The Amish are known for their legendary cooking and baking. When most of us think of Amish cooking, we think of homemade chicken corn soup and cinnamon rolls. We think of fresh garden goodies and scratch-made bread. So, you would think that the Amish don’t have much use for fast food in a culinary culture built around homemade.
🍟 The Amish and Fast Food
So, do the Amish go to fast food restaurants? The answer might surprise you.
Yes, you will find many Amish customers eating fast-food burgers and fries.
The question of did the Amish come to fast-food or did fast food come to the Amish is a more difficult one to answer. It’s probably a little bit of both.
If you go to Holmes County, Ohio or Shipshewana, Indiana, the Golden Arches are ever-present. So is Burger King. Pizza Hut. There's nothing in Amish religion and culture that prohibits convenience. And for a lot of Amish with families having a lot many mouths to feed, there's nothing more convenient than picking up a dozen burgers and fries or a big bucket of KFC.
There are few things better than scratch-made biscuits and sausage gravy stirred on the stove top. But that hasn't stopped McDonald's and other fast food chains from moving into Amish country with ready-made biscuits and gravy sold at cut-rate prices.
The arrival of fast food has been good for the Amish diet, which traditionally have been a very locavore one. Obesity among the Amish was relatively rare until recently. It's still the exception rather than the rule. Here are some fast food favorites McDonald's: many put hitching Post in the parking lot for their Amish visitors. And it's not uncommon to see buggies going through the drive-through lane.
🍔 Which Fast-Food Restaurants Are Favorites Among the Amish?
Pizza Hut: the Amish are no different from anyone else, how can you resist greasy pizza and breadsticks? So much so that there are copycat recipes the Amish have created to mimic Pizza Hut.
East of Chicago Pizza Company: this is a regional chain, and their name sort of limits them, you're not going to find an East of Chicago west of Chicago. But this pizza chain is a favorite among the Amish because the restaurants tend to locate in small towns.
KFC: Plenty of Amish like to load up their buggies with buckets of fried chicken and their mashed potatoes. Some Amish have even created copycat recipes for KFC chicken.
❓ FAQ Amish and Fast Food
No, the Amish church has no rules forbidding the eating of fast food. Amish people can nosh at Wendy's, McDonald's, etc
If buggies are permitted in the lane and they can fit, through, yes, the Amish will use them as a convenience.
John Allfred Petroskas, Jr
I often take Swartzentruber. neighbors when I go shopping. (we live in very rural Minnesota) Dining "fast food" is usually my treat. By far, the DAIRY QUEEN is the favorite stop. In second place is BURGER KING, especially with the boys (Double/triple whoppers). Once we stopped at a buffet...kids LOVED IT... especially all you can eat soft serve ice cream. Multiple option soft drink dispensers are always a kick..
Kevin Williams
Dairy Queen is always a hit!
Johanna santore
I have seen Amish on several occasions here in Pueblo, CO at Jack inthe BOX. Van loads at times. Seems to be a favorite here.
Kevin Williams
Interesting, nothing better than burger and fries for a big Amish family. I wish we had Jack in the Box here in Ohio!