Best 8 restaurants in Pennsylvania Amish country, according to Yelp

Pennsylvania Amish country sees both trendy hotspots and Amish-run eateries creating a rich culinary landscape. Here are the places you need to try ASAP.

If you live in Pennsylvania, you know that our state has an incredibly rich Amish heritage. What you might not know is that Lancaster County is home to approximately 30,000 Amish individuals, and this community is only growing, according to Discover Lancaster. 

But just what does it mean to be Amish? Well, the basic tenets include following a Christian lifestyle — emphasizing the importance of family and community — and maintaining the ways things have long been done. This is why you’ve likely heard that many Amish folks don’t use technology. That said, it’s important to note that some Amish people welcome change and use technology, so you shouldn’t assume one way or another when meeting someone who’s Amish.

Because Amish folks tend to preserve traditions, they typically know how to cook well, as these skills have been passed down from generation to generation. Thankfully for the rest of us, Pennsylvania Dutch country boasts some impeccable restaurants, including both Amish-run joints and trendy hotspots unaffiliated with the Amish. So, without further ado, here are the top restaurant picks in Amish country, according to Yelp user reviews and ratings.

1. Hometown Kitchen (Quarryville)

Address: 18 Furnace Rd Quarryville, PA 17566

Price: $

Description: Hometown Kitchen is true to its name. Run by local Amish cooks and waitstaff, Hometown Kitchen welcomes folks from all backgrounds into the Amish world for a meal. Naturally, you can expect to taste and enjoy classic Amish dishes, including yummy-sounding desserts. There are even specials depending on the day; for instance, on Fridays, you can order an Amish wedding meal that’s sure to make you say “I do” when asked if you want to come back next Friday. Other daily specials include crab bisque on Thursdays and barbecued meatballs on Tuesdays. Yum!

What makes Hometown Kitchen special is that it’s a great spot for any meal. Folks love stopping here for a hearty breakfast, but its scrumptious and savory entreés for lunch and dinner are just as beloved. And don’t forget the raisin bread — people adore it. What are the best tried-and-true menu items, you ask? Well, according to Yelp, where Hometown Kitchen has a 4.3-star rating, reviewers often gravitate toward the chicken pot pie, Amish wedding meal, roast beef, and apple pie, among other classic American dishes.

“Excellent food and spectacular service! Well seasoned chicken and the most delicious hand cut fries!” one reviewer wrote, while another said, Nice small restaurant with good service and tasty food. … Prices are family friendly as well.” 

2. Lapp Valley Farm Creamery & Café (Gordonville)

Address: 4040 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville, PA 17529

Price: $

Description: Another affordable Amish spot in Pennsylvania Dutch territory is none other than Lapp Valley Farm Creamery & Café, which boasts one of the highest Yelp ratings on our list. Coming in at 4.5 stars, Lapp Valley is a hit with the people, and it’s pretty clear why. As we previously mentioned, many Amish people pass down their ways of life, including how they raise animals, cook, and more. And at Lapp Valley, you get to taste the hard work of the farm’s owners, as they sell ice cream and dairy products from their very own cattle. Don’t worry if you’re hungrier for more than ice cream, though, as Lapp Valley also has a fully equipped café that sells fried chicken, burgers, wraps, salads, and so much more.

If you weren’t sold on an expensive menu and super-fresh ice cream, you should know that Lapp Valley prides itself on bringing a taste of Amish country to its visitors via its shop. There, you can purchase local packaged foods, coffee, cheese, jams, and more to take home with you. Still, the menu takes the cake here, with Yelp reviewers particularly enjoying the cookies and cream ice cream and the crepes.

Are you convinced to give Lapp Valley a visit yet? If not, just read this Yelp review: “Delicious ice cream, lots of fun food and items to buy, and a big, bright clean building. Best part is they have a fun play place indoors where you can sit and watch your kids go crazy after a sugar rush. Oh and did I mention the ice cream was good?” Ice cream and a safe place for your kids or grandkids to play? Sign us up!

3. Dienner’s Country Restaurant (Ronks)

Address: 2855 Lincoln Hwy E Ronks, PA 17572

Price: $$

Description: Dienner’s Country Restaurant is a full-service eatery, offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even a buffet. That’s a lot to juggle for any establishment, but Dienner’s appears to do so with grace if its 4.1-star rating on Yelp is anything to go by. Just one heads-up: Dienner’s is closed on Sundays and shuts its doors at 6 p.m. every other day bar Friday, when it closes at 7 p.m. So if you want to give this joint a shot, make sure you get there early!

But what can you expect to find at Dienner’s? For starters, the buffet is full of Amish classics ranging from rotisserie chicken and ham to sweet potatoes, corn, and bread filling. And the prices seem to be reasonable, coming in at about $15 to $18 per person depending on the day. Meanwhile, the standard menu includes breakfast platters, omelets, a salad bar, a variety of cold and fried sides (hello, chow chow!), and several types of meat. 

All of that said, the star of the show, at least according to Yelp, is Dienner’s Buttered Noodles. It sits at the top of the “Popular Dishes” with the restaurant’s Rotisserie Chicken, Chicken Noodle Soup, Chicken Pot Pie, and Roasted Chicken, among a few other tasty bites. “Absolutely some of the best homemade food I’ve ever had! Service was quick and friendly,” one Yelper wrote following a Dienner’s trip. Meanwhile, another wrote, “Good Amish cooking. Buffet has nice variety,” adding that they always stop by when they’re in the area. 

4. Katie’s Kitchen (Ronks)

Address: 200 Hartman Bridge Rd, Ronks, PA 17572

Price: $$

Description: Like Hometown Kitchen, Katie’s Kitchen is an Amish-owned and operated restaurant, and it’s family-run to boot. It even puts together a mean Amish wedding meal like Hometown Kitchen. And the two should be quite similar, as Katie’s Kitchen notes on its website that Amish weddings typically always serve the same meal, creating a stark contrast between the personalization and extravagance of most Western weddings and the familiarity and comfort of Amish ceremonies.

Outside of the Amish wedding meal, which consists of a chicken and celery-based casserole, mashed potatoes, and other goodies, guests can snack on a variety of wraps (cheesesteak, chicken cheddar melt, and BLT, to name a few), sandwiches (corned beef on rye is calling our name), and down-home platters like the Chili and Cheese Stuffed Potato and Grilled Haddock Fillet Platter. Oh, and don’t forget the breakfast menu, which boasts five full pages of treats if you don’t count the cover page. Standouts include the Country Omelete, Breakfast Haystack, Southwestern Wrap, and Amish Benedict.

You know the deal, though. We’re here to see what Yelp reviewers, who have amassed a 4.2-star rating, have crowned as Katie’s Kitchen must-haves. The Roast Beef, Apple Dumplings, and Fried Chicken are hits here, with one Yelp reviewer calling their visit “[t]he best breakfast I have ever eaten.” Another reviewer loved the turkey, writing, “The service and food is beyond exceptional. I had the turkey dinner and of course could not finish it. This restaurant is the total package. I highly recommend eating here.”

5. Gracie’s on West Main (Leola)

Address: 264 W Main St Leola, PA 17540

Price: $$

Description: Gracie’s on West Main is our first non-Amish-run restaurant on this list, but like many others, it’s family-run — and has been serving smiles to the Leola area for over a decade. In fact, Gracie’s is highly lauded with accolades, and it’s put a lot of time and money into creating a space that makes the entire community feel welcome. How? Through a long series of expansions of course. According to the restaurant’s website, its biggest expansion came in 2019, but the restaurant has been elevated in some way pretty much every year it’s been open.

This attention to detail and community has landed Gracie’s a 4.5-star rating on Yelp, where reviewers refer to it as “[e]xcellent as always” and “[o]ne of the best breakfast and brunch places.” That’s right: This New-American restaurant is all about putting interesting yet delicious spins on classic dishes. For example, you can order the Caramelized Bacon, or maybe you’re more of a Sweet Chili Garlic Bacon kind of person. Is your mouth watering yet?

The menu at Gracie’s is expansive — including a long drink menu — so you can come 20 times and still probably try something new, but there are definitely some favorites. “My brunch selection today was the triple bacon BLT on sourdough. Best sandwich ever,” one Yelp reviewer wrote of their meal. Another said, “Dishes like the classic bacon sampler and the irresistible country hash, paired with a delightful red-eye coffee, make every visit unforgettable.” Basically, Bacon is the GOAT at Gracie’s, the portions are big, and you never have to wait long for your food. An all-around win!

6. Horse Inn (Lancaster)

Address: 540 E Fulton St, Lancaster, PA

Price: $$

Description: Horse Inn is one of the oldest restaurants in Lancaster, and its history is as storied as they come. The short version is that it’s been serving local folks top-notch cuisine since the 1920s, and in its century-long service, it’s gone through renovations, address changes, and so much more. Still, one thing has stayed relatively the same: the Horse Inn’s signature dish, Tips N Toast.

Tips N Toast — a dish literally consisting of beef tips with bread — was served to the original diners at the Horse Inn, and you can still order it today. However, today’s probably more upscale version (it’s been a century, after all!) features a luscious red wine demi-glace. Other menu items include Shrimp & Grits, the Horse Inn Cheeseburger, Mussels, and more. Just don’t forget to check out the Horse Inn’s ice creams and other desserts. A single scoop of sweet cream ice cream is only $4, and it’s the perfect nightcap for any meal.

If we mosey on over to Yelp, where Horse Inn sits pretty at 4.4 stars, we see that the most popular dishes here appear to be Tips N Toast (is anyone surprised?), Burrata, the Wedge Salad, and Korean Fried Cauliflower. Still, everything here appears to be gold. Just take it from this reviewer: “I had the chicken and dumplings and some of my husband’s horse fries, everything was 10/10! The chicken was moist and seasoned to perfection. The dumplings, were moist and sopped up the gravy they were sitting in perfectly.”

7. On Orange (Lancaster)

Address: 108 W. Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603

Price: $$

Description: Similar to Gracie’s, On Orange is another New-American restaurant lighting up Pennsylvania Dutch country — and, yes, it’s located on Orange St. According to the restaurant’s website, it’s situated in a building that’s long served its community, with On Orange becoming just the latest — and perhaps greatest — eatery to call its halls home.

On Orange debuted on Lancaster’s culinary scene in 2010, and its menu will entice you no matter what type of food you prefer. “Whether you’re looking for a breakfast that’s more traditional or one with a little twist, On Orange has got you covered,” one Yelp reviewer wrote, echoing many others’ sentiments.

On Orange has a 4.5-star rating on the review aggregator site, and it’s all thanks to its service and, of course, its offerings. Here, you can grub on Swedish Pancakes, a variety of omelets, Baked Oatmeal, house-made granola, and so much more. On Orange even cooks up vegan sausage, meaning there’s truly something for everyone.

Yelp reviewers tend to rave about this place, with one writing, “This is my favorite breakfast place in Lancaster!” As for what you should order, your options are endless. The Stewed Apples, Baked Oatmeal, Peasant Omelet, and Chilaquiles are all home runs, according to Yelp reviewers, but overall, it seems you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose.

8. The BBQ Barn (Lancaster)

Address: 2395 Covered Bridge Dr, Lancaster, PA 17602

Price: $$

Description: Rounding out our list is the Amish-run BBQ Barn located at The Amish Farm and House. The Amish Farm and House provides tours of Pennsylvania Amish country, and it’s been doing so since the ‘50s. You can even purchase a farm visitation ticket to enjoy your BBQ Barn food on the actual farm. Otherwise, you’re free to chow down on picnic benches set up near the food stand.

As if setting up a cantina of sorts wasn’t enough, The BBQ Barn’s food looks legitimately divine. Its menu is classic Southern goodness, including cole slaw, barbecued chicken, BBQ potatoes, and more. The best part, though? The BBQ Barn prepared hot, fresh pretzels, and Yelp reviewers have confirmed that they’re soft and pillowy even right before closing (when one would expect them to be stale). “We only got the soft pretzels here just before they closed but I wish we had gotten more because it was so delicious,” one reviewer wrote of the twisty delights.

All in all, The BBQ Barn boasts a 4.6-star Yelp rating — the highest on this list. Visitors can’t seem to get enough of the restaurant’s pulled pork, pretzels, and barbecued chicken, but you can’t sleep on the sleeper hits, like the strawberry milkshake, or else you might seriously miss out.

“… my brother decided to get the strawberry milkshake for dessert. … We all tried and enjoyed it soo much that I got another one before we left the parking lot,” one Yelp reviewer raved. You heard it here first, folks: Once you go to The BBQ Barn, you never go back. (Sorry, Smokehouse BBQ!)

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.