The history of the Midwest and its love for ranch dressing began in the 1970s after California company, Hidden Valley Ranch, created a powdered version of their beloved recipe that allowed them to ship it without the fear of expiration — as well as giving restaurants the ability to buy the powder in bulk. Restaurant chefs began to tweak the recipe and make it their own. Thus instilling the love of everything ranch to us Hoosiers, as well as our neighboring states.

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So if you think all ranch tastes the same, we’re here to bust this myth for you. One thing these ranch dressings all have in common? No one was willing to divulge their secret recipe. So in no particular order, in honor of #nationalranchday2021, here’s where to get the BEST ranch in Kokomo.

Oscar’s Pizza

515 N. Buckeye St., Kokomo

We’ve heard it over and over — Oscar’s Pizza has the BEST ranch in Kokomo. While the recipe of this ranch is Oscar’s best-kept secret, we do know that this made-in-house masterpiece includes 10 top secret ingredients that will keep you coming back for more. Pair it with a slice of pizza, a salad, or just drink it from the cup. We won’t judge.

Hotbox Pizza

2116 E. Markland Ave., Kokomo

While we’re on the topic of pizza and ranch, let’s talk about HotBox. We understand when you think of pizza and breadsticks, ranch might not be the first condiment you would choose, but this cool and creamy dressing will not disappoint. Pair it with HotBox’s marinara and an order of breadsticks, and chefs kiss.

Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

2006 S. Plate St., Kokomo

Another Kokomo crowd favorite is Hacienda Mexican Restaurant. There’s something special about the crunch of a warm, salty chip and the creaminess of Hacienda’s ranch. We’d almost argue that you don’t get the full Hacienda experience until you’ve tried this ranch and washed it down with a margarita. This uniquely crafted, house-made dressing is made fresh daily and the recipe is kept under lock and key. You don’t want to miss out on this ranch next time you’re at Hacienda.

FreshBlendz

2130 W. Sycamore St., Suite 156

FreshBlendz is new to the food scene here in Kokomo after opening a storefront at 2130 W. Sycamore St. just a few short weeks ago. Owner DeShawna saw the craving Hoosiers had for really good ranch dressing and created it with a healthy twist. Their made-in-house avocado ranch is a creamy and zesty blend of ranch seasonings with a hint of lime. It’s perfect for their variety of salads, or even on top of their famous Pickle Sub, where bread is replaced with a dill pickle.

Cook McDoogal’s Irish Pub

100 N. Main St., Kokomo

When you think of pub food, ranch doesn’t necessarily come to mind. But at Cook’s, this top-secret recipe draws crowds. Whether it’s paired with a cobb salad or some delicious wings, this garlicky dressing adds an extra layer of excitement to your food! Made in-house daily, this is far from your basic bottle of Hidden Valley.

Half Moon Restaurant and Brewery

4051 S. Lafountain St., Kokomo

Made fresh daily with buttermilk, sour cream, and a rainbow of herbs and seasonings, this dressing amps up one of Half Moon’s already-incredible appetizers. Whether wings, potato skins, or even just a salad, this dressing goes well with everything on their menu!

Creamy, chunky, zingy, zesty, thin, or thick, ranch dressing is as unique as the person eating it. So no matter what kind of ranch you like, Kokomo has one for every palette. Which restaurant has the best ranch? Did we miss one on our list? Let us know in the comments below!

6 Kokomo Ranch Dressings that Put Others to Shame