Zehnder's of Frankenmuth — Restaurant in City of Frankenmuth

(Scroll all the way down for an update.)

I want to start off by saying that I understand the history of this place and I also understand it's importance. What I do not understand is the hype that is based around the food. If you mention Frankenmuth in a conversation, almost immediately Zehnder's will be mentioned right afterward. I have been to Frankenmuth on a myriad of occasions and never had the chance to stop in here. Being in town this last time, I made it a priority to finally try this place, and after I had it left me wondering why it is such a big deal to everyone. As you probably already know, this place is almost always busy—and you are far better off if you make reservations ahead of time. Stepping foot into this place is like taking a step back in time, and you can really see and feel the history that is tied into it. It's very clean, and very old-timey looking (which I love). You should also know that even though you've made a reservation you will most likely end up waiting in line to be seated anyhow—which I found ridiculous, but it is what it is.

You will also notice that the customer service here is pretty top-notch, and you will be in the midst of this almost immediately. The staff is very friendly, welcoming, and there for whatever you need.

The food here (which is what this place is most famous for, specifically their Fried Chicken Dinner) is served in two ways "Buffet Style", where you go up and grab your own food—and it's all you can eat. And "Family Style", where you receive table service. I believe it's a bit cheaper to do the "Family Style" option, but you are limited on the amount of food you get as I believe it is not all you can eat, but I could be wrong as I have only ever had the buffet. In my honest opinion this was the most disappointing part of the whole thing—to me the chicken was just okay. It isn't exceptionally good, or really even anything to write home about. I will say that all of the other items, like the sides and whatnot are pretty tasty and do taste homemade—and the best part about all of this is that if you choose the buffet, you can eat until your heart and belly are content.

When all was said and done, I felt a bit disappointed by their "world- famous" Chicken dinner. I have had a lot of different types of fried chicken from all over the place and this is not the best by any means. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible—just not what I was expecting for all of the hype that is based around it.

To be completely honest, I really feel like all of the hype based around the food here is not only based upon it's history and how long it's been around, but the fact that this is a town based around tourism—which definitely helps spread the word about an old school home cooked style meal, that is just okay.

EDIT: I decided to pop in here a second time recently when I was in town again with family, and I must say I was wrong. We decided against the buffet option this time and went with "family style" option, and we were all pleasantly surprised. Having been before and remembering thinking that the chicken was just okay, we knew we had to try it again, and as previously stated, I have zero qualms about admitting that I was wrong. This time it was perfectly cooked, juicy, fragrant, and by far some of the best chicken I've had in general while out to dinner. It's not complicated, it's not fancy, it's just plain good. So maybe I was in a bad mood before, or maybe I had a bad batch of just "okay" chicken. I'm not honestly sure, and it doesn't really mater.

I wanted to come back here and update my review because it's important to give honest and accurate feedback when it comes to giving your public opinion about things. It's also important to admit when you are wrong. I think that anyone that has had just an "okay" experience here should come back and give it another go, because they might find a completely different experience the second time...

I love this place but unfortunately last night was a totally different story. My mother n law took us to splash village and we ended up getting the eat and sleep package. I had made us a reservation for 5 on 7/29 @ 6 pm. We had a little wait we got there a little early that was okay. Our name got called and we got seated. Our server instantly greeted us and asked us what we wanted to drink. Everyone else ordered but I was still getting situated and currently looking at the drink menu. So I didn’t waste time bc I knew he was busy I just asked for a water until he came back with drinks. He came back without drinks and told my mother n law that he was sorry that he forgot they did not have bud light any longer. No problem she ended up getting a coors light and since he was back I ended up ordering my drink. He brings back the drinks. We didn’t have to order bc we ended up getting the family style chicken dinners besides my son he got chicken tenders. Well the kids ordered chocolate milk and my son took a drink and he had the nastiest look in his face. He said it was nasty. So my mom took a drink and she said she wanted to spit it out. So our server came back with our drinks and we apologized to him and said the milk was spoiled. He apologized and he asked if he could get us something else. The kids wanted Dr Pepper and he instantly gets an attitude and said we don’t have that we have this and this and that. I said okay that’s fine can my kids just get a Pepsi. I let the attitude slide this time. We got our food and everything was good until my son says what’s this momma and I looked and sure enough it was a dead spider in his plate. Hey things happen I used to be a server for 10 years. It happens. The server comes back and I quietly said I’m sorry we have a little problem and he goes what’s that.. I show him and he goes oh my goodness then he said well it’s not like your paying for the food… well my dude we did pay for the food with our package so what do you want me to do about it… so at this time I was super upset bc his whole attitude had me twisted. So he got the manager and the manager comes and I said look we had a dead spider on my sons plate we have had a horrible experience with our server the whole time. Which I get it’s a busy Saturday night but he acted like we were such a inconvenience to him. He goes I’m sorry we refunded everything and I go I never asked for a refund it’s besides the point. We had you come over bc of the servers attitude. The manager goes I’m so sorry for this. He also said he would send doughnuts over for us in the am for the inconvenience. All I wanted was a new plate of chicken tenders for my kid that was never offered. So my child didn’t get to eat dinner with us. We had to go get him other food. We never got our refund and we never got our doughnuts that were promised. So now I thought the situation was handled and was not so now I’m bringing this to the reviews and social media. If a manager reads this we were room 180 under...

I’m not even sure where to begin—Zehnder’s in Frankenmuth is hands down one of the greatest dining experiences I’ve ever had! If you’re looking for comfort food that makes you feel like you’re being wrapped in a warm Michigan hug, this is the place to be. I’ve dined here multiple times, and every single visit feels like stepping into a fairytale where food is the hero!

First off, let’s talk about the CHICKEN. Zehnder’s world-famous fried chicken is beyond legendary—it’s practically a national treasure. Perfectly crispy on the outside, unbelievably tender and juicy on the inside, it’s the gold standard of fried chicken. The seasoning is spot-on, making every bite taste like pure joy. It’s not just food—it’s an experience that brings you back to simpler times, where every meal feels like a celebration. If I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life, it would be Zehnder’s chicken dinner, hands down.

And don’t even get me started on the side dishes. Oh. My. Goodness. The buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and fresh-baked bread? They’re like heaven on a plate. Everything is made with such love and attention to detail, it’s like having a home-cooked meal, except it’s 100 times better! The portions are enormous, so come hungry (but don’t worry, you’ll leave with plenty of leftovers to keep the magic alive at home).

Now, here’s the ONLY downside (and I almost can’t believe I’m saying this because the food is so incredible). The service during my last visit? Absolutely terrible. Our server was slow, inattentive, and—brace yourself—flat out refused to refill any of our chicken or sides. Yes, you read that right. We were ready to go another round with those amazing buttered noodles and tender chicken, but our server straight-up said NO. I mean, it’s all-you-can-eat, right? But apparently not for us! I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, it put a bit of a damper on what was otherwise a perfect meal.

But even with the hiccup in service, Zehnder’s food is so phenomenal that I would STILL give it 5 stars. That’s how good it is. The atmosphere is warm and charming, and the staff usually treats you like family, so I’m hoping this was just a one-off. If you ever find yourself within driving distance of Frankenmuth, MI, Zehnder’s is an absolute MUST. Whether you’re coming for the food, the ambiance, or just to soak in that special Zehnder’s vibe, you will NOT be disappointed.

I’m already counting down the days until my next visit (hopefully with better service this time). Zehnder’s, you have a customer for life—just make sure I can get those refills next...