Love this place. Stopped by between Des Moines and Sioux City and had a deliciously disgusting meal. Everything was yummy and so unhealthy. Garlic cheese ball and tater tot poutine? Amazing. The tenderloin was massive. And the broccoli cheese soup was a star. Tried the peach pie as well which I thoroughly enjoyed. The wait staff was super friendly and the ambiance was exactly what I was hoping for, a quality local establishment. Throughly enjoyed it. read more

The gf wanted to check out I-80 MetalArt and we found the Chuckwagon Restaurant right across the street. We arrived pretty much at straight up noon on a Saturday. I fully expected the place to be packed as it appears to be pretty much the only show in town as far as a sit down restaurant. There was a please wait to be seated sign there as we walked in. We were greeted right away and seated in minutes. It's old school wood tables and chairs and I think there was a counter available. Ordering is done at the tables as well as settline your bill up with your server. Surprisingly the speed of service continued throughout the visit. After drinks we ordered the rodeo burger and fries, a tenderloin with chili cheese fries, and the garlic cheeseballs. The cheeseballs came with marinara and ranch. Fresh, hot, and fantastic! I've eaten a lot of tenderloins. Many that have been highlighted as Iowa Tenderloin Trail winners or participants... This is one of the better tenderloins I've had in the state! Obviously hand made, breaded, and fried. Not too thick and not too thin. Drained properly. Served with the essential condiments including the holy trinity (onions, dill pickles, and mustard). The gf liked her burger. It could have used more of the featured ranch and bbq sauce. The fries... Neither of us cared for them. Obviously hand made, but almost too thin and too greasy. We'd both opt for a different side next time. To each our own though. Almost every small town along this stretch of I-80 has a pub & grill. The menus vary a little, but are very similar in a lot of aspects. The quality of service and the cooks make the biggest differences. The Chuckwagon hit five stars in some aspects of both. Work on those fries and the flavor of the chili (horribly bland) and this review would have been five stars. I'm going to emphasize this again. Truly one of the best tenderloins I've had in the state! Keep doing what you are doing! read more

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Friday night dinner to drop off grandchildren. Quick, clean, good food. Daughter's fried chicken sandwich & fries were good, as was my patty melt. Hubby had the special: fried pollack all you can eat. He did have to wait a bit for more fish. His side salad was above average: cucumber, onions, croutons & an ample portion. Mashed potatoes & gravy were tasty as was the fish. Two kids meals for 3 was enough. One ate all the large pbj & applesauce. The others ate the Mac & cheese & fries. Drinks are included. Waitress was pleasant & friendly. Nice place to stop! read more

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Food and service were great. The building was kinda old, gross, and dirty. We were there on a hot day and the A/C was broken.

very good experience. we were heading to Omaha and decided to eat small town food. first off it was hard to choose one menu option. I wanted it all. the food around us looked do good. I saw the tenderloin after I ordered, I started to have regrets. plus I could smell it, I was drooling. I ordered the steakhouse sub and it was very good. the Chipotle ranch was perfect on it. I had the regular fries and they were yummy. hubby had Philly cheese teak and said it was great. MIL had the cheeseburger special and it looked good. she had steak fries and hubby preferred those. I liked the skinny ones. service was great! they all seemed to work well together. bathrooms were nice, men's urinals are made from kegs. I had to swipe my husband's picture. if you find yourself in that area give it a try you won't be disappointed. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - urinals - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

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Stopped here for lunch midweek on our way to Minnesota. Adorable, homestyle restaurant serving hearty trucker meals and lighter lunch servings. This was a gem of a find! The menu has a large variety of offerings from soup, salads, sandwiches and burgers to hot beef sandwich plates with brown gravy that will take you back to your school lunch days when the ladies cooked on premises. (1/2 portions available). Our server was prompt and very helpful. We had a picky diner with us and she made our companion feel like she fit right in. I had a lovely BLT ( not on the menu but mentioned in conversation sooo...) and the most delicious slender cut, well seasoned french fries. Mmm those fries... rounded it out with a cup of soup, broccoli cheddar and left quite satisfied. read more

We waffled between Adair and Earlham, but Chuckwagon Restaurant in Adair has been on our list for awhile, so we made the 45min drive west on I80 to check it out. It did NOT DISAPPOINT! Country Fried Steak: hands down the best country fried steak I've had in recent history...maybe ever. First of all, look at the size of this beast! That's a normal sized fork on my plate. And it wasn't over fried like so many around, nor covered in batter so crunchy I could break a tooth. It was super flavorful, thicker yet tender. I ate less than 1/4 of the steak before boxing the rest. Cheesy hash brown casserole vs. cheese on top of hashbrowns...well ok; twisted my arm ‍ OMG it was so good! Seriously the perfect "countryside" breakfast, I can't wait to take my dad next time, he loves a solid CFS. 3 Meat Skillet: wow! The only thing that could've made this one better would've been if it came over the cheesy hashbrown casserole and had runny eggs instead of hard (but the better half doesn't like runny eggs...weirdo!). This was definitely a solid skillet breakfast. Service was stellar, serving the whole place herself and she still rocked it. Receipt for the people who ask how much meal items are. -- at Chuckwagon Restaurant. read more

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The only thing I crave to eat when in Iowa is a pork tenderloin sandwich. Something about how this state makes their Pork Tenderloin sandwich always gets me in my feels (belly). Something about how the tenderloin is too big for them buns.... How the tenderloin has a crunchy outside and a soft, succulent inside. And the Chuckwagon's tenderloin sandwich delivered the goods. It was love at first bite. Get a mouth full of this tenderoni is like having a mouth full of the Iowa seeds of love. You will enjoy this sandwich as much as your greatest passion. Just don't expect the same for the fries. Fries are like your girlfriend's step sister that likes to watch you two..... Bland with no life. Oh BTW, the service was awesome here too. Before you leave, make sure to check out the men's restroom. They have a keg for a urinal. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Pork Tenderloin Sandwich - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

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Burgers were definitely award winning you must try the bourbon kickin cheeseburger! Great flavor with a little kick. You can taste its local beef. Toasted buns were soft flavorful as well. Homemade thin fries were great and crunchy. Did I mention endless fries! The waitress Amanda was super friendly and helpful. Even a free keychain as a parting gift. If you drive by Adair Iowa you must stop here!! read more

Awesome food. We had the Farmers breakfast. The hash browns with cheese, onions and bacon was part of the meal. Yummy. The waitress was very friendly. Nothing special on the inside but seemed very clean. read more

Stopped here for dinner on our road trip. Some of the best fries I've ever had! Tenderloin sandwich was perfectly done and my husband enjoyed his Mac and cheese burger. Highly recommend! Service was great! read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Mac and cheese burger and fries - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

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Found this gem on the map while driving to Des Moines for a baseball tournament. SO WORTH the stop! First off, the staff is so kind, attentive, and welcoming. That's hard to find these days and it made the visit worth it. THANK YOU! Our family of 5 had: The chuck wagon (earned its award for sure) The roadhouse (tower of deliciousness) The kids cheeseburger (generous size by the ate the whole thing and had extra fries) The kickn bourbon (I had this one and it was sticky and sweet. Just perfect) Chicken bacon ranch sandwich "crispy" (gooey and crunch, made me sad it wasn't mine!) Endless fries to top it all off. So awesome! The burgers were cooked perfectly and all of the toppings were fresh and a nice addition. Saw the boozy milkshakes on the menu so we will have to stop back and enjoy one! Thanks again for the fabulous Friday night dinner ChiuckWagon ! read more

Great service. Great food. Ambiance is family oriented. A little pricey but worth it.

This place was very good! Awesome staff, the food was very good everyone enjoyed their meals. The service was also fast, it was a nice break from our 5 hour drive so far! It's a nice clean space off i80, there was a couple of gas stations on the block as well read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Chocolate milkshake - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

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This place is worth the stop. If you're passing through Adair you're most likely on a trip (business or pleasure) and looking for a memorable experience. Chuck wagon gives you that. The workers are down-to-earth, friendly and remind you of home. The food is delicious. Portions are excellent. The place is comfortable and inviting. It's not immaculate, but that's part of the charm. Even the restroom (mens is all we checked out) will bring a smile to your face! This place deserves 5 stars because everything about it is unforgettable. You won't regret stopping here. If we ever pass through this area again we will be back. Thanks again, Chuckwagon! read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Brisket sandwich, kickin bourbon burger, margaritas, milkshake, coleslaw, house fries. - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

If you find yourself traveling through Iowa on I-80 stop in much better food than you will find at any truck stop. Service and atmosphere are awesome. read more

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Good food, great burgers! We come here often and you will never go wrong with a good ole burger, they always have room for everyone and Friday's fish is well recommended as well. The building feels oldish on the inside but they make up for it! Sometimes I'm not a fan of their homemade fries but they add a good touch every now and then. read more

Great home town restaurant with great food and service! Would stop there again when traveling across Iowa. Clean, friendly and delicious! read more

Wonderful lunch. Good food just what we were looking for, not a gas station restaurant. Staff was friendly and efficient.

Used to work in the area and are here often. I love this place. Traveling today.... So it was a must stop. Kinda wish it were lunch time though. Today I'm getting breakfast. Great biscuits and gravy and an absolute killer Reuben and fries here. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Menu - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Stopped in on a Saturday night. Great service and friendly staff. Food came out quick and fresh. Great stop right off the interstate. Lots of variety on the menu! read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Melt with tots - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Absolutely superb food! My husband ordered the pork tenderloin sandwich, and I ordered the kickin bourbon beef burger. Both were sooo good. And, the fries were excellent too! Smaller-type fries. Done perfectly, and a good amount of them. Endless fries come with the meal. read more

Great little family owned restaurant. Super friendly service and fresh, delicious food. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - The Cowboy Burger! - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Great food and service. I had the chicken fried steak and was one of the best I have ever had...and I've eaten a lot of them. My wife had the tenderloin sandwich and said it was the best ever. I think we found a gem along I-80 in Iowa. We will definitely be back..next time it will be the hot beef sandwich for me. read more

Very casual place right off the interstate. A large selection of burgers to choose from! Also five different salads. My husband ordered the brisket burger and I ordered the taco salad. The steak fries were amazing! The food arrived at our table in less than 5 minutes! Everything was on point. Wish I would of stopped here before! read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Brisket burger with steak fries - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

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I've been wanting to stop by here for a while. I've heard good things and finally got the chance on my small town tour! I wasn't sure what parking would be like but there's lots of spots available and there's patio seating if you'd like! Like most everywhere, COVID has seemed to hit the workforce. The staff were fantastic but you could see they were short staffed, so just make sure to give them a break! I ordered a ribeye with salad and Mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. As expected with ribeyes, there was a lot of marbling. A great meal with great service. I'd highly recommend stopping by if you're passing through or in the area read more

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Small town stop. Right off the interstate. Very busy place with the gas station and such. Was a Sunday. Brunch was being served up on the buffet, but we craved something else. I had read good things about the milk shakes, so I ordered up a chocolate. The mac n cheese topped with brisket caught my eyes. I knew I could always take that home if it was to much food. It was good. Tender brisket on the pasta with side of toast and I asked for a little avacado. Hubby got a chicken salad in a taco shell with blue cheese on it. It looked really good and must have been cause I didn't get a bite out if it. The waitress was fantastic. She was witty and kind and got it all right. The service was fantastic. read more

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This quaint little greasy spoon is a must for the open road travelers. But unlike most other greasy spoons - this restaurant is quaint, clean & comfortable. We stopped in a for a hearty breakfast after an overnight in the sweet community of Adair. The chuck wagon just put the icing on the cake before we had to head onwards towards eastern skies. The husband really enjoyed the pancakes & I had a chicken biscuit meal with gravy... all were satisfied & there was still some to take along. The portions are mighty hefty, so maybe share something if you're a light eater. The bathrooms water super clean & the service was great as well-- Thanks, Chuck Wagon! read more

This place is absolutely amazing! Right off I-80, we went for breakfast. The hash-browns are the best I've ever had and the pancakes are delicious! They also sell lovely candles right at the door! The service was also great! read more

A Must Stop If Your Ever Out On I-80!! Milkshakes Top Notch and the Philly was Amazing! read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Philly N Steak Fries - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Fluffy biscuits, delicious gravy, crispy hash browns, and sweet soft pancakes. They have a large breakfast menu (served all day long) including French toast, eggs benedict, B&G, pancakes, country fried steak, omelets, and skillets. They also have a lunch and dinner section on the menu. Biscuit and gravy $6.29 - Delicious! Chuckwagon combo $8.69 - 2 eggs, hash browns, choice of meat and pancakes. No cell phone reception here. ....| \ _ , , , - - , , _ , .../ , ` . - ' ` ' . _ \ - ; ; ; , _ ..| , a - ) ) _ . ; . ( ` - ` - ' - ' ' - - - ' ' ( _ / . _ ) - ' ( _ \ _ ) read more

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The pork tenderloin sandwich was delicious and large. Husband & I could easily have shared it with their bottomless hand cut thin fries (that we loved). The server was very nice and attentive. We'd love to return. I read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Quaint dining area. - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Going west on I 80 in Iowa brings two things to mind. One is when will I make it to Council Bluffs and Two is where do I find a great breaded Pork Tenderloin sandwich. Good news for us we are spending the night in Adair and the, Chuckwagon is the place to eat It was a Monday night which might mean a slow night but while we were dinning there 6 other tables filled with folks from the area enjoying a hearty meal. But no good meal is complete without a good wait staff and Kindra took Great care of use with smile the whole time. Well almost the whole time.. After we ordered I asked how a peanut butter burger tasted. Her quizzical look told me all I needed to hear. She did however assure us that the folks that have ordered this surely local delicacy real enjoyed their burger. Maybe we will try it at home first. But back to our meal. I could not eat my entire sandwich. As much as I wanted to I justed couldn't. But when 50% of the tenderloin overflows the bun I shouldn't feel bad. I did however finish my home fries which were nice and crispy just like I like them. All and all the Chuckwagon isn't fancy it is just good heartland cooking that gives you more than your moneys worth. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Iowa's own Park tenderloin sandwich. - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Super easy to access from the interstate. The servers were nice & friendly & helpful. We enjoyed the meals - a salad, a burger, and the chili between us. And a milkshake. The milkshake was delicious. All the stars! read more

SO. MUCH. FOOD. Stopped for breakfast on an adventure back home to Pennsylvania and was greeted with incredible service and some of the largest portion sizes I have ever seen from a restaurant. The deal only got sweeter when it cost $75 to feed the entire family of 6 people (4 of which are teenagers). Seriously, on top of getting a 3 egg omelette, you also get 2 pancakes and enjoy some hash browns to go with it. Omelettes aren't your thing? That's cool! Instead, have a burrito the size of the plate and the thickness of my fist! All of the food was delicious and no part of the experience was a disappointment. This place does not believe in shortcuts and for whatever reason, if I need a place to stop in Iowa again, it is definitely my go-to. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - a group of people eating breakfast - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

Very good home cooked food! The waitresses are good also! Always there when you need them and polite!

I like to use Yelp when on the road to make sure places are recommended. This place had many 4-5 star reviews and now I know why. Food was delicious. I was pressed for time during the noon hour and was worried it would take too long. Nope!! They were fast AF. Server was friendly and moved quickly to take care of everyone. It's local so everyone knows everyone. That sometimes can slow things down as people catch up on gossip. Not here. Everyone was hustling. Food was out fast but I was in no way rushed out. Menu had a lots of variety. If you're heading across I-80 and it's time to eat, I don't think the Chuckwagon will disappoint. read more

Stopped in for lunch as I was traveling I80 thru Iowa. Outstanding! Had the Grilled Chicken Salad that comes with a Breadstick. Fresh ingredients and superior service! I will definitely plan another stop when I'm in the area. read more

Chuckwagon Restaurant - Grilled Chicken Salad - American Near Me - Adair, Iowa

I've visited a couple times to and from Des Moines. I always plan going here when making the trip and never regret it. Exceptional service and food! read more

Very friendly staff, a pleasant atmosphere, excellent food and extraordinarily clean and tidy dining room and restroom. I had thought about just swinging through a fast food place, and I am so glad I took the time to stop here instead! Great food for less money than I would have paid for junk, and it was served more quickly than most "fast food" places, too. I highly recommend this place! read more