Indiana has a dish that shows up at church suppers, family reunions, and holiday tables, and it usually gets piled right on top of mashed potatoes. Chicken and noodles is simple food, but around here it is serious business.
When the wind picks up and the first frost hits, plenty of Hoosiers start looking for a place that makes noodles the old-fashioned way. This list covers six home-cooking restaurants, from Amish country buffets in the north and south to a historic family-style inn east of Indianapolis, where a warm plate of noodles is part of the deal.
Some are big destinations with gift shops and bakeries next door. Others are smaller stops along a state highway where the menu sticks to country basics.
Each one earns its spot for a different reason, so save this list for the next gray Saturday when the only plan is a hearty lunch.
1. Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury, IN
Bragging rights come with the address here, because Das Dutchman Essenhaus is known as the largest restaurant in Indiana. Plenty of seats does not mean the cooking feels mass-produced, though.
The kitchen leans hard into stick-to-your-ribs Amish country food.
Homemade noodles are a big part of the draw. Family-style spreads can include fried chicken, beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, dressing, corn, green beans, salad, and a slice of homemade pie at the end.
Soup fans should know that chicken noodle soup is a menu highlight, which makes it an easy pick on a chilly afternoon. There is also a salad bar, an all-you-can-eat option, and a full vegetarian menu for anyone at the table skipping the chicken.
I would save this one for a slow weekday morning. It opens at 6:30 AM Monday through Saturday and closes at 8 PM, with Sundays closed.
Saturday afternoons tend to be the busiest stretch, while Monday and Tuesday mornings stay calmer.
Expect to spend about $20 to $30 per person. Parking is usually plentiful, and the fireplace and historic setting make it a comfortable place to linger over coffee and dessert.
2. Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, Shipshewana, IN
Shipshewana shoppers know the routine: browse the Amish crafts, then head to the Blue Gate before the line gets long. A wait is common here, especially on Saturday afternoons, so timing matters.
The family-owned kitchen and bakery sits alongside a marketplace, which makes it an easy midday break. Noodles with chicken gravy poured over mashed potatoes are a house favorite, and the buffet often carries chicken and beef noodles, Amish noodles, stuffing, corn, green beans, and mac and cheese.
Fried chicken, meatloaf, pot roast, and fried shrimp round out the hot dishes. Two soups are typically on the buffet as well.
Then comes the bakery side. Blueberry, cherry, and lemon meringue pie all show up on the menu, along with cookies and apple butter, and the honey French salad dressing has its own fan club.
Hours run 10:30 AM to 7 PM Monday through Wednesday, until 8 PM Thursday and Friday, and 7 AM to 8 PM on Saturday. Sundays are closed.
Plan on $20 to $30 per person, plus a little extra if a whole pie is coming home with you.
3. Gasthof Amish Village, Montgomery, IN
Southern Indiana has its own Amish country, and Gasthof Amish Village in Daviess County is one of its best-known tables. The restaurant sits on Amish farmland and runs a buffet loaded with homemade comfort food.
Noodles get serious attention. Look for homemade noodles with beef tips and gravy, plus homemade chicken noodle soup topped with homemade croutons.
Chicken and dumplings also earn plenty of praise.
The rest of the buffet is a long walk. Fried chicken, roast beef, meatloaf, roast pork, fried fish, catfish fiddlers, and shrimp share space with mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, and a salad bar.
Fresh bread arrives with apple butter and peanut butter, which is a small detail that many first-timers end up talking about on the drive home. Cobbler and other desserts close things out.
Unlike several stops on this list, Gasthof is open on Sunday, from 10:30 AM to 3 PM. Weekday hours are 11 AM to 8 PM, stretching to 9 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Reservations are accepted, and there is an antique shop and gift shop on site for browsing after the meal.
4. Knepp’s Amish Kountry Korner, Washington, IN
Early birds get the best deal in Washington. Knepp’s Amish Kountry Korner opens at 8 AM on weekdays and wraps up at 5 PM, so this is a breakfast and lunch kind of stop.
The classic order here is a Hoosier staple done right: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and noodles spooned over the top, with green beans on the side. The fried chicken is the headliner, and homemade pies and bread back it up.
The buffet also brings all-you-can-eat catfish, shrimp, and crab legs, along with a salad bar. Food comes out fast, which is handy for anyone on a road trip along US-50.
Prices land around $10 to $20 per person, one of the friendlier tabs on this list. Saturday hours are shorter, 8 AM to 2 PM, and Sundays are closed.
Reservations are accepted for groups, and parking is easy to find.
5. The Chicken House, Sellersburg, IN
With a name like The Chicken House, nobody needs a hint about the specialty. Fried chicken is cooked to order at this Sellersburg standby, so a short wait is part of the routine.
For cold days, the creamy chicken noodle soup is the move. It has a loyal following among folks who drive in from out of town just for a bowl.
Chicken and dumplings are another homestyle option.
The yeast rolls get a lot of attention too, and the side dish list is long. Fried mushrooms, deviled eggs, spicy cheese curds, and chicken fried steak all appear on the menu, with banana pudding for dessert.
Hours are 11 AM to 8 PM Monday through Thursday and until 9 PM Friday and Saturday. Sundays are closed.
Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, and reservations are accepted.
Expect around $10 to $20 per person, which helps explain why this spot stays busy with families from across southern Indiana.
6. Kopper Kettle Inn Restaurant, Morristown, IN
Antiques line nearly every room at the Kopper Kettle Inn, and yes, there is a collection of copper kettles to match the name. The restaurant sits in a unique old house in Morristown, roughly an hour east of Indianapolis.
Meals are served family style, with platters passed around the table. Family-style chicken is a signature, and chicken noodle soup appears among the menu highlights.
Save room for sugar cream pie, Indiana’s official state pie. Ribeye steak and onion soup are other options for anyone wanting a change.
The setting tips a little dressier than a country buffet, with a fireplace and live piano music adding to the vintage feel. That makes it a smart pick for birthdays or holiday gatherings.
Hours run 11 AM to 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday and 11:30 AM to 6 PM on Sunday. Mondays are closed.
Dinner reservations are recommended, and prices are around $20 to $30 per person.
Wherever you start, these six kitchens prove a plate of noodles is one of the best ways to handle an Indiana winter.
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