Gross oily fried chicken - drive 100 ft to Chicken Annie's.
(1)
Dante L.
Heard lots about this place before we dined here and had high expectations. All I can I say this place lives up to its Hype. The onion rings rocked my life! Chicken was awesome and the coleslaw was a new take I hadn't had before. I liked the meal very much! Southern style and a great back story behind the place. I love places like this and look forward to coming back. Great service, great food, fun atmosphere. Due to the unique story and cool history that lived up to the hype I award this spot the coveted 5 star rating! Boom- you have been awarded.
(5)
Kaitlyn H.
Just like you would imagine home-cooked food in a movie. Great chicken, breading, and they of course have livers/gizzards. Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, german potato salad, etc. Winner of "Food Wars" and an A+.
(5)
Leslie T.
Chicken, big plateful of perfectly fried chicken. Three sides and some sweet tea, Done. Chicken livers, big plateful of not too crispy (most places can't manage this cooking method) perfectly fried livers. Three sides and some sweet tea. Done. Yes, Chicken Mary's is one of the two side by side dueling chicken places on the Missouri/Kansas boarder. I have tried Chicken Annie's next door. Like many of my friends in the area, we are Chicken Mary's loyal. Both are better than good. I am a fan of their livers but I watched my table mates chow on 3 and 4 piece dark and mixed until their was little left of the chicken but a memory. I like the sides better at Mary's. The German cole slaw is so good you could - and some have - gotten the slaw as all three of their side choices. Green beans with a little bit of a kick to 'em and decent Susies and mac n cheese. Mashed taters come with cream gravy. The bread basket is good ol' Midwest white. Get some O-rings for starters and share with the table. These aren't big round onion slices but more like what a bloomin' onion would look like if you shredded it. Big tables long enough for your whole extended family. Prompt, steady service. Plates come and tea gets filled. that's all you need. This is as good if not better than any fried chicken you ever had. And I got out of the place paying for 5 people for less than $60.
(5)
Ralf L.
This restaurant claims to be chicken eaters heaven and, it turns out that's no lie! It's a couple of miles off the country highway we were taking on the Kansas side north to Kansas City and was well worth the detour. The service was also perfect. Want grated cheese with your baked potato? No problem... Just ask :-). The dark meat is a little juicer than the white but the white might be a tad healthier. The sides have also been perfected as well - we had the potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and apple sauce. The atmosphere is fun with Elvis singing away oldies songs.
(5)
Dale H.
Ahh! The fabled Chicken Mary's I've heard so much about ... My sister moved to Joplin MO three years ago and has raved about their meals at Chicken Mary's ever since. I am so glad to finally visit, and I am so happy they took me to Chicken Mary's! Now, it's not a fancy place y'all. In fact, there's kind of a ... I dunno ... "low rent" and "middle of nowhere" and "I-have-no-idea-what-the-world-is-like-outside-of-Kansas" vibe . They have plastic covered tablecloths, offer their version of white white white Wonderbread as an appetizer, and serve your meal on melamine plates divided into three sections. You'll see a lot of plus-sized hard working farm people, their screeching offspring, and blue-haired church ladies who give strangers (like me) the Side-Eye. Ignore them and eat, because the food is really -really- good! I had a "Large Dark" plate with a fried chicken thigh, German potato salad, German slaw, and baked beans. It was off-the-charts delicious. The potato salad and slaw was almost as good as the chicken. The food was awesome. The service was pretty standard. The dining room atmosphere left a bit to be desired. The men's restroom was like something out a horror film. It stank to high heaven; there were bits of toilet paper (?) on the sticky floor; and, um, I'm just glad that I didn't use the restroom before we were seated to eat ... So ...If you find yourself stranded in the middle of Kansas, and you'd like a tasty Last Supper before the Children of the Corn drag you out into a cornfield and sacrifice you to the Tornado Gods ... stop by Chicken Mary's! *Two Thumbs Up*
(5)
Jordan W.
One of the few chicken places I am stopping at while I am in the area is this one. All my life I've been around chicken and loving it for years. To find this restaurant near the Kansas Missouri border was a treat for me. Here's why. The staff was really nice when our party of five got there. I liked our waitress and she was bringing out our food as quick as she could. They also give you bread to start out before you move onto other menu choices. We had the onion rings for an appetizer for the whole group. They're shoestring onion rings, but they were a nice flavor and better than the ones I've had in Houston over the years. We really enjoyed those before we decided all the good chicken choices. I had the Mary's Choice, which comes with four pieces of chicken, and three sides. My sides were the Susie Q's, the macaroni, and the green beans. I was in the zone on the chicken because I couldn't get over how delectable this was and the flavor it had to offer. Plus the sides were a decent appeal to the presentation and the tastes. I finished my plate, which explains that I was "in love" with this chicken plate. Now I see why people told me you'll run into some awesome chicken restaurants around this are. They were right! This beats Canes, Churches, KFC, etc. I'm just saying I thought coming out here to the country that there would hardly be anything. Think again. It's a nice place to stop for a road trip or if one lives around this area for a nice dinner. Come out for some delicious chicken and a new experience!
(5)
Juanita C.
The chicken here is perfectly crispy,juicy, and delicious. The Mac and cheese was amazing, mashed potatoes were great. Green beans were great, tasted home made and home grown. Get there early to get a seat!! Would definitely eat there again!!!
(5)
Connie M.
Waited for years to try this place after seeing it on TV on "Food Wars" Drove an hour and a half to get there. They are not open for lunch, not till 4pm. The place looks like it fell out of the 70's no atmosphere what so ever. There was one waitress who came and told us that there were 2 tables ahead of us that she needed to wait on first and then she would be back. The menu was a joke, it was dirty and nasty you didn't want to touch it. The food had no flavor at all, it seemed the chicken was dredged in flour and that was all. The German potato salad was a joke, canned potatoes with vinegar and rubbery onion, no bacon, no sugar, ice cold and it came served in a rounded packed mold that by the end of the meal started warming up and loosing it's molded shape. The German Cole slaw was cabbage with vinegar. The mashed potatoes were just nasty, perhaps they didn't have any milk that day and just used old boiled water from cooking other potatoes. No flavor, gravy was basically a solid form witch resembled glue. For some reason they serve spaghetti and it looked like Chef Boy Ardee, just boiled noodled and red sauce, no meat no flavor. When they brought our drinks they brought a basket of French bread, the basket was full of sliced bread with little packages of butter under the bread so everyone at the table got to handle all the bread to get any butter. There was no reason I can see this place it still open, I understand it was "the" place to go years ago. Sorry I think those days are over. Go to McDonald's, go anywhere, don't go here.
(1)
Carly N.
Hands down the best place to get fried chicken!! It is perfectly battered and not too greasy at all! And you MUST get their onion rings! They aren't exactly rings...more like pieces of onions but tastes oh so amazing! This is a really popular restaurant around the KS/MO border. It's about a 45 minute drive from Joplin but my friends and I feel like it is so worth it! We usually call ahead to reserve a table because it can get pretty busy on weekends. Right next door is Chicken Annie's which is owned by the sister of the owner of Chicken Mary's. Everyone has their opinion of which restaurant is better but Chicken Mary's will always be my first choice. Both places have the same food but Mary's gives you 3 sides and Annie's gives you 2. The service is great and the waiters are very accommodating. Everyone who works here is friendly and treat you like family. The inside of the restaurant is old fashioned and decorated like your grandma's house. This place is located in the middle of nowhere so you will have absolutely NO cell phone reception! Yes, that will be hard but at least you'll have delicious food to comfort you! Fun Fact: Chicken Mary's and Annie's were featured on the Travel Channel's Food Wars! Mary's won, of course :)
(5)
Tonii T.
My family and I went here after dropping my niece off at school. The place was in the middle of nowhere. I had the shrimp ( how can they mess up fried shrimp) and sides. Every thing was HORRIBLE, DIRTY and GROSS. I would rather have very small portions of amazing food, instead of a bunch of nasty food that tasted like it was prepared and not actually cooked at the restaurant. I actually threw up the entire meal in the parking lot. Yuck!
(1)
Tom J.
Chicken Mary's is a regular stop for us when we're in the area. It's a big, old family friendly restaurant that probably looks a lot like it did in the 70's, maybe earlier. Don't come for the ambience. It's all about the chicken here. The spices are nothing special,as far as I'm concerned, but however they do it, the chicken is unbelievably tender and juicy, even our favorite, the "wishbone" which would be most susceptible to dryness. As for the sides, the locals are thrilled by the German potato salad. They also have German slaw (both are vinegar based - no mayo). For me, both of these are good, but not worth traveling for. The onion rings are the thin kind, cooked and seasoned perfectly - excellent. Don't tell my doctor, but on several occasions, I've also had chicken livers, which are also very good. Historically, they've always had 3 sides with their dinners, two if you make one a dinner salad. Recently, they've added a "lighter side" selection that only has two sides. There is nothing light about these selections from a calorie standpoint. Service has always been friendly and pretty attentive. If you're within 50 miles or so, you should try to get over to Chicken Mary's - it's worth seeking out, especially if you're a fried chicken aficionado (maybe 100 miles then). Tip: On Friday nights during football season, everybody is at the game, so it's a lot less crowded than Saturday.
(4)
E. U.
Along with many others, I have been quite confused by the different kinds of chicken Mary's produces. The guys at the meat counter at Whole Foods have been clueless, and I find the website misleading and confusing re: GMO's. Today I finally called the company and spoke with Ramon and then Ben Pittman (one of owners), both of whom were very helpful. I thought others might benefit from the following information; there are four levels of chicken sold: 1. (least healthy) Free-range: birds are fed corn and soy that is likely GMO-contaminated, have about 2' bird movement area after old enough to be released from cages. All the chicken is air-chilled. 2. Non-GMO fed: Same as above but fed non-GMO corn. The only difference on the label is a non-gmo label. More specifically, corn with a max. of 1.5% GMO's. 3. Organic: same as above but fed organic feed. (The allowable % of GMO's in organics is 5, and will likely increase as GMO's continue to contaminate the fields). 4. Pasture-raised, same as "CA Bronze": Chickens are "chicken-tractored" in mobile coops out in fields. Organic field supplemented by organic (so GMO-free) feed. Ben says he will be redesigning this info on the site based on my input. I hope so, and I hope you found this of use.
(4)
Charles K.
Hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I graduated from PSU and went here often. I never fail to visit when I'm visiting relatives nearby. The chicken is fried to perfection, and you get your money's worth in portion size. The German potato salad was new to me, but I've since come to prefer it over mustard potato salad. It's not uncommon in Pittsburg to hear people ask "Mary's or Annie's?"; referring to another fine chicken place literally next door. It's akin to the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry over their favorites. Both places have interesting stories behind them. I've had Chicken Annie's but am a die hard Mary's fan; it's just a matter of individual taste but you can't really go wrong with either.
(5)
Kevin T.
I was in Pittsburg, KS for business but may go back for Chicken Mary's. After a day of work my co-worker said we should stop and grab some chicken at a little famous place he knew about. Stopped in right at 4pm when they opened and ordered some to-go. After a two hour car ride back to KC and a little reheating in the oven at home, this chicken was amazing! The batter and seasonings on it were prefect flavor and crunch. So good that even my wife, who normally skips the skin, was eating every last crumb. The mashed potatoes were great, the mac and cheese was just OK. I would recommend this as a must stop at place for chicken in Pittsburg!
(5)
C A.
Never been here. Heard about it for years. Can't wait to go back. Arrived an hour before closing on a busy Saturday night. Our server, a dancer and communications student, didn't miss a beat. Fast, efficient, great to talk to and the food was awesome!
(5)
Tom J.
Chicken Mary's is a regular stop for us when we're in the area. It's a big, old family friendly restaurant that probably looks a lot like it did in the 70's, maybe earlier. Don't come for the ambience. It's all about the chicken here. The spices are nothing special,as far as I'm concerned, but however they do it, the chicken is unbelievably tender and juicy, even our favorite, the "wishbone" which would be most susceptible to dryness. As for the sides, the locals are thrilled by the German potato salad. They also have German slaw (both are vinegar based - no mayo). For me, both of these are good, but not worth traveling for. The onion rings are the thin kind, cooked and seasoned perfectly - excellent. Don't tell my doctor, but on several occasions, I've also had chicken livers, which are also very good. Historically, they've always had 3 sides with their dinners, two if you make one a dinner salad. Recently, they've added a "lighter side" selection that only has two sides. There is nothing light about these selections from a calorie standpoint. Service has always been friendly and pretty attentive. If you're within 50 miles or so, you should try to get over to Chicken Mary's - it's worth seeking out, especially if you're a fried chicken aficionado (maybe 100 miles then). Tip: On Friday nights during football season, everybody is at the game, so it's a lot less crowded than Saturday.
(4)
E. U.
Along with many others, I have been quite confused by the different kinds of chicken Mary's produces. The guys at the meat counter at Whole Foods have been clueless, and I find the website misleading and confusing re: GMO's. Today I finally called the company and spoke with Ramon and then Ben Pittman (one of owners), both of whom were very helpful. I thought others might benefit from the following information; there are four levels of chicken sold: 1. (least healthy) Free-range: birds are fed corn and soy that is likely GMO-contaminated, have about 2' bird movement area after old enough to be released from cages. All the chicken is air-chilled. 2. Non-GMO fed: Same as above but fed non-GMO corn. The only difference on the label is a non-gmo label. More specifically, corn with a max. of 1.5% GMO's. 3. Organic: same as above but fed organic feed. (The allowable % of GMO's in organics is 5, and will likely increase as GMO's continue to contaminate the fields). 4. Pasture-raised, same as "CA Bronze": Chickens are "chicken-tractored" in mobile coops out in fields. Organic field supplemented by organic (so GMO-free) feed. Ben says he will be redesigning this info on the site based on my input. I hope so, and I hope you found this of use.
(4)
Charles K.
Hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I graduated from PSU and went here often. I never fail to visit when I'm visiting relatives nearby. The chicken is fried to perfection, and you get your money's worth in portion size. The German potato salad was new to me, but I've since come to prefer it over mustard potato salad. It's not uncommon in Pittsburg to hear people ask "Mary's or Annie's?"; referring to another fine chicken place literally next door. It's akin to the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry over their favorites. Both places have interesting stories behind them. I've had Chicken Annie's but am a die hard Mary's fan; it's just a matter of individual taste but you can't really go wrong with either.
(5)
Anne N.
Gross oily fried chicken - drive 100 ft to Chicken Annie's.
(1)
Sarah L.
We come here with a large group about once a year. The service is fast and especially friendly. The chicken is good but I would like to see more healthy options. The prices are reasonable, our family of 5 ate for about $50 with tip. I would like to see more room between the tables, otherwise, the experience was great.
(4)
mark s.
I have to agree with the other four star reviews. Onion rings...awesome. Service...awesome. Excellent chicken, but my wife's pan fried chicken is better; this kind has a little corn meal and I'm a plain four man. Really good value! Also, we noticed how clean, well run, quick, and friendly it was. This was our first visit, and I am sure we will be back. Of course, next time we have to try chicken Annie's down the street just to compare; I bet that Annie's is also pretty awesome. Nothing like competition. Worth a 45-60 min drive, and really a good place to take a family.
(4)
Michael R.
One of two chicken restaurants located next door to each other. They are both quite well known in the region. I ended up at Chicken Mary's. Everybody in my group ordered a different chicken, whether fried or grilled and all were good. The fried chicken I had was perfect on the inside but with a hard crust. The side dishes I got with it were okay but nothing special. I could swear the fries came out of a bag of frozen fries. Other than that, nothing wrong with this place.
(4)
David A.
It's worth at least an hour drive, I'll definitely will go again. Several people at our table went for a cut of chicken I've never seen anywhere else called the wishbone. We were a party of 30 which is not uncommon for Chicken Mary's - the service was very disorganized (only one person took our order and then when plates were brought out, the waitstaff called out what was on each plate so you could identify your own order). The food was great. They serve white bread with every meal (not just storebought whte bread) - very good, seemed like it might have been baked on the premises. Of course the fried chicken was great - crisp and juicy. Fried onions are a must-have; they were well seasoned and crisp. The German potato salad was served cold. It consisted of diced potatoes in a vinegar dressing; sounds odd but it really grows on you. The coleslaw is said to be a German recipe as well - the garlic dressing was really good. Stay away from the iced tea - strong sulfur taste.
(4)
Tom B.
Legendary. It's a well earned reputation.
(5)
Michael R.
One of two chicken restaurants located next door to each other. They are both quite well known in the region. I ended up at Chicken Mary's. Everybody in my group ordered a different chicken, whether fried or grilled and all were good. The fried chicken I had was perfect on the inside but with a hard crust. The side dishes I got with it were okay but nothing special. I could swear the fries came out of a bag of frozen fries. Other than that, nothing wrong with this place.
(4)
David A.
It's worth at least an hour drive, I'll definitely will go again. Several people at our table went for a cut of chicken I've never seen anywhere else called the wishbone. We were a party of 30 which is not uncommon for Chicken Mary's - the service was very disorganized (only one person took our order and then when plates were brought out, the waitstaff called out what was on each plate so you could identify your own order). The food was great. They serve white bread with every meal (not just storebought whte bread) - very good, seemed like it might have been baked on the premises. Of course the fried chicken was great - crisp and juicy. Fried onions are a must-have; they were well seasoned and crisp. The German potato salad was served cold. It consisted of diced potatoes in a vinegar dressing; sounds odd but it really grows on you. The coleslaw is said to be a German recipe as well - the garlic dressing was really good. Stay away from the iced tea - strong sulfur taste.
(4)
Mike E.
I grew up in KC and my family would usually drive down to visit my grandparents in Frontenac a few times each year, and every time we would absolutely have to go to Chicken Mary's! We'd always start with a big basket of onion rings, which are actually more strips than rings. Lighted breaded and fried to perfection! They're probably still my favorite onion ring out there, possibly because you don't see them prepared that we too often. So good! The fried chicken has a little more breading than others (like Chicken Annie's) that's nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside while still hot and juicy on the inside. I'm more of a dark meat fan so I usually got the a leg/thigh dinner, it's nice that you can order exactly the pieces you want, even a wishbone or a gizzard. Dinners come with 3 sides and there's about a dozen to choose from, good stuff like mashed potato w/ gravy, spaghetti (?!), German potato salad, and even applesause. And of course no meal is complete in that neck of the woods without some fantastic Frontenac bread! Sadly I haven't eaten at Chicken Mary's for many years now, I just don't get down to that area very often. And when I do it seems like it's always on a Monday (closed) or before 4pm (not open yet). So if I can't make it there I figured why not bring Chicken Mary's to me in Denver! My parents were awesome enough to drive a few hours out of their way on a recent visit to deliver a lot of chicken it to me and a bunch friends. After it was picked up it was cooled down, deep frozen, and packed in dry ice by a friend of my dad's from high school that has a grocery store nearby, big thanks for all the help Dick P!! Food Wars - Denver style! Just because I'm more of a Mary's fan (not by much at all and I think I was mostly just raised that way) doesn't mean I'm not going to also get some chicken from Annie's too, that way we can have our own little competition. On the Travel Channel show they tasted legs, so we got a dozen legs from each place and had a contest to see which was the best. Or at least which had the best leftovers. It was VERY close, with each person having their own reasons for making their choice. In the end Mary's beat Annie's 6 to 4, with a couple of people that were going back and forth, so it could've easily gone the other way. If you ever find yourself in southest Kansas or southwest Missouri you HAVE to find a way to get over to Mary's - or even Annie's. The two of them together are a one of a kind experience!
(4)
Donna M.
Well if I REALLY Loved chicken this would be THE place. Hubby would give this 10 stars. Great sides and flavorful chicken. Reasonable prices. Pretty dang good
(4)
Mandy L.
I have been here 2 times now. I really enjoyed the chicken..bone in and chicken fried chicken. The food is family style and very inexpensive without using cheap-o ingredients. The chicken is cooked to order and the waiters/staff are very nice. It is out of the way, but no complaining here...you must learn the history of Chicken Marys and try out their food!
(4)
Olivia D.
Not being from Kansas, I've heard quite a bit about Chicken Mary's vs Chicken Annie's. Although, I have only had one of the two, I can not put my full vote in just yet..... I was told not to even bother with Pichler's Chicken Annie's. Chicken Mary's out in the middle of no where. Right next door to Chicken Annie's. Went out there with my family. A large group of us. They were steady. Quick seating. Friendly service. We ordered a large order of Onion rings/strings. They were pretty good. Nice layer of batter, thinly sliced onions. I'm southern, so everything could use more salt! I could of ate on those the whole night. I was surprised of how many different ways to order chicken... Guess I'm just used to good ole KFC lol I was told by everyone that I want to order the wishbone. So, that is what i got. It comes with 3 sides. I went with Cole slaw, mac n cheese and baked potato. The chicken was cooked to perfection and piping hot. My only disappointment was... I prefer extra crispy mega batter! I also felt it could of used more seasoning and def more salt! Nonetheless, It was very good chicken. Cole slaw was very good. Once again, the southern in me did add some more sugar and pepper, but in general it was fresh, crisp and well made. Mac n cheese was good, but nothing to write home about. Same with the baked potato. All in all.. the food was great. Now, I just can't wait to try the original Chicken Annie's.
(2)
James C.
This is without a doubt the BEST restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Do yourself a favor and get a leg, wing, and breast with a side of spaghetti and onion rings. You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)
Sarah L.
We come here with a large group about once a year. The service is fast and especially friendly. The chicken is good but I would like to see more healthy options. The prices are reasonable, our family of 5 ate for about $50 with tip. I would like to see more room between the tables, otherwise, the experience was great.
(4)
mark s.
I have to agree with the other four star reviews. Onion rings...awesome. Service...awesome. Excellent chicken, but my wife's pan fried chicken is better; this kind has a little corn meal and I'm a plain four man. Really good value! Also, we noticed how clean, well run, quick, and friendly it was. This was our first visit, and I am sure we will be back. Of course, next time we have to try chicken Annie's down the street just to compare; I bet that Annie's is also pretty awesome. Nothing like competition. Worth a 45-60 min drive, and really a good place to take a family.
(4)
Dante L.
Heard lots about this place before we dined here and had high expectations. All I can I say this place lives up to its Hype. The onion rings rocked my life! Chicken was awesome and the coleslaw was a new take I hadn't had before. I liked the meal very much! Southern style and a great back story behind the place. I love places like this and look forward to coming back. Great service, great food, fun atmosphere. Due to the unique story and cool history that lived up to the hype I award this spot the coveted 5 star rating! Boom- you have been awarded.
(5)
Olivia D.
Not being from Kansas, I've heard quite a bit about Chicken Mary's vs Chicken Annie's. Although, I have only had one of the two, I can not put my full vote in just yet..... I was told not to even bother with Pichler's Chicken Annie's. Chicken Mary's out in the middle of no where. Right next door to Chicken Annie's. Went out there with my family. A large group of us. They were steady. Quick seating. Friendly service. We ordered a large order of Onion rings/strings. They were pretty good. Nice layer of batter, thinly sliced onions. I'm southern, so everything could use more salt! I could of ate on those the whole night. I was surprised of how many different ways to order chicken... Guess I'm just used to good ole KFC lol I was told by everyone that I want to order the wishbone. So, that is what i got. It comes with 3 sides. I went with Cole slaw, mac n cheese and baked potato. The chicken was cooked to perfection and piping hot. My only disappointment was... I prefer extra crispy mega batter! I also felt it could of used more seasoning and def more salt! Nonetheless, It was very good chicken. Cole slaw was very good. Once again, the southern in me did add some more sugar and pepper, but in general it was fresh, crisp and well made. Mac n cheese was good, but nothing to write home about. Same with the baked potato. All in all.. the food was great. Now, I just can't wait to try the original Chicken Annie's.
(2)
James C.
This is without a doubt the BEST restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Do yourself a favor and get a leg, wing, and breast with a side of spaghetti and onion rings. You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)
Mike E.
I grew up in KC and my family would usually drive down to visit my grandparents in Frontenac a few times each year, and every time we would absolutely have to go to Chicken Mary's! We'd always start with a big basket of onion rings, which are actually more strips than rings. Lighted breaded and fried to perfection! They're probably still my favorite onion ring out there, possibly because you don't see them prepared that we too often. So good! The fried chicken has a little more breading than others (like Chicken Annie's) that's nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside while still hot and juicy on the inside. I'm more of a dark meat fan so I usually got the a leg/thigh dinner, it's nice that you can order exactly the pieces you want, even a wishbone or a gizzard. Dinners come with 3 sides and there's about a dozen to choose from, good stuff like mashed potato w/ gravy, spaghetti (?!), German potato salad, and even applesause. And of course no meal is complete in that neck of the woods without some fantastic Frontenac bread! Sadly I haven't eaten at Chicken Mary's for many years now, I just don't get down to that area very often. And when I do it seems like it's always on a Monday (closed) or before 4pm (not open yet). So if I can't make it there I figured why not bring Chicken Mary's to me in Denver! My parents were awesome enough to drive a few hours out of their way on a recent visit to deliver a lot of chicken it to me and a bunch friends. After it was picked up it was cooled down, deep frozen, and packed in dry ice by a friend of my dad's from high school that has a grocery store nearby, big thanks for all the help Dick P!! Food Wars - Denver style! Just because I'm more of a Mary's fan (not by much at all and I think I was mostly just raised that way) doesn't mean I'm not going to also get some chicken from Annie's too, that way we can have our own little competition. On the Travel Channel show they tasted legs, so we got a dozen legs from each place and had a contest to see which was the best. Or at least which had the best leftovers. It was VERY close, with each person having their own reasons for making their choice. In the end Mary's beat Annie's 6 to 4, with a couple of people that were going back and forth, so it could've easily gone the other way. If you ever find yourself in southest Kansas or southwest Missouri you HAVE to find a way to get over to Mary's - or even Annie's. The two of them together are a one of a kind experience!
(4)
Donna M.
Well if I REALLY Loved chicken this would be THE place. Hubby would give this 10 stars. Great sides and flavorful chicken. Reasonable prices. Pretty dang good
(4)
Mandy L.
I have been here 2 times now. I really enjoyed the chicken..bone in and chicken fried chicken. The food is family style and very inexpensive without using cheap-o ingredients. The chicken is cooked to order and the waiters/staff are very nice. It is out of the way, but no complaining here...you must learn the history of Chicken Marys and try out their food!
(4)
Kevin T.
I was in Pittsburg, KS for business but may go back for Chicken Mary's. After a day of work my co-worker said we should stop and grab some chicken at a little famous place he knew about. Stopped in right at 4pm when they opened and ordered some to-go. After a two hour car ride back to KC and a little reheating in the oven at home, this chicken was amazing! The batter and seasonings on it were prefect flavor and crunch. So good that even my wife, who normally skips the skin, was eating every last crumb. The mashed potatoes were great, the mac and cheese was just OK. I would recommend this as a must stop at place for chicken in Pittsburg!
(5)
Leslie T.
Chicken, big plateful of perfectly fried chicken. Three sides and some sweet tea, Done. Chicken livers, big plateful of not too crispy (most places can't manage this cooking method) perfectly fried livers. Three sides and some sweet tea. Done. Yes, Chicken Mary's is one of the two side by side dueling chicken places on the Missouri/Kansas boarder. I have tried Chicken Annie's next door. Like many of my friends in the area, we are Chicken Mary's loyal. Both are better than good. I am a fan of their livers but I watched my table mates chow on 3 and 4 piece dark and mixed until their was little left of the chicken but a memory. I like the sides better at Mary's. The German cole slaw is so good you could - and some have - gotten the slaw as all three of their side choices. Green beans with a little bit of a kick to 'em and decent Susies and mac n cheese. Mashed taters come with cream gravy. The bread basket is good ol' Midwest white. Get some O-rings for starters and share with the table. These aren't big round onion slices but more like what a bloomin' onion would look like if you shredded it. Big tables long enough for your whole extended family. Prompt, steady service. Plates come and tea gets filled. that's all you need. This is as good if not better than any fried chicken you ever had. And I got out of the place paying for 5 people for less than $60.
(5)
Dale H.
Ahh! The fabled Chicken Mary's I've heard so much about ... My sister moved to Joplin MO three years ago and has raved about their meals at Chicken Mary's ever since. I am so glad to finally visit, and I am so happy they took me to Chicken Mary's! Now, it's not a fancy place y'all. In fact, there's kind of a ... I dunno ... "low rent" and "middle of nowhere" and "I-have-no-idea-what-the-world-is-like-outside-of-Kansas" vibe . They have plastic covered tablecloths, offer their version of white white white Wonderbread as an appetizer, and serve your meal on melamine plates divided into three sections. You'll see a lot of plus-sized hard working farm people, their screeching offspring, and blue-haired church ladies who give strangers (like me) the Side-Eye. Ignore them and eat, because the food is really -really- good! I had a "Large Dark" plate with a fried chicken thigh, German potato salad, German slaw, and baked beans. It was off-the-charts delicious. The potato salad and slaw was almost as good as the chicken. The food was awesome. The service was pretty standard. The dining room atmosphere left a bit to be desired. The men's restroom was like something out a horror film. It stank to high heaven; there were bits of toilet paper (?) on the sticky floor; and, um, I'm just glad that I didn't use the restroom before we were seated to eat ... So ...If you find yourself stranded in the middle of Kansas, and you'd like a tasty Last Supper before the Children of the Corn drag you out into a cornfield and sacrifice you to the Tornado Gods ... stop by Chicken Mary's! *Two Thumbs Up*
(5)
Jordan W.
One of the few chicken places I am stopping at while I am in the area is this one. All my life I've been around chicken and loving it for years. To find this restaurant near the Kansas Missouri border was a treat for me. Here's why. The staff was really nice when our party of five got there. I liked our waitress and she was bringing out our food as quick as she could. They also give you bread to start out before you move onto other menu choices. We had the onion rings for an appetizer for the whole group. They're shoestring onion rings, but they were a nice flavor and better than the ones I've had in Houston over the years. We really enjoyed those before we decided all the good chicken choices. I had the Mary's Choice, which comes with four pieces of chicken, and three sides. My sides were the Susie Q's, the macaroni, and the green beans. I was in the zone on the chicken because I couldn't get over how delectable this was and the flavor it had to offer. Plus the sides were a decent appeal to the presentation and the tastes. I finished my plate, which explains that I was "in love" with this chicken plate. Now I see why people told me you'll run into some awesome chicken restaurants around this are. They were right! This beats Canes, Churches, KFC, etc. I'm just saying I thought coming out here to the country that there would hardly be anything. Think again. It's a nice place to stop for a road trip or if one lives around this area for a nice dinner. Come out for some delicious chicken and a new experience!
(5)
Ralf L.
This restaurant claims to be chicken eaters heaven and, it turns out that's no lie! It's a couple of miles off the country highway we were taking on the Kansas side north to Kansas City and was well worth the detour. The service was also perfect. Want grated cheese with your baked potato? No problem... Just ask :-). The dark meat is a little juicer than the white but the white might be a tad healthier. The sides have also been perfected as well - we had the potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and apple sauce. The atmosphere is fun with Elvis singing away oldies songs.
(5)
C A.
Never been here. Heard about it for years. Can't wait to go back. Arrived an hour before closing on a busy Saturday night. Our server, a dancer and communications student, didn't miss a beat. Fast, efficient, great to talk to and the food was awesome!
(5)
Kaitlyn H.
Just like you would imagine home-cooked food in a movie. Great chicken, breading, and they of course have livers/gizzards. Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, german potato salad, etc. Winner of "Food Wars" and an A+.
(5)
Juanita C.
The chicken here is perfectly crispy,juicy, and delicious. The Mac and cheese was amazing, mashed potatoes were great. Green beans were great, tasted home made and home grown. Get there early to get a seat!! Would definitely eat there again!!!
(5)
Connie M.
Waited for years to try this place after seeing it on TV on "Food Wars" Drove an hour and a half to get there. They are not open for lunch, not till 4pm. The place looks like it fell out of the 70's no atmosphere what so ever. There was one waitress who came and told us that there were 2 tables ahead of us that she needed to wait on first and then she would be back. The menu was a joke, it was dirty and nasty you didn't want to touch it. The food had no flavor at all, it seemed the chicken was dredged in flour and that was all. The German potato salad was a joke, canned potatoes with vinegar and rubbery onion, no bacon, no sugar, ice cold and it came served in a rounded packed mold that by the end of the meal started warming up and loosing it's molded shape. The German Cole slaw was cabbage with vinegar. The mashed potatoes were just nasty, perhaps they didn't have any milk that day and just used old boiled water from cooking other potatoes. No flavor, gravy was basically a solid form witch resembled glue. For some reason they serve spaghetti and it looked like Chef Boy Ardee, just boiled noodled and red sauce, no meat no flavor. When they brought our drinks they brought a basket of French bread, the basket was full of sliced bread with little packages of butter under the bread so everyone at the table got to handle all the bread to get any butter. There was no reason I can see this place it still open, I understand it was "the" place to go years ago. Sorry I think those days are over. Go to McDonald's, go anywhere, don't go here.
(1)
Carly N.
Hands down the best place to get fried chicken!! It is perfectly battered and not too greasy at all! And you MUST get their onion rings! They aren't exactly rings...more like pieces of onions but tastes oh so amazing! This is a really popular restaurant around the KS/MO border. It's about a 45 minute drive from Joplin but my friends and I feel like it is so worth it! We usually call ahead to reserve a table because it can get pretty busy on weekends. Right next door is Chicken Annie's which is owned by the sister of the owner of Chicken Mary's. Everyone has their opinion of which restaurant is better but Chicken Mary's will always be my first choice. Both places have the same food but Mary's gives you 3 sides and Annie's gives you 2. The service is great and the waiters are very accommodating. Everyone who works here is friendly and treat you like family. The inside of the restaurant is old fashioned and decorated like your grandma's house. This place is located in the middle of nowhere so you will have absolutely NO cell phone reception! Yes, that will be hard but at least you'll have delicious food to comfort you! Fun Fact: Chicken Mary's and Annie's were featured on the Travel Channel's Food Wars! Mary's won, of course :)
(5)
Tonii T.
My family and I went here after dropping my niece off at school. The place was in the middle of nowhere. I had the shrimp ( how can they mess up fried shrimp) and sides. Every thing was HORRIBLE, DIRTY and GROSS. I would rather have very small portions of amazing food, instead of a bunch of nasty food that tasted like it was prepared and not actually cooked at the restaurant. I actually threw up the entire meal in the parking lot. Yuck!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Anne N.
Gross oily fried chicken - drive 100 ft to Chicken Annie's.
(1)Dante L.
Heard lots about this place before we dined here and had high expectations. All I can I say this place lives up to its Hype. The onion rings rocked my life! Chicken was awesome and the coleslaw was a new take I hadn't had before. I liked the meal very much! Southern style and a great back story behind the place. I love places like this and look forward to coming back. Great service, great food, fun atmosphere. Due to the unique story and cool history that lived up to the hype I award this spot the coveted 5 star rating! Boom- you have been awarded.
(5)Kaitlyn H.
Just like you would imagine home-cooked food in a movie. Great chicken, breading, and they of course have livers/gizzards. Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, german potato salad, etc. Winner of "Food Wars" and an A+.
(5)Leslie T.
Chicken, big plateful of perfectly fried chicken. Three sides and some sweet tea, Done. Chicken livers, big plateful of not too crispy (most places can't manage this cooking method) perfectly fried livers. Three sides and some sweet tea. Done. Yes, Chicken Mary's is one of the two side by side dueling chicken places on the Missouri/Kansas boarder. I have tried Chicken Annie's next door. Like many of my friends in the area, we are Chicken Mary's loyal. Both are better than good. I am a fan of their livers but I watched my table mates chow on 3 and 4 piece dark and mixed until their was little left of the chicken but a memory. I like the sides better at Mary's. The German cole slaw is so good you could - and some have - gotten the slaw as all three of their side choices. Green beans with a little bit of a kick to 'em and decent Susies and mac n cheese. Mashed taters come with cream gravy. The bread basket is good ol' Midwest white. Get some O-rings for starters and share with the table. These aren't big round onion slices but more like what a bloomin' onion would look like if you shredded it. Big tables long enough for your whole extended family. Prompt, steady service. Plates come and tea gets filled. that's all you need. This is as good if not better than any fried chicken you ever had. And I got out of the place paying for 5 people for less than $60.
(5)Ralf L.
This restaurant claims to be chicken eaters heaven and, it turns out that's no lie! It's a couple of miles off the country highway we were taking on the Kansas side north to Kansas City and was well worth the detour. The service was also perfect. Want grated cheese with your baked potato? No problem... Just ask :-). The dark meat is a little juicer than the white but the white might be a tad healthier. The sides have also been perfected as well - we had the potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and apple sauce. The atmosphere is fun with Elvis singing away oldies songs.
(5)Dale H.
Ahh! The fabled Chicken Mary's I've heard so much about ... My sister moved to Joplin MO three years ago and has raved about their meals at Chicken Mary's ever since. I am so glad to finally visit, and I am so happy they took me to Chicken Mary's! Now, it's not a fancy place y'all. In fact, there's kind of a ... I dunno ... "low rent" and "middle of nowhere" and "I-have-no-idea-what-the-world-is-like-outside-of-Kansas" vibe . They have plastic covered tablecloths, offer their version of white white white Wonderbread as an appetizer, and serve your meal on melamine plates divided into three sections. You'll see a lot of plus-sized hard working farm people, their screeching offspring, and blue-haired church ladies who give strangers (like me) the Side-Eye. Ignore them and eat, because the food is really -really- good! I had a "Large Dark" plate with a fried chicken thigh, German potato salad, German slaw, and baked beans. It was off-the-charts delicious. The potato salad and slaw was almost as good as the chicken. The food was awesome. The service was pretty standard. The dining room atmosphere left a bit to be desired. The men's restroom was like something out a horror film. It stank to high heaven; there were bits of toilet paper (?) on the sticky floor; and, um, I'm just glad that I didn't use the restroom before we were seated to eat ... So ...If you find yourself stranded in the middle of Kansas, and you'd like a tasty Last Supper before the Children of the Corn drag you out into a cornfield and sacrifice you to the Tornado Gods ... stop by Chicken Mary's! *Two Thumbs Up*
(5)Jordan W.
One of the few chicken places I am stopping at while I am in the area is this one. All my life I've been around chicken and loving it for years. To find this restaurant near the Kansas Missouri border was a treat for me. Here's why. The staff was really nice when our party of five got there. I liked our waitress and she was bringing out our food as quick as she could. They also give you bread to start out before you move onto other menu choices. We had the onion rings for an appetizer for the whole group. They're shoestring onion rings, but they were a nice flavor and better than the ones I've had in Houston over the years. We really enjoyed those before we decided all the good chicken choices. I had the Mary's Choice, which comes with four pieces of chicken, and three sides. My sides were the Susie Q's, the macaroni, and the green beans. I was in the zone on the chicken because I couldn't get over how delectable this was and the flavor it had to offer. Plus the sides were a decent appeal to the presentation and the tastes. I finished my plate, which explains that I was "in love" with this chicken plate. Now I see why people told me you'll run into some awesome chicken restaurants around this are. They were right! This beats Canes, Churches, KFC, etc. I'm just saying I thought coming out here to the country that there would hardly be anything. Think again. It's a nice place to stop for a road trip or if one lives around this area for a nice dinner. Come out for some delicious chicken and a new experience!
(5)Juanita C.
The chicken here is perfectly crispy,juicy, and delicious. The Mac and cheese was amazing, mashed potatoes were great. Green beans were great, tasted home made and home grown. Get there early to get a seat!! Would definitely eat there again!!!
(5)Connie M.
Waited for years to try this place after seeing it on TV on "Food Wars" Drove an hour and a half to get there. They are not open for lunch, not till 4pm. The place looks like it fell out of the 70's no atmosphere what so ever. There was one waitress who came and told us that there were 2 tables ahead of us that she needed to wait on first and then she would be back. The menu was a joke, it was dirty and nasty you didn't want to touch it. The food had no flavor at all, it seemed the chicken was dredged in flour and that was all. The German potato salad was a joke, canned potatoes with vinegar and rubbery onion, no bacon, no sugar, ice cold and it came served in a rounded packed mold that by the end of the meal started warming up and loosing it's molded shape. The German Cole slaw was cabbage with vinegar. The mashed potatoes were just nasty, perhaps they didn't have any milk that day and just used old boiled water from cooking other potatoes. No flavor, gravy was basically a solid form witch resembled glue. For some reason they serve spaghetti and it looked like Chef Boy Ardee, just boiled noodled and red sauce, no meat no flavor. When they brought our drinks they brought a basket of French bread, the basket was full of sliced bread with little packages of butter under the bread so everyone at the table got to handle all the bread to get any butter. There was no reason I can see this place it still open, I understand it was "the" place to go years ago. Sorry I think those days are over. Go to McDonald's, go anywhere, don't go here.
(1)Carly N.
Hands down the best place to get fried chicken!! It is perfectly battered and not too greasy at all! And you MUST get their onion rings! They aren't exactly rings...more like pieces of onions but tastes oh so amazing! This is a really popular restaurant around the KS/MO border. It's about a 45 minute drive from Joplin but my friends and I feel like it is so worth it! We usually call ahead to reserve a table because it can get pretty busy on weekends. Right next door is Chicken Annie's which is owned by the sister of the owner of Chicken Mary's. Everyone has their opinion of which restaurant is better but Chicken Mary's will always be my first choice. Both places have the same food but Mary's gives you 3 sides and Annie's gives you 2. The service is great and the waiters are very accommodating. Everyone who works here is friendly and treat you like family. The inside of the restaurant is old fashioned and decorated like your grandma's house. This place is located in the middle of nowhere so you will have absolutely NO cell phone reception! Yes, that will be hard but at least you'll have delicious food to comfort you! Fun Fact: Chicken Mary's and Annie's were featured on the Travel Channel's Food Wars! Mary's won, of course :)
(5)Tonii T.
My family and I went here after dropping my niece off at school. The place was in the middle of nowhere. I had the shrimp ( how can they mess up fried shrimp) and sides. Every thing was HORRIBLE, DIRTY and GROSS. I would rather have very small portions of amazing food, instead of a bunch of nasty food that tasted like it was prepared and not actually cooked at the restaurant. I actually threw up the entire meal in the parking lot. Yuck!
(1)Tom J.
Chicken Mary's is a regular stop for us when we're in the area. It's a big, old family friendly restaurant that probably looks a lot like it did in the 70's, maybe earlier. Don't come for the ambience. It's all about the chicken here. The spices are nothing special,as far as I'm concerned, but however they do it, the chicken is unbelievably tender and juicy, even our favorite, the "wishbone" which would be most susceptible to dryness. As for the sides, the locals are thrilled by the German potato salad. They also have German slaw (both are vinegar based - no mayo). For me, both of these are good, but not worth traveling for. The onion rings are the thin kind, cooked and seasoned perfectly - excellent. Don't tell my doctor, but on several occasions, I've also had chicken livers, which are also very good. Historically, they've always had 3 sides with their dinners, two if you make one a dinner salad. Recently, they've added a "lighter side" selection that only has two sides. There is nothing light about these selections from a calorie standpoint. Service has always been friendly and pretty attentive. If you're within 50 miles or so, you should try to get over to Chicken Mary's - it's worth seeking out, especially if you're a fried chicken aficionado (maybe 100 miles then). Tip: On Friday nights during football season, everybody is at the game, so it's a lot less crowded than Saturday.
(4)E. U.
Along with many others, I have been quite confused by the different kinds of chicken Mary's produces. The guys at the meat counter at Whole Foods have been clueless, and I find the website misleading and confusing re: GMO's. Today I finally called the company and spoke with Ramon and then Ben Pittman (one of owners), both of whom were very helpful. I thought others might benefit from the following information; there are four levels of chicken sold: 1. (least healthy) Free-range: birds are fed corn and soy that is likely GMO-contaminated, have about 2' bird movement area after old enough to be released from cages. All the chicken is air-chilled. 2. Non-GMO fed: Same as above but fed non-GMO corn. The only difference on the label is a non-gmo label. More specifically, corn with a max. of 1.5% GMO's. 3. Organic: same as above but fed organic feed. (The allowable % of GMO's in organics is 5, and will likely increase as GMO's continue to contaminate the fields). 4. Pasture-raised, same as "CA Bronze": Chickens are "chicken-tractored" in mobile coops out in fields. Organic field supplemented by organic (so GMO-free) feed. Ben says he will be redesigning this info on the site based on my input. I hope so, and I hope you found this of use.
(4)Charles K.
Hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I graduated from PSU and went here often. I never fail to visit when I'm visiting relatives nearby. The chicken is fried to perfection, and you get your money's worth in portion size. The German potato salad was new to me, but I've since come to prefer it over mustard potato salad. It's not uncommon in Pittsburg to hear people ask "Mary's or Annie's?"; referring to another fine chicken place literally next door. It's akin to the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry over their favorites. Both places have interesting stories behind them. I've had Chicken Annie's but am a die hard Mary's fan; it's just a matter of individual taste but you can't really go wrong with either.
(5)Kevin T.
I was in Pittsburg, KS for business but may go back for Chicken Mary's. After a day of work my co-worker said we should stop and grab some chicken at a little famous place he knew about. Stopped in right at 4pm when they opened and ordered some to-go. After a two hour car ride back to KC and a little reheating in the oven at home, this chicken was amazing! The batter and seasonings on it were prefect flavor and crunch. So good that even my wife, who normally skips the skin, was eating every last crumb. The mashed potatoes were great, the mac and cheese was just OK. I would recommend this as a must stop at place for chicken in Pittsburg!
(5)C A.
Never been here. Heard about it for years. Can't wait to go back. Arrived an hour before closing on a busy Saturday night. Our server, a dancer and communications student, didn't miss a beat. Fast, efficient, great to talk to and the food was awesome!
(5)Tom J.
Chicken Mary's is a regular stop for us when we're in the area. It's a big, old family friendly restaurant that probably looks a lot like it did in the 70's, maybe earlier. Don't come for the ambience. It's all about the chicken here. The spices are nothing special,as far as I'm concerned, but however they do it, the chicken is unbelievably tender and juicy, even our favorite, the "wishbone" which would be most susceptible to dryness. As for the sides, the locals are thrilled by the German potato salad. They also have German slaw (both are vinegar based - no mayo). For me, both of these are good, but not worth traveling for. The onion rings are the thin kind, cooked and seasoned perfectly - excellent. Don't tell my doctor, but on several occasions, I've also had chicken livers, which are also very good. Historically, they've always had 3 sides with their dinners, two if you make one a dinner salad. Recently, they've added a "lighter side" selection that only has two sides. There is nothing light about these selections from a calorie standpoint. Service has always been friendly and pretty attentive. If you're within 50 miles or so, you should try to get over to Chicken Mary's - it's worth seeking out, especially if you're a fried chicken aficionado (maybe 100 miles then). Tip: On Friday nights during football season, everybody is at the game, so it's a lot less crowded than Saturday.
(4)E. U.
Along with many others, I have been quite confused by the different kinds of chicken Mary's produces. The guys at the meat counter at Whole Foods have been clueless, and I find the website misleading and confusing re: GMO's. Today I finally called the company and spoke with Ramon and then Ben Pittman (one of owners), both of whom were very helpful. I thought others might benefit from the following information; there are four levels of chicken sold: 1. (least healthy) Free-range: birds are fed corn and soy that is likely GMO-contaminated, have about 2' bird movement area after old enough to be released from cages. All the chicken is air-chilled. 2. Non-GMO fed: Same as above but fed non-GMO corn. The only difference on the label is a non-gmo label. More specifically, corn with a max. of 1.5% GMO's. 3. Organic: same as above but fed organic feed. (The allowable % of GMO's in organics is 5, and will likely increase as GMO's continue to contaminate the fields). 4. Pasture-raised, same as "CA Bronze": Chickens are "chicken-tractored" in mobile coops out in fields. Organic field supplemented by organic (so GMO-free) feed. Ben says he will be redesigning this info on the site based on my input. I hope so, and I hope you found this of use.
(4)Charles K.
Hands down the best fried chicken I've ever had. I graduated from PSU and went here often. I never fail to visit when I'm visiting relatives nearby. The chicken is fried to perfection, and you get your money's worth in portion size. The German potato salad was new to me, but I've since come to prefer it over mustard potato salad. It's not uncommon in Pittsburg to hear people ask "Mary's or Annie's?"; referring to another fine chicken place literally next door. It's akin to the Yankees/Red Sox rivalry over their favorites. Both places have interesting stories behind them. I've had Chicken Annie's but am a die hard Mary's fan; it's just a matter of individual taste but you can't really go wrong with either.
(5)Anne N.
Gross oily fried chicken - drive 100 ft to Chicken Annie's.
(1)Sarah L.
We come here with a large group about once a year. The service is fast and especially friendly. The chicken is good but I would like to see more healthy options. The prices are reasonable, our family of 5 ate for about $50 with tip. I would like to see more room between the tables, otherwise, the experience was great.
(4)mark s.
I have to agree with the other four star reviews. Onion rings...awesome. Service...awesome. Excellent chicken, but my wife's pan fried chicken is better; this kind has a little corn meal and I'm a plain four man. Really good value! Also, we noticed how clean, well run, quick, and friendly it was. This was our first visit, and I am sure we will be back. Of course, next time we have to try chicken Annie's down the street just to compare; I bet that Annie's is also pretty awesome. Nothing like competition. Worth a 45-60 min drive, and really a good place to take a family.
(4)Michael R.
One of two chicken restaurants located next door to each other. They are both quite well known in the region. I ended up at Chicken Mary's. Everybody in my group ordered a different chicken, whether fried or grilled and all were good. The fried chicken I had was perfect on the inside but with a hard crust. The side dishes I got with it were okay but nothing special. I could swear the fries came out of a bag of frozen fries. Other than that, nothing wrong with this place.
(4)David A.
It's worth at least an hour drive, I'll definitely will go again. Several people at our table went for a cut of chicken I've never seen anywhere else called the wishbone. We were a party of 30 which is not uncommon for Chicken Mary's - the service was very disorganized (only one person took our order and then when plates were brought out, the waitstaff called out what was on each plate so you could identify your own order). The food was great. They serve white bread with every meal (not just storebought whte bread) - very good, seemed like it might have been baked on the premises. Of course the fried chicken was great - crisp and juicy. Fried onions are a must-have; they were well seasoned and crisp. The German potato salad was served cold. It consisted of diced potatoes in a vinegar dressing; sounds odd but it really grows on you. The coleslaw is said to be a German recipe as well - the garlic dressing was really good. Stay away from the iced tea - strong sulfur taste.
(4)Tom B.
Legendary. It's a well earned reputation.
(5)Michael R.
One of two chicken restaurants located next door to each other. They are both quite well known in the region. I ended up at Chicken Mary's. Everybody in my group ordered a different chicken, whether fried or grilled and all were good. The fried chicken I had was perfect on the inside but with a hard crust. The side dishes I got with it were okay but nothing special. I could swear the fries came out of a bag of frozen fries. Other than that, nothing wrong with this place.
(4)David A.
It's worth at least an hour drive, I'll definitely will go again. Several people at our table went for a cut of chicken I've never seen anywhere else called the wishbone. We were a party of 30 which is not uncommon for Chicken Mary's - the service was very disorganized (only one person took our order and then when plates were brought out, the waitstaff called out what was on each plate so you could identify your own order). The food was great. They serve white bread with every meal (not just storebought whte bread) - very good, seemed like it might have been baked on the premises. Of course the fried chicken was great - crisp and juicy. Fried onions are a must-have; they were well seasoned and crisp. The German potato salad was served cold. It consisted of diced potatoes in a vinegar dressing; sounds odd but it really grows on you. The coleslaw is said to be a German recipe as well - the garlic dressing was really good. Stay away from the iced tea - strong sulfur taste.
(4)Mike E.
I grew up in KC and my family would usually drive down to visit my grandparents in Frontenac a few times each year, and every time we would absolutely have to go to Chicken Mary's! We'd always start with a big basket of onion rings, which are actually more strips than rings. Lighted breaded and fried to perfection! They're probably still my favorite onion ring out there, possibly because you don't see them prepared that we too often. So good! The fried chicken has a little more breading than others (like Chicken Annie's) that's nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside while still hot and juicy on the inside. I'm more of a dark meat fan so I usually got the a leg/thigh dinner, it's nice that you can order exactly the pieces you want, even a wishbone or a gizzard. Dinners come with 3 sides and there's about a dozen to choose from, good stuff like mashed potato w/ gravy, spaghetti (?!), German potato salad, and even applesause. And of course no meal is complete in that neck of the woods without some fantastic Frontenac bread! Sadly I haven't eaten at Chicken Mary's for many years now, I just don't get down to that area very often. And when I do it seems like it's always on a Monday (closed) or before 4pm (not open yet). So if I can't make it there I figured why not bring Chicken Mary's to me in Denver! My parents were awesome enough to drive a few hours out of their way on a recent visit to deliver a lot of chicken it to me and a bunch friends. After it was picked up it was cooled down, deep frozen, and packed in dry ice by a friend of my dad's from high school that has a grocery store nearby, big thanks for all the help Dick P!! Food Wars - Denver style! Just because I'm more of a Mary's fan (not by much at all and I think I was mostly just raised that way) doesn't mean I'm not going to also get some chicken from Annie's too, that way we can have our own little competition. On the Travel Channel show they tasted legs, so we got a dozen legs from each place and had a contest to see which was the best. Or at least which had the best leftovers. It was VERY close, with each person having their own reasons for making their choice. In the end Mary's beat Annie's 6 to 4, with a couple of people that were going back and forth, so it could've easily gone the other way. If you ever find yourself in southest Kansas or southwest Missouri you HAVE to find a way to get over to Mary's - or even Annie's. The two of them together are a one of a kind experience!
(4)Donna M.
Well if I REALLY Loved chicken this would be THE place. Hubby would give this 10 stars. Great sides and flavorful chicken. Reasonable prices. Pretty dang good
(4)Mandy L.
I have been here 2 times now. I really enjoyed the chicken..bone in and chicken fried chicken. The food is family style and very inexpensive without using cheap-o ingredients. The chicken is cooked to order and the waiters/staff are very nice. It is out of the way, but no complaining here...you must learn the history of Chicken Marys and try out their food!
(4)Olivia D.
Not being from Kansas, I've heard quite a bit about Chicken Mary's vs Chicken Annie's. Although, I have only had one of the two, I can not put my full vote in just yet..... I was told not to even bother with Pichler's Chicken Annie's. Chicken Mary's out in the middle of no where. Right next door to Chicken Annie's. Went out there with my family. A large group of us. They were steady. Quick seating. Friendly service. We ordered a large order of Onion rings/strings. They were pretty good. Nice layer of batter, thinly sliced onions. I'm southern, so everything could use more salt! I could of ate on those the whole night. I was surprised of how many different ways to order chicken... Guess I'm just used to good ole KFC lol I was told by everyone that I want to order the wishbone. So, that is what i got. It comes with 3 sides. I went with Cole slaw, mac n cheese and baked potato. The chicken was cooked to perfection and piping hot. My only disappointment was... I prefer extra crispy mega batter! I also felt it could of used more seasoning and def more salt! Nonetheless, It was very good chicken. Cole slaw was very good. Once again, the southern in me did add some more sugar and pepper, but in general it was fresh, crisp and well made. Mac n cheese was good, but nothing to write home about. Same with the baked potato. All in all.. the food was great. Now, I just can't wait to try the original Chicken Annie's.
(2)James C.
This is without a doubt the BEST restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Do yourself a favor and get a leg, wing, and breast with a side of spaghetti and onion rings. You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)Sarah L.
We come here with a large group about once a year. The service is fast and especially friendly. The chicken is good but I would like to see more healthy options. The prices are reasonable, our family of 5 ate for about $50 with tip. I would like to see more room between the tables, otherwise, the experience was great.
(4)mark s.
I have to agree with the other four star reviews. Onion rings...awesome. Service...awesome. Excellent chicken, but my wife's pan fried chicken is better; this kind has a little corn meal and I'm a plain four man. Really good value! Also, we noticed how clean, well run, quick, and friendly it was. This was our first visit, and I am sure we will be back. Of course, next time we have to try chicken Annie's down the street just to compare; I bet that Annie's is also pretty awesome. Nothing like competition. Worth a 45-60 min drive, and really a good place to take a family.
(4)Dante L.
Heard lots about this place before we dined here and had high expectations. All I can I say this place lives up to its Hype. The onion rings rocked my life! Chicken was awesome and the coleslaw was a new take I hadn't had before. I liked the meal very much! Southern style and a great back story behind the place. I love places like this and look forward to coming back. Great service, great food, fun atmosphere. Due to the unique story and cool history that lived up to the hype I award this spot the coveted 5 star rating! Boom- you have been awarded.
(5)Olivia D.
Not being from Kansas, I've heard quite a bit about Chicken Mary's vs Chicken Annie's. Although, I have only had one of the two, I can not put my full vote in just yet..... I was told not to even bother with Pichler's Chicken Annie's. Chicken Mary's out in the middle of no where. Right next door to Chicken Annie's. Went out there with my family. A large group of us. They were steady. Quick seating. Friendly service. We ordered a large order of Onion rings/strings. They were pretty good. Nice layer of batter, thinly sliced onions. I'm southern, so everything could use more salt! I could of ate on those the whole night. I was surprised of how many different ways to order chicken... Guess I'm just used to good ole KFC lol I was told by everyone that I want to order the wishbone. So, that is what i got. It comes with 3 sides. I went with Cole slaw, mac n cheese and baked potato. The chicken was cooked to perfection and piping hot. My only disappointment was... I prefer extra crispy mega batter! I also felt it could of used more seasoning and def more salt! Nonetheless, It was very good chicken. Cole slaw was very good. Once again, the southern in me did add some more sugar and pepper, but in general it was fresh, crisp and well made. Mac n cheese was good, but nothing to write home about. Same with the baked potato. All in all.. the food was great. Now, I just can't wait to try the original Chicken Annie's.
(2)James C.
This is without a doubt the BEST restaurant I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Do yourself a favor and get a leg, wing, and breast with a side of spaghetti and onion rings. You will not be disappointed!!!
(5)Mike E.
I grew up in KC and my family would usually drive down to visit my grandparents in Frontenac a few times each year, and every time we would absolutely have to go to Chicken Mary's! We'd always start with a big basket of onion rings, which are actually more strips than rings. Lighted breaded and fried to perfection! They're probably still my favorite onion ring out there, possibly because you don't see them prepared that we too often. So good! The fried chicken has a little more breading than others (like Chicken Annie's) that's nicely seasoned, crispy on the outside while still hot and juicy on the inside. I'm more of a dark meat fan so I usually got the a leg/thigh dinner, it's nice that you can order exactly the pieces you want, even a wishbone or a gizzard. Dinners come with 3 sides and there's about a dozen to choose from, good stuff like mashed potato w/ gravy, spaghetti (?!), German potato salad, and even applesause. And of course no meal is complete in that neck of the woods without some fantastic Frontenac bread! Sadly I haven't eaten at Chicken Mary's for many years now, I just don't get down to that area very often. And when I do it seems like it's always on a Monday (closed) or before 4pm (not open yet). So if I can't make it there I figured why not bring Chicken Mary's to me in Denver! My parents were awesome enough to drive a few hours out of their way on a recent visit to deliver a lot of chicken it to me and a bunch friends. After it was picked up it was cooled down, deep frozen, and packed in dry ice by a friend of my dad's from high school that has a grocery store nearby, big thanks for all the help Dick P!! Food Wars - Denver style! Just because I'm more of a Mary's fan (not by much at all and I think I was mostly just raised that way) doesn't mean I'm not going to also get some chicken from Annie's too, that way we can have our own little competition. On the Travel Channel show they tasted legs, so we got a dozen legs from each place and had a contest to see which was the best. Or at least which had the best leftovers. It was VERY close, with each person having their own reasons for making their choice. In the end Mary's beat Annie's 6 to 4, with a couple of people that were going back and forth, so it could've easily gone the other way. If you ever find yourself in southest Kansas or southwest Missouri you HAVE to find a way to get over to Mary's - or even Annie's. The two of them together are a one of a kind experience!
(4)Donna M.
Well if I REALLY Loved chicken this would be THE place. Hubby would give this 10 stars. Great sides and flavorful chicken. Reasonable prices. Pretty dang good
(4)Mandy L.
I have been here 2 times now. I really enjoyed the chicken..bone in and chicken fried chicken. The food is family style and very inexpensive without using cheap-o ingredients. The chicken is cooked to order and the waiters/staff are very nice. It is out of the way, but no complaining here...you must learn the history of Chicken Marys and try out their food!
(4)Kevin T.
I was in Pittsburg, KS for business but may go back for Chicken Mary's. After a day of work my co-worker said we should stop and grab some chicken at a little famous place he knew about. Stopped in right at 4pm when they opened and ordered some to-go. After a two hour car ride back to KC and a little reheating in the oven at home, this chicken was amazing! The batter and seasonings on it were prefect flavor and crunch. So good that even my wife, who normally skips the skin, was eating every last crumb. The mashed potatoes were great, the mac and cheese was just OK. I would recommend this as a must stop at place for chicken in Pittsburg!
(5)Leslie T.
Chicken, big plateful of perfectly fried chicken. Three sides and some sweet tea, Done. Chicken livers, big plateful of not too crispy (most places can't manage this cooking method) perfectly fried livers. Three sides and some sweet tea. Done. Yes, Chicken Mary's is one of the two side by side dueling chicken places on the Missouri/Kansas boarder. I have tried Chicken Annie's next door. Like many of my friends in the area, we are Chicken Mary's loyal. Both are better than good. I am a fan of their livers but I watched my table mates chow on 3 and 4 piece dark and mixed until their was little left of the chicken but a memory. I like the sides better at Mary's. The German cole slaw is so good you could - and some have - gotten the slaw as all three of their side choices. Green beans with a little bit of a kick to 'em and decent Susies and mac n cheese. Mashed taters come with cream gravy. The bread basket is good ol' Midwest white. Get some O-rings for starters and share with the table. These aren't big round onion slices but more like what a bloomin' onion would look like if you shredded it. Big tables long enough for your whole extended family. Prompt, steady service. Plates come and tea gets filled. that's all you need. This is as good if not better than any fried chicken you ever had. And I got out of the place paying for 5 people for less than $60.
(5)Dale H.
Ahh! The fabled Chicken Mary's I've heard so much about ... My sister moved to Joplin MO three years ago and has raved about their meals at Chicken Mary's ever since. I am so glad to finally visit, and I am so happy they took me to Chicken Mary's! Now, it's not a fancy place y'all. In fact, there's kind of a ... I dunno ... "low rent" and "middle of nowhere" and "I-have-no-idea-what-the-world-is-like-outside-of-Kansas" vibe . They have plastic covered tablecloths, offer their version of white white white Wonderbread as an appetizer, and serve your meal on melamine plates divided into three sections. You'll see a lot of plus-sized hard working farm people, their screeching offspring, and blue-haired church ladies who give strangers (like me) the Side-Eye. Ignore them and eat, because the food is really -really- good! I had a "Large Dark" plate with a fried chicken thigh, German potato salad, German slaw, and baked beans. It was off-the-charts delicious. The potato salad and slaw was almost as good as the chicken. The food was awesome. The service was pretty standard. The dining room atmosphere left a bit to be desired. The men's restroom was like something out a horror film. It stank to high heaven; there were bits of toilet paper (?) on the sticky floor; and, um, I'm just glad that I didn't use the restroom before we were seated to eat ... So ...If you find yourself stranded in the middle of Kansas, and you'd like a tasty Last Supper before the Children of the Corn drag you out into a cornfield and sacrifice you to the Tornado Gods ... stop by Chicken Mary's! *Two Thumbs Up*
(5)Jordan W.
One of the few chicken places I am stopping at while I am in the area is this one. All my life I've been around chicken and loving it for years. To find this restaurant near the Kansas Missouri border was a treat for me. Here's why. The staff was really nice when our party of five got there. I liked our waitress and she was bringing out our food as quick as she could. They also give you bread to start out before you move onto other menu choices. We had the onion rings for an appetizer for the whole group. They're shoestring onion rings, but they were a nice flavor and better than the ones I've had in Houston over the years. We really enjoyed those before we decided all the good chicken choices. I had the Mary's Choice, which comes with four pieces of chicken, and three sides. My sides were the Susie Q's, the macaroni, and the green beans. I was in the zone on the chicken because I couldn't get over how delectable this was and the flavor it had to offer. Plus the sides were a decent appeal to the presentation and the tastes. I finished my plate, which explains that I was "in love" with this chicken plate. Now I see why people told me you'll run into some awesome chicken restaurants around this are. They were right! This beats Canes, Churches, KFC, etc. I'm just saying I thought coming out here to the country that there would hardly be anything. Think again. It's a nice place to stop for a road trip or if one lives around this area for a nice dinner. Come out for some delicious chicken and a new experience!
(5)Ralf L.
This restaurant claims to be chicken eaters heaven and, it turns out that's no lie! It's a couple of miles off the country highway we were taking on the Kansas side north to Kansas City and was well worth the detour. The service was also perfect. Want grated cheese with your baked potato? No problem... Just ask :-). The dark meat is a little juicer than the white but the white might be a tad healthier. The sides have also been perfected as well - we had the potato salad, slaw, baked beans, and apple sauce. The atmosphere is fun with Elvis singing away oldies songs.
(5)C A.
Never been here. Heard about it for years. Can't wait to go back. Arrived an hour before closing on a busy Saturday night. Our server, a dancer and communications student, didn't miss a beat. Fast, efficient, great to talk to and the food was awesome!
(5)Kaitlyn H.
Just like you would imagine home-cooked food in a movie. Great chicken, breading, and they of course have livers/gizzards. Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes, german potato salad, etc. Winner of "Food Wars" and an A+.
(5)Juanita C.
The chicken here is perfectly crispy,juicy, and delicious. The Mac and cheese was amazing, mashed potatoes were great. Green beans were great, tasted home made and home grown. Get there early to get a seat!! Would definitely eat there again!!!
(5)Connie M.
Waited for years to try this place after seeing it on TV on "Food Wars" Drove an hour and a half to get there. They are not open for lunch, not till 4pm. The place looks like it fell out of the 70's no atmosphere what so ever. There was one waitress who came and told us that there were 2 tables ahead of us that she needed to wait on first and then she would be back. The menu was a joke, it was dirty and nasty you didn't want to touch it. The food had no flavor at all, it seemed the chicken was dredged in flour and that was all. The German potato salad was a joke, canned potatoes with vinegar and rubbery onion, no bacon, no sugar, ice cold and it came served in a rounded packed mold that by the end of the meal started warming up and loosing it's molded shape. The German Cole slaw was cabbage with vinegar. The mashed potatoes were just nasty, perhaps they didn't have any milk that day and just used old boiled water from cooking other potatoes. No flavor, gravy was basically a solid form witch resembled glue. For some reason they serve spaghetti and it looked like Chef Boy Ardee, just boiled noodled and red sauce, no meat no flavor. When they brought our drinks they brought a basket of French bread, the basket was full of sliced bread with little packages of butter under the bread so everyone at the table got to handle all the bread to get any butter. There was no reason I can see this place it still open, I understand it was "the" place to go years ago. Sorry I think those days are over. Go to McDonald's, go anywhere, don't go here.
(1)Carly N.
Hands down the best place to get fried chicken!! It is perfectly battered and not too greasy at all! And you MUST get their onion rings! They aren't exactly rings...more like pieces of onions but tastes oh so amazing! This is a really popular restaurant around the KS/MO border. It's about a 45 minute drive from Joplin but my friends and I feel like it is so worth it! We usually call ahead to reserve a table because it can get pretty busy on weekends. Right next door is Chicken Annie's which is owned by the sister of the owner of Chicken Mary's. Everyone has their opinion of which restaurant is better but Chicken Mary's will always be my first choice. Both places have the same food but Mary's gives you 3 sides and Annie's gives you 2. The service is great and the waiters are very accommodating. Everyone who works here is friendly and treat you like family. The inside of the restaurant is old fashioned and decorated like your grandma's house. This place is located in the middle of nowhere so you will have absolutely NO cell phone reception! Yes, that will be hard but at least you'll have delicious food to comfort you! Fun Fact: Chicken Mary's and Annie's were featured on the Travel Channel's Food Wars! Mary's won, of course :)
(5)Tonii T.
My family and I went here after dropping my niece off at school. The place was in the middle of nowhere. I had the shrimp ( how can they mess up fried shrimp) and sides. Every thing was HORRIBLE, DIRTY and GROSS. I would rather have very small portions of amazing food, instead of a bunch of nasty food that tasted like it was prepared and not actually cooked at the restaurant. I actually threw up the entire meal in the parking lot. Yuck!
(1)Tom B.
Legendary. It's a well earned reputation.
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