We arrived right at noon and the drive thru line and parking were a little crazy, but we hung in there and found a spot to park! So glad we did! This will be a regular stop on our drive to Chicago. Happy to report that the drive thru lane moved pretty quickly and by the time we left 30 min later, that had cleared. As far as food goes, we tried the original with fries and the Nashville hot (as a wrap) with brussels sprouts. We both thought our meals were fantastic. I would put their brussels sprouts up against anyone's! The fries were also battered lightly and resulted in a crunchy fry with a nice light flavor. I like that they have a variety of seating inside and it never felt like you needed to vacate your space quickly. In fact, I noticed some shelving with board games, so they definitely welcome groups who want to enjoy good food and hang out. There is a large picnic table for groups or communal seating and some individual stools near the ordering counter for singles or anyone who just wants to sit and watch the world outside those windows. This was a great find for us!! read more

It's all about the customers! I mean- weekly specials that are as tasty as they are creative. We have waited for the return of the street corn sandwich. My son downed it in 4 bites! The monthly flavored shakes are also a nice treat. And where can one get some of the best Brussels sprouts at a chicken place? They are delish! You can get your sandwiches grilled, fried, in a wrap or in a salad. For me, all great options but the original fried is my go to- large, always perfectly cooked and juicy chicken. The service is as fantastic as the food- always friendly. And- dogs allowed! Outdoor patio seating in addition to indoor and (let me repeat what exceptional service) they find you even when you change your mind and start one place and end in the other. Drive through is a nice option and the only (good) problem for this business that started out as a food truck is that at peak times parking and pulling out can be tricky with the drive through. I've saved one of the best customer- friendly mentions for last- when you pay by card, the highest display for tip is 10%(starting at 3%). I mean- the service is always worth 20+ but I appreciate this range as opposed to so many that start at 15% or higher. Come for the always fresh, awesome food and tip for the excellent and friendly service! Locations growing around the metro- yeah! read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Street corn weekly special - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

I was in the area for meetings and next thing I knew it was 2 pm and I was starving. Glad I stumbled on Charlotte's! I have eaten a lot of chicken sandwiches over the years, but this just is different. Better. So many places serve chicken sandwiches, but this wasn't just a quick bit. It was uniquely flavorful in a category that can be really blah. I looked at the options and decided to do something I hadn't even thought about before -- a chicken sandwich named the Crab Rangoon? Uh, what? It was a great chicken breast hot, juicy, etc BUT something about sweet chili sauce and crisply won tons just makes it a different experience. So yummy! And everything about it screamed FRESHNESS!!! I thought I'd try the mac and cheese and it's good. Really good for a drive through (I was headed an hour or so north so I ate a bit and kept running). The patio looked nice. The service was pretty fast and they were nice. The sign in the window of the drive through made me chuckle cause it was the week of the intrastate rivalry football game. Stumbled on it while traveling but this is a place I would 100 percent seek out if I wanted a quick bite in the area. read more

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Ordered the #5 char's bowl with Mac and cheese and the #6 chicken tenders. The breading is pretty good, I really liked their seasoning. Everything looked fresh and the tenders were hot. It's a local fast food vibe and everything tasted good. I definitely need to try their shakes next time. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Chicken tenders - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

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This is a nice fast food style chicken joint. They primarily serve chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders. They have a private parking lot available for their patrons. There is a decent sized dining area to eat at. There is also an outdoor patio area in front of the place. If you are trying to be efficient with ordering your food, there is a drive through that you can take advantage of. I had limited interaction with the staff, mostly just placing my order, but they were nice enough when I did interact with them. You place your order at the counter and they will bring it to your table if you are dining in. I ordered the chicken sandwich of the week, the taco chicken, with a side of brussles sprouts. It took about 8 minutes for them to prepare my meal. It was fresh, hot and delicious. The brussels sprouts were so delicious. They were amazing. The sandwich was also very tasty. This is a very nice local restaurant and I am happy that I was able to check it out. They really do have the best chicken around. If I am ever in Des Moines again, I will definitely be checking this place out. read more

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This chicken sandwich is a guaranteed hit and don't be afraid to give one with a twist, a try. Crab Rangoon is really good! However this trip I went with Mac and Cheese bowl with Nashville Hot sauce and it was delicious. The pickles added to the flare! read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Menu board- November 2025 - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Good place to stop for a casual, quick bite with seating inside or a drive thru option. The staff is helpful, but everything is self serve. The combos we ordered includes a main (sandwich, wrap or salad) with a choice of a side and a drink. Highly recommend the Nashville hot chicken! read more

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Amazing chicken sandwiches and great milkshakes! The service was fast and the restaurant is clean. I love how the owner set up the "Wall of Grandmas" where people can bring their own pictures to add! Really nice family touch. The kids and the adults all loved our experience. read more

Amazingly delicious. The sandwiches were yummy and the location was clean. I think it was a good lunch choice read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Wrap - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Charlotte's Kitchen is a good story - read the wall; it was a positive visit. This restaurant looked somewhat fast-food, and the order-taker was kind and helpful during our first Q&A. His information helped us make good choices. I enjoyed my perfectly seasoned chicken tenders with a tasty Charlotte sauce. My accompanying cole slaw was good. The interior has some fun artwork and community-related items, and I love the chicken feet upholstery. It's good 80s music, but I could have lived without the ads on the FM channel--plenty of on-site parking. read more

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Best chicken sandwich!!!! Charlotte's has a simple menu as well as creative weekly specials. It is great while dining in or going through the drive thru and the staff is happy to be there. Crab Rangoon sandwich or Nashville sandwich are my favs and the brussel sprouts are so good (also great ranch)! read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Crab Rangoon chicken sandwich - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Great chicken sandwiches . The tenders not so as it was overly salty . I could hardly taste the chicken . I have never tasted a tender so salty in my life . Why?!!! I love to love them but it might put me off from visiting again . Edges of the seat were filthy . I know because my son dropped his phone in there . If u have time please bring the seats out and clean them please read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Chicken sandwich - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Food: Fries = kinda sweet but definitely seasoned Nashville hot chicken = oily, not to hot but has a kick at the end Crab Rangoon = family favorite Brussels sprouts were a little sweet, but good read more

The food was so good!! I love Brussel sprouts and they were perfectly crispy, seasoned, and glazed! Mac and cheese was so gooey and seasoned perfectly, not everyone can do that well! Cashier was so kind and helpful, not bothered by us asking so many questions for it being our first time. Very clean, not a huge seating area but it wasn't a busy night. read more

Love the Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Chicken strips are great too. I feel they are using better chicken than the chains. Very meaty and crunchy breading. read more

Came here for a quick lunch. Service was great! Very friendly staff. Food came out hot and fresh. I ordered the Nashville chicken sandwich and fries. So yummy. No complaints! read more

I am pretty sure we just found our new favorite local chicken sandwich. What once was a food truck had been a brick and mortar for some time. Finally, I decided to check it out on a Wednesday evening. Option for drive thru, but for our first time, we wanted to sit and enjoy. What used to be the local DQ back in the day is now a perfect setup for a walk-up counter order and small seating area. We were greeted kindly as we reviewed the menu on the wall. I like picking on the staff and asking if she's tried it all. She says she's just had the BBQ chicken. While I was thinking my hubby asked what the special sandwich was. It's on the menu with a question mark. Perfect for a rotator option. Right now, it was the Queso chicken. Hubby's eyes lit right up. He had made his choice. This made mine easier as I went with the most popular Crab Ragoon chicken sandwich. Everything looked bright ave clean from the counter as we ordered, which is a good sign. We both got meals. Both ordered fried chicken. Hubby upgraded his fries to cheese balls for an extra $2.00. You grab your number. You fill your drink at the machine. You grab a seat. We didn't wait for more than 10 minutes, and the food came out, and it was hot! They bring it to your table and you enjoy it. The piece of chicken in the beautiful bun is a real treat. It was really crispy and juicy on the inside We both enjoyed our meals. We both agreed that for the extra $2 there was a lot of cheeseballs. We filled up and decided we would be back. Highly recommend for a great fried chicken sandwich. Locally owned. Small business. Great story. Great job all around. read more

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The crabrangoon burger was phenomenal. Guy at counter was nice. The inside is very chill read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Food so filling we had to take half of it home! - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Staff were super friendly, service was very quick. I had the crab rangoon chicken sandwich, which was very tasty. The chicken was perfectly cooked and crunchy, the fries were also very good. Restaurant is very bright and open, looks like a great place to take a group of friends. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Crab Rangoon Chicken sandwich - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Simple. Great. Chicken Sandwich. The staff is the friendly, patient and kind. It was truly like you were being welcomed in to a family table. We were greeted by Aaron & he answered everyone of our questions as if we were the only customers - and it was packed! Board games were even available to help you stay awhile! The menu is simple, but the food was delicious. We tried several different chicken sandwiches and sides. The highlight in our group was the egg nog shake, made with AE egg nog, a local legend in itself. The crab rangoon chicken sandwich is popular. It's unique and tasted great. The bun is perfect and the chicken is fresh. To add variety to the menu, the introduce weekly specials that are rarely duplicated. This week's was a black truffle chicken sandwich. So good, I think it should stay on the menu. read more

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Best chicken sandwich I've had in a long time! I visited from Omaha for a training, and was looking for a quick place with a drive through that wasn't fast food for dinner on the way home. It was Friday evening, so it was pretty busy but I still got through in 20 minutes or so, and it was worth the wait. I got a regular chicken sandwich and fries, I wanted to try one of the other ones but figured I didn't want a big mess in the car, ha. I can't wait to come back and try the crab Rangoon chicken sandwich, that sounded unique and like something I needed to try! The regular sandwich was great, the chicken was nice and plump and fried to a crisp perfection. The fries had an interesting seasoning, it didn't taste exactly like old bay but was similar, a hint of sweet with the savory. The guys working the drive through were helpful and friendly, and I can tell it's a loved neighborhood joint. I'll be coming back next time I'm in the area! read more

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The sandwich is great if you hate pickles. We got the Nashville hot sandwich, and it really wasn't bad. Everything else was. It was dirty in there. If you told me the fries were three days old and microwaved, I would believe you. After I ordered my food, I asked for ranch and was changed .99. The sign didn't have a price on it. Another patron got theirs for free right after I payed for mine. Weird. Not the worst place in the metro for a Nashville hot sandwich, but I would never recommend anything else there. read more

Tired of cooking so I hopped on Yelp! to find something for supper and scrolled across Charlotte's Kitchen. The reviews were great, and I was intrigued by the varieties of chicken sandwiches. Welcomed right into the door and order was quickly taken. Not long after I had my drink, the food arrived at the table hot and fresh. The fries were cooked perfectly and full of flavor. I ordered the crag rangoon chicken sandwich, and it was fantastic! You can customize your order by upgrading your sides, and there are shake options as well. My only knock on the place is that they serve Pepsi products where I would prefer Coca-Cola. Overall, I really enjoyed the meal and am very excited to have found a new spot with great food as a go to when I don't want to cook. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Crab Rangoon Chicken Sandwich with fries - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Great food!! good service!!! Love the crab Rangoon chicken. Love this for a fast meal.

4.5* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4* Service: 4* 06/15/2023 This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while and then a local highly recommended it, so met visitors from out of town here for lunch. This is a fast food restaurant where you order at the counter, find a table with your order number flag and then they deliver your order to your table. With that said, I found Charlotte's to be at the high-end of fast food restaurants and based on the comments from others in line is clearly a local favorite. The menu only includes chicken sandwiches, wraps and salads (see video board pictures), which keeps things easier and lets them focus on doing chicken well. I went with the Chicken Tenders Combo (see picture) and one of my guests ordered the Original Sandwich Combo (see picture). The chicken was crispy, juicy and delicious and the fries were also very good - crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. I also ordered Char's Sauce & Sweet Thai Chili sauce - which were great on the chicken as well as dipping the fries. I definitely see why this place generates so much local chatter and look forward to bringing my wife back to try some additional menu items such as the Brussels Sprouts & Crab Rangoon. If you are in the area and looking for a solid chicken meal in a clean, modern restaurant - you will definitely want to give this place a try. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com read more

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Food was great and service was very friendly! For a salad, try the crab Rangoon! Atmosphere was small, kitchen-like.

Everything you love about the service at a mom and pop establishment with fast service and outstanding food. The Nashville hit chicken sandwich and fries was great, but I'll be back to try the Brussels sprouts! read more

These sandwiches are pretty good! Now just trying to get to the correct character count.

This was better then expected. The ease of this stop was more then I had hoped for. The menu was easy to read and I quickly found what I was looking for. The special of the day when I stopped was the queso chicken sandwich and boy it didn't disappoint. Nice big chuck of perfectly cooked chicken and I got the cities best cheese balls as my side. I was in heaven. Give them a shot. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - The special of the night was a queso cheese chicken. Dragging cheese balls through the queso before taking this picture - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

Yummy! The chicken was so fresh & crispy & tasty! My friend and I split the Nashville hot and the original. They were kind enough to cut them for us. It was a great way to do it. The Nashville hot was good, but a whole one might be a little too hot. The sauce is tasty. The french fries are really good as well. Top it off with a soda and it was a $12 meal. I can't wait to go back! Wendy's used to have a similar really thick crispy chicken sandwich but that's no longer what their chicken sandwich is. The folks working there were very friendly and helpful. We sat outside and they brought our food out to us. It also has a drive-through which could be really convenient. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - A half of a original chicken and a half of a Nashville hot. The fries at the top are delicious - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

The Hubby and I took our three kids and met up with our nephew at Charlotte's Kitchen yesterday. The nephew and I split the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and their current "special" sandwich, Hot BBQ. Hubby got the Original Chicken Sandwich (not pictured) and kids got the Chicken Tenders meal. We chose fries, tots (not loaded) and cheese curds as our sides. As always, everything was delicious! The Nashville Hot is still my favorite sandwich there. Spices are delicious and the heat isn't hot to me at all. The flavors keep me wanting more! The special Hot BBQ sandwich was also delicious. I loved the fresh chopped jalapeños and pepper Jack cheese that came with the sandwich. Hubby said his original was as delicious as he remembered. The kids scarfed down the Cheese Curds, Tots and Fries. Prices are higher but totally worth it in our opinion. We can't wait to find out where their second location will be but for now, we will keep enjoying their stand alone restaurant that includes a drive-thru option! Here's to hoping that the owners will bring back one of their earlier special sandwiches that I didn't get to try! I'm looking forward to it! read more

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Well I went to Charlotte's kitchen. I thought that the service was nice. The lady was very friendly and helpful. They seem to charge for everything like extra sauce is .85 and so forth. The food is why I am giving it 3 stars. I was glad it was REAL chicken and not the lab grown meat but it was not all that impressive to me. I was like hmmmm ok it is nice but not spectacular for all the hype they get. The lady who waited on my wife and I needs a raise! She followed us to the table and cleaned it. That was very nice. My wife and I was impressed with her and her willingness to make our first dining experience awesome. So the counter lady gets 5 stars. Will we be back driving all the way from West Des Moines/Waukee area? Probably. Is it worth a look see for yourself? Definitely. Will you like it? TBD by YOU :) read more

Got the Chars bowl for takeout, very much enjoyed. Their sauce is mildly spicy but tasty.

The young man working the window with the Iowa State cap was very friendly. The fries pictured on the website are waffle fries, but what you get is better--a seasoned, battered straight-cut fry. The chicken tenders themselves had great flavor. However, they are perhaps too big and perhaps leads to the tender not being properly dredged, as the breading peeled off pretty easily. The ranch tastes homemade and has nice dill accents. The "Char's Sauce" is very reminiscent of Cane's. Slightly thicker, but by no means offensive. I'll be back for another go. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Tenders combo - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

I got there right before 11 on a Tuesday. there was a line of people waiting to get in, we all talked about how good it must be or how good it is. this was my first visit. So my expectations were very high. I ordered a regular chicken sandwich for my mom and a crab Rangoon chicken sandwich for me. one order of fries to share. I took this food to go to grimes. Service was excellent, nice, polite and helpful. got to grimes and the food was still hot. the sandwiches are huge. it was a crispy sandwich. I wish there had been more cream cheese mixture and more sauce on it, otherwise good quality food. Bathrooms were clean. read more

Good food and not your normal chicken sandwich.. My first time here so tried the crab Rangoon sandwich combo... fries were really good and hot... a bit salty tho.Good sandwich cooked perfectly! My only wish was to have more of either the Thai chili sauce or the crab Rangoon spread... maybe it's just me but I found rather salty... I will definitely be back! Service is quick and friendly and overall for a drive thru order it was better than most. My only reason I gave it 4 stars is that it was rather salty read more

I got the Crab Rangoon sandwich, let's start with the chicken itself. The breading is tasty, the chicken is juicy. It's good all on it's own. Then you add the extras. A lovely cream cheese spread, a wonderful sweet chili sauce with wonton strips and lettuce. It's a surprise from the first bite, and a wonderful one. One of the best chicken sandwiches in town. My wife got the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich. It's got a nice heat to it, without being too combative. The pickles are a perfect accompaniment. And the hot dip gets into every crevice of the chicken. Another one of the best chicken sandwiches in town. The french fries are solid, but it's another place that would do well cutting their own fries (yeah, I know, I go off on that every time). This will get a lot of repeat business from us. And apparently from a lot of other folks as well, the drive thru was quite busy. It makes me happy to see a place serving such good food doing so well. read more

Really good! The fries are great and the crab Rangoon sandwich was very good! A fried chicken sandwich to perfection! I had Taylor tots - 1/2 portion and that was plenty! I would opt out of the sweet chili sauce on them but that's just me. read more

Charlotte’s Kitchen - Sauce on the mustache says it all! He's lovin' it. - Salad Near Me - Johnston, Iowa

This place is delicious. Had my second char's bowl today ($9.50 by the way) and i think i'm knocking on the door to heavens gates. Drive through was taking a minute when i showed up but it must have been large orders cause i was at the window for less than 30 seconds. They have a crew that works hard and kicks ass, definitely recommending to my friends read more

I'm a local regular and am NEVER disappointed. Great service and fantastic food. Always worth the wait in the drive through. Brussel sprouts are a staple! read more