This is the best fried chicken I've had in my 73 years. Still the same since I was in Mendota High School and we would go on Saturday nights. Keep dreaming of this fried chicken traveled and lived in many places around the world but can't find another Rips. 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

We were here recently after hearing how great the food is. We waited in line about 30 minutes before getting a table, and another 30 minutes before getting food. I wanted fish, I asked the waitress if it was bones and all, or just fillets. She told me there were no bones, so I'm thinking fillets. The fish arrives at the table...head, tail, bones and all. If you work there, how can you not know? Another in our party ordered chicken. The chicken was hot and juicy, but it could have had more flavor other than just batter. The batter on everything gets annoying after awhile. It gets so that is all you taste and it leaves a waxy coating in your mouth. Overall, it was OK... better exists out there. read more

Took off work on a Friday and rode down here with a buddy, definitely worth the drive! Got down right when they opened and was lucky enough that there wasnt a line and we were sat down immediatly. Great service and very friendly atmosphere, has an old school vibe to it. The chicken was super crispy and but still very juicy, I dont know how they do it lol. Friend got the fried fish and he said it was good as well. They also had two dollar Blue Moons, cant beat that! Waittresses were very easy on the eyes and very friendly and the prices were great for how much food you get. Will be coming back this weekend! read more

Rip's Tavern has the best fried chicken (and fish on Friday) anywhere. I travel all over the world all the time in my job and I have many restaurants that I look forward to returning to, but Rip's is my all time favorite. I grew up just 12 miles from Ladd, so I have been eating Rip's chicken since I was a child. It was a favorite of my parents and grandparents. I have been gone from Illinois a long time now. Aside from family and good friends it is the thing I miss most about the area and I always eat there when I go back home. read more

I have been hearing about Rips chicken for several months, and from different people. So one day I decided to venture there and check out this supposed awesome chicken. I arrived and was greeted with a 30 minute wait, not too bad it must be good. After the waitress took my order in line, we were finally directed to our table and the wait was not long before our food arrived. This is were it all fell apart. I was greeted with a bland tasteless crust, a tray of greasy "crisps" that were totally forgettable, regular pickles and really good deep fried order of mushrooms. I have had better crust at KFC or even Mcdonald's. This is what people are raving about! YUK! The fries were terrible also, the coleslaw was cabbage diced up and squirt of something was on top, and I had to mix it up at the table! Ok now the bad is over, the chicken was tender and moist, like anything else when you deep fry it. The service was just fine, nothing to rave about but, it was not terrible. Upon not finishing my meal because it did not finish this chicken, I was presented with a plain paper bag and a napkin to put everything in. WHAT! this was the icing on the cake for me, I received no utensils during my dining, except 1 fork to stir the coleslaw. 2 people had to share a fork, until we got the waitress's attention and then the meal was basically over anyway. Like I said the service was not terrible but it wasn't poor either. I am not sure why people like this place that much, before Fairyland closed that was really good chicken, and all you could eat too! This was an experience I wish I could forget. I will never eat this chicken again, or even waste the gas to drive there and stand in line for sub-standard chicken touted at being the best. BLECK! If you like tasteless, greasy chicken with mild service and a beer to go with, then I invite you to Rip's Tavern where this will please somebody in plenty. read more

I've been eating at Rip's for over 50 years and it is a tradition to scores of area families. Not the place for Veggie crowd or yuppies, but sure is the best place in the world for fried chicken and catfish. If you have never been there it is one place you should not miss. read more

Light or dark.... Thats it. You stand in line and No menu, just light or dark. Its ALL about the chicken, the BEST fried chicken ever. You get 1/4 chicken fries and white bread. Simple, extras you can order are pickle slices, cole slaw (don't bother) , deep fried mushrooms (yes). all for less than $5 Great sunday drive , get lots of napkins. read more

I would give it 0 stars if i could. This place is ALL hype. the 2.5 hour wait and rude waitress' certainly isnt worth the mediocre, super greasy chicken and the 'sides' of sliced pickles and scrapings off of the already cooked chicken called 'crispies'. one member of my party had the waitress get in his face and literally yell at him "WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EAT?!" because he was chatting with his wife and didnt immediately have his order ready in mind. sure reminds me of the soup nazi from Seinfeld. people come to this place and trick themselves into thinking this chicken is amazing because of the wait, otherwise they would be upset with themselves at wasting an entire evening on chicken you could easily get just about anywhere else. Its a good thing the prices are cheap because you get what you pay for. ive been here 5 times and every single time, my party and i have repeatedly counted the places we wish we wouldve gone instead. i wont be boarding this hype train again. read more

This place is the best Chicken Loved it. Our bartender Kylie was great the food was superb just can't say enough good things about it. I am going back Soon. read more

My in-laws love this place and wanted to bring me here with my wife. We arrived at 1600 as they said there would be a line. Were walked into the tavern and were about 20 deep in the line. It was nice having the bar right there as we came in so we could order beer and they had a nice selection of good beers. They took our orders while we stood in line which was nice-I ordered the dark and everyone else had the light. We sat down within 15 minutes and they brought us out dill pickle slices which had a unique flavor but were excellent. About 5 minutes later the fried mushrooms and onion rings came out. The mushrooms were awesome and I liked them better than the rings. About 10 minutes later the chicken came out in a basket sitting on top of fries and a slice of toast. Unique batter on the chicken which was think and had a decent flavor. Everything was pretty greasy which was to be expected. The chicken was perfectly moist and a good proportion. I wouldn't recommend coming here if you are ever in the area for a unique experience and good food. read more

Rip's has been a long tradition for years. I used to go there when I moved into the area and it remains one of the best chicken places to go to. While I was visiting them in the '70's they would have people who would come from as far as out of state to eat there. You have to remember that when you go there, you're participating in a ritual "event". The process of standing in line while you move forward to the seated section as you order drinks is a process. The order taker will ask what your order for 1/4 chicken is: either light or dark. When giving the person your order...gang it up: "3 lights and 1 dark". You can also get a plate of batter droppings (known as "crumbs" when I was going there regularly, but may be known as "crispies" now) and a plate of pickles, which is a perfect appetizer combo. The chicken is greasy...but it's a clean grease, and the chicken is piping hot out of the fryers. With your chicken you get fries and a slice of bread. All the plates in Rips are thick paper plates. You eat the chicken with your hands...but you can ask for a fork if you need one. Rips has chicken on Wed, Thurs, Sat, and Sun. And, Ladd, IL, being a historically Italian Catholic mining town, here is fish on Friday. Here's some tips: If you want to avoid the huge crowd...come early. I used to be at Rip's at 2 or 3pm and usually walk right in. If you're by yourself or just two people, you can eat at the bar...that is if there is space. The summer usually has the long lines out the door and down the block...but that is also part of the event...you talk to other people, who are from the area or out of towners. You can order chicken to go...but it's best to include the order with your main order...it takes chicken time to cook, and if you order after your done with your main meal...you'll be there even longer. I've been there in recent times and it is still a great tradition that is upheld today. Enjoy. read more