Pop Up Chicken has the best chicken in town and surrounding areas. The food is always delicious- a few our our faves are OG Sando, Bbbb Sando, Buffalo chicken Philly, and the burgers. The owner is a stand up guy who stands behind his business and people. read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Sando, fried pickles w/ house sauce, and Gouda Mac n cheese - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

See all

This spot came highly recommended and took a couple attempts to finally stop in because they were so busy. You order your food at the door then sit down and they bring it to you when ready. I ordered the og sando and truffle fries. The fries were ok and the sando was pretty solid. It's a massive sandwich and could easily feed 2-3 people. It was a couple meals for me. If i lived in the area, i would probably come back. Good food and good vibes. Service was nothing special. read more

See all

The person at the front entryway where you could order takeout was so super friendly and helpful. He seemed very passionate about his job. I got some tenders for my kids, a medium spice sandwich for myself and a special pbj burger for my husband. We also got some truffle fries, onion rings, and jalapeño curds. The chicken was high quality and well battered. The tenders were large, and so was the sandwich. My husband loved his weird pbj sandwich. Unfortunately I discovered the medium spice sauce was essentially spicy BBQ and I hate BBQ it was described to me as "similar to wing sauce" so I was thinking of red hot wing sauce. Thats on me! Can't hold that against them. My husbaad ate both somehow. The truffle fries I wouldn't order again. They were thin shoestring and very greasy with some parm shaved over the top. The jalapeño curds were good. They also forgot our onion rings which was a bummer. I didnt realize til we were on the road and we didnt want to go back. read more

We came here for fish on a Saturday and they said they sold out Friday which is ok. The person at the door that takes your order and gives you your table number was very friendly and helpful. Daughter got a burger and fries and bf and I got the OG sandwiches, hot and medium respectively and we split a truffle fry. It's a cool little place with a good selection of top shelf bourbon, but unfortunately I don't get the hype about the food. The chicken was tough, literally had pieces as tough as cardboard I could barely chew. The first 3 or 4 bites of my sandwich were just breading. I didn't think the spice level was even as hot as Franks which I would consider mild and bf said his was barely spicy either. The fries weren't very good, not very crispy mostly limp. My daughter said the burger was good. I may go back and try something else because I really want to like it but it won't be any time soon. read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - OG Sando and truffle fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Returned from BloNo today after another fantastic visit where I tried a double smash burger with cheddar and bacon, it was amazing! The service was on point and friendly. Also got to try the cornbread today. I wish we had a location up north, but for now I'll just have to make it my go to stop when I visit. Keep up the great work! read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Stopped by after a baseball game. The place is super clean and has such a cool vibe. You order and pay first, then grab a seat easy peasy. They've got a bar, and the staff were all super friendly and helpful.I gotta tell you about the food though it was amazing. The chocolate shake was thick and creamy, and their sweet tea was perfectly refreshing. My kid loved their OG sandwich although he went plain, and that jalapeno cornbread? Seriously addictive! I wish I lived closer so I could have a piece every week. The dill fries were crispy and delicious, especially with their dipping sauce. We also tried the Illinois hot chicken horseshoe it was a messy masterpiece, but so worth it with all that sauce mixing together. The chicken wings were fantastic, but next time I'm ordering mild ones for the little guys. read more

See all

Decent Nashville Chicken but they need to change the fry oil and freshen it up. I got the quarter dark chicken and it was fine. The Cider Vinegar Slaw was alright. The fries were pretty neat and cut in wide wavy shapes. The ranch was good. The Pop-up Sauce was like a Cajun mayo, pretty good. They have a large selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. If you don't want to wait and order at the front counter, then just go sit at the bar. Nice modern pub ambience. read more

See all

Amazing food! Super clean. Staff was so friendly and helpful! So glad that we found it! read more

See all

Pop up chicken is the place we take our family and friends when they come to BloNo!!! Always our first pick. The BEST chicken I have ever had. The cheese curds are to die for!!! My other half enjoys the chicken snack wraps the best, or the chicken and waffles. Cute little restaurant with good service! read more

The food was great! If I was just rating the food, I'd give it a 4-5. However it was so miserably hot in the restaurant, we were unable to enjoy our food. There was no warning that the air conditioner was not working properly. We had to put paper towels down on the table so our phones and arms did not stick to the table. I could not get out of there fast enough to get into our air conditioned car to cool off. So the service I'd give it a 2, since nobody had the decency to let us know how bad the AC was working that day. And the ambiance I'd have to give it a zero on Saturday June 21st. No AC in a 90+ degree day is on called for. read more

I visited my Redbird on Sunday. He loves hot wings so we came here. When you walk in, you place and pay for your order and then given a number to take a seat. Your food is delivered to your table and the softdrinks are self serve. There is a full bar and tvs if you want to watch a game while there. Parking is plentiful. The staff is nice. I didn't care for the chicken, but my son loved it. I opted to have mild sauce on the side. My son got medium sauce. We both had an order od fries that despite claiming to be dill flavored, were nothing special. The sauce served with the fries didn't have a distinct taste. I wouldn't choose this place again but if you're not too particular about your chicken, it's ok. read more

See all

Our go to fried chicken place to visit when visiting my daughter at IL State U. Food is consistently good, served hot and fresh. Staff is always friendly and courteous. Will continue stopping here whenever possible. read more

The veggie chicken sando is absolutely incredible, and it's the only one I know of in town. I love it so much. I don't like slaw usually, but I love it on the sandwich. The dill fries are also amazing. I like the pop up sauce a lot, but it's not quite as good as when it first opened - not sure if the recipe changed or what. The drinks are also fun and delicious, the employees are always super nice, and the bar seating is really nice for meeting a friend for drinks. Really fun vibe inside too. read more

Wow, must try. We were on our way home from vacation and this fast casual restaurant was so good and fast service. We had the chicken tenders and several sides including the corn, fries, cornbread, coleslaw and Mac n cheese. I would order all again, so good. read more

Super fast. Got served food in 10 min. Helpful staff, great food! Whatever spice you normally choose: mild,medium, hot. Go one down here.

Great service and helpful employees! It was our first time and they explained everything patiently while we decided what to order. The crust on the chicken is out of this world! We will definitely be back. read more

Burger is tasty but pricey. The fries aren't good and remind me of freezer fries from Walmart. The chicken sandwich is very salty but it's still good. I don't think I'd come again but the burger was pretty good. read more

If you've ever gotten to check out the previous location of Pop up Chicken Shop, you'll appreciate that they've now evolved into a storefront restaurant and bar. We were able to order within the first few minutes of arriving. They have two hostess stands that take your order before you enter the actual restaurant to find a place to sit and eat. We seated ourselves and then patiently waited for our food. Our food came out within 5 minutes which was pleasantly surprising for the contents of my order. I went with the mild chicken strips and fried pickles. The fried pickles were perfectly fried and the sauce gave it a nice tang. The chicken strips were a flavor bomb as well. My only critique would be that they came out warm, not hot, but nothing drastic enough to send back to the kitchen. read more

See all

Not impressive. Food flys out and is not special. System is confusing and not streamlined. Paying for drinks and food separately is a pain for the customer as well the staff. Won't be returning. read more

One of the best Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches I've had in a restaurant! Cool place with great selection of bourbon!

The fried chicken is crispy and fresh and thats good, but it doesn't seem to have a lot of flavor if its plain, it seems best when you choose something other than plain...just fyi read more

Try it... You won't regret it! Pop Up Chicken and Love Shack Burgers under the same roof. Both amazing!

We ordered mild sauce and our chicken was covered in what tasted like siracha sauce. I had to rinse my grilled chicken in water to get the sauce off. I don't mind a little heat--this was inedible for us. I could not reach a person when I called the restaurant to see if an error was made. I left a voice mail. read more

Not the best wings or philly cheesesteak wouldn't visit again. Service is good environment is good as well but the food isn't the best.

First, let me say that we found absolutely nothing wrong with this restaurant regarding quality, service, or cleanliness. We came in just before the noon rush and saw the place fill up fairly quickly. That alone is a testament to its popularity and success in Bloomington. We were meeting our nephew and his wife for lunch. They are much younger (mid 20s) and have much differing tastes than my wife and me. To sum it up, it just wasn't our thing. Neither of us cared for the seasoning on the chicken. She had a chicken sandwich and I had chicken wings. It was a bit pricey for food that we didn't enjoy. I ate a couple of the wings and sent the rest home with my nephew. Again, it seemed like a great place for those who enjoy the unique flavors they offer here. We simply were not among the group who does. read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

See all

First trip at the ole shared space was incredible, perfected chicken sandwiches and top tier experience even in the full lifeless fluorescent mood it once was, but now bigger and more! Friendly staff. Fun bar scene and modern enjoyable but loud place. The prices are dumb for basic chicken. Never did Chick Fil A seem like a crazy bargain but a milkshake is almost ten dollars, hold the front door! I might be walking back out except my friends crave this place so I did it. Horseshoe was tasty. Fries are fantastic. Overall menu offers some variety and chunky meats, vegans avoid, health nerds go find a Core Life, this is the most expensive way in the area to fast food. No it isn't quite fast even though the horseshoe appeared at our table before we could all get waters, this is a silly luxury dream casual feast diner. I wouldn't ever go again due to better options in Bloomington for these prices however as my friends are liable to drag me in again I won't complain much. read more

See all

I stopped here on a whim a couple of weeks ago. My car was getting some work done at the dealer Ave bent from out of town, I didn't feel like driving home and coming back. Came in for lunch and sat at the bar. I had a hot chicken horseshoe with dill fries and it was fantastic. Tasted amazing and a ton of food. The bartender was really friendly and was filling my tea constantly (because... hot chicken). She also made a pretty great peach bourbon drink. Highly recommend and looking forward to the next time the car needs work! read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Hot Chicken Horseshoe - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Despite their new focus on expansion (in Normal and Peoria) almost everything here at the Bloomington location is still top-notch (4.6 stars) with near perfectly executed smash burgers, humongous fried chicken sandos along with boundary-pushing weekly specials and the amazingly extensive beer and whiskey options. And with some of the most expensive beer options in town, the M-F half-price afternoon beer special makes all kinds of sense, let's you try new things at a reasonable cost and keeps the place hopping all day. I've also found just about every employee to be friendly, accommodating and have good taste in music, as evidenced by the alternative-leaning playlists they take turns with during the day. Besides some of those prices, how packed the place gets during the lunch hour and the parking lot craters at the main entrance (I've learned to use the side entrance), the only other complaint I have is the lack of any patio when the weathers nice. These mostly minor things prevent a full 5-stars, but we love having this place just a few blocks away! read more

See all

Food mediocre at best Small portions Grossly overpriced Screwed me over once Never again read more

This was the second time there. The wife and I weren't overly excited the first time. We had chicken and waffles and the chicken was a bit over cooked. We decided to give it a second chance and I'm glad we did. The chicken was perfect. Everything tasted great...except for the water, but that's not their fault. Bloomington water is terrible. On that note, I would suggest that they carry bottled water to sell. We had to resort to a lunch time beer, which was not so bad a thing. read more

I don't like leaving negative reviews but I think it's time because the last three orders have been sub par. Fries are either hard or burnt. Chicken has been okay but not as good as it once was. Order is always ready when we arrive. Thank you. read more

I went back , they now have a restaurant and bar. The wings with the sweet and savory sarachi were some of the best wings I have ever eaten. The popup sauce should be bottled it is addictive. I had the onion rings when dipped in the pop up sauce was out of this world. One thing I kept saying was this is the next national chain. They have got to share this wit the world now. read more

PEANUT ALLERGY There is no mention of the use of peanut oil. When I asked if they use any peanuts or tree nuts, they acted like I should already know. When I asked what process they use it in, they got mixed up and told me two different things. The two people I talked to were so rushed it seemed like it just wasn't a big deal and didn't really seem to give a $hit. I walked out with my food still on the table. There goes $20... I really didn't feel comfortable eating there. I hate it when people do not care about people with allergies. I'll literally die from something that they don't even care about.... read more

Had some delicious chicken tenders, the spice level was inline with what I ordered. Great service, good food, would eat again

We weren't sure what to think or do when the GPS brought us to the VFW hall, but I'm glad found it and gave it a try! . I got the Illinois Chicken Horseshoe and the Gouda Mac-n-Cheese! They were both great but the Illinois Chicken Horseshoe was my favorite meal I had the entire week I spent in the Peoria/Normal area. The flavor of the chicken was spectacular. Even if it didn't have all the bells and whistles with it, it would have still been amazing. . I really had no idea what I was getting when I order this, so when it came out my food vlogger side was nerding out! The presentation was as awesome as the dish itself was. . I definitely recommend and I will be back next year! read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Illinois Chicken Horseshoe - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

This restaurant is currently inside a vfw but will soon move to a stand alone location in Bloomington. The line you see when you walk in means this place is really good! I ordered carry out at around 12pm. I ordered 2 chicken sandos ( no heat ) and 1 order of the dill side winder fries. The chicken was moist, thick, and the breading provided a great texture. The chicken was cooked perfectly. The pop up sauce on the sandwich was delicious! The sauce is sweet but not over powering to the chicken. The fries have a great flavor with a good amount of dill seasoning and come with a side of dipping sauce. I'll be back to visit the stand alone location! I Highly recommend this restaurant if your craving a solid chicken sandwich. read more

Pop Up Hot Chicken - Line at lunch! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Holy spicy chicken! Five stars for the grub. Seriously the BEST Nashville hot chicken I've ever had. (And I've had a few!) Table ordered the 2 tendos - medium Spice, breast sandwich- medium spice & dill fries. Pop up sauce & BBQ sauce. Pop up sauce is original & complimentary to both the chicken and dill fries. The chicken is brined for 24-48 hours before final Prep and you can tell. Super juicy and flavorful. I probably should have gone with mild spice (I know, I'm a pansy) because the medium made my lips tingle, roof of my mouth was burning and my tongue felt weird! (A good weird). 2 things- 1) we live two hours away and would absolutely drive out of our way to visit again if anywhere remotely close 2) if I had it, I'd angel invest and share the love! Location is inside a VFW- not fancy, but spacious and clean. Dang- wish I lived closer! read more

This restaurant used to be a 9.8/10 in my book. That is, until this year (2024) when they started to sell their Pop-Up Sauce (their take on special sauce) in pre-packaged containers, as opposed to made in-store. The taste of the sauce has significantly worsened. As opposed to being creamy, smokey, and balanced, it's now Bad™. Most of the chicken dishes and burgers come with it by default, so if you dislike the new sauce, it'll taint the flavor of the entire thing. It's a real shame because the rest of the food is truly a crowning achievement of the Bloomington-Normal restaurant scene. But if you haven't been in a while, do yourself a favor and ask for sauce on the side next time. read more

I recently ordered a hamburger with Pop Up sauce and Dill fries with Pop Up sauce, but unfortunately, I didn't receive the sauce with either item. read more

This was my first time visiting the restaurant in their 'permanent' location. It was another great meal! I tried the Pulled Chicken Kale Salad for the first time. I really loved this option with the great flavor of their chicken accompanied by a great salad. The portion was generous and I brought about half home to eat later. My husband had his usual 'Sando' And it didn't disappoint. The portion size was perfect for him as well. We also had to get an order of the dill fries. Yum! This is definitely a place to try or visit again, and again. Great food and service! read more

See all