Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Chicken

    3.7 (206 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    The Chicken Photos

    Business Info

    THE CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - The Chicken

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Original chicken sandwich
    Kelly K.

    Fun, casual restaurant. The relaxed vibe is great. One of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever had in my life. Would definitely go back.

    Hot sauces
    Jason K.

    The Chicken is The Bomb. Great food x Great Service x Fun Atmosphere = awesome chicken spot in Iowa. Pretty much everything here is fried, so know what you are getting into. That being said, everything we tried was awesome. Portions were also huge, so we did not even come close to eating it all. Here's how the tale goes.. Two weary travelers stop in after work based on a recommendation. We are immediately seated, greeted with a smile, and introduced to an incredible beer list. We decide to start with the broasted wing special and cheese curds because we are hungry fellas. While waiting for that, we order entrees. Well the curds and wings come and are great. About halfway through, we look at each other and realize even more food was a mistake. We mix up the beer choices, and dive into the main courses. Nothing gets finished completely, our belt buckles are introduced to new holes, and we finish up overly full. To sum it up, everything was great, but don't let your eyes lead the way. This cautionary tale was brought to you by work trips and expense reports everywhere.

    Entrance
    Monty D.

    What can I add that the name doesn't state: The Chicken. This restaurant is a fried chicken road house - in all senses. You can see in my pic the big chicken. As you can see from my other patio pics, on good weather days, there is plenty of seating. It's a medium sized restaurant, and on this afternoon there was a waiting line to sit inside. I have a pic of the bar, which emphasizes the roadhouse vibe. I should mention that all 10 TVs had sports on them. I could keep up with my favorite teams without turning my head. Being first-timers, we had to try the Hot Chicken Sundae. As you can see from my pic, this is a layering of biscuit, mashed potatoes, fried chicken breast strips, gravy and topped with onion rings. Okay, the best part was the fried chicken: plentiful, moist, crunchy coatings, seasoned well with a bit of pepper heat. The onion rings were as crunchy as they looked, but didn't have very flavor. The rest was okay. The side of sweet corn was also okay. I'd go back for the fried chicken and the vibe.

    Classic chicken sandwich, Nashville Hot on a brioche bun.
    Moo O.

    Moo The Chicken, 4221 SE Orilla Rd. A, West Des Moines, IA 50062. Classic chicken sandwich Nashville Hot on a hand breaded, and fried on a brioche bun. Chicken bacon ranch, two strips of bacon with Swiss cheese. Great service along the Great Western bike trail from Des Moines to Cumming. Moo The Chicken, 4221 SE Orilla Rd. A, West Des Moines, IA 50062 7/5/2025 https://www.thechickenorilla.com/

    Nashville Hot Dinner
    Todd B.

    4.2* (out of 5) Food: 4* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 5* Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 4* (Probably) Total check/person: $24 06/12/2024 We have had discounts from kid's athletics fundraising cards to try this place for several years and finally got over to try it this summer. While the exterior on the East side didn't look like much, the front (North) side looked much more inviting and lively - with tables and a modern look. Unfortunately, we arrived from the South and didn't see the front side until leaving (see pictures of each side below). I did like the corrugated metal and rustic wood decor - giving it a bit of a old farm building feel inside. We started with a Salty Chick and an Orilla Sunset (see picture) drink - and really enjoyed both of them. For our meal we ordered a Nashville Hot Dinner (see picture) and a Chicken Strip Meal (see picture). The chicken was good and we really liked the fries - hearty, crispy on the outside & soft and hot on the inside. Best of all was the Carolina Mustard and Bang Bang sauces on the side - we loved both of them! While this is a bit out of the way for us since we live up in Urbandale and don't get this far south very often, we did enjoy our stop for dinner and would recommend it if you are in the area. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Chicken sandwich
    Ronnie T.

    Christina O was fantastic and the chicken was amazing . Waffles and grill chicken was superb , chicken sandwich was top notch . Keep up the good work

    Garth P.

    Interesting roadhouse style place. Great food, excellent service, vegetarian options. Definitely worth the drive.

    Best chicken and waffles I've ever had! Nashville hot
    Tony H.

    My wife and I have been wanting to try this place for a while and never get to that side of town. We went there on a PubPass- they had great beer selection. They also had a great food menu. I got the Nashville hot chicken and waffles- they were some of the best chicken waffles I've ever had. It's also right on a bike trail so if you're in that area riding bikes, I would recommend going. The only complaint is that is really warm in there. It would be a perfect place for a patio day as well. We will definitely be back!

    Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders
    Landen W.

    We went for Nashville hot chicken. The fries were amazing, but the chicken sandwich was really not spicy at all. If you wanted a chicken sandwich, it would probably be a good place for you. The staff was very kind. Our only complaint was just that the chicken wasn't hot and was under seasoned.

    Breakfast menu
    Janella N.

    Love this place! Laid back setting, everyone welcome, and come early because they get busy around dinner time especially on the weekends. Love the guys behind the bar who make any trip to their restaurant SO worth it! Shout out to Ross and Danny, and Jordan and Hannah too! Must try the mini beers shot! Also they offer local beers and spurs on tap and they have the best mules in town! We've tried different food dishes and everything is so good!

    Jolene M.

    Some of the best flavorful hot chicken. The Iowa hot chicken is a dry based rub and that heat level is good. Not burn your mouth heat, but a perfect blend of flavor and spice. They also serve hot chicken Nashville style using buffalo sauce. As an added bonus there is an amazing selection of local beers and speciality cocktails.

    Southwestern Salad - Onion Rings - Flight of drinks!

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kelly K.
    1
    103
    84

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Moo O.
    0
    9
    48

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Fries were old and chewy chicken also dry not up to the quality standards of normal. We are long time customers disappointed with this time

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Staci K.
    50
    38
    101

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Was amazing food , cool atmosphere will definitely go back I had chicken , side salad n corn big pieces had enough for lunch next day

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - The Chicken

    Does anyone know if the outdoor seating is dog-friendly?

    Only service dogs are allowed on the patio.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Sunset Lounge - $15 Sunset smash: 2 smash patties, American cheese. lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, sunset sauce. Comes with fries or potato salad.

    Sunset Lounge

    4.3(19 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    Sat out on the patio on a Saturday night. The waitress quickly brought us drinks and was attentive…read more We all had a variety of the Smashburger. Hubby had the fries with his. It was a dollar up charge for a side of ranch, which she didn't tell us about. I had a side salad and it was good. It is a dollar up charge from the other sides. Friend had the pasta salad and said it was good. Her hubby had the coleslaw and it was OK. It probably bothers me more than my husband, but she comes and picks up our dishes and even had the bill ready while my husband was still eating. You might have a chance to sell another drink if you took your time. The place was not overly busy. All in all, it was a nice place to go on the smash burgers were terrific!

    We stopped in on a beautiful Tuesday night. The patio was mostly full but we found one free table…read moreand took a seat. The waitress was there quickly to take our drink orders and gave us menus. We were initially curious how loud the street would be but were pleasantly surprised it wasn't loud. There was music playing at a good volume too. I could not decide what I wanted to order so I asked the waitress to choose for me. She thought that was a fun option and said she'd definitely go with the Sunset Smash and Fries. The only change I made was no pickles. My friend wanted as many pickles as they'd give her so we got mine on the side for her to have. Wow, was that Sunset Smash burger and fries good! The burger was juicy, tender, flavorful, honestly just delicious! The fries were thick with just the right amount of crisp and salt. Our waitress continued to appropriately check in on us as we ate and chatted. The only thing I'd love to be different is for our kids to be able to come. It's minors only and I know we'd all love the food there. Definitely coming back!

    Photos
    Sunset Lounge
    Sunset Lounge - Smashburger and fries

    Smashburger and fries

    Sunset Lounge - Patio outside was a pleasant place to eat

    See all

    Patio outside was a pleasant place to eat

    Coopers Central Table & Cocktail - Junction Burger

    Coopers Central Table & Cocktail

    4.1(22 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Heard from our hotel reception that this place just opened and is good…read more The food were very nicely presented but the taste was just too salty to even swallow! I left my carbonara untouched after just a few bite. The server Megan was great and very attentive and she even took my dish off the bill! I must say the dessert were good though!

    Love Coopers in Valley Junction, so we met a friend here for dinner on a warm summer evening. We…read moresat outside on their nice-sized patio. It's on the west side, so when we got there at 5, the sunshades were effectively blocking the sun's rays, but by 6 we were in the sun. Just depends on what you're looking for and what time of year, but it is a nice space. We got in our drink orders, and the two ladies in our group had drink questions, so our under the legal age server cheerfully went in and got all their questions answered. Our drinks and food came out fast. They have some items tthat are also available in Valley Junction, and some unique to this location. One in our group got the Meatloaf Meltdown. It was good, but maybe not quite what we've had at the Valley Junction location. Their recipe is great though! My wife got the Protein Bowl with Chicken. The veggies were fresh, and the chicken was a bit dry. Overall pretty good. I got the Sonoma Chicken. That was a clear winner! It was a great combination of flavors that melded together very nicely. The coleslaw was a bit soggy and not all that flavorful, but that was a minor inconvenience. Fries were good. They have a good drink menu, and an OK selection of wines. Service was friendly and pretty efficient. With the sun warming things up, we did move inside for our final drinks. Service at the bar hightops was excellent and the drinks were tasty. It was a Tuesday night and they were either filling up or full the 3 hours we were there. I'd definitely give it another try!

    Photos
    Coopers Central Table & Cocktail - Great feel to the bar

    Great feel to the bar

    Coopers Central Table & Cocktail - Marshmallow chocolate cake... yum

    Marshmallow chocolate cake... yum

    Coopers Central Table & Cocktail - Spacious Dining Area

    See all

    Spacious Dining Area

    The Chicken - chickenshop - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...