1
$$Editor's Pick
The shoofly pie alone is worth the trip. This is the quintessential Lancaster dining experience.
Restaurants in Lancaster
Best Amish & Pennsylvania Dutch
Restaurants in Lancaster
3 top-rated amish & pennsylvania dutch restaurants in Lancaster, PA. Updated for 2026.
Authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine served family-style. Experience shoofly pie, chicken pot pie, chow chow, and the generous portions that define Lancaster County dining.
2
$$
Eating family-style with strangers becomes part of the charm. You'll leave stuffed and smiling.
3
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The whole complex makes for a full day — eat, shop, and take a buggy ride without leaving.
Tips for Pennsylvania Dutch Dining
- •Nearly all smorgasbords and family-style restaurants close on Sundays — plan your big meal Monday through Saturday.
- •Arrive before noon or after 1:30pm on Saturdays to dodge the tour-bus rush.
- •Pace yourself: the pie table is the finish line. Shoofly pie is the local signature.
- •Family-style means sharing platters, sometimes with other guests — lean into it, it's the fun part.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a smorgasbord and family-style dining?
A smorgasbord is a serve-yourself buffet; family-style means platters of fried chicken, ham, vegetables, and bread are passed around shared tables, often with other guests. Both are all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch traditions — family-style is the more social, memorable experience.
Are Pennsylvania Dutch restaurants open on Sundays?
Most are closed on Sundays for religious observance, including nearly all the famous smorgasbords and family-style houses. Plan your big Pennsylvania Dutch meal for Monday through Saturday.