We have been going to Rips for decades. My grandparents went there, then my parents, me, my kids and now grandson. Five generations of family, eating THE BEST fried chicken in the world. We went in tonight and I told Bill that it was our grandson's first visit, which make 5 generations, and he gave him a really nice Rip's onesie for free. Great guy, real classy! If you want to tear into the best chicken in the world and cheap and tasty fries and mushrooms, and $2 pints....Rip's is the place. It's worth the drive, drive 2 hrs or more, you will love it and come back for more. read more

I grew up in Kewanee and my grandparents lived in Chicago....I had my first Rip's chicken in 1957... my family was coming back from Chicago and happened upon this place late on a Sunday night. I still crave it and haven't had it for at least 16 years. I can still taste that salty crisp and moist chicken. My brother as well as myself have tried over the years to replicate the batter and we've come close....but never close enough. Don't forget to hit Torries Ice Cream down the street for dessert. My child hood favorite was the Dusty Banana Split topped with malt powder. Great memories and the best fired chicken I've ever eaten and I have traveled all over the world and now live in the south! read more

I came here with a buddy and it will not be the last. Not even the last time this month, we will be back as often as possible! The fried chicken was amazing, comes with fries and complimentary "pickles and crispies," which are a little odd, but points for creativity. We were stunned by the flavor, the atmosphere (great family place, kid friendly!), and the sauces (I reccomend trying the bbq and the sweet chili)...but the most shocking thing of all is the price. It was less than $12 for the BOTH of us, full grown men. Five stars, never change a single thing. read more

We visited Rips this evening, we had planned to be there before 9:30pm traveling from Louisville Kentucky, but were caught in traffic for better than a hour due to a traffic accident. We called ahead at 10:25 pm to place order, when we arrived at 10:45 pm, the owner Jeff asked us to stay and eat in even though they were closed already. What a super guy Jeff is and the hospitality was off the hook. The chicken, mushrooms, cracklins were all excellent and was consistent or better than our past visits. We are from Northern Wisconsin and stop by any chance we get but at least twice a year. Thanks again Jeff for your hospitality and great conversation! read more

I have been traveling 200 miles round trip to Rips for chicken and the best mushrooms anywhere for over 30 years, but yesterday I waited in line for the normal 45 minutes to an hour to finally place my order and find out they are out of mushrooms!!!!!!!! How does a restaurant that only offers two items run out of one of them? When the owner and then my waitress told me they were out of mushrooms it was "matter of fact" not apologetic. Needless to say I was very dissapointed and felt that the owners of Rips are taking their success and their customers for granted. I have sent many friends and family members to Rips over the years, but if my experience isn't better next time I guess it will be time to move on. Steve Rockford, IL read more

Saturday lunch is definitely a priority. The chicken is good, but the strips and wings are better.

Came on a Wednesday. One of the first few tables to be seated, and it filled up fast. Nice open dining area, tho a bit cramped with the amount of seating. Placed our order for a little of everything. Pickles, mushrooms, cracklings, chicken, chicken strips, and coleslaw. Coleslaw was the best part of the meal, along with temperature of the chicken. Other than that, if grease is your choice of flavoring, this is the place! The chicken needs some kind of spice, beside ketchup, and salt. Although juicy as all get out, it lacked in flavor. My group was sent here on recommendation of area locals, and they haven't steered us wrong before, however this is one of those places we won't be coming back to. Service was good, drinks strong, and portions were exponential, but the flavor just wasn't there for any of us. At least the food was priced right. read more

There is something going on in the Illinois valley with regard to exceptional fried chicken. Rip's is the best fried chicken I have ever had anywhere. Its easy to complain about the grease or the wait or the kids etc. but if you like fried chicken, this is the place. Other great places in the Illinois Valley include: John's North Star and Verucchi's. read more

Rip's Tavern-311 N Main Ave, Ladd, IL 61329 (815) 894-3051, www.ripschicken.com Does not take Credit Cards: Has an ATM machine If you DON"T like Chicken - this is not the place for you since they only serve chicken, chicken and more chicken! Q-Tips say: Go and Enjoy! Rip's is worth the drive because of the chicken. They farm their own chicken and it is moist and tender. There's no sit down menu at Rip's. You order while standing in line: chicken strips or quarters of light or dark meat, hand-cut french fries, pickles or fried mushrooms; as an appetizer, there are "crumbs"-fried bits of batter. The chicken's superb, moist and tender, with a delicate flaky crust. Yes, depending on the day, there is a line waiting clear out the front door. So grab yourself a drink and stand in line with the others and talk, wait for your turn. Great friends, visit and great fun meal. Started with the Crumbles, the breaded droppings from the cooking chicken, pickles to cut the grease, an order of the mushrooms, beer and then the delicious chicken. The chicken is cooked fresh while you wait and comes pipping hot to the table over a piece of white bread to soak up the dripping, with fresh cooked fries. No silverware, only if you ask for it, but plenty of napkins and no handi-wipes. Service is excellent & very well organized. The cost was very reasonable. The bill came to $28.00 a couple. Mushrooms, 2 pitchers of beer. One of the least expensive and tasty meals we had in a long time. Mrs. Q says: The crumbles and pickles starters would not be everyday eating for me but our once a year visit to Rip's is a treat. Looking forward to next year! Glad I don't have a cholesterol test tomorrow. Eating a lot of Chicken lately, afraid I might start to Cluck or lay an egg! A bit of History: "Rip" Gualandri founded the tavern in 1936, and "there have been lines clear back to the corner" a block away for four decades. "If you're in a hurry it's not the place to come." Has always been inexpensive "Cheap and good. Still is." Rip's is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and on other days it's open only for dinner, but the restaurant still goes through 4,000 pounds of chicken and 3,000 pounds of potatoes a week. Alice 34203 and 60660 read more

I didn't try the chicken, because I'm a vegan. But the pulled pork was outstanding. Good beer selection & funky vibes.

In town and my boss recommended that we check this place out because it was the place to go for fried chicken. Lines out the door and just great. On a Friday night we arrived at the restaurant at 7:30 to find it so dead that we wondered if it was even open. Went in sat at the bar. The staff was great and very friendly. Ordered some mushrooms pickles and crispies. The mushrooms showed up at the bar instantly but clearly were hanging around in the red light district (heat lamps). They had clearly been sitting around for a while. Not really hot or fresh. Whatever no big deal. They were good not great. The crispies were good but to me the batter tasted like lower quality Long John Silvers. Which already made me feel that the chicken would Not live up to its greatest in the world title. There was a unbelievably long time waiting for our chicken. This was clearly not because it was busy. When it did arrive it was hot and fries were good however the chicken was not anything more than average. Chicken was high quality, the batter just wasn't anything special. The best part was the price. Two adults with beers for $15. Who could argue. I agree with a previous poster that this is a small town legend, but other than that just not that great. Worth the money but not worth an extended trip. I really wanted it to be great. read more

Rips is a great, greasy chicken joint better than any other place in the valley area. The only thing better than their chicken is the deep fried mushrooms! For novices here are the rules to eating at Rips: 1. Be prepared to wait, often there is a line out the door. Closed on Mondays 2. No menus: Your choices are light or dark chicken, chicken strips-huge breast strips (not available on friday), crispies (the fried batter drippings). Friday only White fish (think Long John Silver style but better), and Mushrooms. 3. No silverware, you use your fingers! 4. They have Hamm's beer on tap! read more

Mouth watering delicious chicken. Excellent prices too. Small but we'll organized everyone works hard and keeps up the pace. Cannot wait to go back again. Road trip about 45 minutes west of Morris. read more

Sorry but it's the greasiest and blan tasting chicken I've every ate. The fries were extra salty. Maybe my expectations were to high from what all my friends say about this place. I was thinking good quality chicken not bar chicken.and come on you really can't get a carry out boxes? They just shove the plates in the bag not even a top plate. My last time going here read more

Possibly some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. Typically, I love some Harold's or some from the Chicken Shack up in Evanston. The Situation: -Showed up on a Saturday night at 6:30 pm, took an hour to get a table, another 30 minutes to get the chicken. -While waiting, there was a full bar full of cheap beer. I think they realized I wasn't from Ladd when I got really excited about a $2.50 Guinness. -Everybody who works there, and everyone else in like (drunks included) where incredibly friendly. -Tried the dark, the light, the fries, mushrooms, crispies, and pickles. My Take: 1. Worth the wait. Just have some fun while in line, chat with people, and have a few beers. 2. The sides are worthless filler. It's better to order double chicken and ignore every other piece of food (the other stuff isn't terrible, just nowhere near the awesomeness of the chicken). 3. The chicken is ridiculously good. Top notch. Maybe top five fried chicken places ever. I preferred the dark, but it was all good. In summary, if you're in the region and love fried chicken, stop by Rip's. It's stellar and everyone who works there are amazingly nice. read more

Forget all you good chicken places. this little gem hidden about 15 miles from Peru has the best chicken ever. No menu dark, or white your order will be 1/4 white or dark comes on a slice of white bread and fries. You must order the mushrooms with ranch dressing and sometimes their coleslaw is good. Oh don't forget the pickles read more

I love it for about an hour, but hate my life for the next day or so. Service depends on who's serving. Never great but rarely terrible. It's definitely affordable and worth trying. I know people who drive hours just for some chicken, so if you've never tried it I recommend it. read more

Ripps is everything that encompasses why I love traveling to podunk towns. After everything I've heard, you'd think it was this big McGuffin that doesn't pay off ... WRONG! The fact that beer is a $1.50 totally makes up for the fact that we had to drive about 2hrs to get there, and then stand in line for another 45min. But, that's not the best part ... there were 6 in our party, and we ate for under $50. Their fried mushrooms were the best I've ever eaten, and the chicken was huge. I'm not gonna lie though, the "crips" and "grease saturated white bread" are a little much, but completely add to the experience. read more

Best fried chicken and absolutely worth the drive. A no frills place with paper plates and paper bags-- long waits but soooooo worth it!

Definitely worth eating at if your in the area. Very tasty and can't go wrong with $1.50 Hamms on tap!

Food is great if you like greasy food. Get there early or you'll have to wait. Can feed two people and then leave full for less than $20. Definitely recommended. read more

Pickles and Crispies are the best!!! The chicken is juicy and always hot and fresh out of the kitchen. Don't let the wait deter you. Cheap beer and drinks can be had during wait. Make sure you ask for pickles and crispies and add in the fried mushrooms for good measure. read more

Sixty salivating miles west of Joliet is where chickens go to battered heaven at Rips Tavern in Ladd,IL! Forty dollar tab for six dinners, five beers (non-domestic drafts) and 1 appetizer. An experience you won't regret. Make a day of it and go to Utica and go wine tasting at the August Hill Winery on the Main strip first. Great fall Saturday or Sunday outing! read more

I think I have found the "worst" chicken in IL~! This was a lot of hype about over battered, greasy, chicken with no flavor, that I have every experienced. It took 2 of us nearly 1 1/2 hours to be seated and there were 3 open tables that could have been filled. Sides you asked? Terrible slaw that was barely chopped, with a spoonful of mayo on top. Just awful! Fries that were tasteless but less greasier than the chicken. You want to be disappointed~ then you are at the right restaurant. I have had better chicken from grocery stores and Popeye's! Don't waste you time driving to Ladd, don't waste you time standing in a line, and don't waste your money on a meal from this place. R.I.P.S. Does RIP stand for RIPOFF because that is what it was, a real ripoff! read more

Super greasy and over battered, definitely leaves you with a stomach ache after you leave. Not sure what all the hype is about.

I drove over an hour at a recommendation of a colleague. I thought the chicken and mushrooms were great but I did have major stomach upset after about two hours after eating . My kids all got chicken strips and also they liked them. The fries were ok but nothing to write home about. The crispies that everyone thinks so highly about are able to be ordered from long John silvers and I didn't think they were anything special. I didn't have a wait on Sunday afternoon and the service was great just don't think it was great enough to go back. read more

Just like almost everyone else says around here, the chicken is unbelievably delicious. The batter is super crispy, hot and moist. The fries are just ok... but no one drives and hour and a half, and waits in line for just about the same amount of time, for the french fries. The crispies (or leavin's) are probably the tastiest appetizer I've ever had - especially when picked up and folded into a pickle taco. Ice cold beer and friendly locals top off the experience, and make it truly worth the drive. Need something to do on a lazy Sunday or a short after work road trip with friends? Go west, young man. Stop at a few watering holes on your way to Rip's, and Monday, all of your other coworkers will be jealous. read more

One of the best fried chicken I have ever had. Chicken very tender and juicy. We got there at 8 and there was only about a 20 minute wait. Once we were seated our meals were out in about 15 minutes. Worth the drive. read more

They have the best fried chicken in the world! For such a low price! They also for free give u fried batter side! Yum! Really greasy though! Thought i was going to have a heart attack after that but was worth it' read more

went there about 5 years ago, remember it to be good and cheap. Went today after a family function 125 miles from home. NOT good and NOT cheap. The chicken was tasteless and greasy. I can get better chicken from the Jewel (a Chicago area large grocery chain) deli. The best part was the pickles. The mushrooms were tasteless as were the greasy, greasy fries. The bill was $21.25 and on top of the really bad food, I guess they felt entitled to my .75 , a little thing but what a topper. I would say pass as it seems they may be resting on their reputation. read more

My wife is from Dixon Ill and took me to Rips on my first visit 20 years ago. I was like....it's fried chicken....what's the big deal? 20 years later we still make it a point to go back every trip. Simply the BEST fried chicken you will ever have. Casual ambience in a cozy environment. Get the pickles and crumbles for an appetizer! Can be a long wait but well worth it...have a beer in the front bar and watch some football while you wait. read more

I started going to Rip's for chicken in 1972 and have been a loyal customer since then.After I got married I lived in Spring Valley,Il for awhile and ate carry out every Wednesday and Saturday .But unfortunatly I had to mive with my job and I ended up in Indiana.Every time we come home to visit I make it a point that I eat at Rip's while home. It is without a doubt the very best chicken made.If you have not been there I urge you to go and try it,but don't get discouraged by the long line. Have a beer or two and enjoy the experiance of eating at Rip's and tell them I sent you. read more

This is a family tradition that I have not been back to in years since I moved out of the state. You would expect to see this featured on a food network show. Fried chicken, the best of my travels. Find it, you won't be disapointed. Ridicuolous value, beer, drinks and all. Hidden gem. read more

Have ate there 3 times. When your in middle of no where it is ok chicken. Having a choice no.

After reading Chicago Tribune review on this place, we drove from Geneva, IL, to eat lunch, expecting a great meal and good service. The lunch menu is very limited. Don't expect a fried chicken meal for lunch. The iced tea tasted like it had been siphoned from street water. No utensils on table and they looked at me like I had just flown in from Mars when I asked for plasticware or silverware. Had a chicken sandwich and fries. The sandwich was good but the fries were luke warm and greasy as though they had been sitting out for a while. The service was poor, on top of our disappointment over the menu selections. Our waitress seemed scattered and forgot to return to take our order. When I asked for sweetener for the iced tea she told me I could order a canned iced tea in a very dismissive tone before scrounging up some Sweet N Low. The bartender stepped in to take over for her. A half hour later, our food finally arrived. The kitchen staff looked disorganized from where we sat and one of the cooks kept sampling his cooking and looking at unfilled orders. I rate this as a 1 on the 5 point scale and recommend you not go to this place for lunch. That was an hour of my life I'll never get back and a gut punch from all the grease I consumed. We love eating out at restaurants at every price level. Based on our experience, we'll not return to Rips Tavern. The Tribune screwed the pooch on their review of this place. read more

Ok, so I've heard soooo much about Rips since moving here so we went to check it out. The bartender who greeted us was super awesome and friendly. She is what gave this place any stars. The chicken was OK, Ive had better in Seattle at Heaven Sent Fried Chicken. But what made me give this place a poor review was the waitress. She was extremely rude. I asked if I could have a menu since I had never been there before, she replied, "no we don't have menus. we serve chicken" Didn't give us the option to order drinks. Then she brought over pickles, which i thought was included since she brought them over without us ordering them.... remember i was told they don't have menus all they serve is chicken. We didn't eat any because neither of us like pickles, then when the bill came we were charged for the pickles. When asked why we were charged for them, since we didn't order them she replied with, "well I assumed you wanted the works since you've never been here before," in a very snarky and condescending manner. They were 75 cents, which isn't a big deal, but its the principle. I hail from Seattle, and on capital hill there is nothing but hipster restaurants where the wait staff usually have a "I'm cooler than you" vibe, but this was ridiculous. In a small town where I'm sure kids are lining up for a job at the "cool joint" I have no idea how this girl still has a job. So if you go to Rips beware of the short snotty blonde. ^_^ read more

Some of the best fried chicken I've personally ever had. I had both the quarter white and the tenders and was not disappointed with either one. read more

I think Rip's chicken is horrible. I don't know why people go on about how it's such a legend and so on. It's just average chicken that is overly greasy. I tried it a couple of times just to make sure and I don't like it. I've grown up eating mostly fried chicken from Verucchi's in my hometown of Spring Valley though, so maybe I am just biased but I think I know what is good fried chicken. Also, who eats pieces of fried batter without any chicken as an appetizer? Really? Talk about heart attack with all of that grease. I have to say that I'm also slightly offended by people who don't live in this area saying it is the middle of nowhere and how there is nothing around here. Well, if you lived in this area, you would know that there is plenty to do if you have the right interests like in outdoors stuff. Anyway, we're all not a bunch of uneducated rednecks like everyone in Chicago thinks. I think Ladd is a nice town and I like bowling there and going to a few bars, but I just think if you're looking for good fried chicken you need to go elsewhere. I think people in Ladd are just desperate for food because the town is so small and when they are drunk they need fried chicken and other fried foods fast and then they rave about it when they didn't even know how crappy it was because they were too drunk. Well, try them when you're sober and then try Verucchi's and then tell me who has better fried chicken. read more

Sunday, June 22, 5 pm...my first visit and last. One star = excellent chicken. Tender, meaty, hot, delicious. Otherwise...long drive, long stand in line, no eating utensils unless you ask (only needed a fork and had to ask twice), flimsy napkins (could have used wet-wipes at each table, since expected to eat with fingers), cash only (didn't know until we had the credit card out), on-line "menu" says coleslaw available, but it isn't. When we were there, no bathrooms available due to "broken pipes". I thought eating establishments were required to close for that... read more

Chicken is as good as it gets. Been going to Rips for years. No more- the extraordinarily long wait is not worth it. Service equaled great food in past years. read more