Minnesota has plenty of fried chicken, but broasted chicken is its own small-town tradition. It is pressure-fried, so the outside turns crisp while the meat stays juicy.
Many of the best plates come from supper clubs, roadside grills, and family restaurants in towns you might drive right past. Here are eight spots, from the North Woods to the southern prairie, that make a strong case for planning your next day trip around a chicken dinner.
1. The Brass Rail, Grandy, MN
Some restaurants put their specialty right in the web address, and brassrailchicken.com tells you exactly what the kitchen cares about. The Brass Rail sits along Highway 65 in tiny Grandy and has built its name on signature broasted chicken and coleslaw.
The pieces are big, with a crisp outside and juicy meat, even the breast, which is usually the first piece to dry out. Fried potatoes round out the classic plate, and most diners will pay somewhere in the $10 to $20 range.
The room is casual and historic, with a fireplace that makes it a good pick on a cold evening. Kids get their own menu, and high chairs are available.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM every day. Reservations are not accepted, so plan around the crowds on Sunday afternoons and Friday and Saturday evenings.
Curbside pickup and takeout work well if you want to eat at home.
2. Carl’s Corner, Essig, MN
Essig is the kind of town you could miss if you blinked, yet people still go out of their way to find it. The draw is Carl’s Corner, a casual Midwestern spot known for broasted chicken and pizza.
The menu is short. The chicken has a light, crisp coating that lets the flavor of the meat come through instead of hiding it under heavy breading.
Prices stay friendly, generally $10 to $20 per person, and there is a kids’ menu for the younger crowd. Service is quick, which helps when Friday and Saturday evenings fill up.
Watch the hours. Weekdays run 9 AM to 8:30 PM, while Saturday and Sunday it opens at 4:30 PM.
Reservations are accepted, which is a smart move on a weekend.
3. The Big Fish Supper Club and Resort, Bena, MN
Wednesday is chicken night up in Bena. The Big Fish Supper Club and Resort runs a broasted chicken special that gets ordered by whole tables, including groups who build it into their yearly trip to the area.
The supper club sits on US Highway 2 in the North Woods, which makes it an easy stop for lake-country travelers. Broasted chicken dinners share the menu with shrimp dinners and a Philly steak sandwich.
This is a true evening place. Doors open at 5 PM Wednesday through Saturday and stay open until midnight, while Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are closed.
If the special is the goal, plan your week around a Wednesday. Calling ahead at 218-665-2299 is a good idea during the busy summer season.
4. Country House, Lake Benton, MN
Out on the southwest prairie, close to the South Dakota line, Lake Benton has a supper house that pulls in diners from both sides of the border. Country House features signature broasted chicken alongside steaks.
It is a short-hours place, open only for supper. Thursday and Sunday run 5 to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday stay open until 8:30, and Monday through Wednesday the kitchen is dark.
The setting is quiet and comfortable, with a fireplace and a full bar. Prices usually land between $10 and $20 per person, and the portions give you plenty for the money.
Reservations are accepted, and the team also handles catering, including weddings. A full vegetarian menu means the non-chicken eaters in your group are covered too.
5. Blacksmith Lounge & Broaster, Hugo, MN
When a restaurant puts “Broaster” right in its name, you know what to order. Blacksmith Lounge & Broaster in Hugo is a short drive north of the Twin Cities, and it carries the easygoing feel of an old supper club.
Get the broasted chicken with coleslaw and beans. Steak, fish, and burgers are also on the menu, and steak sandwiches have a loyal following of their own.
Breakfast is served too, which explains why Sunday mornings and afternoons are the busiest stretch of the week. Sunday hours start at 10 AM.
The rest of the week opens at 11 AM, closing at 8 PM Monday and 9 PM Tuesday through Saturday. No reservations, but parking is usually easy.
6. A-Pine Family Restaurant, Pequot Lakes, MN
Cabin traffic on the way to the Brainerd lakes has a favorite pit stop on Old Highway 371. A-Pine Family Restaurant is known for home-style breakfast and homemade pies, but the broasted chicken earns its own fans.
All-you-can-eat broasted chicken is part of the deal here, which is good news for anyone with a long drive ahead. The rest of the menu leans hearty, with country fried steak, hot beef with gravy, patty melts, and liver and onions.
Doors open at 7 AM daily. It closes at 8 PM most nights and 9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.
Save room for pie. Weekend mornings get busy, while weekday evenings are much calmer.
7. Marnanteli’s Pizza & Grille, Cold Spring, MN
A pizza place might be the last spot you would expect to find great chicken. At Marnanteli’s in Cold Spring, the broasted chicken is one of the most popular things on the menu.
Order it with broasted potatoes for the full experience. If your group can’t decide, a pizza and a chicken order on the same table works out fine.
Subs and a wide range of pizzas fill out the menu, along with full vegetarian and vegan options. The casual dining room works for families and kids’ birthday parties.
Hours are 11 AM to 8 PM most days, with 9 PM closings on Friday and Saturday. Delivery and reservations are both available.
8. Smoak BBQ, Rochester, MN
Here is the curveball on the list. Smoak BBQ in Rochester is a Texas-style barbecue joint, yet its broasted chicken holds its own next to the brisket and ribs.
The chicken comes out with a thin, crisp outside and juicy meat. Pulled pork, turkey, and homemade sides fill the rest of the menu, and the original pickled carrots are worth trying.
Portions are big, and plates generally run $20 to $30 per person. Hours are long, 11 AM to 10 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 10 PM on weekends.
Reservations are accepted, and Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating.
From the North Woods to southeastern Minnesota, these eight kitchens prove broasted chicken is worth planning a trip around. Pick a direction and bring an appetite.
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