"Cunningham's pan-Asian room in the Bottleworks loading dock, the pork bao the draw — book it for a group birthday."
About Modita
The pork bao buns come three to a plate at $16, the steamed dough folded over grilled pork, slaw and miso aioli. Modita opened in 2021 in the old Coca-Cola bottling plant's loading dock at 850 Massachusetts Avenue, the Bottleworks District room from Mike Cunningham's restaurant group. The kitchen runs pan-Asian and wide: a sushi bar, dim sum, a robata grill, and Mongolian beef noodles. Plates are built to pass around and the room is loud and full. It earned a spot on Indianapolis Monthly's Essential 38.
The Kitchen
Modita is a Cunningham Restaurant Group project, the Indianapolis company founded by Mike Cunningham, and its kitchen plays across Asia rather than committing to one country. The pork bao buns at $16, three pillowy steamed buns with grilled pork, Asian slaw and miso aioli, are the dish people come back for. The Mongolian beef noodles and the pho soup dumplings are the other signatures, alongside beef jiaozi from the dim sum list and char from the robata grill.
The format is built for sharing: a sushi and maki bar, a dim sum section served in fives, robata skewers, and a handful of larger rice and noodle plates. Most dishes run small plate to mid-size, which puts a full dinner around $30 to $55 a head before cocktails. The bar program is as much a draw as the food. The setting, in the restored Coca-Cola plant's old loading dock at 850 Massachusetts Avenue, helped land Modita on Indianapolis Monthly's Essential 38 list of the city's key restaurants.
The Room
The room is the reason to see it: soaring concrete and steel in the restored Coca-Cola bottling plant's loading dock, banquettes, hanging plants and a long bar, dramatic without trying too hard. Sound is loud, especially on weekend nights when the Bottleworks crowd fills it, so this is a place to be social rather than discreet. Lighting is moody and low, tables are spaced for groups more than couples, and the dress code is no-rules smart-casual. It seats a large room plus a patio onto Mass Ave, so groups and walk-up bar seats both work.
Best for a Birthday
Book Modita for a birthday because it is built for a group that wants a scene: the loading-dock room photographs well, the shared pan-Asian plates keep everyone reaching across the table, and the bar turns out cocktails worth the night. Put eight around a banquette, order rounds of the pork bao, the Mongolian beef noodles and the dim sum, and let the room's energy carry it. For more group rooms, see our best restaurants for a birthday and the full Indianapolis dining guide.
Not for
Not for a quiet dinner or a purist after regional Chinese or Japanese cooking — Modita is loud, broadly pan-Asian and built for sharing, not for a hushed two-top.
Frequently Asked
Is Modita worth it?
Yes, for the room and the sharing menu. Modita sits in the dramatic old Coca-Cola loading dock in the Bottleworks District, and the pan-Asian plates, from $16 pork bao to Mongolian beef noodles and robata skewers, are made to pass around a group. It is a Cunningham Restaurant Group room and made Indianapolis Monthly's Essential 38. Come for a lively dinner with cocktails, not a quiet one. See our Indianapolis guide.
How hard is it to book Modita?
Moderate on weekends. Modita takes reservations on OpenTable and by phone on (317) 316-0470, and weeknights are usually open a day or two ahead. Friday and Saturday nights fill, given the Bottleworks crowd, so book several days out or plan to grab a seat at the bar. The room handles larger groups well, which is part of why it works for a birthday or a team dinner.
What is the dress code at Modita?
No dress code; smart-casual fits. The Bottleworks crowd dresses up a little for a night out, so neat casual or smart wear looks right, but nobody will turn you away in jeans and trainers. The room is a social, design-forward space rather than a formal dining room. Dress for a night out on Mass Ave and you will be in step with the tables around you.
What is the average meal price at Modita?
Expect $30 to $55 a head before cocktails. The pork bao buns are $16 for three, dim sum is served in fives, and most plates are small to mid-size, so a full dinner means ordering several to share. The cocktail program is strong and will add to the bill. Order as a group across the sushi, dim sum and robata sections to get the best of the kitchen for the money.
What should I order at Modita?
Order the pork bao buns, three steamed buns with grilled pork and miso aioli that the room is known for, then the Mongolian beef noodles and the pho soup dumplings. Add beef jiaozi from the dim sum list and a couple of robata skewers, and pull from the sushi bar if you want something raw. It is a sharing menu, so order wide and pair it with a cocktail from the bar.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Modita
Book on OpenTable or by phone on (317) 316-0470. Weekend evenings book up; bar seats are walk-up.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address850 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
NeighbourhoodBottleworks District, Mass Ave
CuisinePan-Asian: sushi, dim sum, robata
PricePork bao $16; $30 to $55 per head ex-drinks
Dress CodeNo dress code; smart-casual
SeatingLarge room plus Mass Ave patio; good for groups
ReservationOpenTable or direct
Phone(317) 316-0470
DietaryVegetarian sushi, dim sum and sides; ask the kitchen
