The Illinois Amish Buffet That Bakes About 550 Pies Every Week

Fried chicken usually steals the show at a buffet. Here, a bakery turning out about 550 pies a week gives it real competition.

Who could say no to coconut cream, the top seller?

This family-run spot sits deep in Illinois Amish country. Donuts start rolling out as early as 4 AM, long before most people wake up.

Ham loaf, freezer slaw, and sticky buns share the spotlight. Even the slaw hides a surprise, with lemon gelatin in the mix.

A national restaurant show stopped by to film the food. Locals already knew why people drive miles to eat here.

Is a whole pie in the passenger seat a reasonable souvenir? Most Illinois road trippers would say yes.

Where does all that baking happen, and what else is on the line?

The Pie Count Alone Deserves Applause

Yoder’s Kitchen bakes about 550 whole pies every week. Coconut cream is the best-seller, so save room for a slice.

The in-house bakery does not stop at pie. Homemade breads, angel food cakes, and cookies come out of the same kitchen.

Donuts start early, as soon as 4 AM. That means the morning crowd gets them fresh.

Apple butter and Amish peanut butter are made here too. Both are great with bread, and you can take jars home.

Think about that pie number for a second. Weekly means six days of rolling crust, mixing filling, and stacking finished desserts.

Illinois has plenty of bakeries, but few produce at this scale. A restaurant that bakes this much clearly treats dessert as a main event.

Plan your meal with this in mind. Maybe skip that third roll and leave space for a sweet finish.

If you want to carry something home, the bakery side makes that easy. A whole pie in the passenger seat feels like a good decision.

Fried Chicken Gets The Starring Role

Fried chicken is the headliner at Yoder’s Kitchen. It is hand-breaded, and plenty of people call it the best chicken in the state.

Illinois has many chicken fans, so that is a bold title. A 2022 feature by America’s Best Restaurants backed up the buzz.

A TV feature in November 2022 backed up the buzz.

The host of America’s Best Restaurants said people drive for miles to eat this chicken. That is a pretty strong endorsement.

Pair it with homemade mashed potatoes and noodles. Together they make a popular Amish favorite.

Other plates show up on the line too. Mac-n-cheese and green beans are frequent sides.

Go for the chicken first. Then you can wander back and sample the rest without any regrets.

A good rule is to start small. A buffet gives you unlimited trips, so there is no pressure to grab everything at once.

Comfort food rarely gets more classic than this. Crispy chicken, creamy potatoes, and a warm plate on the table.

Meet The Family Behind The Buffet Line

Yoder’s Kitchen is a family business. Anna Herschberger and her husband Nelson run it, and their sons Daren and Derrick manage the restaurant.

Anna began as a waitress in 1994. In 2002 she had the chance to buy the place and became the owner.

Her mother once ran a home-cooking business called Miller’s Home Cooking. Anna learned many of her cooking and hospitality skills there.

That is a neat path, from carrying plates to owning the restaurant. By November 2022, she had owned it for 20 years.

Family roots show up in the recipes too. The famous freezer slaw comes from an original recipe from her mother.

Restaurants with this kind of story feel different from big chains. Real people with real history are behind the food.

Not every busy buffet can say that. Here, the story goes back decades and stays in the family.

So when you fill your plate, you are tasting a recipe collection built over time. That is a nice thing to chew on.

A Rotating Cast Of Homestyle Mains

Dishes change weekly at the buffet, with daily specials added in. That keeps repeat visits interesting.

Meats rotate through ham loaf, roast beef, fried fish, meatloaf, BBQ turkey, and country-style ribs. Not every item appears every day.

The kitchen specializes in Amish and Mennonite homestyle cooking. Expect hearty plates built around familiar comfort food.

A full menu is also available. If someone in your group wants to order a plate instead, that option is open.

Illinois road trippers often want something filling after a drive through farm country. A lineup like this does the job nicely.

Try a small spoonful of something new each visit. Ham loaf, for example, is a dish many diners rarely see elsewhere.

Check the line before you commit. Walking the full length first helps you plan your plate.

That strategy saves room for the good stuff. And around here, the good stuff keeps coming.

Friday And Saturday Mornings Belong To Breakfast

The breakfast buffet runs on Friday and Saturday mornings. Mark those days on your calendar.

The spread includes homemade donuts, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit, and sticky buns. Those donuts come from a bakery that starts work as early as 4 AM.

Sticky buns are a highlight for many fans. They pair well with a plate of eggs.

Fruit adds some balance to the table. You can tell yourself it cancels out the donut.

The lunch and dinner buffet runs Monday through Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Plan around that closure if you are driving in on a weekend. Saturday is your last chance before the break.

Early arrival is smart on busy mornings. A big breakfast deserves an unhurried start.

Nothing says weekend like warm pastries and a full plate. This one is built for it.

Freezer Slaw Has A Secret Ingredient

Lemon Jell-O. Yes, really.

That is the secret ingredient in the freezer slaw at Yoder’s Kitchen.

The recipe is original and comes from the owner’s mother. It is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Slaw might not sound like a headliner. Still, a recipe with a family story earns a spot on your plate.

Bread comes with apple butter or Amish peanut butter. Both spreads are made in-house.

Small details like these show how much goes into the spread. Even the sides have a backstory.

Try a spoonful alongside the chicken. The cool, tangy bite is a nice contrast to something crispy and hot.

Illinois diners love a good potluck dish. This one fits right into that tradition.

Ask yourself if you have ever tasted slaw with a Jell-O twist. If not, here is your chance.

Room For 600 Means Room For You

The restaurant can seat up to 600 people at one time. That is a lot of chairs.

A 2016 expansion added a 4,500 square-foot area called The Porch. It increased seating by 85.

The addition also brought a separate carry-out entrance. A second kitchen handles catering and pickup orders.

Several rooms are available, and The Porch can host private parties and events. There is also a dedicated kids’ room.

The vibe is quiet and family-friendly, aiming to make guests feel at home. Big space does not have to mean cold space.

Large groups benefit most. Birthday meals, reunions, and church outings all have room to spread out.

Catering extends the reach even further. The team can serve events for up to 500 people.

They travel about an hour away, to places like Champaign and Decatur. Your party can happen at home.

Browse The Gift Shop Before You Leave

The gift shop at Yoder’s Kitchen is worth a lap. It sells a range of Amish goods.

Quilts made by local Amish ladies hang among the items. Amish dolls, clothing, and other crafts fill the shelves.

Souvenirs here feel more meaningful than a typical keychain. A handmade quilt tells a story of the community nearby.

Food gifts make sense too. Apple butter and Amish peanut butter come from the restaurant’s own kitchen.

Walk through after your meal. A full stomach makes browsing a lot more relaxing.

Gifts for friends are easy to find. A jar of spread can brighten up someone’s kitchen back home.

Illinois has many roadside shops, but few pair dinner with a handmade-goods stop. This combination saves you a trip.

Think of it as dessert for your eyes. Just keep an eye on your trunk space.

Find It In The Heart Of Amish Country

Yoder’s Kitchen sits at 1195 E Columbia St, Arthur, IL 61911. It is off Highway 133 in the heart of Illinois Amish Country.

Horse-drawn buggies are a common sight around here. The drive itself is part of the fun.

The Illinois Office of Tourism lists the restaurant as a destination for Amish and Mennonite homestyle cooking. It highlights the buffet, homemade pies, and rolls.

Hours run Monday through Saturday, and Sunday is a day off. Check ahead before you head out.

Roll slowly through town and enjoy the countryside. Share the road with buggies and keep your speed down.

Pair the meal with a leisurely afternoon. Farm views and a full belly make a good combination.

If friends ask about your Illinois road trip, this is the stop to mention. Fried chicken, pie, and a quilt-filled gift shop make a good story.

Now the only question left is which dessert you will pick first.