By Zach Brown, Berks County Eats
As much time as I have spent in Kutztown over the years, I’ve spent very little of it at Renninger’s Farmers Market.
The Friday-Saturday schedule makes it tough. And with excellent markets in Wyomissing, Shillington, and Muhlenberg, Renninger’s is often an afterthought.
I did stop in back in 2023 when Heart & Hearth first opened, but visits have been few and far between. I decided to change that back in October, and after weighing the options, I decided to give Fry Daddy’s a try.
As the name implies, Fry Daddy’s is a stand with a singular focus: deep-fried foods. The menu includes French fries (of course), fried pierogies, chicken fingers and sandwiches, fish and chips, and deep-fried hamburgers and hot dogs.
I decided to try a combo meal of chicken fingers and fries. The price is unbelievable. For $6.50, I got four large chicken tenders, an order of fries, barbecue sauce for dipping, and a small side of coleslaw.
(For another $1.50, I got a Brisk iced tea, bringing the total to $8.00.)
For the price, I didn’t expect the portion size I got — almost enough to feed two. And I also didn’t expect the quality that I got. The chicken may not have been the most outstanding that I’ve ever had, but it was good. The fries, though, were excellent. They were fresh-cut style with skin-on, cooked to a crispy golden color. They were cut short, so they were easy a handful at a time. They’re definitely hard to top.
I enjoyed my meal enough to return in early January. This time, I opted for the chicken sandwich combo meal. Once again, it came with fries and coleslaw for $6.50. (I skipped the drink this time.)
Topping options are limited — cheese and mayo — and I decided all I needed was a little bit of mayo.
Again, it’s simple, but I really enjoyed it. The sandwich, while still hearty, was more manageable than the chicken tenders, and I didn’t feel as overly full. The fries were excellent again — some of the best around.
The coleslaw is also solid. It’s not the most flavorful, but it’s creamy and makes for a nice addition to the box.
There’s nothing fancy about Renninger’s. It’s a no-frills farmers’ market inside and out. Fry Daddy’s feels like the perfect fit. It’s not that they take shortcuts; they just keep things simple. In doing so, the food is good, the service is strong, and the prices are among the lowest in Berks County.
It’s a mix that will keep me coming back.
BCE Rating
Food: Good
Ambiance: Fair
Service: Excellent
Price: $
Fry Daddy’s at Renninger’s
740 Noble St.
Kutztown, PA 19530
This story was contributed courtesy of Berks County Eats, a local resource for food and dining information. Berks County Eats is dedicated to promoting the dining scene in Reading and Berks County, PA, offering restaurant reviews, news, and events, and a comprehensive Berks County restaurant directory. You can read more at berkscountyeats.com.
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