5 things to order at Tim Hortons, according to a Canadian

Almost two years after announcing their plans, Tim Hortons is set to open in Indianapolis this month . For those who don't know, Tims is an iconic Canadian chain that in recent years has expanded into the U.S. and internationally to places like the U.K. and the Philippines.

As IndyStar's resident Canadian (although, one who grew up on a different continent), here's what I encourage you Yanks to try at the "Cake and Bake Shop":

Double Double

A classic order — this is Canadian for a cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars. If you want three of each, say you'd like a "Triple Triple," and so on. For those wanting less, a "Regular" is one of each. 

Note that this just extends to cream, not milk. You'll have to ask for that separately.

French Vanilla Cappuccino

This is my personal go-to. Plenty of other coffee chains struggle to make this drink, in my estimation, offering up something that tastes watered down.

Not Tim's. It's a very smooth hot beverage that packs a delicious — albeit artificial — flavor.

If that's too much sweetness, you can ask to mix it with coffee. You can get a bargain mocha the same by asking for hot chocolate with coffee, too.

Tuscan Chicken Panini

Most people probably associate Tim's with breakfast, but lunch is an underrated offering. My favorite is the Tuscan Chicken Panini.

I'm normally not a big fan of onions, but they work well together with the chicken and sweet sun-dried tomato sauce.

If you're looking for something else for lunch, you've got soup, chili, and wrap options, too.

Timbits

You might feel obliged to call these doughnut holes, but resist that urge. At Tim's, they're Timbits, no ifs, ands or buts about it.

You have multiple doughnut flavors to choose from, so it's best to mix and match. If I was forced to pick one, I'd go with Sour Cream Glazed.

And the best doughnut to order is ...

This is the hardest, but probably most important, decision you have to makes. Thrillist says your best bet is the Boston Cream, and Yahoo Canada chose Raspberry Filled.

For me, it's the Honey Cruller. The doughnut features a soft texture but a rich flavor. It's perfect for pulling off into smaller pieces and dipping into your Double Double. 

BONUS: Get creative

Secret menus aren't as secret as they used to be, thanks to the internet. Here are a few options for a custom-built glory at Tim's:

The Gretzky 

(Do we need to mention Wayne Gretzky started his hockey career in Indy?)

White hot chocolate with a chai tea bag

The Doughnut Sandwich

A hash brown inside your sandwich

Don't let these ideas limit you. Let us know what combinations Hoosiers can come up with.

Nate Chute is a producer with IndyStar. Follow him on Twitter at @nchute.