It's getting colder, and walks to class are becoming more dreadful. In winter, there's nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup to warm you up. While Panera and Chik-Fil-A have tasty soups, there's nothing like eating locally made food. Here are the best local places in Bloomington to get that dose of warmth you need.
Topo's 403
While the Mediterranean-inspired restaurant only offers two soups, they are delicious. Try their avgolemono if you're feeling under the weather. It's a velvety, lemon chicken soup with orzo.
It's comforting and filling, and Greeks swear by it. Since the Mediterranean diet is known to be the healthiest, maybe it's best to listen to the Greeks on this one.
Pourhouse
Okay, so Pourhouse is better known for their coffee. And they only have one soup. But it's so good it had to be included. While I usually opt for homemade chili, I would order Pourhouse's any day of the week. It's not spicy at all, but has fantastic flavor. It's sweet, but not too sweet, and is hearty enough to fill you up.
#SpoonTip: When you order it, be sure to go the extra mile and add cheese, jalapenos and sour cream.
Rush Hour Station
Rush Hour Station has some of the best pho in Bloomington. Creative names like Home Wrecker (vegetable broth with Spam) and Anger Management (spicy chili soy broth with your choice of meat) are enough to make you want to try each flavor.
Darn Good Soup
The name gives it away. Every soup I've tried there has hit the spot. While I'd still take homemade soup any day, Darn Good Soup is perfect if you want soup but don't have time to make it.
They rotate soups every day, but they usually have Lentil Spinach. It doesn't have meat or dairy, so it's perfect for vegans, but it's satisfying enough for meat-eaters. If you do want something with meat in it, go for the Chicken Tortilla.
Bloomingfoods
I've recently discovered Bloomingfoods' hot bar, and my only regret is not discovering it sooner. Everything I've had from there is fresh and tastes homemade, and I could never get tired of the variety it has. While I've loved everything I've had from the hot bar, the soups are by far my favorite.
They have two different kinds of soup each day — one that's vegan and one that isn't. The flavors range from North African split pea to minestrone.
#SpoonTip: Hooked often has deals on the hot bar — be sure to check the app before you go.
Now, go out and actually enjoy that gloomy, winter day with some of the best soup in B-Town.