Alright, so I've been back to Hodak's a few times since my last review and I guess I caught them on an off night. The chicken and the breading both taste a lot better than before. I'm actually able to taste some of the ingredients they have in the breading now and it is quite flavorful. I called in my order and was able to pick it up. Typically a pick-up order takes between 20-25 minutes depending on how busy the restaurant is. I don't think you can beat half a chicken with two sides for $8.10 after taxes. Now if I could only get there on Mac' n' cheese night.... read more

I haven't been here in over 30 years, but food is the same. The cod was just as good as I remember. I was not impressed with the coleslaw.

Not sure what all the hype is about. Just okay. Wouldn't return. But had to visitor "famous" Hodak's.

Hodak's is what TGI Fridays and Chili's were designed to imitate. It's a neighborhood-y place with memorabilia on the walls. It's no fine dining, it's no groundbreaking institution, but it is an institution. They turn out pretty tasty food for cheap. Really, I don't know if most of the food is very good at all - I only ever get the fried chicken, because that's what you get at Hodak's. The chicken is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. It's a very solid, classic friend chicken. The sides leave a little to be desired. The fries are crinkle cut, but sometimes have a mealy texture. The coleslaw isn't anything to write home about. But the bottom line is that the chicken is good and the beer is cheap. The line for seating can look long, but it moves fairly fast and the employees are great at keeping everyone there upbeat. read more

You want to go to the best fried chicken in St. Louis for over 25 years. Then this place to go. And also for a great cold beers read more

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This place is well-known for their chicken, but I'm not really down with a corn meal batter. In my opinion, it makes the chicken a little bland. However, put that same batter around oysters and deep-fry that... now, we're talking! First, you must be familiar with the timeliness of eating deep-fried oysters. You have to eat them hot... and I strongly insist that they be dunked in tartar sauce. Fried oysters seem to work at Hodak's. That's pretty much the only reason I'd go. I've been here before and ordered a breaded pork chop, which was so-so, but I felt it was back in grade school, eating in the cafeteria, with a side of overcooked, canned corn. Not a fun time in my opinion. Regardless, this is a great place to take groups, if you can find a seat. Hodak's always seems busy, and I usually get my order as take out. (I finish my oysters before I get home.) read more

Come early, or wait in line. Or do like we do: sit at the bar. You can almost always find a seat or two at the bar, and with the friendly bartender Steve, you can't go wrong with service. The fried chicken is ALWAYS finger-bitin' fantastic -- one of the few places where I actually crave fried chicken. This time I felt adventurous and decided to try the whole-breaded catfish. If you're familiar with eating whole fish with the bone, you'll love how succulent and tender this catfish is, but if you're squeamish in the slightest by knowing what your food really "comes from," leave it to the brave to enjoy -- some of the best catfish ever. The crinkle fries are soulfully satisfying, and the coleslaw is more of a vinegar base, very clean and refreshing rather than creamy and heavy. The prices are unbelievable to boot for the portion and quality of the food, which is why we usually head to Hodak's when we're in St. Louis. I'm still nursing my fried catfish hangover (which is more like reverie). read more

Made my first trip to Hodak's this weekend with two out-of-town friends who had heard about the "legendary" Hodak's. Not quite as great as I had built up in my mind from the hype. However, it was still pretty tasty! Our party had two half-chicken meals and one chicken strip meal. Portions are huge and prices are VERY reasonable. Some tips from me to you: Be prepared to wait. It took us about 30 minutes to get seated. Drinks are crazy cheap (3 for $8.75), so bottoms up while in line! Good side is vinegar-based cole slaw. Okay sides are crinkle cut and sweet potato fries. Disappointing side was baked beans (blah). All in all, a good and very affordable meal. Far superior to KFC, Church's, etc, but a distant second to my mama's homemade pan-fried chicken! read more

Awesome fried chicken. Cold beer. Cheap prices. What more do you want? Hodak's is "southern" home cookin' at its best and us patrons know it. That's why I've never seen them not busy, the line to see the hostess always wraps around the room around dinnertime. Eater beware. They're extra packed if the Cards have an early afternoon game. read more

Got my Hodak's crave filled Monday night.. Haven't been here in a while, left there feeling like I would possibly need a wheelbarrow to make it. The food is good and the portions are huge.. and cheap. Did I mention good and cheap? The breading they use on the chicken isn't what I would personally choose it could use a little more seasoning but they have the cooking part down to a science... tender and juicy. The servers are nice and service is speedy. I've seen the line out the door at times but it always seems to move pretty quickly. Basically, this is a good place to go for a cheap, filling, family dinner. read more

Very clearly an iconic local place. I love the statues of the beer-drinking foxes (?) on the roof. As for the food, I agree with many of the other reviews here that say that the chicken is plentiful, the prices are good, but it's totally unseasoned. Real Grandpa food. Piping hot and no seasoning. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I suppose that if you want salt and pepper it's on the table. Also, maybe it's another regional thing, but the fried chicken has a rather heavy coating of batter. It's not subtle. It's pretty sturdy. The service is good and everyone seems friendly in a neighborhood kind of way. Oh, and the beers (Bud, of course...it's made just down the road) are incredibly inexpensive. So there's that. read more

We went this past Monday for my boyfriend's birthday. We discovered on our last visit that birthdays are celebrated at Hodak's with a FREE fried chicken dinner, IF you come on your exact bday (no week of or month of bs). Just as before, the dinning room was littered with decor from a local craft fair (cute and all--just not my thing). Promptly greeted and sat. My parents and BF all ordered fried chicken plates, while I snagged a small chef salad w/ side of honey mustard. We all shared the fried mushrooms. FM--varied sizes of plump juicy lightly battered shrooms arrived shortly after we received our drinks. It was the perfect consistency--thin and crispy. I appreciated the horseradish sauce--added the kick that the batter lacked. FCP--heaping mounds of food. The golden chicken was juicy and cooked to perfection. The batter unfortunately suffered the same fate as its predecessor (the shrooms). Fab texture but needing a little more zest. The fries were my fav...thick potato crinkle fries with a touch a greasy goodness. (oh I should mention food is shared in this fam). The slaw, vinaigrette base, was fresh and invigorating. SCS--honestly scared to order a large. So much lettuce they needed a large oval plate. Long strips of ham, quarters of fresh hard-boiled eggs, average shredded cheese, and quarters of tomatoes that actually taste/look/feel like tomatoes in the dead of winter---all topped the lettuce. Honey mustard dressing was good. If they make it great, if not keep using whatever bottle you got! Waitstaff was pleasant but could have resurfaced a few more times given the reduced number of full tables. Bottom line 4 adults ate for less than $50 (pre-bday discount) and still had leftovers. Is this a place to take someone for a fabulous first impression-- probably not. Is this a great value for a home-cooked meal alternative--certainly yes! read more

Hodak's is the best chicken in the state!!! It's a tradition my family loves, we go on everyone's birthday! We all love it and helps us get together and something all look forward to. I've been going there for 34yrs now and never get tired of it. I've introduced many people to it and have yet to find someone that doesn't LOVE it. read more

Proof positive that Yelp is for hipsters- somehow Hodak's is only 3.5 stars average? And crappy overprice Ragu like Pi is 4-4.5. Hodak's is AWESOME. No if you're eating healthy stay away. Although I think you could do the turkeyburger (which is pretty damn good), this isn't your place. How many places in the heart of a city will you find that let you get giant portions of good food for so super cheap? I almost always get the chicken strip dinner. It's too much food honestly. If I finish it I always feel guilty, but it is probably the best chicken strips you can find. Potato salad, beans, fries, and slaw are all great sides and in Hodak fashion the serving sizes of them are huge. Hodak's is a little piece of Americana right in the heart of the south side. Always a great meal. read more

Location: Hodaks is located in a neighborhood that has seen better days, but dont let that discourage you from strolling into the city. There is parking on all 4 sides of the building. Every time i go there I always see a police or security guard hanging out by the parking lot. Best Time to Go: There is no best time to go to Hodaks. No matter when you decide to have lunch or Dinner, the chicken always comes out hot and juicy. However, depending on if there is any special events going on in the area or after a cardinals game the restaurant can get extremely packed. The line can wrap around the length of the restaurant. Once seated the wait is about average for any restaurant. Even on a super busy night you wouldnt wait more than 15min for your food. Price/Food: Price is extremely reasonable. For $7.35 you can get a half of a chicken and two sides. By half chicken i mean a leg, a thigh, a wing, and a breast. Around the same price, an order of chicken strips will get you 4 good sized pieces of chicken and 2 sides. Basically expect to feed each family member for under $10 per meal with drinks. Don't be afraid of the portion size for the affordable price. The meal will fill you up and possibly have you taking home a doggie bag. Also, they offer menu items other than chicken. Overall: Hodaks is a simple chicken restaurant. If you are looking for a fancy dinner you should go somewhere else. But if you are looking for a down to earth restaurant to take your family to then Hodaks is the place to be. Its a place worth trying out, and might possibly be your next favorite place for chicken. The staff is friendly, the food is always good, and the price is right. read more

Big portions of decent food. It's worth the prices. I had the 3wing dinner and swapped coleslaw for Mac n Chez. Mac noodles were a bit mushy but flavor was good. Fries are typical frozen crinkle fries. Wings were satisfactory for the price. Not greasy for being fried. Could use a bit more flavor, but salt fixed that. I think I'd really like it if it was spicy and left a little grease on the fingers. read more

Outstanding! Busy, but worth the wait to be seated. Got a recommendation to go here from several friends and I'm so glad we finally went! Breaded mushrooms were crisp with substantial breading and mushrooms - not your usual puny fried mushrooms! Servings are large, so come prepared to either eat a lot or bring leftovers home! Loved the southwest chicken salad, the boys inhaled their chicken fried chicken and my husband enjoyed his 1/2 golden fried chicken w/ fries & coleslaw. Desserts are good too - today's special was lemon shortcake - yum! We'll be returning! read more

Hodak's - Southwest chicken salad with salsa and ranch dressing - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Now for the majority of my life I spent it living in the good'ole south east, from the Carolinas to Alabama. So living in the area that gave birth to Soul Food, I welcomed the opportunity to once again delve into some deep fried food and scratch off a year or two off of my life and run the risk of cardiovascular disease. I was told that Hodak's had the best fried chicken in town. The chicken was good, but not the best. Honestly I was a bit disappointed. It could be perhaps due to having my expectations of fried food so high (yes I do have high expectations for fried food and yes that is odd) or maybe it was the lack of seasonings. Something was just missing. Hodak's does have quite a bit to offer, though the selections are not all that much, but of what they have to offer, is quite a lot. If you like everything breaded and fried, served up large enough so that you can make 2 or 3 meals out your plate, then you're all set. The service at Hodak's is great. My group was seated quickly and the staff was tremendously pleasant and accommodating. All in all, Hodak's is a nice place to eat, but it's not the best fried chicken I've had. read more

I stopped in to Hodak's for the first time for a dinner with a large group of people. The atmosphere of the place was somewhat busy but overall it was a good crowd and the waitress was very attentive to our table. By far the best thing about Hodak's is the price. Nothing is going to run over $15; a refreshing change from the restaurants downtown. Not only is it cheap, but the portions are huge! A three piece chicken meal with french fries and onion rings will run only $12! You can also order everything in bulk from 10 pounds of chicken to 5 gallons of coleslaw. This makes Hodak's an excellent option for feeding a small party. The fare tastes great for what it is. Expect few healthy items on the menu, this is greasy food at its best. The beer selection was alright although their micros were in short supply. If I am ever in the mood for some good old-fashioned fried chicken, Hodak's would be my first choice. read more

Hodak's is the very first place I eat when I come to STL to visit family, talk about comfort food, the chicken is still the best I have ever had and i live in the south now. So many wonderful memory's when I walk thru the door. I love this place. Best day ever going to Hodak's and a Cardinal game. read more

Do you like chicken? Do you like fried chicken? Do you like fresh fried chicken? If you answered yes to the last three questions, Hodak's is the place for you. Hodak's is great. My friends, coworkers and I all enjoy eating that this fine South St. Louis City eatery. I must say, however, that although I love Hodak's, it isn't the most flavorful chicken I have had. In fact, I would almost argue that little to no seasoning is added to the chicken or breading. What draws me to Hodak's is how fresh the chicken is. Because this restaurant does so much business they are constantly frying up chicken. I have yet to have chicken that wasn't scalding hot when I ordered it. Dinners are cheap. The golden fried chicken dinner is just $6.75 and comes with two sides. Don't try and order chicken by the piece, 'cause they won't let you. Other dinners and specials include cod or catfish, Chicken Parmesan, a whole wing dinner. I have even heard of the toothpick which is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and deep friend. Sides include mashed potatoes, fries, onion rings, vegetables, and mac & cheese on occasion. My usual order? I get the five wing chicken plate ($6.50) with mashed potatoes, brown gravy and french fries. I know what you are thinking... 'What's with all the potatoes?' Simply put, I love dipping my fries in the gravy. I rarely eat the potatoes which I think are instant. There is a non-smoking section located in the upstairs section of the restaurant. Think you'll avoid the line by sitting in the smoking section in the bar? I would advise against it as you'll be asked to get up and stand in line. Fresh. Clean. Cheap. Yep, Hodak's is a wonderful place. read more

Love this place! We frequent here for holidays, special occasions, and when we are in need of some starchy, friend goodness. It is really hit or miss with this place. We showed up one evening a few days before Christmas and had to wait for a spot, but then when we showed up last night, which both were around 7 pm, we were able to find a spot. Last night we dined on fried mushrooms (ewww) and mozzarella sticks. My brother had the catfish and loved it, I had the steak and shrimp and loved it, my sister had the roast beef open face sandwich and loved it. Really, there is nothing on the menu that is disappointing. If you are a fan of AB, they serve all products. Luckily for me they have Schalfly, so I didn't have to order a Bud (have to stay American). If smoke bothers you, this place went smoke free last year, so you don't have to worry about going home and throwing away your clothes. This is a staple in my diet and I love it. They do use tons of grease, but what better way to cure a long day of drinking ;). read more

A STL classic. Always good for some comfort food. I love me some good white gravy & good chicken and fries. read more

Hodak's - Always good. - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

First, let's talk about the service. Our server was fabulous and totally on top of things. Second, nice big table and booth. We came on a weeknight and did not have to wait to get a table. Last, the food. If you love fried chicken, I would say go to Hodak's so you can say you tried it. I wanted to like it. Who doesn't like a heaping plate of chicken? Sorry, Hodak's, but your chicken is not for me. I do not like my chicken dry. I do not like cornmeal crust on chicken. I want more flavor in my chicken, flavor that stands on its own and does not need spoonfuls of barbeque sauce for help. That's pretty much. ETA: Two stars for the fried chicken, five stars for the service. If I averaged the rating, it would have come to 3.5 stars. But we came for the chicken and I feel like that aspect should be given greater weight. read more

I know this has been a long time favorite for Saint Louis locals my self but I really don't get why. Every time i have gotten there much praised fried chicken I tasted everything else that went in the fryer but chicken. The mashed potatoes and grave, look taste, and smell like the started off as a dry powder in a box. Even the meatloaf i once tried had a layer of grease on it. The onion rings are just tasteless. Just not my kind of place. The atmosphere is good but the food is just not something that keeps bringing me back. read more

Food was alright, reminded me of a school lunch though. Fourth star is because the service was outstanding. read more

Hodak's - Chicken fried chicken - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Classic stuff. If you want the chicken saltier put salt on it. Chicken fried steak sandwhich is the sleeper

The most bland fried chicken in the area. Also, chicken fried steak comes out of a box? Suppose to a southern comfort restaurant. No true southern place serves food out of a box. Gave it two stars because of the atmosphere and parking read more

I grew up in STL and would go to Hodak's often due to my father always thinking it was the best fried chicken around! Their chicken is juice but the breading is the closest to bland there is. It's been around forever. The worst thing about Hodaks is that they clearly don't support local businesses. With EGG (amazing brunch spot) and Spare No Rib opening next door and hours being different than HODAKS they still hire security in the parking lot to turn people away for parking to eat breakfast because it's HODAKS LOT.... I get that what you own is what you own. Take pride in that. Also let people enjoy St. Louis and everything it has to offer besides just Hodaks. Especially if hodaks isn't even open yet...... read more

Great place! Best fried chicken around! Service is always good and atmosphere is very welcoming.

I was able to stop by Hodak's a few weeks ago after hearing about how great their food was from a few different people. Upon entering, I felt like I was entering a small town diner, which made the experience quite quaint. I ordered the chicken strips with a side of fries and mac & cheese. The chicken was absolutely delicious and was brought out in huge portions for a very cheap price. The sides, however, were not very good. I think the chicken itself made the entire meal worth it. I would definitely come back and have the chicken strips again. read more

This is a Saint Louis go-to for fried chicken so they say. You get enough food for two people for under $8. Love the atmosphere, it's large and if you feel like having a few beers the bar is great too! The appetizers are decent and so cheap! The quality is okay but flavor is alright. read more

Had the chicken of course, since that is what they are known for. Definitely a lot of food and the price was not bad. The taste was decent, just different. I would not say it was the best fried chicken I have ever had but pretty darn good. It's some kind of cornmeal batter (or at least felt like that). The slaw is vinegar based so if you like that versus a creamy slaw, you might like theirs. I didn't, but that's personal preference. The fries are thick crinkle cut and were good. I asked how their onion rings were and was told it's the normal frozen out of a bag kind, so if liked that I would be fine. I laughingly declined. If your in the area and want to check out a well known casual St. Louis eatery...go for it. I don't know that I would drive too far out of the way though. read more

No trip to St. Louis goes without a visit to Hodak's! I have been here at all times of the day, but usually hit Hodak's on Sunday morning on the way out of town. It's always busy, and rightly so! I'm guessing the majority of their orders are for the fried chicken. The breading is amazing! It's dense but not thick and bready, if that makes sense. Basically, the breading is not crumbly like Popeye's. It's more like broasted chicken (cooked in a pressure cooker), but still is definitely of the fried origin. Hodak's makes some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. I'd say Hodak's rivals and may be better than fried chicken giants Fiorella's, Seaport (RIP) and Praline Connection (all of New Orleans), Chicken 'n Spice (Joliet), Stanley's and Uncle Remus (Chicago). Yes, it's also way better than Harold's (Chicago). Two orders of fried chicken (an order consists of 1/2 a chicken with potato and slaw) + three drafts of Miller Lite = $21. Beat that! read more

At long last, I finally took the plunge and tried the now Yelp-Infamous Hodaks. My friend has been going here for years and highly recommended the 1/2 Golden Chicken plate, so that's what I got. First let me say that the place was packed! We went around 2pm-ish and it was just wall to wall tables and people. The atmosphere could be described as a rustic Applebees. The walls are adorned with all manner of nostalgia inducing antique bric-a-brac. Service was great. Our waitress took our order promptly and kept our drinks full. And our food came out fast! I was surprised by just HOW fast considering the amount of food that came out. I had a wing, a breast, a thigh and a leg (duh, 1/2 a chicken!) a mountain of crinkle cut, oven-baked fries and vinegar based coleslaw. Everything was piping hot and was properly cooked. The fries were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I tried a few bites of the coleslaw and it was ok, I guess.... which is an extremely positive remark considering I hate coleslaw. Of course the chicken was the star of the show! It was tender. Juicy, excellently prepared and had a rich, slow cooked chicken flavor. I will say that the breading was a little disappointing. It was more of a cornmeal/breadcrumb coating rather than more conventional flour batter. While the spicing was pretty good and added another level to the deliciously prepared chicken, the somewhat gritty texture left me yearning for Porter's flaky batter. Definitely not bad, but it seemed like a texture that would require getting used to. I also really enjoyed the flavor of the bbq sauce on the table, although it could have been nearly any kind of bbq sauce since it had been packaged into a blank, maroon squeeze bottle. A massive meal leaving me feeling weak and sickeningly full (a sure sign of an EXCELLENT meal!) all for $12 dollars including tip will have me coming back to try other items on the Hodak menu, despite my feelings about the breading. read more

Parked with no issue when arriving on a Saturday at 6:45pm. Was greeted with a friendly hostess. No tables for 3 were immediately available, so the hostess gave us the option of waiting in the entry area or waiting at the bar; we opted for the bar. The bartender was kind, but not 100% available since he had other patrons. No big deal, it was nice seeing him catch up with the regulars. Our table was called after about 10 mins. The restaurant was definitely full, so the wait service was a bit sluggish all night, but no big deal, atmosphere was good. Food came fast after ordering. I had the HODAK's CHICKEN WINGS with HOT SAUCE and POTATO SALAD on the side. For dessert, I had a slice of CHEESE CAKE. Now I'm not going to waste your time by talking about the potato salad or the cheese cake, which both tasted good and as expected. However, the chicken wings were might fine; fresh, crispy, juicy, and tasty. Did I mention the portion size? HUGE! One plate came with 10 wings, which towered like a tiny chicken mountain on the table. This was definitely enough food for 2. Just when I didn't think my meal could get better, I decided to try the hot sauce. HELLO JESUS, GOOD TO MEET YA! The sauce was perfect, monumental flavor and just enough heat to keep you from guzzling down the wings like a man fresh out of the dessert sucking down his first glass of water in days. Chicken is the star at HODAK's and it shows. These were the best wings that I've ever eaten, so if you're looking for a tasty meal, stop looking, grab your wallet, and go to HODAK's right now! read more

this is the ultimate midwest fatty fest. We arrived at 11:30am on a Friday, and the place was packed! wow. our large party thought that at this hour, it was ungodly enough to think about consuming large amounts of fried food that we could beat the line. apparently, we weren't the only ones following this line of reasoning! The chicken was fine. $7 bucks for a half a chicken, fried, with a choice of 2 sides? deal! the chicken was fried in pretty fresh oil, with a cornmeal batter, but it was disappointingly underseasoned. The menu boasts different daily specials, and we happened on a daily special of fried chicken liver. Awesome! definitely the best part of the meal. Be forewarned that when ordering an appetizer of wings, you have a choice of fried and non-fried. I definitely preferred the non-fried ones. Finally the choice of sides is probably the most difficult; i really liked the beets, was slightly disappointed w/ the fries, and wished the onion rings came in a larger portion. One note of caution: the bacon-wrapped hot dog looks nothing like the picture on the menu! thumbs down, will definitely pass on that next time. go with a large group so you can get a ton of different items to share. and wear your elastic waistband pants! read more

To be honest, this was only my second visit in the 20 years I've lived in St. Louis. My team was in Benton Park and the first place we went to was too crowded, so we walked a block to Hodak's. I found the menu to be limited and my food was under seasoned. My entire team said they were underwhelmed with their food as well. read more

Most people love this place, and I have had good experiences in the past. Not fantastic or exemplary but good. While the chicken is decent it's not going to make up for any and all bad experiences. Manners, appreciation and kindness will, however, make up for marginally good food. It's not a two way street. While visiting recently 3 of us were sat at a large, round table. We were perplexed as to why but sat anyhow. Within 2 minutes we were asked to move and we did so willingly. Unfortunately for us it was to a dirty table. After almost 10 minutes of waiting and watching several servers pass and look away so no eye contact was made we all decided someone had to get up and say something, which I did. The manager I seen was on a computer and wouldn't, or couldn't look up. I stood in the middle of the service area waiting and finally another mgr showed. She walked with me back to the table as if this was normal and of course they would clean the table. The weird part was the story of how a crazy lady threw her keys on the roof and she was up there getting them. Possibly true but irrelevant. The rest of the time went well. The server was extra nice and the food good and hot. I like how they use corn meal and get a good scald on that chicken! read more

I have been hearing that Hodak's has "the Best Fried Chicken in St. Louis" for at least 20 years. Since the line was too long at Blues City Deli at lunchtime today, I decided to finally try some of that world famous chicken. I was actually kind of pumped because I was about to try what I thought would be the best fried chicken I'd ever had. It was the worst fried chicken I have ever had. The coating is made of mostly corn meal. What is this? Fried catfish??? It wasn't flaky and it seemed to be on the verge if being dangerously luke-warm, too. Sides were fine, prices were cheap, portions were big and the service was friendly, but man... That was some nasty chicken. read more