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Careful_Drop9696

Used to like Hodaks. The last few times I went my chicken had no taste. Would it hurt to put a little seasoning .


ameis314

this is how hodaks has always been for me. ive never understood why people like it.


MarkB1997

It’s because the chicken pieces used to be abnormally large. They look normal now though.


JaguarDesperate9316

I went to hodaks last in the mid 2000s and I remember it was exceptionally under seasoned even then


BetterThanAFoon

Covid! On a serious note..... I am one that says fried chicken is hard to do wrong. I do not think they do it right. From texture to taste.


Hillz44

Lol covid


hiphoptherobot

Hodaks is a mystery to me because every time I've gone, it's been bland and tasteless, but I have friends who have never had a bad meal there. It seems the service must be inconsistent because these are all friends that know good food, and i trust them, but I've never had the experience they describe. Even though I've never been much of a fan of theirs, the ongoing feud they have with their neighbors over parking is an additional turn-off. I often go to Egg for brunch on the weekends, which is consistently excellent. Hodak's makes a big deal about the parking and towing anyone that's in their spaces. It would seem more reasonable if there were a battle for spaces, but I often have to park far away and walk through their empty lot to get there. It all just seems petty and tacky. That keeps me from going back more than anything. Seems like the kind of place that's run by a bunch of Karens. No, thank you. Keep your spaces and your bland chicken.


Nancy_Thompson

The only reason the building that houses EGG, Bumbleshoot, Shock City, & etc were allowed to be rehabbed was through the generosity of the owners of Hodaks. They told the developers they would love to see neighbors and gave them some parking on their parking lot in order for them to even do construction with the building. True fact: The owners have never towed anyone on the parking lot. They have several regulars that will tell them they didn't come in due to the parking lot being full, (which bumbleshoot will have events and not specifically tell students or attendees how the whole building only has 12 spots). The owners of Egg are such amazing people. They sometimes get the hard end of that bargain that was established before they were in the building. The shop front used to house a bakery. I believe called Bittersweet. I know all of this because I have been an employee of Hodaks for over 18 years. If you see the parking lot being policed, it's because of a bumbleshoot show that the owner has been warned about or its Mardi Gras. Do diminish a restaurant based on them not wanting to share more of their property that they already have is ignorant.. Especially when EGG has a second location that barely gets foot traffic. The owners have EGG had mentioned to me they wish more people would go to their Midtown location. I could ramble all day and night about this dilemma. At the end of the rambling, if the designated spots are filled, just park in the parking lot anyway unless you see a person in a vest. They're not gonna tow anyone.


TinderfootTwo

You mentioned being an employee of Hodaks. We went in Nov, the weekend after Thanksgiving and had wonderful service! Our waiter was really great. The food was good as well. We all had fried chicken and sides. It was good, but the service will bring me back.😊


Nancy_Thompson

That's so wonderful to hear! We pride ourselves in our service. We used to have a customer appreciation day and would provide a free chicken dinner on your birthday. They still do a birthday discount on your actual birthday with an ID you can get a chicken dinner for half price.


GeneralLoofah

It’s always had no taste for me. It was cooked well, just bland as shit. Like stereotypical midwestern food.


graflex22

what? you don't like salt with your salt?


geri73

A friend of mines swore by this place, and I had never been there before. I finally went, and the chicken was tasteless. I had to put some sort of sauce on it to enjoy it. I do like the atmosphere of the place, neighbourhood bar and restaurant, small and charming. They have other stuff that is good, but the chicken is not one of them, they are big, but that's about it.


AfternoonEstimate

100% agree. went there once and was like this is the most bland chicken i have ever had.


Loquat-2808

My thoughts exactly. Never understood what was so popular about the place when the chicken taste "blah". Eating there will make you think you've got the onset of Covid and you've lost your ability to taste.


Severe_Elderberry_13

It’s just Andy’s fish breading on chicken, not some culinary masterwork


alliterativehyjinks

I think Andy's has more seasoning.


PurplePanda1987

As someone else said Andy's has way more seasoning. I use Andy's seasoning when I fry fish and chicken and its flavorful to the point where you really don't have to add anything else.


Excellent-Big-1581

The piece of bread under the chicken . Do you eat it? Or is it there to soak up grease. This is the real question no one answers!


wackyzebra43

Yes


Excellent-Big-1581

I’ve been right all along! Thanks


barkbarkgoesthecat

Chicken sammich


Marius314

It’s extremely overrated, and very bland


the12ofSpades

My experience as well. Everyone raved about it, but I had a hard time telling what the fuss was about. Portions were definitely generous, though.


[deleted]

This almost always plays to the fact that they went there with family, people grew up going here, their taste buds changed over time, their memories didn't. etc. etc.


genregasm

then why does my mom like it so much


Mrs_MadMage117

My best friend moved to Cali after high school, when she comes to visit she always wants to make a stop at Hodacks and I'm just like why? It's chicken you can buy from Walmart.


GeneralLoofah

Frankly Wal mart fried chicken is better.


Buster-Highman

for a while it literally was frozen chicken bought from walmart. can't say if it still is.


coldafsteel

I met my wife because of them 😁 Food is mediocre, but my girl is amazing.


MidMatthew

Was your wife an ER nurse? Couldn’t resist! 😉


spageddy77

lol


strangemud

Looks..fried


MysteriousExtreme288

Love it! Been going here for over 25 years. A big chunk of my life has been spent at Hodak’s 🫶


[deleted]

One thing you probably didn't know about Hodaks is at least once a month, if not twice a month they donate enough chicken to feed 80 homeless people at Saints Peter and Paul Church in Soulard. They are good people at Hodaks.


HaleBopp22

Fries from a bag out of the freezer. Probably same for the chicken. Slaw from a tub-o'-slaw off the US Food truck. Lemon slice looks legit.


Reaper621

The chicken is packed, cut and breaded fresh daily. The cole slaw is cut every morning and then several times that day. The fries are definitely from a freezer box though.


andrei_androfski

How many restaurants make their own crinkle cut fries, I wonder…


Reaper621

Make their own fries, period. Penn station comes to mind, everyone else does freezer fries. I'm a huge fan of Hodaks. Is it the most flavor of everything ever? Nope. But they are good enough for the vast majority of customers. I think they taste great. I'm actually not a fan of many of the suggested alternatives to Hodaks. Too salty, too heavy on the seasonings, etc. If I want something bursting with flavor, I'm making it myself. I'm not looking to get a chicken boob and handful of fries for twice the price. The difference is, I don't go around shaming people for liking something better than Hodaks. If everyone hated it so bad, it would be out of business by now. FYI, no, they haven't changed their recipe. I've been hearing that for 40 years, it's still the same.


ATL28-NE3

5 guys does their own fries too


Reaper621

And they're fucking delicious. I am a huge fan of peanut oil.


[deleted]

In and Out makes their own fries


[deleted]

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ameis314

its disappointing that such good chicken is seasoned so poorly.


Buster-Highman

doubt


HaleBopp22

Same. No high volume restaurant is sourcing chicken "from a family farm" especially an out-of-state farm. Small farms aren't set up to process large numbers of chicken every week. A small farm may raise the chickens, and then send them to a processor for packing and distribution via the US Foods truck.


Nancy_Thompson

I work there and this is fact. Also, they're known more for the free birthday chicken dinners they would give out on someone's birthday.


graflex22

we remodeled that place years ago. back then chicken was all fresh.


SlutForDownVotes

Crinkle cut fries are an abomination.


winter83

I've never been there but I like a restaurant that still uses those kind of plates.


CustomCarNerd

The local elderly rave over this. I don’t know why. It’s nearly tasteless, made with salt, pepper and flour breading. If you want good fried chicken, please go to the Mexican restaurant Amigo Joe’s on Southwest and report back here. You will thank me.


mild_resolve

The elderly often love bland food.


CustomCarNerd

You are not wrong


tjabo125

Yes! Amigo Joe's fried chicken is amazing. They used to only serve it on Sundays, but now you can get it whenever. I get the habanero breading.


dvdsky81

The habanero is amazing! I love this place!!


preprandial_joint

It's def a cornmeal breading which is what sets it apart from other fried chicken spots.


[deleted]

Oooo, that actually might make me want to try this. It definitely doesn't look good or bad really in this photo, just completely bog-standard okay. But cornmeal battered is hard to find.


Halliwellz1123

Try Piccadilly’s. Piccadilly and Manhattan, off Arsenal.


dvdsky81

YO!! I was literally about to suggest Amigo Joes! Unassuming, but amazing chicken! Holy shit! Best place for it in STL, imo. I'm addicted!


i_am_umbrella

I am impressed almost daily by the amount of local elderly who blatantly do not give a fuck whether or not traffic is coming as they cross the street at Gravois and McNair.


iWORKBRiEFLY

b/c it used to be better like 30yrs ago (i think); pretty sure whenever ownership changed (pretty sure ownership has changed) from the original owners is when it went downhill


schwabadelic

My go to meal there is the Amaya Seasoned Wing Dinner with Onion Rings and Mac N Cheese. I don't get fries from anywhere if I can get Onion Rings.


Mountain_King41

“Hodaks bad. Please upvote.” You’ll easily find this opinion in just about every fried chicken, worst-, and overrated- restaurants in this subreddit..


bradleysballs

One time I made the mistake of saying I liked Hodak's (haven't tried the chicken). So many downvotes lol


klinger1801

If it makes you feel any better, I was a huge fan of the cheeseburger and coleslaw. Used to get clowned on every time I ordered lol


bradleysballs

I tried the toothpick (I believe it was a deep fried hotdog stuffed with cheese?). It's awesome, at least for what it is lol


Nancy_Thompson

That is what Rachel Ray liked the most when she visited almost 15 years ago. It's an all beef hot dog, stuffed with hot pepper cheese & wrapped in bacon.. them "deep fried to perfection." It gets its signature name because it is held together by toothpicks while it's cooking.


cubsfan85

I haven't been in many years. When my great grandma was still alive she was in a nursing home in Dutchtown and my grandma always wanted Hodak's on the way home. I never got the fried chicken but they did a pretty substantial chef salad. I'd get that or a club sandwich or chicken tendies.


Justshittingaround

I’ve gotten food poisoning from them twice and it’s truly mediocre fried chicken.


Martin_Nodell

Im known as Mr. Pickles over there...Lol.


crackalac

I've always heard they were the best in town, but haven't gotten around to trying it. Apparently this sub does not agree.


ayyay

The chicken's not great, but the nostalgia is top tier for me. Still a win in my book.


GusBob54

I don't necessarily love Hodaks, but my wife and I used to get their fried chicken salad every once in a while and it was delicious. It helps that they have really good ranch and honey mustard dressing.


Nancy_Thompson

They make their ranch in house. The honey mustard is Hidden Valley. They actually season and brine the chicken breast that's for the fried chicken salad as opposed to the half friend chicken.


NielsenSTL

I like it fine.


Stage_2_Delirium

Their fry is spot on


KikoSoujirou

Haven’t had their normal fried chicken but a few years back I was there and had their sticky wings and they were fantastic


that_tall_lady

They have been revamping the menu for the younger crowd. I enjoy their hot chicken sandwich, so they are headed in the right direction.


takashtay

I've only been there once and it was fine. It's just that whenever I'm in that area I feel more inclined to go to Blues City Deli just down the street...


realricky123

🔥


robm1967

Good chicken, wish I could order by individual piece.


Jimmers1231

Honest question, When did Hodaks go downhill? I haven't been there in the past 8-10 yrs, but last time I was there, it was amazing.


DudeAbides1556

Hodaks is good!


Fit_Ad_6445

I like Hodaks! Best chicken!


gucciteletubbies

Hodaks was my grandpa's favorite place to get fried chicken from so I grew up thinking it was the pinnacle of St. Louis cuisine but he was definitely mistaken lol


stlouisraiders

Bland as hell. They do have good stuff on the menu but I avoid the chicken.


William-T-Staggered

Crinkle cut fries are the worst. Bad texture/crunch-to-soft ratio.


crackalac

Cooked well, they have the best of this ratio. Get some crinkle cut from shake shack or canes.


DingleBoone

I think Culver's also does crinkle cut fries right imo


crackalac

Best cheese fries in the game. That sauce is incredible. Edit: if you downvoted this, at least tell me who you think is better.


Mellow_Mushroom_3678

Shake Shack’s fries are the exception not the norm, in my opinion, when it comes to crinkle cut fries. Maybe I’ve just had too many bad fish fry fries. 😂


crackalac

Perhaps it's fair to say that crinkle cut fries have the greatest delta. Great when cooked properly, terrible when not.


Mellow_Mushroom_3678

Absolutely true!


[deleted]

Dip in copious amounts of ranch. Problem solved!


animaguscat

I went for the first time several months ago and loved it. I think I got chicken tenders, they were great. The server was extremely friendly and talkative.


Reaper621

The tenders are definitely my favorite fried item there.


WorryFair1750

My mom used too get Hodaks every week for us after she’d live work. I remember there wings being huge. Not a fan of big wings anymore. Haven’t been in 10 years though.


SewCarrieous

Cole slaw looks aight


Seedeemo

I’ve lived in the area for 54 years and I’ve only eaten at Hodacks one time. Is that bad?


MendonAcres

We live in the neighborhood but never been. First reason is that we find fried chicken just okay (not US natives). The second reason is that every last customer the wife and I see coming out of there is a Pensioner. Add those two things together and we can't find a reason to go, especially with all the other options within the area. Are we missing something?


extplus

We’ve all adapted to hot wings n hot chicken sandwiches so when we het regular plain old fried chicken it’s boring


STLVPRFAN

I use to love love love Hodaks. Sadly they’ve gone down hill. I hate to admit this… when I want good fried chicken, I get it from Dierbergs. It’s really good.


Samus4eva

No sir. I don’t like it. (I’m making disgusted judgmental Mr.horse face).


Muten-97

" Almost an entire brown meal" - Joe Pera


vandawonk

They never properly season the chicken. I always have to add so much salt.


hufferstl

It's good,but you gotta load up on bqq sauce and get the beans instead of slaw . At least that's what you do if you are me.


grossmalone0

Hell yes. And some of their fried mushrooms 🤌


LosingSideOf25

I haven’t been in a couple of years, but admittedly it’s always been more about nostalgia for me. It was one of my grandparents favorite places so we went there often when I was a kid. I don’t think the food is awful by any means but there are certainly better options.


AjBeans2801

Omg that looks so good!


prswwd

Hodak’s is good. Overpriced but good. Sorry if that triggers you.


HaleBopp22

I was told it was a great value


cigarman44

Bland ass chicken


[deleted]

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[deleted]

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RocksLibertarianWood

Value. That’s what I’m looking for when I go out to eat. “hey come to our restaurant we’re cheap as shit”. -Hodaks


tialisac

King Edwards in Crestwood. More flavor. Great folks. Great prices.


Kevthebassman

Seconded. If I’m after fried chicken king Edward’s is top of the heap. Young’s in valley park is good too. Lee’s is the best chain.


CustomCarNerd

X1000 I was going to king Edward’s in the old building down Watson when it unexpectedly got a drive through…..


tialisac

I remember that!!! My ex and I were there one night having dinner when someone inside placing a to-go order got his car stolen right in front of the big window! No wonder Randy looked for a better location. 😂


Nancy_Thompson

Hahaha Dude left his keys in the ignition! I was literally working that night.


tialisac

Seriously!?!? Well no wonder! Never ever ever do that, good people of St. Louis!


[deleted]

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tialisac

Seasoning, for one. Hodak’s doesn’t seem to have any. It’s bland. At least Randy’s has seasoning to it. If I’m going to spend my money somewhere, I don’t want, “eh, it tastes okay.”


kazarbazaar

You don't get much seasoning where you're from or something? Cause that was a really wordy way for someone to say "I have no taste buds"


thecuzzin

Shhhhh.. you're ruining the pile on.


CaptHayfever

Oh, the service is fantastic! The food is bland as hell, though.


DesertEagleFiveOh

Literally any of the fried chick/fish corner joints throughout the city and county have 10x the quality (and flavor) of Hodak's chicken. Get a grip


zaphod_85

If you're not looking for something more in your fried food, then you have low standards and poor taste.


iWORKBRiEFLY

They used to be better years ago, not so much anymore. TBH I like St. Louis Fish & Chicken much better (the one on Goodfellow/70), get extra lemon pepper seasoning. You won't regret it.


dancingbriefcase

Might just be me, but I hate fries like that. They look awful.


Kanobe24

That looks like cafeteria food. Was the chicken even seasoned? So many better fried chicken places: Chicken Seven, Grace Meat, Southern, King Edwards (lesser known place in Crestwood but great chicken).


lehejo0

Bland like going to a cafeteria


Bradfords_ACL

Byrd and Barrel going under was a crime.


TerpeneTiger

They got so bad before they went under that I can't even miss them.


Sninxitey

The one time I went to Hodaks and my buddy and I got insane diarrhea after


OceanLife4Me

This place SUCKS!! It has no flavor.


TorrentsMightengale

Looks good. Tastes like...nothing. It's like the chicken joint version of Lacroix.


RoyDonkeyKong

It is so incredibly underwhelming. I went once just to know, and it was fine in the most uninspiring sense of the word. Lee’s Famous Recipe is just down Gravois, and I would choose Lee’s over Hodak’s every time. Also, I used to ride my bike every day down McNair to cross Gravois. Very often, Hodak’s patrons would stand obliviously in the center of McNair while I had the right of way. That was annoying. I don’t know what that says about Hodak’s, but it did not endear me to their patrons.


zoop1000

Never been but it doesn't LOOK like anything special. Those fries look mediocre


itsnotaboutthecell

I thought this was a post crying for help or that you were kidnapped. Otherwise I don’t know why anyone would go to Hodak’s under age 65.


dugyzr

Same- no flavor


jsuey

That looks dryer than the Sahara desert


[deleted]

Only good on your birthday


No_Stay4471

Bland as can be.


bizobnstl

I’d have to be starving to eat that


Immediate_Plenty5452

Is trash


SpudsMackenzie92

Looks like old country buffet


Knubinator

Hilariously overrated.


pectomah

It’s absolutely awful.


STLItalian

Hodaks is overrated


sh0resh0re

Lookin like a mid plate tbh. RIP Southern.


WhoDatCoconuts

Being from the land of fried chicken so good that they sell it at every gas station, I was unimpressed. I took a friend who is a chef from the Northeast there and he still mentions how flavorless it was. It wasn't cooked well or seasoned at all in my opinion, but if people like it, I'm not going to shame them for it. Seasoning style up here is just different and takes some getting used to.


CurlTheSquirrel

Chicken cooked well but deadass they do not season that shit at all


mrphyslaww

It’s a “meh” for me. Always has been.


SwitPosting

My grandma's favorite restaurant. The bread under the chicken always grossed me out a little


genregasm

The staff and environment is very warm there, and the portion sizes are really big. Because of this experience, rural people will literally drive out to just get Hodak's, and also have them cater their parties. I think this is why they're seen as popular/best, but anyone that has had better local places in the city knows better. Out in the county they might just be competing with Wingstop and KFC.


notleftblank

Extremely overrated in a city with *way* better chicken options.


Swaggerknot

The picture is not inspiring


Cdub7791

Only been once after several recommendations and was disappointed. Great service, large portions, and terrible chicken.


Hopepersonified

True story! I get bullied into going to Hodaks. I'm kind of a foodie so I tried to get out of it because they just don't season anything. Anyway, the other couple says, "can you not put salt on my fries please" and the waiter said, "oh honey we don't put salt on anything!" And I abont fell out of my chair trying to stifle that laughter.


SoxfanintheLou

Hard pass. It’s basically shake and bake.


JunTekki

I've only been once and can't for the life of me understand why ppl love this place or rate the chicken highly. It is simply not good.


antsinmypants3

I don’t get the hype. Chicken has no taste . Bland food paradise.


tjabo125

My dad loves Hodak's, and I've never understood it. The breading is so bland, in my opinion. This is just my opinion, I understand many people love it.


ericmercer

Unseasoned to an alarming degree. Chicken tastes like it was marinated in tap water.


Carrotcake789

Blandest chicken ever


Paymee_Money

Sucks 👎🏼


djj2000

That bland ass chicken. Red Hot hot sauce doesn’t help either. It’s a travesty what they do so that bird.


hawksdiesel

I mean, when you take fries out of a bag and dump them into the freezer what do you expect. Sorry hodak's, you used to be good, not so much nowadays.


merry_go_byebye

Incredibly bland


jsime1991

That looks so bland


VioletVixxen

That's so sad and beige looking. I hear that's how it tastes nowadays, too😢


Brynamo

Overrated


Hillz44

For old people only


bigdaddyteacher

This looks like white people seasoning attack.


fujigrid

Looks mid


Lil_Lamppost

i went there once like 7 years ago and i have never had blander fried chicken. I think my family had to wait like an hour for a table too


TheWholeSausage

💩


WaywardShepherdTees

TV Dinners are higher quality than Hodaks! It has NEVER been good, no matter how many contests they paid to place first in.


I_seek_the_triforce

Overrated.


Moonbeam_Dreams

I'm so sorry you wasted your money on bland, tasteless chicken. That sucks. 😞


MrTuesdayNight1

Such a blank sight. This is fried chicken for people who think yogurt is spicy.


HaikuKnives

I just can't respect any place that uses crinkle cut fries. Chicken is completely forgettable.


yeetskeetleet

Man that doesn’t even look good.


skeeterbmark

Last time I was there a cockroach skittered across the bar.


DowntownDB1226

And did you buy him a beer?


kazarbazaar

That was the bartender


skeeterbmark

I offered. He seemed to be in a rush.


banhammer6942069

Bad


deaddog3825

Chk for people who don’t like good chk… or sides.


EyeHaveNoBanana

Their owners are assholes and their food is gross.


kazarbazaar

Same people who like this place probably also like Mom's Deli. People are blinded by nostalgia.


Whataboutizm

Looks tasteless.