Zehnder's of Frankenmuth
American restaurant · Frankenmuth ·
America's Classics Award winner for family-style fried chicken
America's Classics Award winner for family-style fried chicken
"Serving the town's famous family-style fried chicken dinner using the same recipe shared with its nearby counterpart, Zehnder’s offers an early-American environment to enjoy monstrous servings with plenty of sides—cold German carrot salad, fried potato balls with homemade ranch, mac and cheese—and is a must-try part of the Frankenmuth experience." - Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce Katy Spratte Joyce is a food, business, and travel writer based in Omaha, Nebraska. Her work has appeared in a variety of print and digital outlets, including Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure, TripSavvy, Hemispheres, Condé Nast Traveler, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A historic, family-run, high-capacity chicken house that helped define the town’s culinary identity with its all-you-can-eat, family-style fried chicken dinners. Operated by descendants of William Zehnder Sr. after his 1928 purchase of a former hotel, the restaurant serves lightly breaded, crisp-skinned fried chicken alongside traditional sides such as dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, cottage cheese and a range of relishes, with noodle soup commonly served with the meal. Servers wear colonial American–style costumes and generations of families return for the predictable, nostalgic experience; the operation is one of the country’s highest-volume independent restaurants with seating for more than 1,000 guests." - Serena Maria Daniels
"I noted Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth also made the list of highest-grossing independent restaurants for 2020, ranking number 58 with $16,063,684 in sales." - Brenna Houck
"I note that Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, a Michigan classic for fried chicken dinners, also received an America’s Classics Award when the semifinalists were announced." - Missy Frederick
"Recognized as an America’s Classics Award recipient, Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth was honored by the Foundation for its institutional significance." - Missy Frederick
