Cozy Inn Restaurant in Janesville, Wisconsin

The Cozy Inn restaurant is an enduring institution in Janesville, Wisconsin.

Not only is it beloved by locals, it’s historic: The business opened in November 1922 and is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Wisconsin. It’s also the second-oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States, meaning it has remained in the same location since the day it opened.

The restaurant’s iconic neon sign, long a beacon on Milwaukee Street, was recently restored and officially designated a historic landmark, ensuring that its distinctive glow will continue welcoming diners for years to come.

Inside, the Cozy Inn preserves much of its vintage charm, offering traditional Chinese-American dishes served in an atmosphere that hasn’t changed much in a century. It’s a rare surviving example of early Chinese immigrant entrepreneurship in the Midwest, and a cherished community landmark.