People Drive Across Pennsylvania For The Broasted Chicken At These 5 Small-Town Taverns

If you have never had broasted chicken, you are missing out on one of Pennsylvania’s quiet food traditions. It is chicken that gets pressure-cooked and crisped at the same time, which keeps the meat juicy while the outside stays crunchy.

Across the state, small taverns in tiny towns have built loyal followings around this exact dish, and people happily drive an hour or more to get it. From the western hills near Avella to the York County backroads, these spots prove you do not need a big city to find great food.

Here are five small-town taverns where the broasted chicken is the reason folks keep coming back. Grab your keys and maybe an appetite, because each of these places earns its spot for a different reason.

1. Breezy Heights Tavern, Avella, PA

Out in the rolling farmland of western Washington County sits a homey little tavern where the broasted chicken has become something of a regional legend. Avella is an unincorporated community with fewer than 1,000 residents, so the fact that people drive here at all says plenty.

The chicken is the headliner, crisp on the outside and juicy inside. Regulars pair it with the honey garlic dipping sauce, and the menu also stretches to broasted pork chops, meaty ribs, steaks, and spaghetti.

Part of the fun here is the setting. The tavern leans into a historic, cozy feel with wall murals, private booths, and playful stuffed animals scattered around that make for goofy photo moments.

You will find it at 714 Washington Pike. It is closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Sunday with dinner running latest on Fridays and Saturdays.

Parking is free and usually easy, and reservations are accepted if you are bringing a group.

2. The Valley Tavern, Seven Valleys, PA

Thursday is the night to circle on your calendar here, because that is when the all-you-can-eat broasted chicken comes out. The chicken is known for being moist with a generous amount of meat, which makes the deal even better.

Seven Valleys is a tiny historic borough in York County with only about 500 residents, so this tavern doubles as a genuine community hangout. Beyond the chicken, the kitchen turns out crab cakes and cream of crab soup that regulars order alongside their birds.

There is more going on than just food. Expect bar games, karaoke, live music, and sports on the screens, plus $2 taco Wednesdays if you want a lower-key visit.

The address is 1 Cherry Street. Hours run daily, with the kitchen open into late hours Friday and Saturday.

There is a private dining room, free wi-fi, and plenty of parking, and reservations are accepted.

3. Crossroads Country Tavern, Morris, PA

Deep in the Pennsylvania Wilds, where the roads wind through Tioga County forest, a country tavern in Morris has built its reputation on broasted chicken and easygoing local company. Morris has around 600 residents, so this is about as small-town as a road trip gets.

The chicken keeps people coming back, and the kitchen also lists prime rib among its highlights. It is comfort food with late-night hours, which is a rare combination out in this rural stretch.

On top of the food, the tavern brings craft beer on tap, bar games, and live music. It is a genuine gathering spot in a place where those are worth the drive to find.

Look for it at 2030 PA-287. Hours run daily, opening at noon most days and staying open past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Parking is free, and outdoor seating is available when the weather cooperates.

4. New Era Restaurant Bar and Motel, Abbottstown, PA

Here is a tavern that mixes classic American plates with Euro-Balkan cooking, which is not something you stumble on every day along the Lincoln Highway. The broasted chicken has earned strong praise from folks who consider it the best they have had.

The all-you-can-eat angle is a big draw, with both chicken and wing nights on the schedule. Beyond that, the menu runs deep with crab legs, a crab cake platter, the New Era Burger, and Balkan specialties like cevapi, pljeskavica, and gulas.

Abbottstown is a historic borough of roughly 1,000 people in Adams County, and the tavern keeps things family-friendly with a kids’ menu, high chairs, a fireplace, and a patio.

You will find it at 7415 Lincoln Highway. It is closed Sunday and Monday, open Tuesday through Thursday from the afternoon, and open late Friday and Saturday.

There is free parking and reservations are accepted.

5. Kelly’s Inn, York, PA

Seafood and broasted chicken might sound like an odd pairing, but this North Sherman Street spot makes it work and has kept people ordering both for years. The broasted chicken often gets called the best thing on the table, even when there is a spread of seafood in front of you.

Steamed crabs are a signature here, along with extra large crabs, scallops, oysters, and a well-loved cream of crab soup. It is the kind of casual, unpretentious place that leans into its dive-bar charm while keeping a non-smoking dining room for anyone who prefers it.

The setting is relaxed and quiet, with a fireplace adding to the cozy feel. It sits on the semi-rural fringe of York County, which makes the trip feel like a little escape.

The address is 1906 N Sherman Street. Hours run daily from noon, closing at 9 PM most nights and 9:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays.

Parking is free and reservations are accepted.