Real Shapiro’s corned beef inside IND Main Terminal
Past security in IND’s Main Terminal, Shapiro’s Delicatessen gives you a true local Jewish deli option instead of generic chains. This outpost runs about $$ per person, and the move here is a stacked hot pastrami or corned beef on rye with a side of real deli pickles. You won’t get the full downtown menu, but the core sandwich lineup travels just fine before a flight.
Shapiro’s sits airside after the checkpoint, so you can grab a sandwich and walk to any concourse without re-clearing TSA. Expect airport pricing: several reviewers call out smaller portions and higher prices than the flagship on South Meridian Street, basically “airport tax” in action. Figure a sandwich and drink comes out a few bucks more than in town, but still below what some chain spots in IND try to charge.
Regulars on Google reviews say they keep it simple: corned beef or pastrami on rye, maybe a Reuben if you want it grilled. One traveler even admitted they’ve missed a boarding group more than once because they refused to leave without their corned beef. If you know the downtown Shapiro’s, you’ll notice fewer sides and desserts here, but the core meats still get good marks for flavor and texture.
Watch out for portion expectations if you’re used to the giant plates at the main restaurant near I-70: sandwiches here tend to be a bit lighter, and some customers feel the difference at this airport branch. Seating can fill up around peak bank times, roughly 6–8 a.m. and late afternoon, so plan a few extra minutes if you want to sit and eat instead of sprinting to the gate with a foil-wrapped sandwich.
Tip: Mobile signal is decent right outside Shapiro’s, so check your gate and boarding time before you order that extra pastrami—then eat within sight of a departures screen.