Chicken N Pickle: More Than Chicken or Pickleball…It’s Community!

Kansas City is on the rise and word of our city’s vibrancy, culture and unity is spreading far and wide! How did we become recognized as one of the best places to live, work and raise a family? It starts with the citizens, leaders and business owners of our town believing that even though there is a state border dividing us, we are one community. We are wildly diverse and, of course, we have our rivalries, but above all, we are the heart of the heartland!

Now that your chest is swelling with city pride, join me by raising a glass to Chicken N Pickle; they exemplify everything that is KC! Locations in both North Kansas City and Overland Park are serving up seriously good, chef-inspired food and providing one of the very best places in town to play a game, watch the game, celebrate a special occasion or simply kick back and relax.
Of course, Chicken N Pickle has the best pickleball courts around and they offer one-hour beginner clinics on Saturdays! But if pickleball isn’t your jam they have giant Jenga and Battleship, corn hole and ping-pong. Show up on Sundays for bingo, then come back on Monday and nerd out with a game of trivia. Whether you’re 6 or 86, Chicken N Pickle promises to be a good time.
You don’t have to play pickleball to have a good time, and if you’re expecting typical bar food, get ready for a big surprise. Known for their wood-fired rotisserie chicken, pulled pork and grass-fed beef sandwiches, Chicken N Pickle has seriously raised the bar on bar food!

Chef Alex and the team have high standards when it comes to creativity and presentation, but they take it a step further by sourcing from area family farmers when possible, providing additive-free, low-carbon-footprint, delicious, quality menu items to delight a wide variety of tastes.

My favorite starter, hands down, is the Avocado Hummus; it’s topped with sun-dried tomato relish and toasted sunflower seeds, served with grilled pita and fresh vegetables for dipping. It’s fantastic and there’s plenty to be shared. Though it’s not listed as an appetizer, I suggest you take a peek at the sides menu, where you’ll find roasted beets with arugula, pine nuts and goat cheese. This would certainly be a healthy alternative to fries or tots when choosing a side for your entree, but the portion is enough to share and would be a nice appetizer.

Back to the wood-fired rotisserie chicken, without question, the best rotisserie chicken I’ve tasted, juicy and seasoned to savory perfection. If you feel you can’t eat an entire chicken, there are three choices: the half-chicken, the quarter-chicken or share with a friend.

I dearly love anything pickled, so I couldn’t wait to bite into the Pickled Chicken Sandwich. Appropriately named, the chicken breast is brined in pickle juice, grilled or fried and topped with jack cheese, bacon, pickled slaw and smashed avocado on a potato bun. This was my favorite! If you’re looking for something on the healthier side, may I suggest the Classic salad, fresh arugula with pulled rotisserie chicken, goat cheese, pine nuts, cranberries and red wine vinaigrette. It’s fresh, light and very satisfying.

Leave room for dessert! The Triple Chocolate Cookie is served warm in a small cast iron skillet and topped with a scoop of ice cream. Unbelievably good and there’s plenty to share.

With $25 buckets of beer, four bars, TVs every direction you turn and plenty of seating, you can bet Chicken N Pickle was a fan favorite to watch the madness in March. There’s plenty of table seating both inside and outside plus cozy sofa space (love those lime green sofas!) to share good conversation and a bottle of wine, only $28 during Happy Hour. Personally, I enjoy a creative craft cocktail and suggest the Paloma or Knotty Cherry. If you’re feeling spicy, ask for a Muddy Mary; this Bloody Mary is among the best I’ve tasted.

Cheers to Chicken N Pickle’s big heart and powerful sense of community! For starters, when ordering a non-alcoholic beverage, you receive a Community Cup; proceeds go back to local community organizations, and you get to keep the cup! The charities rotate every two weeks to ensure they spread the love. Every Tuesday is “10% Back” from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. And that’s not just 10 percent of food and drink sales, it’s property wide! Every dollar spent! If that’s not enough, they frequently donate meeting space to charitable organizations for hosting board meetings or volunteer appreciation events.

The vibe is high, friendly and fun. Both indoor and outdoor space can be reserved, including the game yard and pickleball courts. Personally, I believe the fresh air and natural light would be a welcomed change from typical corporate event locations. Chicken N Pickle has space for presentation and conversation plus space to move and interact. If you’re planning a graduation, birthday or engagement party, bridal or baby shower, this space has something for everyone.

Contact their on-staff event manager to help you determine which space is best for your event and be sure to ask about food and drink packages plus the wide variety of chef-driven menus, including kids’ menus and gluten-free options, to fit just about any budget.

I’m not sure what you have planned tonight, but as the weather warms and days are getting longer, I believe it’s time for you to check out Chicken N Pickle!

Chicken N Pickle locations in greater KC are 1761 Burlington Street, North Kansas City, Missouri, and 5901 W. 135th Street, Overland Park, Kansas. Visit chickennpickle.com for more information.

Art director, illustrator and entrepreneur Sheryl Hammontree is happiest when creating. As a freelancer, she creates visual styling and targeted messaging to strategically solve challenges for clients. As the owner of Thoughtful Threads, she creates expressive apparel to empower people and build a community of kindness. Sheryl heads outside to find energy, inspiration and calm; whether in the garden or on a trail, her soul is fed by creating memories with her husband, Joel, family and friends.