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

I have been a patron for at least 25 years. I went about 6 months ago and the chicken was not that good. I went tonight and again.. not that good. Not much flavor on the chicken and the breading was not the way it was once. There are bare spots on the chicken where the breading is not sticking. It was never this way. You used to bite into this chicken and steam would rush out. Not so anymore. Something has changed, please make the chicken they way you used to. Very disappointed, because Hodak's held the award for best chicken in my eyes. My husband had fish. There were hard spots in the fish. Perhaps not cooked and half frozen. I hope he doesn't get sick. I was a passionate fan of Hodak's. read more

Quite possibly the worst restaurant I have ever been to. I know that is a pretty big statement but it is appropriate. The in-laws from a small town have heard this place is great because it is so busy. So we sometimes have to go. I just don't get it, at all. Chicken is greasy and otherwise non-descript. The sides are quite bland and remind me of grade school cafeteria food. Everything tastes like it was cooked in very old grease. Last time we ate there it made me sick to my stomach. The place was very crowded, noisy and very cramped. It literally reminds me of a Golden Corral all you can eat both in atmosphere and low food quality. You would be better off going to KFC or better yet a bologna sandwich on stale white bread. read more

Love this place. So cheap- fast service. It is dive-y, but that's part of the appeal. Good for groups and families. Very crowded on game day so get there quick. I get the half fried every time. Their crust is super crispy and it's always super hot and fresh. I get the potato salad and side salad- nothing fancy, but nice and home-y. Nothing on their menu is intricate or really involved, it's all very straight forward. My sister gets their chicken parmesan which is always massive and she says it's delicious. This place is a family favorite and has been for decades. Best fried chicken in STL. read more

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I recently ate at Hodak's. I heard that the food was good. The service was excellent. The food was average to good. Overall I enjoyed the place. read more

I defy anyone to have better fried chicken! Where else can you get wings so big, it's hard to eat the entire meal?! None of it has the usual dripping grease. :) Yum! read more

I've been going here for almost 50 years. I love love love this chicken. This place has the warmest feeling when you sit inside. The to go menu items are prepared unbelievably fast for a sit down place. St. Louis landmark a must go to. If you are from mars or someone in your party is and doesn't like chicken they do have other tasty menu items but all I see and think about is the chicken. Tons of dedicated parking around the building. read more

Certainly not a fancy place, but walked in for lunch today about 11AM sat right down to a table, the server was very friendly and attentive. Ended up ordering the Jack Salmon, an old St. Louis favorite, and it did not disappoint. Came with fries, cole slaw, vegetable choice (I got baked beans), and a couple hunks of bread; one marbled rye, and the other just regular old white bread that the fish was served on top. Fish was crispy and coating was tasty; fries were typical crinkle cut, but were crisp, hot, and had the right level of salt. Cole Slaw is vinegar based and pretty good, beans tasted like they opened a big can and maybe added some brown sugar and bbq sauce, but still all in all not bad at all. This entire meal was $7.99 and it was a mountain of food for the money. Lots of other great buys and good, although not very spicy fried chicken has long been known as their staple. A great St. Louis staple for many years, still worth the trip for a great meal. read more

Beer is always cold. Food is always hot and fresh. Service is always spectacular and Lenny is the best bartender. read more

Hodak's - Cold beer. - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

This was not our choice for lunch but Blue City Deli has a long line so not wanting to spend lunch time waiting, we decided on Hodak's. Place was busy. It is a self seating restaurant so choosing your table is a plus. But, never having been here, made it difficult to find a table since the place was busy. No big deal so moving on we found a table and was immediately greeted with a menu. Another plus!! Ordering was easy since we knew the reputation of this place-known for their fried chicken. As we received our drinks and waited on chicken meal, we took in the view and layout. Typical old St. Louis building converted to a restaurant. Has a nice feel and pleasant atmosphere. The parking is plentiful and off street. However, parking behind the building triggered my Spidey sense, cause of the location and suspicious characters just sitting in an old rusty pickup truck. So, we parked the side of building facing Gravois. This part of St. Louis is very questionable for dark evening night dinner. Definitely will not travel here for dinner. The lunch finally arrived. I like the appearance of our meal and chicken was hot from fryer- huge plus! The flavor, however, was not all that it was hyped. I found it lacking in taste but did have a nice crispy skin and the meat was juicy and tender. Sides were ok! Slaw is vinegar base which is how I prefer. Wait staff was nice (could have been more friendly). Overall, our experience was good but not a 5 star. My suggestion to the owner is to provide sani-wipe packet by the condiments. Most people eat chicken with their hands so an establishment known for fried chicken should have hand wipes to get that grease off fingers. Napkins help but not enough. Price was reasonable. We can definitely wait for a second visit. read more

Hodak's - You sir are no KFC original - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I used to eat so much fried chicken that 3 years ago I made a new year's resolution to limit it to twice a month, kinda of a running thing I've kept. After all the hype I heard about this place ("best fried chicken in STL", "won over my health conscious sister", "cured my cancer [but gave me diabetes]") I came in with some heavy expectations. Chicken was woefully underseasoned. A shame because the skin had a nice crispness and the meat was moist and juicy. Getting the classic 1/2 chicken plate, I thought the mayonnaise-less cole slaw was a nice surprise, but the fries tasted (and looked) like freezer section ore ida fries. Still, it filled me up and at $7.35 it's value is hard to beat, but I don't think I'll use up my twice a month allowance on Hodak's very often. read more

Nice experience. Enjoyed my chicken parmesan. Great service & tasty food! Also they have drinks :) Definitely would like to eat here again! read more

Ever tried to get a table at this place after a Cardinal's game? That's why it's losing one star. The line is painful at times, but once you finally sit down, and get that gigantic plate of fried chicken, it's completely worth it. A word of advice: have your entire party there and ready to be seated when you get near the front of the line. Otherwise, they won't seat you and you'll be standing there like a fool watching everyone else get your table. read more

Two dolar drafts and the best fried chicken! What more can you say about this place? Went there with 10 of us on a Saturday night, and they did a great job seating us. The waitress was really good with our large group as well. Ordered their fried mushrooms for an appetizer. Newsflash: best fried mushrooms in St. Louis and probably most other cities! Don't go here without trying them. I had the fried chicken of course and it was excellent. The coleslaw was a good complement but was not exceptional like the chicken. We didn't have dessert there but rather at Ted Drewes which for some reason has St. Louis brainwashed into thinking it's good. Hint: DQ is better. Regardless, when in St. Louis make sure Hodak's is on your gastro to-do list. read more

You come to this place looking for fried foods, it's not a culinary giant, it does what it does very well. Four pieces of smoking hot fried chicken, 2 sides for $7? You kidding? You can't get that at KFC! So much better too, although, I would prefer to have a little spice/salt & pepper in the chicken. Perhaps they serve it for you to add as you like. Crinkle fries...enough said. Perfect date to know if a girl really likes you, 2 chicken meals and pitcher of In-Bev's local beer for $20, date night baby! One problem is the line is really really long sometimes. If you live in the city, hit the take-out window and have your chicken feast at home, the chicken doesn't cool down for 10 minutes anyway. read more

Hodak's is a Saint Louis institution. The fabric of this city would no longer be the same without it. There I said it. That said. If you are looking for health food, go elsewhere. If you are looking for haute cuisine, go elsewhere. If you are looking to fill up on good simple fare that probably came out of the deep fat fryer, and possibly tastes of everything else that has been in said fryer for just a few dollars. Then this is your place. Hodak's is known for their fried chicken. I suggest you try it and decide for yourself. I find that it is a little under seasoned for my tastes. But it is hot, juicy, and wonderful. I tried one of their steaks once. It was a solid effort. You have to remember what you are paying, and keep your expectations in line with that. But a solid effort for a very reasonably priced steak. On another visit I tried the fried cod. This was a mistake. It was over cooked, dry, and like I had mentioned about things out of the deep fat fryer. It tasted like everything except cod. The cole slaw saved this visit. It was excellent. The cabbage was firm, and crisp. The dressing was tangy, and sweet. Just really good cole slaw. I will totally be back. Again and again for that matter. While there isn't really any one thing here that just blows your socks off. Being able to feed two adults for under $20 is just too big an advantage to pass up. read more

If your ever in the Soulard part of St. Louis you should definitely go to Hodak's. Really excellent wings. Real good burgers. The smells that come from their building give it away that it's a great place to eat. Friendly wait staff takes care of you very well. A great atmosphere as well. read more

I was introduced to Hodaks by my now inlaws back in 2007 when I started dating my husband. His family frequented the establishment a lot so I got to try it many times. They are known for their chicken and that is usually what I get each time I go. We usually go before Blues games, at least 2-3 times in the Blues season. The bar area is good to watch whatever you are there for. They have a great pub mix and are eager to fill your drink. Only downfall if you are sitting in the main dining area is that you have to wait for your entire party to arrive before being seated. So be sure everyone is there to get seated right away but usually they get people in and out pretty quick. read more

It's really just 3/5 star chicken. Not amazing but it sure fills you up for a great price. Side quality was also pretty mediocre too. But again, this place gets the job done. I've definitely had better and in the city of St Louis too. read more

Hodak's is great for cheap, delicious fried chicken. However, I wouldn't say it is the best fried chicken I've ever had. For $7 a plate though, I can't complain too much! I tried the toasted ravioli, fried mushrooms, and fried chicken plate. Warning - the portions are huge! I could have ate either the toasted ravioli or the fried mushrooms alone and been satisfied. The toasted ravioli was just okay...nothing special. I loved the fried mushrooms. Crispy outside, juicy center... perfect! It is very hot when it first comes out though - be careful not to burn yourself! The fried chicken was moist, crispy, and delicious. I wish the batter had a little more seasoning in it, but the inside was cooked perfectly. Everything came out quickly and the service was superb. read more

While the food here is a classic, don't overlook how well this place is ran. Being in business as long as they have and to put out such good food, so fast, I say good job. Anytime you want really good fried chicken or frog legs this is the place in St. Louis. read more

A St. Louis staple. Their fried chicken is good, although could use some more seasonings in the batter, but the price and service is very good. Other things to try include the fried fish sandwich, which is a nice sized piece of cod. The fried catfish is good, but it's the whole catfish with the fins and bones, so it's more for the adventurous type. On this trip, we went with family on Christmas Eve, so all menu items (food only) were half off. Being that my daughter likes steak, I decided we could "splurge" and get her the porterhouse at $7.50. Was a typical 1/2" thick steak, but was perfectly seasoned and cooked. This is a great place to meet before heading to Cardinals or Blues games, as you can, if timing is right, get in and out within an hour and save a bunch of money compared to concession prices at the venues. read more

Visited for the first time today..2/17/2018...the chicken was delicious...the chicken breast was juicy the skin was crunchy...the Mac N Cheese was creamy and perfectly cooked the mashed potatoes were thick and creamy and the gravy was smooth and tasty...our waitress was very nice and she made sure our glasses were always full and we had everything we needed...will definitely be coming back. They also have a great selection of beer.. read more

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The Chicken is Awesome! The best in St.Louis Mo. We had chicken fries & slaw. Sweet tea is a must. They always bring me a picture of tea . I like asking for Sandy! one of my favorite servers! read more

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Go early. It gets crowded but the line moves quickly. Clean, great service, simple mom and pop place. Food is outstanding - I had the fried chicken, slaw, fried. It was awesome. Nothing unusual on the menu, it is simple good food. Coconut cream pie fantastic...splurge, it is worth it. Price for two people, drinks, chicken dinner, pie, 29.00. read more

A hometown favorite. Whenever we come to town, this is always a stop. The chicken is crispy. We don't generally eat in the restaurant though. Only reason for this is that we eat at my uncles house with the entire family. read more

OK, I get it, it seems that there are as many bad reviews here then good reviews. I understand, I know how you feel. You see, I've lived in STL all my life, in fact I grew up only a few miles from Hodak's. I've worked really close to Hodak's. I've lived your feelings. I have to tell you, it is an acquired taste. Now I know what you are saying, that's crazy, if you don't like it, you don't like it, right? WRONG! When I was a kid, I hated their chicken. It just wasn't good...not at all...& you have to wait in line to get it?? No way! But then something happened....I grew to like it, ALOT! So when I was about 25, somebody said, let's go to Hodak's. I'm like naa, no thanks, oh come on, it's fun (it is a fun place). So I went & you know what - I LIKED IT!! It was probably about the 8th time I had the chicken, it's cheap so I ordered it & it was good! I'm like wait - what happened? Nothing. Wait - it is different now? No, it's been the same forever. IT WAS ME!! Now i've taken people here from out of town, etc., who don't like it. I understand. It's a cool place to go, but you don't like the chicken. I'm down with it. I'm not offended (some people are). I've been where you are. You can change. I consider Hodak's an ACTUAL RESTAURANT because everything is made fresh here. We always get the fried mushrooms because they are made here - not just frozen out of a bag - makes a super big difference. They are great. I say, give it a try again, don't give up, i'm glad i didn't! I would have really missed out! read more

Let's break this down. Atmosphere: Nice open and clean space. Much bigger than I thought it'd be. Not intimate at all (in both the romantic and small diner sense), but good large party space. Service: Waitress was incredibly friendly AND sassy (perfect mix for this kind of place). Appetizer came out quickly, dinner not too long after. Value: The portions are huge for the money. You will not leave hungry. Taste: Here is where Hodak's loses a star. The good: white gravy is awesome (much better than the brown, as the waitress will tell you). The mash was simple enough, not lumpy not loose. Deep-fried mushrooms were juicier than I expected (good). Cole slaw is vinegary (great if you like vinegary non-sweet coleslaw). The disappointing: I'm sorry I didn't grow up with Hodak's or whatever, but this chicken is BLAND. You heard me. It packs all the punch of Wonderbread. I'm not expecting hot & spicy (and Hodak's never claims to be) but I'm expecting some kind of "ooh I can't get enough" flavor. The chicken was under-seasoned and really the biggest letdown of the night. I might comeback, but it won't be for the chicken. Bottom line: Hodak's is a great establishment all around but fails to wow where it counts the most. read more

Great, weekly lunch spot. Friendly service to go along with the best fried chicken in St Louis. First timers... Whole or half chicken plate is a must. Afterwards, feel free to try whatever the Daily Special has to offer. read more

Hodaks is a St Louis tradition. The service can be slow at times and sometimes you have to wait for a table. Those are the only negative things I can say about it. And those aren't really negative at all since the slowness and waiting are due to the restaurant's popularity. If the worst thing I can say about Hodaks is that it's too popular then you should be alright. The best thing I can say is that their food is pretty good and you will definitely not leave hungry. The portions are absolutely huge! Go there on an empty stomach; you will still leave with a doggie bag. I like going there on one Friday every year during lent for their fish. Check it out some time, even though they're famous for their chicken. read more

Came here for the fried chicken, and got the fried chicken. Had the 4 piece meal (breast, thigh, leg, and wing) with fries&slaw and side of white gravy. It was a lot of food at a reasonable price , chicken was crispy and good, nothing that will blow you away but a solid choice for lunch or dinner. read more

Hodak's - Southern Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Came for the chicken. It was good but not amazing. The coleslaw on the hand was amazing. I don't like coleslaw at all but I could eat bowls of this stuff. The portion was large and cooked well. Just wish the chicken has more flavor to it. read more

Came here for the chicken and it didn't disappoint. This place is a bit about the "hype" but I will say you should at least try it if in STL. read more

Yuck. What the ???? I hated it. Horrible, terrible and just plain nasty. I had the Chicken Parmesan and my wife had the Pork Chop both were processed meat and tasted like something out of a can... A total waste of money. This first impression was definitely their last. read more

Found this place on Yelp, WHAT A LOCAL GEM! Chicken strips were lightly breaded and SO YUMMY! Very quick and friendly service. Highly recommend. Seat yourself. If you have a large party make sure everyone is ready before coming in, they do not allow incomplete parties. read more

My taste buds cannot get on board with this bland waste of what SHOULD be fried deliciousness. I know so many people who rave about their chicken, but all three times I've had it, I've been disgustedly disappointed. I mean, it SMELLS wonderful...but I might as well have been eating paper. read more

Cool place, great fried mushrooms, decent prices, and big servings. Just not fond of their chicken, not understanding the hype.

I'm a vegetarian from San Diego and I'm giving this place a great review. Everyone in the family goes here for the chicken and they love it. I have tried the mushrooms and they are pretty fabulous as well. This visit they now have the impossible burger, a plant based burger and a full bar. As we are traveling in an RV with 2 little dogs, we are limited in where we can go. We had them in a dog stroller with the screen zipped. Not only did they allow them in, our waiter Tim fawned over them and gave us terrific service as well. So with vegetarian options for me, great chicken for the family, a full bar and they let my babies in, I give them 2 thumbs up. read more

The positives - good atmosphere, great prices and large portions The negatives - the fried chicken was perfectly cooked and the breading was very crisp, but it was in need of some more salt and pepper. That would have take it from good to amazing and won them 5 stars. read more

Every St. Louisan just LOVES Hodak's chicken. i go there because all my friends like the place. I think their food is usually good, but no matter how the St. Louis crowd raves about the chicken. I find it boring and bland. It is well cooked and covered in a unique bread crumb crust which is their trademark. I never heard anyone in St. Louis say what I think, namely, Hodak's chicken is bland. When I have gone there and asked for a spicier version the Waitress looks shocked. When I suggest some Southwestern spices or Italian spices, everyone looks at me like I just broke the head off a Virgin Mary statue. The staff at Hodak's response is always, "We have been making it like this for over 50 years and everyone likes it this way." Well not everyone or I would go there more often. Hodak, it is time for a change. Add a couple of optional versions of your chicken breading. Try an Italian herb or two mixed into the breading or how about a southwestern cumin and corriander mixed breading. I know you run the risk of doubling your business and you might have to add a wing onto your building to handle the additional crowd. Yes I know the place is already always busy but even Facebook talks about how bland your chicken is the way it has always been done. Good but still bland. read more