I wish I could give this five extra stars The food was hands-down amazing. Those biscuits or something to write home about, and the fried chicken was perfection! The staff are the friendliest I've ever seen. Everyone literally looks delighted to be at their job jobs. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Guy and wing meal with dumplings and mac & cheese - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Sometimes the most frustrating restaurant experiences aren't the terrible ones. They're the ones that are so close to being really good. That's how I felt about Mama's Chicken Kitchen. I came in with high expectations. The restaurant has strong reviews, it's part of the Johnson Family of restaurants, and I've enjoyed several of their other establishments over the years. So I walked in expecting a meal that would have me planning a return visit before I even paid the check. What I got instead was one of the strangest cases of missing seasoning I've encountered in quite some time. Let's start with the positives. The people here are genuinely nice. Friendly, welcoming, and attentive. Everyone we encountered was pleasant and seemed to care about providing a good experience. The restaurant itself is clean, comfortable, and inviting. And the kitchen clearly knows how to cook food. The fried chicken was cooked beautifully. Crispy on the outside. Juicy on the inside. Exactly the texture you're hoping for when you order Southern fried chicken. The problem? The seasoning apparently called in sick. This chicken had all the flavor intensity of a weather report. No noticeable salt. No spice. No personality. It tasted like the chef had just completed community service at a nursing home and was legally prohibited from possessing a salt shaker. My piece of chicken was juicy and cooked properly. Unfortunately, my wife's chicken breast was noticeably dry, which didn't help matters. Then came the fried pickles. No seasoning. Chicken and dumplings. No seasoning. Coleslaw. Tasteless. At one point I started wondering if there had been some sort of building-wide seasoning shortage that nobody had told us about. The frustrating part is that none of the food was poorly cooked. Quite the opposite. The techniques were there. The textures were there. The execution was there. It just felt like someone got everything ready and forgot the final, critical step of making the food taste like something. This is a restaurant with good people, a pleasant atmosphere, and a kitchen that clearly knows how to cook. Now they just need to introduce their food to salt, pepper, and a few of their seasoning friends. Three stars. Because the potential is absolutely there. The flavor just never showed up for work. read more

See all

My wife & I ate here when visiting the area. Glad we did! The food was pretty great and the service excellent. Very friendly staff who made good recommendations. I had the chicken tenders, with mac n-cheese and chicken & dumplings as sides. My wife had tenders with mashed potatoes and green beans. Both plates also included a biscuit w/ jam. Oh, and definitely get the cheese curds if you can! The restaurant has good seating and was very clean when we visited. Very happy we decided to stop in! read more

See all

After an underwhelming (but pleasant enough) stroll at The Island in Pigeon Forge, we skipped the pricey dining options and drove back up to Gatlinburg for what turned out to be the real highlight of the night: Mama's Chicken Kitchen. From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed with genuine Southern hospitality. The space is cozy and shared with J.O.E. And Pop's Sun Shoppe, but we came for one thing--the fried chicken. And wow. Crispy, perfectly seasoned Southern fried chicken with truly homemade sides that tasted like Sunday dinner at grandma's. Generous portions, very reasonable prices, and fast, friendly service. I ordered unsweetened tea; they apologized when kit was temporarily out and quickly brewed a fresh batch. It took a few minutes, but it was absolutely worth the wait. Clean, welcoming, and downright delicious. Next time we're in the Smokey Mountain, this stop is Jon-negotiable. Easily some of the best fried chicken in Tennessee. read more

See all

Really friendly people. If there is a wait - it's worth it!! Great fried chicken, real mashed potatoes and fabulous gravy and yummy chicken and dumplings! Very casual - order at the counter and pick a table including our on the screened in porch! read more

The food was delicious. The chicken was juicy and the breading was perfect. They were very friendly and the food was promptly served. I really enjoyed the whole atmosphere. I would definitely go again. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Chicken fried chicken with macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

See all

Delicious Food!! Chicken and dumplings were excellent. Fried chicken was cooked to perfection. We returned for the green beans, AMAZING! Fast and friendly service. Casual dining experience. Definitely recommend this place. read more

This was our first stop (in regard to food) once we arrived in the Gatlinburg area. After watching endless YouTube videos while planning our trip, I'd narrowed down the top-ranked restaurants according to the locals. This place was named best fried chicken in TN, so we had to give it a try. I'm not a big fried chicken eater, but my husband is. The restaurant was very easy to find and happened to be located just about 15 minutes away from our cabin rental. We arrived about an hour before closing and ordered our food to-go. I was a little worried about how the chicken would hold up in the foam containers during transport, but it was fried fresh and was still quite crisp once we arrived back "home". The staff was very welcoming and kind. They answered all of our questions and accommodated our special requests (such as ordering a meal with all drumsticks). They fried chicken was crisp without being heavily-breaded and was well-seasoned. It was very flavorful and sprinkled with a little hot sauce, it was perfect! I was disappointed in the sides, though. The mashed potatoes were just that...unpeeled, unseasoned, smashed up potatoes. the green beans had a sharp vinegar taste and nothing else. I filled up on the chicken and didn't taste the biscuit, so I can't comment on that. We didn't dine-in, but the chicken place is combined with a sandwich shop and the dining room appeared to be a very casual space with a rustic, woodsy feel. Part of it was blocked off with chairs, likely due to it being close to closing time. read more

See all

Love this place. Make sure we eat here once anytime we come to Gatlinburg. Not super fancy. Not touristy really. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. And the sides are to die for. Quick service and very friendly staff. read more

It's good food really fast. My wife and I went for a late first night meal and our plate was at the table before we could finish getting drinks and sauce. Very friendly. The restaurant seems fairly clean especially for the end of the day but the sauce counter could have used more attention. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Fried chicken. Mashed potatoes and gravy, Cole slaw, Mac and Cheese, some amazing biscuits - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

My husband & I ate here after a morning hiking in GSMNP. Luckily we ordered right before the place exploded with customers. It still took a really long time to get our lunches, so I can't imagine how long all those people waited. My chicken tenders and sides were good, not great. My husband had a Philly Cheesesteak from the sub side of this establishment and said the same of his food. It was nice having the choice between chicken and subs, the place was clean, and theyb had a nice assortment of hot sauces. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Chicken Tenders, fries, mac & cheese, chicken & dumplings - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

See all

Service was great. I was a little confused because outside it all said there is a sandwich eatery. Food was just okay and my chicken was a bit cold. The biscuit with the strawberry jam was very delicious but needed to be more warm. read more

See all

We had great service. The food came out a quicker than we expected which was great since we had just traveled over 12 hours. Everything was delicious. We will definitely eat here again. read more

We were on the hunt for fried chicken! We got a bucket and we almost finished it all. It was juicy, crispy flavorful. It's a quick service type place you order at the counter and sit and they bring it to your table or you can do take out also. read more

This place is just one of those places. Nothing pretentious just real food, seasoned correctly, favorable, and served with a smile. The coating is seasoned with several different spices, tasting the pepper, salt, and home town flavor. Sides are fresh, the only thing missing is some good collard greens. Stop by, it's worth it. read more

Stopped here when we got in to town for dinner. The chicken tenders were delicious! Super juicy meat and the right amount of breading. For sides I got the Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy. The whole meal was great! They have a lot of different hot sauce options so it was fun to try some I had never had before. Food came out quick and there is a lot of seating here. Great place to stop while passing through or staying close! read more

See all

Fried chicken tenders tasted slightly better than cafeteria food. The tenders were also miniscule. The fried chicken sandwich was just bread with some tenders piled in - very unwieldy to eat. The sandwich also had way too many pickles in addition to the kimchi slaw. Flavor profile definitely felt off, especially considering it already came with a pickle spear. Green beans were average, biscuit tasted about the same as KFC. The good? Fries were sublimely crispy and delicious. Chicken and dumplings were pretty savory, too. We had an abundance of order mishaps. Instead of wings, we got tenders. Never got the ranch sauce we ordered. Also, they apparently ran out of jam to go with the biscuits, but failed to inform us as we were ordering. We had to ask them about it after getting our food, to which they responded that they ran out of jam. read more

Such delicious chicken and sides! I had the cole slaw, mashed potatoes, and fried chicken breast! A+++

Fantastic fantastic meal. Seriously amazing fried chicken! So so good. Sides were all good too. Everything tastes fresh and homemade. When it's warmer out, there's nothing better than eating your meal on their screened patio space. read more

We visited Mama's Chicken Kitchen after a day of hiking in GSMNP. It was mostly empty, but probably because it was an awkward time between lunch and dinner. The vibe was super casual, and the space was shared between Mama's Chicken Kitchen and a sandwich shop. They had plenty of seating inside, but the AC was cranked up, so we decided to sit on the patio/sunroom. I had seen photos of a Fried Chicken Sandwich on Yelp, but strangely this wasn't on their menu. When I asked the girl at the counter, she said they could just put their Chicken Fried Chicken in a sandwich, so I went with it. I also got a side of Mac & Cheese and a fountain drink. The makeshift Fried Chicken Sandwich ended up being huge! I liked the Texas toast and the chicken itself was pretty good, although the breading was heavier than my usual preference. They had a huge selection of various hot sauces, which the sandwich really needed, since it just had mayo. The Mac & Cheese was definitely the cheap/artificial kind, but got the job done. My friend said her Fried Chicken Salad was good too, but nothing mind-blowing. Overall, good for a filling meal at a reasonable price, but not quite worth the rave reviews. read more

See all

Food tasted old and biscuit was hard like a hockey puck and very inedible. Chicken was bland but warm and sides were ok. Service was great and very nice seating area. Picked this place due to rating of 4.5 and good southern cooking but was more cafeteria level. Won't be back but lucky for us we were only here on vacation. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - 4 Piece Chicken Tender Meal with Mac and Cheese and Cole Slaw - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

We ordered a dinner for 14 people including fried and grilled chicken. Coleslaw, green beans and banana pudding topped off this wonderful meal. The quality of the food was extraordinary! The chicken was delicious and moist and the sides were perfect. Best fried chicken I've had! read more

Watch out if you try the onion straws- they are addictive! Definitely recommended for a group as it's a huge portion. The shrimp po' boy was good- also large portion. Great service and nice interior. read more

See all

Probably some of the best chicken and dumplings and chicken and all the sides, including the green beans that I have had! I wish this place was closer to home!!!!! read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Yummy Dinner!!! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Traveling up & down the rural roads of Tennessee, not to many choices & we definitely did want to eat at national chains. We saw this restaurant near the local fire station & give it I try. Wow! Hard to impress me with fried chicken as have had many recipes and places. This was surprisingly delicious crispy outside and inside tender & juicy. The sides were very good, Service was incredible fast ! The casual restaurant ambience was roomy & comfortable. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Fried Chicken and sides - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

See all

Nice place. Pretty quiet. Food was great. I had chicken & dumplings with macaroni and cheese and green beans. Everything was pretty good. Mo complaints. Decent price, food came quickly. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Fryer Chicken was really good, sides was also pretty good Mac and cheese that's all we tried

Our Airbnb host recommended a few nearby restaurants, and our group was in the mood for some chicken. We ordered a mix of leg/thigh pieces with sides of mac and cheese and fries. We also tried their dumplings and that was good. The chicken was decent, but nothing special. However, my husband was *all in* on the gizzards--he absolutely loved them! The service was a bit slow, but we think it was because of our gizzard order, so we didn't mind too much. We did clean up our table, as they ask for trays to be put back. Restrooms are nice. Definitely check it out if you're in the mood for some chicken. read more

I ordered the liver dinner. & my hunny got fried chicken & green beans. Everything was EXCELLENT!!! The service was fast, friendly & courteous! The atmosphere was not too noisy & the location is easy to get into & out of, with ample parking. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

See all

We at here last week on a couples marriage retreat and really enjoyed it. The food was fresh and hot and the biscuits are huge!!!!!! The service was great and we'll definitely return next year! read more

Looking for some good southern fried chicken and this was it! Super crispy, and full of flavor! The sides were all very tasty as well. The service was good, smiles and friendly southern hospitality at its finest. Definitely recommend! read more

I don't leave reviews, but Mama's Chicken Kitchen was so good I wanted to come here and say, trust the hype. We got 16 tenders and 2 sides for $50. Fed the whole family with food left over which is rare for us. As long as you're not looking for something formal, this is the spot. read more

Great food, good amount of food, good service, wasn't too long of a wait and overall great experience

OMG SOOOO GOOOOD! We'd gotten in from a 9 1/2 hour drive from the Chicago area, we were starving, had just unpacked in our cabin and we were looking for a place to eat. Stumbled across mama's chicken kitchen, ordered a 12 piece bucket with french fries, cinnamon apples, and added coleslaw. Everything was incredible. My only regret was not getting more coleslaw - outstanding. In addition, mama's chicken kitchen provides a little sweet surprise in the form of banana pudding with vanilla wafers on the house, such an amazing sweet treat. If you're in the area, mama's chicken kitchen is a must. read more

Grading this on a to-go order, but I think they're only to-go orders now. Meal was ready very quickly and for a reasonable $40. Chicken skin, the most important part of fried chicken held up over a 10min car ride and was still crispy. I think the meat could do with a bit more seasoning, but I won't complain. Biscuits were absolutely fantastic, super buttery and dense while staying moist. The macaroni&cheese is basically a cheese soup with noodles, I'd get something different. Coleslaw is pretty standard if not a little too wet, but a good balance of sweet and tangy. The peach and strawberry butters are basically a little dessert topping for the biscuits or for the chicken if you're feeling it. Service was friendly and fast, and for a vacation town the quality and price were good. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - 10 Pieces Chicken Meal To Go - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

It was ok... I don't think I would come here again though. The chicken seemed to have been sitting for a while and definitely wasn't fresh. The sides were also pretty bland and not really warm. The service was nice and fast, but another reason why we think the food wasn't fresh. read more

My mom and I went here for one our food stops throughout our trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge for Christmas, I don't have any pictures but, we thought it was pretty good. It was perfect for the end of the night, we went around 8PM (shortly before they closed, we hate doing this) on a Saturday. The prices were good, service was great (again, we went shortly before closing and everyone was very welcoming). I got the philly w/ fries and chicken and dumplings. I thought my food was honestly really good, the philly was very tasty, well seasoned, not dry at all. My mom got the club sub w/ fries and mac. She wasn't a huge fan of the mac and cheese but I liked it. She said the sub was fine and the fries were good and seasoned. Was great for what we were looking for. Had cute souvenirs as well, the rocks were painted by a local artist and really unique. Everyone there was very kind. read more

Ordered a FRIED CHICKEN BUCKET to go as it was a cold and dreary January night. We were super excited to unveil the flavorful seasoned and juicy fried chicken. Usually the dark meat is my favorite as it's more moist but the breasts were brined so well they came out so tender. I appreciated that the MASHED POTATOES had the skin on. I love the home cooked feel of the texture of the skins. CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS had great flavor but the dumplings came out more mushy than I prefer. GREEN BEANS had bacon in them but were over seasoned. Definitely mix in with your taters for a perfect bite. BANANA PUDDING was bananas! The pudding is thick and custardy. Definitely don't skip out on it. I loved that they had merchandise for sell at the pickup counter - various jarred food items and SMOKY MTN souvenir painted rocks. Definitely would call this a must visit establishment for any vacationer in the Gatlinburg area. read more

Mama's Chicken Kitchen - Fried chicken Bucket - Chicken Wings Near Me - Gatlinburg, Tennessee

My family thoroughly enjoyed this restaurant! The chicken tenders and sides were outstanding! We wanted to eat somewhere away from the crowds and this place was awesome. You order at a counter and someone brings your food to the table. Staff was all super nice. read more

What a meal, puts any fast food chicken place to shame. The pace that is closed on Sundays, and the other place lead by some colonel from Kentucky can't touch this spot. All the bone-in chicken we ate was fried to perfection, tasty without leaning too hard into the spicy or peppery directions. Most of the sides that we had were equally good; macaroni and cheese along with mashed potatoes were the two favorites at the table. The coleslaw was meh at best. The biscuits were pretty good too and served up with some local fruit preserves. All in all a good chicken spot that has better quality and portions than fast food, but at nearly the same the same price point. read more