Hodak's Restaurant

Love their family atmosphere and great chicken! When you have a lot of mouths to feed, it is nice finding a place where you can dine out economically. more

Was in St. Louis for the All-Star game and my buddy from St. Louis took me to Hodak's. I want to go back to St. Louis just for the half-chicken and sides! Didn't think I could eat that much. No problem! Best fried chicken I ever ate and the cole slaw was ridiculously good. Not to mention the hot sauce. Wow! Perfect crispyness and tenderness with the chicken. You HAVE to try it! I'll be back next time I'm in the area! Pros: Can't go wrong! more

Darn! Darn! Darn! I have always been really fond of fried chicken and locally owned restaurants. Unfortunately Hodak's chicken is not quite what many of the five star reviews have claimed it to be. I guess it's a little above average but that's about it. The atmosphere is what I expected and that helped the overall experience our group had. It's is a good value for sure but I would rather pay a little more for some better quality ingredients in their sides. \r \r My family and I are one of those Food Network viewers that love going to featured local eating establishments whenever we travel. While I have never seen Hodak's on Food Network enough people speaking of the chicken convinced me to take the family and some guests down to experience a unigue to St Louis experience. While we may go again sometime I don't think any of us will bring Hodak's up during conversations of where we want to go and eat anytime soon.\r \r I would probably not have been so critical in my review if they weren't always so busy. I don't feel so bad knowing there obviously are plenty of loyal customers that are happy with what they offer. I too think the price for what you get is a decent value. However, if they charged $ 9-10 a chicken meal I doubt as many people would rate their chicken 5 star. We eat with our taste buds, eyes and WALLET. \r \r My 2 cents-- Visit at least once for the experience and enjoy the cheap price. However if all you are wanting and willing to settle for average fried chicken just pick up KFC, LEES or your local grocery store hot counter. The price and flavor would be about the same and you don't have to wait in line. Better yet google another family owned chicken restaurant here in St louis and enjoy the experience with your family. \r \r I enjoyed Hodak's but 5 stars is not accurate. People's nostalgic memories might give it 5 stars but your taste buds will agree, 3 stars!\r \r Expect a 3 star meal-excited for maybe a 4 star\r Expect a 5 star meal-let down by a 3 or 4\r \r Pros: Price, Local experience Cons: Quality of ingredients more

After 46 years I finally went to the famous chicken place. Wow was I disappointed. Hodak's is greasy Long John Silvers without the fish...no wonder the prices are so low. Service is ok. Food is greasy. The floor is greasy too! You slip and slide to the bathroom...lovely experience. The restaurant is a dark, dank cell of grease and to further enhance your visist your face will show up with zits two days later! more

My wife always get the 1/2 chicken meal..for only $6 you'll get 4 Large pieces of chicken, 2 home made sides and bread. She raves about the chicken at Hodaks. I don't know about the rest of you posters but I always get the Chicken strips, I have tried the cheese burger meal and the chicken fried steak dinners... both of the them were top notch! The two posters with negative reviews below must be jealous area retaurant owners.. posting negative reviews... Pros: Prices are reasonable, service is great and food quality is 2nd to none Cons: Long lines! more

I am not originally from St. Louis but I have been eating chicken at Hodak's for 40 years now. It is always great whether you get the dinner or the strips. I have never had a bad meal at Hodak's in that time and never left without a go box. I read one review talking about frozen food and boring and one that mentioned dangerous part of town and furry things on the floor. Are they sure they were at Hodak's? No,it isn't fancy but for those who can't overlook the lack of ""ambience"" to get a great meal fine! Go somewhere else and pay twice as much for half as much. I never thought ""ambience"" was edible and is highly over-rated anyway. Hodak's is about great food, good service and good value for your money. That is all it is and a great deal of St. Louis wouldn't have it any other way!!! If not don't go . I'll spend less time in line! Pros: GREAT CHICKEN AND SERVICE Cons: Lines get longer all the time as more people discover the place!! more

It's just a bar and grill atmosphere, but it has the best fried chicken. Made fresh and wonderful. My out of town family stops in at least once while they visit home. It's good stuff! But not weight-watchers friendly at all. LOL Pros: Cheap GOOD food Cons: Parking, ambience more

we enjoyed the chicken and the ambience. this no cwe bistro nor a clayton white tablecloth joint. hodak's is a down home put your face in the grease and tune out the crying kids kind of place. if you are expecting health food or sprouts and nuts go somewhere else. also, the waitstaff is the hardest working group you will find anywhere. Pros: good food, excellent service; Cons: it ain't the ritz; more

The chicken is plain unseasoned frozen chicken from a box. The sides are unremarkable and seem to be from another box. Fried chicken should be pan fried not deep fried. As it is, it's like a napalm filled grenade with half the flavor. Pros: cheap, local Cons: tasteless, boring, factory-style more

Well i thought it was a rip off. It's in a shabby part of town, please note the armed security gaurds for your dinning pleasure. They are also there to help protect you from the little four legged furry critters you will see running around in side. I wont be going back. Cons: dirty, filthy, not that cheap more

I go to Hodak's at least 2 times a month, not 1 time have I ever had greasy chicken there. It has always been very juicy. I don't even cook chicken anymore because we want it like Hodak's. Sure, sometimes you have to wait. They move people quickly though. It's worth the wait. Service is fast too. If you haven't been there--GO! Pros: Price is right, Leave w/ a full belly, Take your family Cons: Crowds more

We live in Oakville and often drive into the city just for a trip to Hodak's. My husband introduced me to this wonderful place and I love it as much as any other St. Louisan!! Wonderful hot, fresh chicken that's not overly breaded. The true chicken flavor really shines through. Especially tasty with a touch of their BBQ sauce. Pros: Inexpensive, Great food, Service Cons: busy because its good more

been going to Hodack's since little kid.Lived across aley when they were call Matt&Tony's Tavern. 18th an Russell.Still the same....Good Pros: food, parking, drinks more

it took 30 minutes to get seated, i guess it was the owner he threw the menus on the table and proceeded to walk off i thanked him for seating us and he said yeah yeah, while we waited to be seated we got to listen to kids whining i guess they were getting hungry waiting for their food to arrive we ordered catfish and it wasn't all that but the food is inexpensive so you get what you pay for. Pros: good parking, inexpensive Cons: very noisy, crowded more

Imagine - 1/2 of a chicken fried to perfection served IMMEADATELY so it is Piping hot - to hot to eat right away hot - two homemade sides - that are ""hungary field hand huge"" - I love the slaw and baked beans myself - butter bread and an a big cold bottomless brewed ice tea for 6.95. The service is unmatched. This place will become a family tradition - your kids will take their kids. It is to chicken what Chuck-A-Burger is to burgers, Fast Eddies is to COLD beer, Fitzes is to root beer, Wolfie's is to hot dogs. .. well, you get the picture ;} After we come back from getting married in Jamaica - I am serving it at our big party for the families and friends with ice cold kegs of beer - but then I like to show off from time to time ;} Pros: FOOD, VALUE, SERVICE Cons: WISH THEIR WERE MORE, OF THEM more

I moved from St. Louis 5 years ago to Reno and have yet to find a place that knows how to make good home fried chicken and provide excellent service. I have been up and down the coast trying to find chicken that tastes anything like Hodaks and have failed! they sure have left me craving them ever since I left. If you want the best fried chicken stay in St. Louis! you cant beat their service, prices, and other satisfying menu items. renogirl24 Pros: inexpensive, excellent food, comfy atmosphere more

If you like Chicken this is the place. Where Chicken Lovers Come to Roost. Crowded for Lunch & Dinner but if you come early or late you will have a Great Lunch or Dinner. Price is Good. They even have Carry outs. You can even call for Carry outs. or Fax them. Pros: Inexpensive, Good parking, Great Food Cons: Crowded for Lunch, Croweded for dinner more

Hodak's is undoubtly the best place to eat if you want good food, and lots of it. The price is right and the food is plentiful and great!! It has that down home taste. Pros: inexpensive, lots of food, great taste Cons: crowded, noisy more

WE love Hodak's. We live about 20 miles away and ,on an urge, we will drive into the city to have our Hodak fix. WORTH the miles driven. My wife and all the kids and spouses love the Chicken. Myself, I LOVE the Jack Salmon. Almost anytime we drive in for a Ram's ,Cardinal, or Blue's game, we stop in to eat and drink before hand. I have been going here since it was first started. I grew up in South St. Louis in the 40's-50's-60's. Thumbs up in every field. Pros: Good Prices, MORE New Parking Lots, VERY Informal Cons: Can be very crowded more

Hodak's has the best fried chicken anywhere. Sometimes it is greasier than others but always hot, crispy, great tast and good service. Have been eating there since 1972 and will continue... We can feed my family of 4, including beer/wine, for under $28!! And the ambience is part of the charm... more