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Restaurants in Lancaster PA Amish Food at it’s Best

Lancaster County, PA, is home to countless restaurants serving delicious Amish cuisine, and if you’re visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country, tasting some of it is a must.

This region is known for its authentic, Amish-owned eateries that serve up hearty, homemade meals. You’ll often find favorites like crispy fried chicken, traditional chicken pot pie, smoked ham, mashed potatoes, and brown buttered noodles on the menu. And be sure to save room for dessert—treats like homemade ice cream, shoofly pie, whoopie pies, and warm apple dumplings are beloved Amish specialties that capture the comforting spirit of this unique community.

Ingredients come from area farms. Milk products, corn, fresh vegetables, and meats are grown locally. These fresh ingredients, along with most things made from scratch, bring people to this area to experience its food.

Most restaurants in the area that serve Amish food are either smorgasbord or family-style restaurants, and most don’t serve alcohol.

Apple Pie a la mode

In addition, a lot of these establishments employ the Amish and Mennonites and therefore are closed on Sundays due to the strong religious beliefs of this community.

I’ve been visiting this area since I was a kid, and over the years, I’ve dined at nearly all of these restaurants—just a few still left on my list!

Check out our article on things to do in Amish Country besides eating great food.

The restaurants below are not in any particular order of preference.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord Restaurant

above photo via Facebook

Shady Maple is the biggest smorgasbord in the United States. With 200 feet of food and 4 grill stations running on busy days, this restaurant is the largest in the area servicing Pennsylvania Dutch favorites.

In addition to the restaurant, Shady Maple has a Farmers Market (grocery store) where you can purchase several of the items you have at the restaurant to take home.

The bakery makes over 300 products from scratch so all baked goods served on the smorgasbord are homemade. They have a smokehouse where they smoke over 100 varieties of meat.

Shady Maple serves more than 1.5 million each year in the largest buffet in the United States. This large dining room holds 800 people at a time.

You can even get a free meal on your birthday. All you have to do is show your ID proving it’s your birthday. They give over 100,000 free birthday meals away each year!

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served 6 days a week (closed Sundays) from 6 am to 8 pm. Prices vary depending on the day of the week as dinner specials change daily.

What’s on the menu at Shady Maple

There is no way you could try everything on Shady Maple’s buffet on any given visit. I’ve eaten here for over 40 years and maybe, just maybe, I tried everything over time!

Their famous breakfast includes made-to-order items, breakfast meats including pancakes (oh, several different kinds or you can add almost everything) french toast, quiche, cereals, fruits, and pastries.

Lunch includes the following items:

  • 46 salad items
  • 8 kinds of bread and rolls
  • 4 kinds of cheese
  • 8 types of meat
  • 14 vegetables
  • 10 cold desserts
  • 3 hot desserts
  • 8 pies
  • 6 cakes
  • sundae bar
  • many different beverage varieties

Dinner includes all of the above in addition to daily specials. Prices for dinner vary depending on the specials for that night.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl PA 717-394-7111

Millers Smorgasbord & Restaurant

Miller’s has been around for over 90 years and was the original smorgasbord in the area.

They believe in buying the freshest ingredients that they serve in the restaurant from the local farms in the area so all foods are fresh and made from scratch.

There are three ways to dine at Millers:

  • Smorgasbord features American and traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meals. Items include an appetizer bar, soup and salad, and bread bar, a carving station, a buffet with meats, sides, and vegetables, and a dessert bar.
  • Soup & Salad Buffet includes 8 soups, several different salads as well as an assortment of rolls and bread.
  • Menu dining includes several items. In addition to the items, you can also add on either the soup & salad bar, an appetizer bar, or the dessert bar with your entree.

Millers also differ from other restaurants in the area as they are open on Sundays and also serve alcohol (full bar).

    Millers 2811 Lincoln Highway (RT 30), East Ronks, PA 800-669-3568

    Whoopie Pies

    Yoder’s Restaurant & Buffet

    Yoder’s Restaurant is adjacent to Yoder’s Supermarket. They serve both buffet style and menu style featuring Amish food as well as American.

    Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served 6 days and week. Breakfast is served from 6 am to 10:30 am, lunch from 11 am to 3 pm, and dinner from 4 pm to 8 pm except on Saturday where dinner is served from 11 am to 8 pm.

    On Sundays, they are only open for Sunday Brunch from 10 am to 2 pm. Sunday Brunch is served buffet style only and combines breakfast and lunch dishes.

    Yoder also gives you a free meal on your birthday, but you must fill out a birthday card.

    Yoder’s Restaurant 14 S. Tower Road, New Holland, PA 717-354-4748

    Bird-in-Hand Restaurant

    Bird-in-Hand is another restaurant that used to only offer buffet style but now also offers menu-style dining.

    This restaurant is also known for its fresh farm-grown products and Amish cooking. They also have their bakery where all their baked goods for the restaurant are made as well as a bakeshop for you to take home some of your favorites.

    Note: This restaurant is currently closed due to a fire that occurred in 2024. It is in the process of being rebuilt and has hopes of reopening sometime in 2025.

    Bird-in-Hand Restaurant 2760 Old Philadephia Pike (RT 340), Bird in Hand PA 717-768-1500

    Smokehouse BBQ & Brews at Plain & Fancy

    Smokehouse BBQ & Brews, owned by the same company behind Miller’s, has been a staple in the area for several years now. Formerly known as Plain & Fancy, which focused on traditional Amish fare, the restaurant now specializes in authentic American barbecue, offering a flavorful twist on local dining.

    Favorites included fried chicken, smoked turkey, brisket, pulled pork, and BBQ ribs. They also serve alcohol from local craft breweries and wineries for you to try.

    Lancaster Brewing Company, St. Boniface Craft Brewing, Troegs, Free Will Brewing, and Yuengling, as well as Waltz Vineyards, are featured on their bar menu.

    You can take a tour of the Yuengling factory located nearby in Pottsville PA along with many other food factory tours in the area.

    Smokehouse BBQ & Brews 3121 Old Philadephia Pike (RT 340), Bird in Hand, PA 717-768-4400

    Katie’s Kitchen

    Katie’s Kitchen is Amish-owned and operated and is a sit-down and take-out restaurant. Amish food, as well as other entrees, are on their menu.

    Although this restaurant gets a 4.5 star rating on Trip Advisor, recently I tried them for the first time and was not overly impressed.

    The food was just ok and was served cold. I must say though, we shared several desserts and they were all good. The raspberry ice cream was delicious along with the cheesecake.

    Katie’s Kitchen 200 Hartman Bridge Road (RT 896), Ronks PA 717-687-5333

    Hershey Farms Restaurant & Inn

    The “Grand Smorgasbord” is their specialty here at Hershey Farms. This buffet includes Amish food along with modern foods such as tacos, Philly cheesesteaks, and quesadillas. The food is quality with good service and this is one of my favorite restaurants in the area.

    They are open 6 days a week (closed Mondays), serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner either buffet style or menu style. Take a look at the menu.

    Hershey Farms is another restaurant in the area that offers a free dinner on your birthday. All you need to do is show your ID and enjoy!

    Hershey Farms 240 Hartman Bridge Road (RT 896), Ronks, PA 800-827-8635

    Dienner’s Country Restaurant

    This is another Amish-owned restaurant in the area. Home-cooked Amish food is what’s on the menu, either buffet style or menu sit-down dining.

    Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served Monday through Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm, except for Fridays when the place is open until 8 pm.

    2855 Lincoln Highway East (RT30), Ronks, PA 717-687-9571

    Oregon Dairy Country Restaurant

    This is the one restaurant on this list that I’ve personally never been to but I thought it was worth mentioning since it gets great reviews on Google and Trip Advisor.

    This restaurant serves a Pennsylvania Dutch fare as well as other items. It has a buffet as well as menu dining; however, the breakfast buffet is only available on Saturday and Sunday.

    Opened 7 days a week from 7 am to 8 pm, they also have an ice cream shop and market with a bakery and a gift shop.

    This place is great for families since it overlooks the dairy farm and they have a nice outside deck by the ice cream shop where you can relax when the kids are playing on the farmed-themed playground.

    2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz, PA 717-656-2856

    Brickhouse Coffee & Kitchen

    Brickhouse Coffee & Kitchen is a cozy and welcoming café known for its locally roasted coffee and delicious homemade food. The café offers a relaxed atmosphere where customers can enjoy breakfast, lunch, and baked goods.

    With a focus on quality ingredients and friendly service, this spot has become a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The menu includes a variety of items like breakfast sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all prepared with care. It’s an ideal place to enjoy a meal or a cup of coffee in a comfortable setting.

    501 Greenfield Road, Lancaster, PA

    Hometown Kitchen

    Located in the quiet village of Georgetown just outside Quarryville, Hometown Kitchen is a local favorite for authentic Amish home cooking. This cozy, family-style restaurant is Amish-run and known for its hearty dishes like homemade chicken pot pie, fried chicken, and traditional Amish wedding meals served on Fridays.

    Guests can also enjoy fresh-baked breads, whoopie pies, and shoofly pie, all made from scratch. With a warm, welcoming atmosphere and a menu full of comfort food, Hometown Kitchen offers a true taste of Lancaster County.

    18 Furnace Road, Quarryville, PA 17566

    Other than Amish Restaurants in the Area Worth Mentioning

    If you’re staying in the Pennsylvania Dutch area for several days you might not always want to eat Amish food. There are many chain restaurants in the area (mostly on Route 30) including Cracker Barrel, Texas Road House, Applebees, Olive Garden, and Red Robin.

    Here are a few restaurants that I enjoy that are not known chains or Amish cuisine that I frequent when in the area.

    KLING HOUSE

    This is one of the must-do stops for us when visiting the area. Unfortunately, since the pandemic, they no longer serve breakfast.

    The Kling House Restaurant, located in the heart of Kitchen Kettle Village in Intercourse, PA, is once again open to the public for lunch. Housed in a beautifully restored farmhouse, the restaurant offers a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with indoor and seasonal patio seating. Open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM and Saturdays until 4 PM, it features a rotating, seasonal menu made with locally sourced ingredients. Known for its fresh, flavorful food and charming setting, Kling House is a favorite stop for both locals and visitors exploring Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

    Kling House 3529 Old Philadephia Pike (RT 340), Intercourse, PA 800-732-3538

    The Eden Resort & Suites

    The Eden Resort & Suites is especially celebrated for its elegant Champagne Sunday Brunch, a must for anyone visiting Pennsylvania Dutch Country’s getaway spots. The brunch is held on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month (and throughout December before Christmas), typically from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

    It features a generous spread of made-to-order omelets and pastas, a salad bar, soup (including the famed crab bisque), carved meats, seafood options, and a full dessert bar. Guests also enjoy complimentary champagne or mimosas and the refined ambiance of a beautiful courtyard, often accompanied by live piano music. Given its popularity and limited dates, reservations are strongly recommended.

    This brunch is a great end to your getaway, especially on our girls’ weekend trips to the Amish Country.

    222 Eden Road, Lancaster, PA 717-569-6444

    Final Thoughts

    Restaurants in Pennsylvania Dutch country offer traditional Amish-style buffet so when you’re in the area you must try some. Delicious food and homemade pies are their specialties along with friendly service.

    This list includes my favorite places, what are some of your favorites? Let me know in the comments below.

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    Whoopie Pies and fried chicken

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    10 thoughts on “Restaurants in Lancaster PA Amish Food at it’s Best”

    1. I’ve lived in PA my whole life but never made it to Lancaster. This is my kind of food and another incentive to make a point to drive out there one day.

    2. I never really thought about what kinds of food the Amish eat. I’d love to visit this area. I have always been fascinated with the Amish and their lifestyle and the artisan skills they have. Good to know there are so many restaurants that serve their food!

      1. Yes, they are fascinating people living a very simple life and that is also found in their food that everything is homemade and comes from the land.

    3. I have eaten at Oregon Dairy, albeit quite a few years ago, and the food was good. I would also recommend The Brickerville House, on Lititz Pike (501) near the intersection with 322. Good home-cooked food with Amish specialties. This is about 10 minutes from the Wolf Sanctuary of PA, in between Lancaster and Hershey. Sadly, two awesome Amish restaurants that are no longer with us, The Amish Barn and Stoltzfus Family Farm, had fantastic food. However, you can get the country sausage that was served at both of these places at Stoltzfus Meat Market, across from Kitchen Kettle, which is worth a visit while you’re in the area. The country sausage is the best and the ham loaf is great too.

      1. Yes, I also loved those restaurants especially Amish Barm and I do like to go to Kitchen Kettle and Stoltzfus meats. I visit both places every time I go to Amish Country!

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