friend - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Hands down the burger in Indianapolis! Bring cash. Yelp wants me write more to make this into a review instead of a tip read more

Food was superb. Their burgers are the very best but remember to take cash. That's all they take.

Honestly do not understand the hype surrounding this place. The one and only time I was there the owner was rude as hell. The burger is the same smash burger I can get at just about any other burger joint. Y'all need to get out more . read more

This place is pretty cool. So laid back, dive bar atmosphere-but really clean. Staff is friendly and treats you as a regular. They serve goblets (huge) of beer in ice cold glasses. They burger was great, I dare to say lacked a little flavor, but none the less delicious. I recommend getting the double, as the patties are super thin, but without the third piece of bread (unless you wanna be very uncomfortable for a few hours). They sweet potato fries were much better than regular fries. We will definitely be back. read more

Workingman's Friend - Bars Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The BEST DOUBLE BURGER in Indianapolis! Old school atmosphere- Great Service- Go here ever chance I get-- Ice cold BEER ! Many famous People visit this establishment in May.... read more

Rickety table on uneven floor? Check Linoleum & Formica everything? Check Overworked but still happy and friendly staff ? Check. Jam packed at 2pm for lunch? Check. Loved it. $6 double cheeseburgers smashed thin and crispy on buttery soft buns with the obligatory pickle slices tomato slices & thin raw onion. Paradise on a plate. Cash only. Go anyway. read more

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