Wisconsin gets plenty of attention for cheese curds and Friday fish fry, but its roadhouse fried chicken deserves a turn in the spotlight. Out on state highways and county roads, small independent spots are turning out broasted chicken, crispy tenders, and spicy sandwiches that keep regulars coming back every week.
This list covers five roadhouses from the Mississippi River bluffs to the northwoods edge, each with its own take on the bird. Save it for your next road trip, because a good chicken dinner makes any drive better.
1. Great River Roadhouse, De Soto, WI
Highway 35 hugs the Mississippi River through some of the prettiest country in the state, and De Soto makes a smart place to pull over for lunch. Great River Roadhouse sits right on that route at 9660 WI-35.
Broasted chicken is the headliner here. It comes out juicy inside with a crisp coating, which is exactly what you want after a long stretch of river road.
Pizza runs a close second. The thin crust pies are loaded with toppings and real Wisconsin cheese, with choices like taco, shrimp, buffalo chicken, garlic chicken, BLT, and Spicy Sicilian.
The dining room leans rustic, complete with antler chandeliers overhead. It is casual, kid friendly, and has a kids’ menu and high chairs.
Plan around the schedule. The roadhouse is closed Tuesday and Wednesday, open 11 AM to 8 PM Monday, Thursday, and Sunday, and stays open until 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Reservations are not taken, so Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons get busy. Parking is free and usually easy to find.
2. Rolling Oaks Roadhouse, Barron, WI
Supper club fans, meet your chicken dinner headquarters in northwestern Wisconsin. Rolling Oaks Roadhouse in Barron blends classic supper club traditions with a relaxed, family friendly feel.
The Chicken Dinner is a full spread. Broasted chicken comes with a choice of cheesy potatoes or baby reds, plus the salad bar, soup, and breadsticks.
That salad bar gets real attention, and it is a big reason the meal feels generous for the price. Most plates land between $10 and $30 per person.
Prefer something handheld? The Southern Style Chicken Tender Basket and Southwest Chicken Salad are also on the menu, along with prime rib and a fish fry featuring baked or deep fried cod.
A fireplace, a private dining room, and a kids’ menu round things out. Reservations are accepted, which helps on busy Friday nights.
Hours run 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Thursday, 11 AM to 9 PM Friday, and 4 to 9 PM Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
3. Roadhouse, Necedah, WI
Sometimes the name says it all. In Necedah, the place is simply called Roadhouse, and it sits right on State Highway 21 at W5164.
This is a casual neighborhood bar first, and its kitchen keeps the focus tight. Broasted chicken and fish fry are the specialties.
That simplicity is part of the appeal. Prices typically run $10 to $20 per person, and service tends to move quickly.
Bar games and sports on TV give it a laid back, hang out kind of vibe. Outdoor seating, takeout, and delivery are all options too.
Central Wisconsin travelers heading toward the Necedah area will find it open 11 AM to midnight Tuesday through Saturday and 11 AM to 9 PM Sunday. It is closed Monday.
Wednesday and Friday afternoons into evening are the busiest stretches. No reservations, but the free lot usually has room.
4. Doc’s Roadhouse | Bar & Restaurant, Ettrick, WI
Not every great fried chicken comes on the bone. At Doc’s Roadhouse, the star is a Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
The chicken gets a crispy, well seasoned coating, then a coat of pepper oil at medium heat. Creamy coleslaw on top cools things down just enough.
I like this one as a change of pace on the list. It brings a little Southern spice to the rolling hills of western Wisconsin along County Road C.
The rest of the menu covers burgers, steaks, and Italian beef. Specials rotate, and prices usually stay in the $10 to $20 range.
The place is owner operated, with a friendly, upbeat atmosphere and plenty of regulars. It is family friendly and accepts reservations.
Night owls, take note. Doc’s opens at 11 AM Wednesday through Sunday and stays open until 2 AM most nights, or 2:30 AM on Friday and Saturday.
It is closed Monday and Tuesday.
5. Prescott Roadhouse, Prescott, WI
Sushi and fried chicken under one roof sounds unusual, but Prescott Roadhouse pulls it off. The women-owned spot at 127 Broad St sits in a cool old building with a bar, right in the river town where the St. Croix meets the Mississippi.
Chicken tenders and chicken wings are the fried favorites here. The wings in particular have a strong local following.
Comfort food drives the rest of the menu. Expect burgers, street tacos, BBQ, loaded fries, baked beans, and philly cheesesteak.
Then there are Sushi nights, Wednesday through Friday, with rolls like the California Roll and Veggie Crunchy Roll. It gives the place a personality all its own.
Weekend mornings bring breakfast too, with French toast on the menu. Hours are 11 AM to 9 PM Tuesday through Friday, 8 AM to 9 PM Saturday, and 8 AM to 8:30 PM Sunday.
It is closed Monday. Kids get their own menu, and dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating.
From river bluffs to small town main streets, these five roadhouses prove Wisconsin knows its way around a chicken dinner. Pick one, plan your route, and bring an appetite.
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