I live in West Central Illinois, read Mr. Stern's review, and during a trip to the STL area chose to drive a good bit out of my way to eat at Hodak's. It was well worth the trip, I will say that right up front. A LOT of very good fried chicken with fries, slaw, and hot sauce (yes, $.40 extra), as well as plenty of Castup and BBQ sauce on the table in squeeze bottles. My waitress was efficient and very friendly. The fries were perfect, the slaw was beautifully complimentary to the fries and chicken. The chicken was cooked to exactly the right degree of doneness -moistly tender on the inside nice and crispy on the outside. PLUS flavorful! I only have one complaint... someone should have warned me about ordering half a chicken... Good GOD, I've never SEEN a chicken that big in my local meat market! Eating that damned thing was a challenge, but with a 120 mile drive home and no refrigeration it was eat it or leave it and no road-warrior is going to leave anything that good on his/her plate. Next time, it's a 1/4'er chicken, but there will be a next time! Thank you Roadfood.com for the great tip.
"What a bargain: four hunks of fine fried chicken, fries, and cole slaw, all for $7.35. Not pictured: hot sauce for chicken-dipping, for which you pay an extra forty cents. (photo from Hodak's website)"
Michael Stern
"Of the sides tried, the best was the fresh, crisp coleslaw."
Cliff Strutz
"In keeping with a fine Roadfood tradition, there are chicken figurines and decorations all over the restaurant."
Cliff Strutz
"Hodak's is a big, comfortable place that will start serving you fried chicken at 10:00AM, seven days a week!"
Cliff Strutz
