My wife and I journeyed to the Pittsburg, Kansas area to judge the chicken war for ourselves. Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's have been rival fried chicken restaurants there for decades. Our first stop was Chicken Annie's. The next night we went to Chicken Mary's. Both were very good in many ways. Service at both was efficient and friendly, but our server at Mary's was the most exceptional. Both restaurants have an old fashioned family eatery vibe, but Mary's was just a tiny bit nicer. At both restaurants the water had a slightly unusual off-note that was also noticeable in the iced tea. Both restaurants offer white bread from a well-known local Italian bakery. Honestly, it was no more special than any grocery store white bread. At Annie's it was fresher. At Mary's a bit stale. My wife tried the German potato salad at both and proclaimed Annie's far superior. We both had green beans at both restaurants. Both were very good. My wife liked Annie's the best. I preferred Mary's. Strangely, neither restaurant had real butter as an option, only the chemically "whipped spread" so my baked potato was untried. The star of the show is supposed to be the chicken. Portions were generous with both. The breading at Annie's was crustier. The breading at Mary's was flakier and lighter. The chicken at both was moist, but even juicier at Mary's. For this reason my wife and I agreed that Mary's was the winner of our contest. Many people have told us that one or another of these restaurants has "the best fried chicken I've ever had." Honestly, we can't agree. The fried chicken at the grocery store deli near our Roeland Park home is just as good. We have found the Brookeville Hotel in Abeline, Rye on the Plaza in Kansas City, and Stroud's in Overland Park to be infinitely superior to both Annie's and Mary's. read more

While travelling to Kansas City, I decided to stop here for some Fried Chicken goodness. There have been several tv shows that featured this restaurant, along with the competitor right up the street from here. I ordered a 2 piece (leg and thigh) dinner with sides. While the contests had to pick a winner, I must say that I really enjoyed the chicken offerings from both places. The chicken was well prepared, juicy and the crust was delicious. You cannot go wrong when having food from here. A five star experience! read more

I noticed a post on social media that there are new managers at Chicken Mary's and decided to give the restaurant another try. I was so pleasantly surprised! Good service, chicken was much better and the onion rings were not as greasy. It was great to see the place revived to the quality that it once had. The place was busy, so I guess I wasn't the only one who noticed the improvement. If you've not been there recently, please give it another try. I will certainly be back. read more

Food was delicious, service was fantastic especially for our very large group they were very accommodating. Family friendly and lots of history. read more

If I could give more than five stars I would. Highly recommend Chicken Mary's. Cannot recommend enough! Hands-down, one of the best places/service I have ever received at a restaurant. From the moment I walked in, I was met with great hospitality from the hostess who immediately seated me and told me about my server. The place has original location charm written all over it! Within a matter of minutes, my server, Keesha, came over with a trainee server, Natasa. I asked for recommendations and was given them with thoroughness and kindness. Per Keesha's recommendations, I ended up ordering a sweet tea, small onion rings, two dark meat chicken thighs, one dark meat chicken leg, the German potato salad, German slaw, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Now if you're thinking, this is a lot of food you are correct. I obviously took some home (and it reheated well in the air fryer). Hands-down, the chicken thighs were the best chicken I've had in my life. Wonderful mix of flavor and crunch, so tender it was nearly falling off the bone. Masterful flavor. The German potato salad was a different consistency than I've seen, but the flavor was out of this world and so was the German slaw. It's nice and refreshing to see something like that on the menu that you don't see just anywhere. The ranch is homemade too! I was too full for dessert, but I would've stuck around and had some of that if not. Keesha and Natasa were so kind throughout the whole meal. We had conversation, they comforted me when I was having a moment, and I received a big hug. They are truly people with big hearts who care. I cannot stress enough to try chicken Mary's. If you have not, add it to your list and make the trip. It is worth it and you will not regret it. Please go see Keesha and Natasa and give kudos to the young chef in the kitchen as well! read more

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Ok..this is a crazy setup out Kansas way: (2) sisters that opened up restaurants - mere feet apart, out in the country - serving the exact same thing! An old school "Family Feud" I guess. The staple to either place is the fried chicken. The chicken can very good....big pieces....and the wishbone piece is huge. This place even serves chicken backs....which if you're a fan of the crispy fry and limited meat....they are your ticket. Onion rings are very good. Baked bread is good. Other side items can be a miss....or be different. Like their German potato salad...which yes, these ladies were German. I'm sure it's a good German dish, but it's served warm and is a vinegar type taste. It's an experience to see and dine at this place...been around forever....and it will have a bunch of other folks out there too...and I mean a bunch! read more

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Our server was great! The food was quite gross. Portions were huge but the food was doused in grease. The chicken was no where near as good as advertised. Left smelling like greasy chicken. Would not recommend unless visiting to say you've been there. read more

I love chicken Mary's food I've always loved it since I was little. The people are amazing and respectful. I would definitely go here if you love chicken! read more

Been to all the chicken marys and annies. They are all over rated yet native kansans think they are the best thing since sliced bread. I dont get it. Bartos beats them all. read more

Heard about this place for years and finally drove 2 1/2 hours to eat there. Very nice staff and great server but sadly disappointing. Historic, extremely dated, and charming interior. Sweet employees. Very dated decor with poor air conditioning. Many people waiting for takeout sweating with us. It's hot weather here but the restaurant was very uncomfortable when we arrived thirty minutes after they opened. Sadly the chicken was over cooked and tasted of old fry foil, bland. The mashed potatoes and gravy tasted like mix, pasty. The German potato salad was cold and authentic. Green beans tasted canned. The fresh bread was delicious. Certainly generous portions. One and done. Best wishes. read more

Chicken Mary's - Generous 2 person meal. Freshly prepared and took 50 minutes to serve. Generous portions tasted off from old dry oil. - Southern Near Me - Pittsburg, Kansas

Searched the internet for most fried chicken and Chicken Mary's came up, so make sure I stopped by. Planned it right so I would come by opening time. I left from Kansas City heading back to MO side and took the long way back. I pulled up around 3:40pm, but since I had time, I drove away and went to gas station first. Then when I got back around 3:58pm, there was a line at the door. It means a lot when folks are willing to ling up for food. I parked and got in line as well... thankfully it moved quickly. Once inside, they host will seat you. The menu is simple.... I wanted the fried chicken so that's what I went with. I got the 3 dark meat, 2 back, all comes with 3 sides and a basket of fries. For my sides, I went with Green beans, creamy slaw and German potato salad. Took about 15 minutes to get my food, which means they fried the chicken to order. The chicken was seasoned perfectly. Tasted like it was brined over night in salt water. The chicken was also friendly perfectly. Outside was crispy and inside was moist and juicy. I got one leg, two thighs and two back. If I go back with others, I'll definitely do the family style. As for the side, their creamy slaw was awesome, definitely recommend getting the creamy slaw. Green beans were ok, nothing to write home about and I wasn't a fan of the German potato salad. While it was decent, I expected the typical potato salad that I'm used too, but here it's cooked potato in a white liquid seasoning, of which vinegar is the main ingredient. Overall, definitely worth visiting, if you are in the area try it out. I've heard there are few other locations around here, so yeah, definitely need to come back and try the other places. read more

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We had lunch at Chicken Mary's in Pittsburg, KS today and the food was really good! They really have delicious chicken! The breading is crispy and the chicken is very juicy and tender! They also make delicious German potato salad and German slaw. We got there right at lunchtime (11:45) so we did have a pretty long wait for our food, but when it came it was hot and delicious! read more

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it was good food was good server was good i really enjoyed the sides the german slaw was amazing the german potato salad was amazing

My family has been coming here since I was a wee lad. This is a staple every time we're passing through Pittsburg. To be blunt Kansas City has nothing like it. The chicken has a perfect blend of garlic in the coating, and the chicken is always plentiful and juicy. The sides are amazing...don't miss the German potato salad! read more

So if you're in Kansas and you miss the chance to stop by and try this little hole in the wall then go ahead and beat yourself up over it! The servers are very attentive and the food is absolutely delicious! It's fried chicken so I'm assuming that's why it's called Chicken Mary's seriously give this little spot a chance and you won't regret it!! read more

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Delicious home style fried chicken served up to appreciative diners awaits you at Chicken Mary's one of the Crawford Co KS fried chicken places that makes up one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. Chicken Mary's got its start in 1942, when miner Joe Zerngast's health declined and he was no longer able to work in the coal and lead mines which were the major industry here. To make ends meet, his wife Mary began serving fried chicken dinners in their home. By 1945 the business was so good Joe and Mary could not sever e regime in their house, so they bought a former mining camp building and opened there. In 1966 the family built the present building and have been serving hungry diners here for over 59 years! The 1960s decor is mostly chicken-themed but cute - fits the place! We ordered the Mary's choice, 2 light pieces of fried chicken and 2 dark pieces, with 3 sides (we chose mashed potatoes, green beans and Mac & Cheese). The chicken was absolutely delicious - hot, tender, juicy, and breaded in a simple flour and egg wash mixture. It's really REALLY good chicken. 5 old fashioned family style fried chicken stars read more

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First timer in a historical establishment. People talked highly of their food and it didn't disappoint. Was with a crew of people (11) and unfortunately close to closing, but the quality of the food was clucking unbelievable. The waitress was phenomenal and had a long day but never skipped a beat. Try this place, just do it read more

I will go with the 4 stars this place gets based solely on the chicken and the service. Our waiter was very friendly and efficient. We had the 2 person family style which is a great deal. 2 wings, 2 breasts, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, max & cheese with onion ring straws. The straws were very good, the other sides very disappointing. The breast was very good and the wing was solid. We will try their competitor next door on the way home tomorrow. read more

Had this as a catered meal. It was ok. Definitely the least worse of the Mary's vs Annie's "feud". But still not even up to par with real fried chicken. Can't comment on at location service or ambiance. But food wise - meh. read more

I've been going to Chicken Mary's for about 55 years. I'm from Pittsburg. I now live in Kansas City and still go down to visit the restaurant. I absolutely hate to see what has happened to this restaurant legend. They sold and no longer are family owned. Unfortunately, which is often the case, this means profits are now placed above anything else. The last few times I was there I noticed subtle changes. Like the chicken pieces weren't as big. Yesterday I tried to go and the first time in 55 years they couldn't seat me. Although the restaurant was visibly only 30% full the host said they had seated a big party and all the waitresses were busy. It would be at least :25. I have never seen this restaurant not staffed, especially on a Sunday. Clearly things have changed and not for the better. Very sad because that restaurant was part of my family history. read more

We had a reservation and showed up early...no problems at all. For a party of 11... Ty did s super awesome job. All drinks were refilled on time. All food came out hot and fresh. The chicken here is our families go-to!I dominated the Mary's special and had Mac and cheese, German potato salad, Suzie Q's. Onion rings for appetizer.. They have always been very helpful and courteous when we eat here take out or dine in. It's a must visit whenever visiting the SEK area. I am so glad they go over the top to serve us! We will continue to enjoy Chicken from here - don't change a thing! Thank you Chicken Mary's Respectfully, Bryan OKC read more

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I've been meaning to come here for over a year after reading about this place which was supposed to be awesome. The reviews reflected spectacular chicken, and anybody who knows me knows this is my thing. It's about a three hour round trip from my house in Springfield though so it took me a minute to get here. I finally made the trek with my daughter and boy was it NOT worth it. The rings were okay, but that was about it. The cakes are not made in house. The bread is just cheap plain store bought white. The German potato salad was slimy and spiced with something I couldn't quite identify and the chicken wasn't any better than what I could have gotten at Walmart. It was super heavily breaded and baked I think. There was no flavor to the skin unless you count grease and while the meat was tender it was totally bland. They are known as being 'Famous' for their chicken but I am not seeing it. Definitely not worth the drive, and if I lived out there I would have been driving into a Springfield for Zaxby's because my daughter and I both took just a few bites before we looked at each other in disappointment and asked for to go containers. Back in town we had the wife try it to verify our take on it. She literally took one bite, looked at me as if to say what has she done to deserve such disrespect and spit it out. She's a real lady, and I have never seen her spit out food before. I was not surprised. read more

I'll be honest. I have been coming here for YEARS. They catered my rehearsal dinner for my wedding and I have loved them for years. UNTIL NOW. They have changed hands at some point in time. When we went on 9/1/24, the whole left side of the building was dark, there was trash all over the floor, plastic wrappers, food, napkins. They used to sweep all the time, not anymore. The bathrooms had a fan blowing toward them. Unsure the reason. The men's bathroom had no trash can for the paper towels, so they were piled in the sink. Women bathroom was par. The food: uhhh. We got there at 6:00pm. We got our food at 7:52. Almost two hours. The food quality: salty and old oil. It was a tragic day. I have always told people Mary's is better than Annie's. And I retract my statement. Do better Mary's. I know it's hard to find help, I was as patient as I could be, I was respectful, but when you're only seating 20 (max.) tables there's no reason for a two hour wait. Was there any compensation for our meal that we didn't even eat there and got boxes to put it all in? No. There wasn't. I'm truly sad. read more

So disappointed in my meal from Chicken Mary's last night. Ordered it to go had I been there to eat it I could have returned it. Livers were so over cooked you couldn't eat them. I'm done. read more

Since the original owners sold this business everything has changed--FOR THE WORST! The first time after it changed hands it was not like it used to be, but the second time we went (after several months) the onion rings were almost cold!! When our meals were FINALLY served, after over 40 minutes, the chicken was barely warm. It was like it was plated and sat there for several minutes before the server brought it to our table!!! AND....They weren't even very busy (not many customers)! I'm not giving them a third CHANCE! 3 Strikes and they're OUT! read more

A hidden gem! The Family Meal is the way to go. The chicken is crispy! We also had homemade bread, string onion rings, baked beans, cream coleslaw and German potato salad. Our server was Liz, who was VERY helpful, polite, and always making sure we were taken care of. Total bill was about $31 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. Thanks for making our first time a great one. We will definitely return!!! read more

Anyone who says the meat is flavorless must just not like flavor. If you peel the crust off, (not that the crust isn't great) the meat itself has a light garlic flavor and is really tasty. Chicken Marys is the most flavorful of all the other great Chicken places in the area. Onion rings are great! bread is local Frontenac bread, (not store bought white) Just my humble opinion of 50 plus years of enjoying great Chicken. read more

Love this place best gizzards, onion rings, slaw and chicken!! Great service and yes the German slaw is the bomb!! read more

The trip to Chicken Mary's was worth every Penny and every bite! Driving North out of Pittsburgh, there is a sign pointing East that says you must drive 3 1/2 miles to get there. The scenic drive led us to a packed parking lot. Once inside, we were greeted by a mass of people waiting to be seated. They take reservations in groups, but since there were just the two of us, we were seated quickly at a small table. I began taking pics immediately while hubby peruses the menu. I already knew I wanted fried chicken. The menu boasts it on plates for one, or chicken strips and platters for groups. We selected the 6-piece chicken for 2. The chicken for two comes with 3 sides, served "family style". We selected German Cole slaw, baked beans and Macaroni and cheese from the list of sides. Their famous shoestring onion rings came with the dinner automatically. They were brought fresh out of the fryer with a generous portion of sliced bread and butter. The dinner arrived on a platter, with sides in bowls, divided plates for us to put our portions on. We ate our own way. We shared the bowls. Nothing went on our plate except bones as we ate some of the most delicious fried chicken we've ever set our fingers on! The German Cole slaw is vinegar based. We discovered by shaking a little garlic salt on top, the slaw became more delicious than before. Tangy and juicy with every bite. The baked beans had a smoky flavor. We savored each bite of those as well. The macaroni and cheese was good. It didn't taste canned, but if you are used to yours with Velveeta, forget it. Mary's also specializes in fried backs. This has to do with the way Mary cut her chicken. Our waitress slipped us one. It would be part of the thigh if the chicken was cut differently. Apparently,the backs can be sold in a dinner the same way a wing dinner would be. I was intrigued with it. I enjoy dark meat, so I enjoyed my back. There is even a sign up front that boasts a back special, which I didn't understand until the waitress brought me one. Overall, our experience at Chicken Mary's was delightful. We enjoyed good food, good company, chatted with people who sat almost elbow to elbow with us, enjoyed delicious fried chicken worthy of the name and are looking forward to returning some day to try the spaghetti. They even offer it as a side! read more

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The food is amazing the Ambiance is great and the service is great.They also have German Potato Salad as well as other German foods they have great Appetizers and Sides read more

More hype than was delivered in food..They cut the chicken different than I am used to, but could have let the birds grow another week before harvesting them. read more

Finally made it Chicken Mary's after a couple of trips to Pittsburg. It was a nice drive from our hotel in Pittsburg. We had their onion rings which are really onion straws and very good. For sides we had mashed potatoes and gravy (good), Mac and cheese (okay, saucy-nothing special), and Baked beans--tomatoey and smokey--not heavy with bbq sauce like some-I liked very much and German potato salad-only so-so. The chicken? I thought it was done well. It was moist and had a nice crust. We shared livers too --also delicious. The meal came with white bread. I don't care for margarine. There are several other sides as well we did not try. The verdict? We would come back if hungry for chicken and the works. But, of course, we will have to try Chicken Annie's first! read more

Chicken Mary's - A piece of large white and livers. - Southern Near Me - Pittsburg, Kansas

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Took about an hour to get our food after placing our order. Was not worth the wait. Chicken fried steak wasn't bad, but nothing special either. Sides definitely needed more love. Served in styrofoam cups with very little flavor. Mashed potatoes were made from powdered mix. Overall wouldn't recommend eating here. read more

Service has become somewhat Inconsistent. Food is still great. Will try again next time we're in the area. Decor could really use some upgrades. read more

I miss this place. Growing up in the area it was just common to eat great fried chicken. Great competition in the area made for great food. Since I was driving through Pittsburg Kansas on my way to my moms house I had to make a stop and take advantage. Chicken, as always, was cooked to perfection. I also got a side of spaghetti. After eating I was again reminded how much I missed this place. If ever in the area, you have to give it a shot. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere but worth the drive. read more

My husband and I had been debating on whether to go to Chicken Mary's and Chicken Annie's while driving through Pittsburg. We settled on Chicken Mary's and were not at all disappointed! The chicken was, juicy on the inside and the perfect "crunchy" on the outside. We got their 10 piece special and actually got 12 pieces, mashed potatoes and white gravy and coleslaw. Their portions were huge and we got two days worth of food for $20. Not at all sad ;) Of course, we didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant due to current circumstances and restrictions, so I can't tell you anything about that, but next time! We will for sure be back :) read more

If you're in the Pittsburg area you're either a Chicken Mary's fan, or you're a Chicken Annie's fan. I'm not sure you can be both. I think that's illegal or something. Of course I've never tried Annie's because my stepmom is from Mulberry and she always went to Mary's so when I went to go visit my dad and my stepmom we always went to Chicken Mary's. But I'm not complaining because this is some good fried chicken! The sides are good but really it's the chicken that steals the show. It's tender and moist with a delicious crispy coating that is just too yummy! It's served with white bread which is good as well. They have other items but I've never tried them because hello, fried chicken! They get super busy on the weekends with super long waits but the last time we were there was during the week and they weren't too busy at all. It's definitely a must when I'm in the area and even if it seems like it's off the beaten path it's not hard to find. And it's definitely worth it! read more

We decided to take part in the rivalry and try one of the beloved chicken places of Pittsburg. We settled on chicken Mary's. We were completely disappointed. The greasy fatty fried chicken comes to your table on a cafeteria style plate with a blob of mashed potatoes that taste just like fifth grade cafeteria lunch. The salad is served in a styrofoam bowl and the a typical lettuce, purple cabbage salad. I will say the onion rings were good. But don't make the same mistake we did. Don't drive the three miles plus out of your way to try lunch here. I couldn't believe the place was practically standing room only on a Sunday afternoon. It must be the family because it wasn't the food. Mediocre at best. read more

I love the chicken fried steak here. Great place to eat I would recommend! They handled my families large table really well.

We went to Chicken Mary's this evening, it was our first time. Grace was our server, she was so personable and friendly. Thank you for hiring such a sweet young lady. Grace recommend the onion rings to start with, they did not disappoint, delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sides were all good. read more