Beat the lunch and dinner rush
Arrive before 11:30am or after 1:30pm for lunch, and before 5:00pm for dinner—wait times at spots like Hot Dog Avenue and Dells Pizza Lab can hit 30-45 minutes after peak hours, especially on weekends.
Mix up your meal times
For a full-day food crawl, try a late breakfast at BJ’s, a midday snack at Rockin Chicken Shack, then hit El Taco Loco or Dells Pizza Lab for dinner. Spreading out stops means you skip the crowds and get the “best of” each kitchen.
Avoid eating between 6pm–7:30pm
This is when the town’s dinner rush hits hard—expect packed dining rooms, long lines, and “sorry, we’re out of cinnamon rolls” at Denny’s Diner. Save yourself the stress and eat a bit earlier or later.
Don’t count on late-night eats
Most places close by 9pm, and kitchens may start winding down even earlier. If you want a late snack, plan ahead or grab something to go during your last stop.