George The Chili King
5722 Hickman Rd, Des Moines, IA, 50310
George The Chili King Menu
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Address :
5722 Hickman Rd
Des Moines, IA, 50310 - Phone (515) 277-9433
- Website https://www.georgethechiliking.com/Menu.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Mikaela F.
Ugh. This place is filthy. I can't believe it was on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. It was even called a drive-in (I don't think that's even a service they offer) but it's a dive. And not the good kind. It was really, really dirty. The woman who took our order (dirt under her nails, food smeared all over her shirt) was complaining about the customer before us, talking so much she forgot to write down part of our order. When we went outside to sit, the cook was sitting at a table smoking with his bare butt hanging out of his pants and exposed. He was smoking as he walked in to cook our food. Luckily, he wore gloves. When the woman brought out our order, and we told her she missed some, she tried to say we didn't order what she forgot. The tables were FILTHY with food and drink spilled all over. My FIL asked her to wipe the table. She sighed and said, "I guess." So she brought out a filthy rag and wiped it. The food wasn't even good. I had a cheeseburger, and I'd say McDonalds (which is about 20% actual beef) tastes far better. Guy Fieri was lying through his teeth when he went here and said it was good. He probably went out back and made himself puke.
(1)Karen M.
This is one of those places that must have been good in its heyday. That is only the explanation I can fathom for it still being in business today. I'm shocked it was featured onTriple D (which they play on continuous loop behind the counter). I had the Coney dog, their version of a chili dog with mustard, onions and pickle spears. The chili looks very unappetizing but doesn't taste too bad. It's hardly worthy of "King" status, though. I also had the homemade onion rings which would have been good had they been hot. The most disturbing concern about this place however is that it is absolutely filthy. I'm all for a greasy diner, but this is the kind of place the health department should inspect-- dirty counters, old food around the cooking area and floor. The staff seemed to be trying but not sure of what they were doing and they were very unkempt. In short, average (at best) food and disgusting conditions.
(2)carl r.
Honestly, I don't know why this place deserves to be on triple D unless they paid to be on it. Place had 3 people in it at Sunday lunch, I ordered cheeseburger & onion rings that were average and the medium drink came with half Ice and very little drink which to me spells financial trouble. I really had high expectations from triple D but should have realized when I saw no one there was a huge sign.
(2)Scott A.
Stopped here as it was on Triple D. We ate here on a Sunday for lunch, and the place was empty when we arrived. Sat at the counter and order. Service was quick and to the point. The Coney dog was outstanding, and the onion rings are great too. The tenderloin sandwich was "OK", but not great. If you looking for the cleanest spot in town this is not it. We noticed come chicken strips on the floor in the kitchen and the workers just walked over/passed them. But with that said this is a "greasy spoon" kinda place and it fit the bill. We will return, but maybe on a week night.
(3)Barbara R.
First time there, was so good and big that it had to be spilt in half. We will go again, even tho it is 2 hrs away. Husband loved the chili!
(5)Paul K.
Went because of DDD. We're used to looking past aesthetics for good food, but we were disappointed by both. Service is slow. On the DDD clip they had roller girls running food. A girl who I assume is an employee's daughter brought out our food in her pajamas. Glad we chose not to eat in the car - besides the food being messy, soda was spilled all over the cup lid and there was mustard smeared on the bottom of the coney container. We were sticky before we even unwrapped our food. Wife got the tenderloin and I had the coney. Tenderloin was "just OK", and I didn't even finish the coney. The chili is pasty, bland and nothing like on DDD. After waiting what seemed like longer than necessary, our chili cheese fries were warm but not hot. After all that messy food I asked if there was a bathroom to wash my hands. Yes, it's the employee bathroom, through the counter and kitchen, past open tubs of onions, and the size of a coat closet-it's weird. The staff was nice enough. But I'm telling you, you'll be disappointed.
(1)Steve G.
I am sorry to say after eating here for close to 40 years this will be my last trip. After sitting at the bar and watching the three employees BS around the register for over five minutes instead of taking my and my daughters order, we got up and walked out. The quality of food and service has greatly fallen off over the years. It is really too bad that such an iconic restaurant has turned into suck a dump.
(1)Suzan H.
Have a coney as it is what they are known for. It is served on a piece of wax paper which is odd. No plate or basket. Fries and onion rings once in a basket why can't they put your coney in a basket. It would keep it together a lot better. It is a local favorite. Small amount of seating inside but can sit outside if you would rather. Friendly staff but it was HOT when we were there and their AC was broken. It is not a great sight to see your cook sweating over your food. :( Our meal was good and we would return but I would not order another coney because it was bland and not worth the mess. I expected more from their chili since it is the 'king.' I would add hot sauce if I were to order the chili. The fatman tenderloin was excellent according to my dining partner. Root beer float was good.
(3)Dave M.
When my family and I moved to Des Moines, we wanted to check out all the local restaurants that were considered by the locals as "must try's" or that made our favorite shows; Man Vs. Food and Diners, Drive Ins & Dives being among them. DDD visit this DSM "institution" and gave it a rave review, so why not give it a try. If I used one word to describe our experience here it would be "disgusting". Where is the DSM health inspector when you them?? Here is what our experience was and every word is true: We arrived around 8 pm on a Saturday; pulled in, turned our headlights on as the sign tells you to and waited. And waited. And waited. Ok - guess outdoor service only applies during certain hours (not sure what they are, but ok... inside we go). We walk in and sit at the counter, then wait.... and wait... and wait. The people working this place literally are arguing in front of us and one other guy, not acknowledging us at all until they were done. In the meantime, sit back and watch their episode of Guy Fieri's DDD on a loop over and over again. I swear I was looking around thinking I was on a hidden camera TV show or something. When we finally got their attention, we got the full monty - "What would you like?" "Where are you from?" "How did you hear about us?" "How do you like DSM?".... ummm can we just order please?? Cleanliness and hand washing is definitely not a priority in this place. Between the coughing into their arms, handling money at the register then handling buns and food without gloves, our eyes were popping out of our heads in disbelief. Again... disgusting. Thank goodness I had my vitamins and a strong immune system, because it only got worse. We ordered onion rings, two coneys, a cheese burger and tenderloin. All the food was served on wax paper (strange). The brat buns used for the coneys were thick and dry, so we tossed them aside. Unfortunately, given how runny that chili is, it just soaked into that bun and because of that, zero taste. Now for the famous tenderloin. The woman shows me the frozen, homemade patty made "sometime this week by George himself". Ok, I'm here because of that show and Guy's praise for George's family recipe, so I guess I'll try it. In the fryer it goes. When she pulls it out, the tenderloin is clearly overcooked; she tells us that she's sorry and that it was the first time she made one. HUH? First time.. you made ... the famous George tenderloin??? We tried to eat it, but couldn't and requested another one. She calls over a kid that looked like he was just changing the oil in his car wearing his Wrangler jeans. So Wrangler takes over and serves me a new tenderloin; while he cut the sandwich slightly off-center (see photo), the sandwich was much better tasting. On to the onion rings. Think of the outside of the onion, you know - that part you peel off and throw away? Well, not at George The Chili King! They use all of it and clearly, we received the outer layer because these rings were terrible (see photo) and cold. The woman working here was trying to make our experience better, but frankly, this place was unbelievably bad. How Diners, Drive-Ins and Dive could possible advise people visiting Des Moines to come here is insane. There are a lot of unique, local places to eat in DSM (dives too!). But I would never, never, EVER advise anyone to come here, unless new management that understands how to properly run a restaurant were to take over. Pathetic and ... I'll say it one more time... disgusting.
(1)Gene H.
Although I was a bit disappointed that the tenderloin was a pre formed patty and not the tenderized loin that was shown on the television episode of TripleD the food was good, the staff was very friendly, and the overall experience was a positive. The onion rings got the Mrs's seal of approval, the Coney Dog was good, and the Chili was tasty (got ours with onions and cheese).
(4)Bill G.
Ate here after seeing it on triple D. Food was ok, nothing special. Definitely a dive spot, but that was expected. Not sure we'd be back, worth a try though.
(3)Josh Z.
There are many types of chili; I cook many of them myself. Their chili is a great chili dog chili, but it doesn't make a great bowl of red. Food is great, old-fashioned, and simple. Can't wait to go there again, but only for a quick lunch.
(4)Tj D.
If you enjoy great-tasting chili in a traditional dive, this is the place for you. Don't be put off by the setting or the brown muddy chili; the food here will knock your socks off!
(4)Dena K.
Probably the most disappointing meal I have ever had. This restaurant is filthy! Every piece of silverware was dirty. The food was nothing like everyone reported. The chili was lacking in flavor. There wasn't enough cheese and onions on earth to make it flavorful! The tenderloin was frozen and certainly not made to order. The sausage burger??? What was that sausage made of? The only thing that tasted edible were the onion rings, cheese sticks, and chocolate shake. I won't be back - ever! PS DO NOT ask to use their bathroom!
(1)Doug S.
It's a comfortable informal relaxing Joint. We've been going there for over 30 years. Great food.
(5)He And She I.
Step into the time machine, and travel back to a time where you watch the cook prepare your food, you can overhear the most interesting neighborhood gossip, and the food is just darned good. At George's, the food is delivered faster than at McDonald's, is fresher than Subway, and has more personality and history than MaidRite. The chili is that deep dark brown color that tells you ahead of time that the flavor is more complex than you expect. And it is NOT over-salted! Order the chili mac, and enjoy a trip back to simpler times. Order a coney, and you'll not only feel 17 again, you won't regret it two hours later, as you might when you step on the chain restaurant assembly belt. Yes, we will be back. Maybe we'll see you there!
(5)Colton J.
Went here for lunch yesterday. Nice place to sit at the counter and eat. Service was just alright. Chili was good, not great, lacked seasonings. Onion rings were flavorless and burgers are mediocre at best. Chocolate shakes are on point though. Overall this place serves it's purpose of filling you up, but not worth all of the DDD hype.
(3)Nick J.
Go for the experience not for the food. Anyone can toss a tenderloin in the fryer and add ham, cheese and a few vegetables as with the Fat Man. I'll be back to give the chili a whirl and for an excuse to dust off the DeLorean.
(3)Ted M.
I'm happy this place is still in business; it offers a time-stood-still appeal for long time customers. The lunch counter was populated with people that have been frequenting the place for 30 years. It is old-fashioned, but its charm is non-transferable to new customers. I don't think it offers much to a Yelper looking for a fun new experience. The portions are much smaller than you'd expect, the drive-in was not operational, and the food ranges from decent (onion rings) to kinda yucky (the chili). The appeal seems to be that it's been the same for 50 years, but it hasn't lasted this long on the strength of the recipes.
(2)Matt E.
George by the Grace of God, King of Chili, Michigan Sauce, Coney and Tenderloin, Defender of the Grease. He's the King all-right. An enlightened despot of deliciousness. A benevolent monarch of mouthwatering munchies. When I lived in Des Moines, I passed this place innumerable times. It seemed run down and a little sketchy. This is a 50-year old drive in located just off of the Merle Hay thoroughfare. Don't let the rough exterior fool you the inside is historic, but well maintained and clean. Sit right down on a stool at the counter and order a expertly crafted Coney or bowl of Chili Mac, and some hand-breaded onion rings. It'll be there in front of you on a piece of parchment paper before you've been able to draw your next breath. Seriously, one of the fastest deliveries I've seen in recent memory. Literally within 90 seconds of ordering. The chili here is mild and is in symphony with what it's served with. Spot on in the tradition of Coney dogs. Thanks to George there's now absolutely no reason to visit Detroit. Take yours with mustard and onions and you've got an authentic classic in your hands.
(4)Mia R.
Rated stars considering what it is, a genuine 50's style drive in and diner. Most people either love George's or won't step a foot inside the place. Those who love it have been coming back for decades, 5 decades to be exact. Specialties include the chili, coney style hot dogs, and tenderloins. Inside seating is mostly stools at a single bar. Very fast service and it is almost always correct. Smoking can be an issue, but when the new law goes into effect, that will not be an issue any more :-) Curbside service not always available, but sometimes.
(5)Kim B.
One star for nostalgia and memories. I've returned here for years for the Fat Man Special. Tenderloin with ham and cheese. This place has never been fancy but these days they don't say hi, please, thank you or F#ck off. The tenderloin was burnt (I ordered on the phone and took it to go.). It's a shame. It's too bad because I remember when this place was good and had some pride. No more, evidently.
(1)Allen P.
I'm not picky at all but this was one of my worst eating experiences. I ordered the coney burger. As I was waiting I noticed it was really dirty where they cook. They cook In front of you in a old 50s style diner. Stains everywhere, condiments left out with no covers, and crumbs everywhere. It was messy and dirty in there. When the guy was preparin the food he wasn't wearin any gloves. Looking at things in a positive side I tried to pretend I was at a home bbq so the whole using bear hands on the meat and cheese wouldn't bother me. When I finally got the coney burger, the chilli was really oily and tasted old. On top of that, I didn't receive a plate to eat it on. So I used the wrap as a plate. Chilli was drippin on the wrap n soakin through on to the table. I used the fork they gave me to eat off of the wrapping paper. I felt like I was just eatin chilli off the table. For 3.99 I wouldn't pay for an untoasted hot dog bun with a patty, cheese, and a pickle. I'm about to go to wendys now cuz I def was not satisfied. The people were nice, but man. They needa keep that place clean and have fresh ingredients.
(1)Rick H.
Eating at George's is like taking a ride in the way-back machine. As you pull into George's, and take a seat at the counter, you feel like you are in a mid-century greasy spoon, something out of a documentary on Coney Island eateries. The dining experience has the same authenticity - old-school chili dogs, fried burgers, and tenderloins served on wrappers dropped straight on the counter. Dress is casual, leather biker jackets optional.
(4)Nick K.
Fantastic place serving traditional diner food. The service is hit-or-miss, but you don't go to the Chili King to be pampered--you go for delicious and cheap food. You cant go wrong here so long as you aren't on a diet.
(5)Hank D.
Though it has been years since I lived into DM, a real treat was to get a Fat Man Special tenderloin sandwich, and order of onion rings, and a coney island dog to go, then drop by the Dairy Queen just up Hickman and get a chocolate malted, extra on the chocolate and extra on the malt. It's enough calories and fat for at least a month!
(5)mike b.
The best diner dive in the Midwest. The beef burger with chili and cheese is to die for ... The atmosphere is like you would expect. A dive. Been the same for 30 years the food only gets better
(5)Bill C.
Fried burgers served on wax paper. It is what it is. Stay away from the chili.
(2)I l.
I love it greasy good, awesome if you have a hang over. Burgers, anything with chili. The fatboy is the king of tenderloins. Go there once and a while to clean out the pipes.
(4)bradley s.
simply the best chili and chili dog in town. they have a sandwich called the poor mans special. its a tenderloin freid with ham and cheese on a bun! wow!
(5)