Chicken Mary's

Employees could not get it together. We had a party of 11. This was my first time being there. No one recieved their food together. The plates just came randomly. One of the group didn't receive their plate until we all were done and ready to leave. We had to ask once again for his plate. They did apologize. While we were there. Three of us asked for sweet tea. We sent the tea back three times. Saying this is not sweet tea. Finally the employee getting the drinks tasted the tea. They told each other, " No one put the sugar in the tea." Made our first experience there frustrated. The food was excellent. The food was worth the wait. But the service was horrible. They weren't rude. Just very confused. I will definitely try it again.

Loved the old school fried chicken. Done 💯 right. Mashed potatoes and their white gravy is to die for. Fresh baked bread and garden fresh green beans. Took me back in time when our family took Sunday drives to these types of restaurants. Home cook'en is almost non-existent. Many thanks for keeping your family legacy going. 👍 👍

If I could give more than five stars I would. Highly recommend Chicken Mary's. Cannot recommend enough! Hands-down, one of the best places/service I have ever received at a restaurant. From the moment I walked in, I was met with great hospitality. The place has original location charm written all over it! I asked for recommendations from my servers. Per Keesha's recommendations, I ended up ordering a sweet tea, small onion rings, two dark meat chicken thighs, one dark meat chicken leg, the German potato salad, German slaw, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Hands-down, the chicken thighs were the best chicken I've had in my life. Wonderful mix of flavor and crunch, so tender it was nearly falling off the bone. Masterful flavor. The German potato salad was a different consistency than I've seen, but the flavor was out of this world and so was the German slaw. The gravy is so creamy and the spice ratio is spot on. The ranch is homemade too! Keesha and Natasa were so very sweet and kind to me. They were attentive, the recommendations were stellar, and they showed me compassion including a hug when I needed it most. They are both amazing! I cannot stress enough to try Chicken Mary's. If you have not, add it to your list and make the trip. Please go see Keesha and Natasa, and give kudos to the young chef in the kitchen as well!

The competition for fried chicken establishments is high! We really enjoyed Chicken Mary's. The service was super friendly, and the food came out very quickly and was very good. We had the family style, and it came with onion rings, chicken, and three sides. It was a HUGE amount of food. Next time, we will get the smaller portion. Onion rings tasted hot and came so fast. The chicken was really good, and we had mac n cheese, german slaw, and baked potatoes. Definitely will be back!

This place is amazing! The food is so good! The service was incredible! There was not one thing I didn't like. We also got dessert and it was amazing but we ate it before I could get a picture. We will definitely be back. High quality food, good portions at decent prices. You can't go wrong. The best comfort food I've had in a long time! Get the onion rings! My littles usually hats onion rings but loved theirs!

Placed an online order. My son went to pick it up at the time it was supposed to be ready only to be told it wasn’t. He was waiting for 45 minutes. The staff kept telling him the food wasn’t ready. They don’t have good cell phone service so we couldn’t get in touch with him and called out there to see if the food was done and they said yes, it had been sitting there for 30 minutes and no one came to pick it up!! So the entire time he was waiting, the food was ready and they told him it wasn’t. To top it off, he gets home and we were missing a 1/2 loaf of bread, a kids meal and the side on the other kids meal we had ordered. I even tipped which I hate to do before a service is received. The girl who took our phone call didn’t seem to care and said she would have the manager call us. It’s been hours so don’t think that is happening. Sucks because we love this place but don’t want to waste money and not get what we ordered.

My childhood memories here are priceless going back to the late 1960’s. Family would meet here after church services in Fort Scott. Now I’m Visiting from South Florida and flew into St.Louis to road trip on Historic Route 66. But this was a planned stop and worth driving out of the way. I know the first item you order is the Onion Rings. I was in heaven, they must of pulled them right out of the fryer and straight to our table. O’ so good 😊. Chicken was amazingly good and had leftovers to take to my Uncles, we were going to visit and ordered another Onion Ring to go. As soon as we arrived at my Uncle’s house, he grabbed the Onion Rings and put a hand full in his air fryer and couldn’t get them in his belly fast enough and then he welcomed us to his home.

Now THIS is the kind of chicken that SE Kansas is famous for. Hot, crispy, full of flavor! Big portions and good value for the money. While the spaghetti isn’t terribly authentic (if you were at an Italian restaurant) it’s OK. The German potato salad has just the right bite of vinegar, and the bread was fresh. Also, the service was great and the food came out really quickly. Definitely worth the trip a couple miles off the highway.

If I could give more than five stars I would. Highly recommend Chicken Mary's. Cannot recommend enough! Hands-down, one of the best places/service I have ever received at a restaurant. From the moment I walked in, I was met with great hospitality from the hostess who immediately seated me and told me about my server. The place has original location charm written all over it! Within a matter of minutes, my server, Keesha, came over with a trainee server, Natasa. I asked for recommendations and was given them with thoroughness and kindness. Per Keesha's recommendations, I ended up ordering a sweet tea, small onion rings, two dark meat chicken thighs, one dark meat chicken leg, the German potato salad, German slaw, and mashed potatoes and gravy. Now if you're thinking, this is a lot of food you are correct. I obviously took some home (and it reheated well in the air fryer). Hands-down, the chicken thighs were the best chicken I've had in my life. Wonderful mix of flavor and crunch, so tender it was nearly falling off the bone. Masterful flavor. The German potato salad was a different consistency than I've seen, but the flavor was out of this world and so was the German slaw. It's nice and refreshing to see something like that on the menu that you don't see just anywhere. The ranch is homemade too! I was too full for dessert, but I would've stuck around and had some of that if not. Keesha and Natasa were so kind throughout the whole meal. We had conversation, they comforted me when I was having a moment, and I received a big hug. They are truly people with big hearts who care. I cannot stress enough to try chicken Mary's. If you have not, add it to your list and make the trip. It is worth it and you will not regret it. Please go see Keesha and Natasa and give kudos to the young chef in the kitchen as well!

Been to all the chicken marys and annies. They are all over rated yet native kansans think they are the best thing since sliced bread. I dont get it. Bartos beats them all.

Ok..this is a crazy setup out Kansas way: (2) sisters that opened up restaurants - mere feet apart, out in the country - serving the exact same thing! An old school "Family Feud" I guess. The staple to either place is the fried chicken. The chicken can very good....big pieces....and the wishbone piece is huge. This place even serves chicken backs....which if you're a fan of the crispy fry and limited meat....they are your ticket. Onion rings are very good. Baked bread is good. Other side items can be a miss....or be different. Like their German potato salad...which yes, these ladies were German. I'm sure it's a good German dish, but it's served warm and is a vinegar type taste. It's an experience to see and dine at this place...been around forever....and it will have a bunch of other folks out there too...and I mean a bunch!

My family has been coming here since I was a wee lad. This is a staple every time we're passing through Pittsburg. To be blunt Kansas City has nothing like it. The chicken has a perfect blend of garlic in the coating, and the chicken is always plentiful and juicy. The sides are amazing...don't miss the German potato salad!

Heard about this place for years and finally drove 2 1/2 hours to eat there. Very nice staff and great server but sadly disappointing. Historic, extremely dated, and charming interior. Sweet employees. Very dated decor with poor air conditioning. Many people waiting for takeout sweating with us. It's hot weather here but the restaurant was very uncomfortable when we arrived thirty minutes after they opened. Sadly the chicken was over cooked and tasted of old fry foil, bland. The mashed potatoes and gravy tasted like mix, pasty. The German potato salad was cold and authentic. Green beans tasted canned. The fresh bread was delicious. Certainly generous portions. One and done. Best wishes.

We had lunch at Chicken Mary's in Pittsburg, KS today and the food was really good! They really have delicious chicken! The breading is crispy and the chicken is very juicy and tender! They also make delicious German potato salad and German slaw. We got there right at lunchtime (11:45) so we did have a pretty long wait for our food, but when it came it was hot and delicious!

I've been going to Chicken Mary's for about 55 years. I'm from Pittsburg. I now live in Kansas City and still go down to visit the restaurant. I absolutely hate to see what has happened to this restaurant legend. They sold and no longer are family owned. Unfortunately, which is often the case, this means profits are now placed above anything else. The last few times I was there I noticed subtle changes. Like the chicken pieces weren't as big. Yesterday I tried to go and the first time in 55 years they couldn't seat me. Although the restaurant was visibly only 30% full the host said they had seated a big party and all the waitresses were busy. It would be at least :25. I have never seen this restaurant not staffed, especially on a Sunday. Clearly things have changed and not for the better. Very sad because that restaurant was part of my family history.

I'll be honest. I have been coming here for YEARS. They catered my rehearsal dinner for my wedding and I have loved them for years. UNTIL NOW. They have changed hands at some point in time. When we went on 9/1/24, the whole left side of the building was dark, there was trash all over the floor, plastic wrappers, food, napkins. They used to sweep all the time, not anymore. The bathrooms had a fan blowing toward them. Unsure the reason. The men's bathroom had no trash can for the paper towels, so they were piled in the sink. Women bathroom was par. The food: uhhh. We got there at 6:00pm. We got our food at 7:52. Almost two hours. The food quality: salty and old oil. It was a tragic day. I have always told people Mary's is better than Annie's. And I retract my statement. Do better Mary's. I know it's hard to find help, I was as patient as I could be, I was respectful, but when you're only seating 20 (max.) tables there's no reason for a two hour wait. Was there any compensation for our meal that we didn't even eat there and got boxes to put it all in? No. There wasn't. I'm truly sad.

Had this as a catered meal. It was ok. Definitely the least worse of the Mary's vs Annie's "feud". But still not even up to par with real fried chicken. Can't comment on at location service or ambiance. But food wise - meh.

Searched the internet for most fried chicken and Chicken Mary's came up, so make sure I stopped by. Planned it right so I would come by opening time. I left from Kansas City heading back to MO side and took the long way back. I pulled up around 3:40pm, but since I had time, I drove away and went to gas station first. Then when I got back around 3:58pm, there was a line at the door. It means a lot when folks are willing to ling up for food. I parked and got in line as well... thankfully it moved quickly. Once inside, they host will seat you. The menu is simple.... I wanted the fried chicken so that's what I went with. I got the 3 dark meat, 2 back, all comes with 3 sides and a basket of fries. For my sides, I went with Green beans, creamy slaw and German potato salad. Took about 15 minutes to get my food, which means they fried the chicken to order. The chicken was seasoned perfectly. Tasted like it was brined over night in salt water. The chicken was also friendly perfectly. Outside was crispy and inside was moist and juicy. I got one leg, two thighs and two back. If I go back with others, I'll definitely do the family style. As for the side, their creamy slaw was awesome, definitely recommend getting the creamy slaw. Green beans were ok, nothing to write home about and I wasn't a fan of the German potato salad. While it was decent, I expected the typical potato salad that I'm used too, but here it's cooked potato in a white liquid seasoning, of which vinegar is the main ingredient. Overall, definitely worth visiting, if you are in the area try it out. I've heard there are few other locations around here, so yeah, definitely need to come back and try the other places.

So disappointed in my meal from Chicken Mary's last night. Ordered it to go had I been there to eat it I could have returned it. Livers were so over cooked you couldn't eat them. I'm done.

First timer in a historical establishment. People talked highly of their food and it didn't disappoint. Was with a crew of people (11) and unfortunately close to closing, but the quality of the food was clucking unbelievable. The waitress was phenomenal and had a long day but never skipped a beat. Try this place, just do it

So if you're in Kansas and you miss the chance to stop by and try this little hole in the wall then go ahead and beat yourself up over it! The servers are very attentive and the food is absolutely delicious! It's fried chicken so I'm assuming that's why it's called Chicken Mary's seriously give this little spot a chance and you won't regret it!!

Took about an hour to get our food after placing our order. Was not worth the wait. Chicken fried steak wasn't bad, but nothing special either. Sides definitely needed more love. Served in styrofoam cups with very little flavor. Mashed potatoes were made from powdered mix. Overall wouldn't recommend eating here.

Service has become somewhat Inconsistent. Food is still great. Will try again next time we're in the area. Decor could really use some upgrades.

Delicious home style fried chicken served up to appreciative diners awaits you at Chicken Mary's one of the Crawford Co KS fried chicken places that makes up one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas. Chicken Mary's got its start in 1942, when miner Joe Zerngast's health declined and he was no longer able to work in the coal and lead mines which were the major industry here. To make ends meet, his wife Mary began serving fried chicken dinners in their home. By 1945 the business was so good Joe and Mary could not sever e regime in their house, so they bought a former mining camp building and opened there. In 1966 the family built the present building and have been serving hungry diners here for over 59 years! The 1960s decor is mostly chicken-themed but cute - fits the place! We ordered the Mary's choice, 2 light pieces of fried chicken and 2 dark pieces, with 3 sides (we chose mashed potatoes, green beans and Mac & Cheese). The chicken was absolutely delicious - hot, tender, juicy, and breaded in a simple flour and egg wash mixture. It's really REALLY good chicken. 5 old fashioned family style fried chicken stars

Since the original owners sold this business everything has changed--FOR THE WORST! The first time after it changed hands it was not like it used to be, but the second time we went (after several months) the onion rings were almost cold!! When our meals were FINALLY served, after over 40 minutes, the chicken was barely warm. It was like it was plated and sat there for several minutes before the server brought it to our table!!! AND....They weren't even very busy (not many customers)! I'm not giving them a third CHANCE! 3 Strikes and they're OUT!

Anyone who says the meat is flavorless must just not like flavor. If you peel the crust off, (not that the crust isn't great) the meat itself has a light garlic flavor and is really tasty. Chicken Marys is the most flavorful of all the other great Chicken places in the area. Onion rings are great! bread is local Frontenac bread, (not store bought white) Just my humble opinion of 50 plus years of enjoying great Chicken.

The food is amazing the Ambiance is great and the service is great.They also have German Potato Salad as well as other German foods they have great Appetizers and Sides

I will go with the 4 stars this place gets based solely on the chicken and the service. Our waiter was very friendly and efficient. We had the 2 person family style which is a great deal. 2 wings, 2 breasts, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, max & cheese with onion ring straws. The straws were very good, the other sides very disappointing. The breast was very good and the wing was solid. We will try their competitor next door on the way home tomorrow.

I've been meaning to come here for over a year after reading about this place which was supposed to be awesome. The reviews reflected spectacular chicken, and anybody who knows me knows this is my thing. It's about a three hour round trip from my house in Springfield though so it took me a minute to get here. I finally made the trek with my daughter and boy was it NOT worth it. The rings were okay, but that was about it. The cakes are not made in house. The bread is just cheap plain store bought white. The German potato salad was slimy and spiced with something I couldn't quite identify and the chicken wasn't any better than what I could have gotten at Walmart. It was super heavily breaded and baked I think. There was no flavor to the skin unless you count grease and while the meat was tender it was totally bland. They are known as being 'Famous' for their chicken but I am not seeing it. Definitely not worth the drive, and if I lived out there I would have been driving into a Springfield for Zaxby's because my daughter and I both took just a few bites before we looked at each other in disappointment and asked for to go containers. Back in town we had the wife try it to verify our take on it. She literally took one bite, looked at me as if to say what has she done to deserve such disrespect and spit it out. She's a real lady, and I have never seen her spit out food before. I was not surprised.

More hype than was delivered in food..They cut the chicken different than I am used to, but could have let the birds grow another week before harvesting them.

We went to Chicken Mary's this evening, it was our first time. Grace was our server, she was so personable and friendly. Thank you for hiring such a sweet young lady. Grace recommend the onion rings to start with, they did not disappoint, delicious. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the sides were all good.

We had a reservation and showed up early...no problems at all. For a party of 11... Ty did s super awesome job. All drinks were refilled on time. All food came out hot and fresh. The chicken here is our families go-to!I dominated the Mary's special and had Mac and cheese, German potato salad, Suzie Q's. Onion rings for appetizer.. They have always been very helpful and courteous when we eat here take out or dine in. It's a must visit whenever visiting the SEK area. I am so glad they go over the top to serve us! We will continue to enjoy Chicken from here - don't change a thing! Thank you Chicken Mary's Respectfully, Bryan OKC

service was amazing. 2nd to none. Hayden is top tier. The food was blest I have had in a long time. The sweet tea needs some work

Love this place best gizzards, onion rings, slaw and chicken!! Great service and yes the German slaw is the bomb!!

A hidden gem! The Family Meal is the way to go. The chicken is crispy! We also had homemade bread, string onion rings, baked beans, cream coleslaw and German potato salad. Our server was Liz, who was VERY helpful, polite, and always making sure we were taken care of. Total bill was about $31 for 2 adults and 1 toddler. Thanks for making our first time a great one. We will definitely return!!!

We had eaten there a few years back was delicious. But went there this weekend took friends and the chicken was over cooked the breading tasted old. So disappointed never will I go back !!

The trip to Chicken Mary's was worth every Penny and every bite! Driving North out of Pittsburgh, there is a sign pointing East that says you must drive 3 1/2 miles to get there. The scenic drive led us to a packed parking lot. Once inside, we were greeted by a mass of people waiting to be seated. They take reservations in groups, but since there were just the two of us, we were seated quickly at a small table. I began taking pics immediately while hubby peruses the menu. I already knew I wanted fried chicken. The menu boasts it on plates for one, or chicken strips and platters for groups. We selected the 6-piece chicken for 2. The chicken for two comes with 3 sides, served "family style". We selected German Cole slaw, baked beans and Macaroni and cheese from the list of sides. Their famous shoestring onion rings came with the dinner automatically. They were brought fresh out of the fryer with a generous portion of sliced bread and butter. The dinner arrived on a platter, with sides in bowls, divided plates for us to put our portions on. We ate our own way. We shared the bowls. Nothing went on our plate except bones as we ate some of the most delicious fried chicken we've ever set our fingers on! The German Cole slaw is vinegar based. We discovered by shaking a little garlic salt on top, the slaw became more delicious than before. Tangy and juicy with every bite. The baked beans had a smoky flavor. We savored each bite of those as well. The macaroni and cheese was good. It didn't taste canned, but if you are used to yours with Velveeta, forget it. Mary's also specializes in fried backs. This has to do with the way Mary cut her chicken. Our waitress slipped us one. It would be part of the thigh if the chicken was cut differently. Apparently,the backs can be sold in a dinner the same way a wing dinner would be. I was intrigued with it. I enjoy dark meat, so I enjoyed my back. There is even a sign up front that boasts a back special, which I didn't understand until the waitress brought me one. Overall, our experience at Chicken Mary's was delightful. We enjoyed good food, good company, chatted with people who sat almost elbow to elbow with us, enjoyed delicious fried chicken worthy of the name and are looking forward to returning some day to try the spaghetti. They even offer it as a side!

We decided to take part in the rivalry and try one of the beloved chicken places of Pittsburg. We settled on chicken Mary's. We were completely disappointed. The greasy fatty fried chicken comes to your table on a cafeteria style plate with a blob of mashed potatoes that taste just like fifth grade cafeteria lunch. The salad is served in a styrofoam bowl and the a typical lettuce, purple cabbage salad. I will say the onion rings were good. But don't make the same mistake we did. Don't drive the three miles plus out of your way to try lunch here. I couldn't believe the place was practically standing room only on a Sunday afternoon. It must be the family because it wasn't the food. Mediocre at best.

I love the chicken fried steak here. Great place to eat I would recommend! They handled my families large table really well.

Finally made it Chicken Mary's after a couple of trips to Pittsburg. It was a nice drive from our hotel in Pittsburg. We had their onion rings which are really onion straws and very good. For sides we had mashed potatoes and gravy (good), Mac and cheese (okay, saucy-nothing special), and Baked beans--tomatoey and smokey--not heavy with bbq sauce like some-I liked very much and German potato salad-only so-so. The chicken? I thought it was done well. It was moist and had a nice crust. We shared livers too --also delicious. The meal came with white bread. I don't care for margarine. There are several other sides as well we did not try. The verdict? We would come back if hungry for chicken and the works. But, of course, we will have to try Chicken Annie's first!

I miss this place. Growing up in the area it was just common to eat great fried chicken. Great competition in the area made for great food. Since I was driving through Pittsburg Kansas on my way to my moms house I had to make a stop and take advantage. Chicken, as always, was cooked to perfection. I also got a side of spaghetti. After eating I was again reminded how much I missed this place. If ever in the area, you have to give it a shot. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere but worth the drive.

Best chicken in South East Kansas. Nearby Pittsburg is bustling and PSU is highly rated. We have enjoyed Chicken Mary's since 1966. The menu is still like the original and food is excellent.

If you're in the Pittsburg area you're either a Chicken Mary's fan, or you're a Chicken Annie's fan. I'm not sure you can be both. I think that's illegal or something. Of course I've never tried Annie's because my stepmom is from Mulberry and she always went to Mary's so when I went to go visit my dad and my stepmom we always went to Chicken Mary's. But I'm not complaining because this is some good fried chicken! The sides are good but really it's the chicken that steals the show. It's tender and moist with a delicious crispy coating that is just too yummy! It's served with white bread which is good as well. They have other items but I've never tried them because hello, fried chicken! They get super busy on the weekends with super long waits but the last time we were there was during the week and they weren't too busy at all. It's definitely a must when I'm in the area and even if it seems like it's off the beaten path it's not hard to find. And it's definitely worth it!

They are outstanding!! Wouldn't miss this place when going to SE Kansas. Plan on getting a doggie bag for sure.

This is our go-to spot for fried chicken. We have tried all of the chicken places in the area, this one wins it for us. We love the breading, the onion rings, and the service. New menu during this visit. The sweet deal is plenty for several people with leftovers to take home.

Tried chicken Mary's and the place next door, chicken Annie's. Both were equally bad. We got a few pieces from each place to bring home and try. Mary's was so salty I couldn't eat it and Annie's was very bland and dry.

Hands Down, One of the BEST Fried Chicken Joints in the World. Chicken Mary's is about 100 miles south of Kansas City, near Pittsburg, Kansas, in the southeast corner of the state. I hunt down here and every time I come here to eat their fried chicken. I keep trying to convince my family it's worth the 1.75 hour round-trip drive, but they don't believe me. It is. Forget about Stroud's; I had a poor experience there and was extremely underwhelmed and disappointed (there's a review and pictures). And to add to the intrigue, there is another great fried chicken restaurant a stone's throw down the street, Chicken Annie's, and both are embroiled in a good, old-fashioned rivalry to claim bragging rights. When you come to Chicken Mary's, I highly, highly, highly recommend you get Mary's Choice ($10.25) and she'll give you one large dark piece, one large white piece, one large wing, and one large back piece of fried goodness, along with a choice of three sides! The sides are: German potato salad, baked potato, Susie Q's (curly fries), applesauce, German slaw (vinegar-based), creamy slaw (sweeter), mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, baked beans, spaghetti, cottage cheese, or macaroni and cheese; whew! That what I and my friend ordered; we also got a side of jalapeno poppers--yum! OK, back to the chicken. The batter they use is so delicious and perfectly flavored for frying--the chicken comes out with a proverbial coat of fried armor that's so crispy and full, it sets the bar extremely high for what fried chicken should be, so it will effectively ruin fried chicken for you if you're not from Pittsburg, Kansas. The first bite of every piece is my favorite because crunching into that perfectly-made piece of fried goodness, hearing that loud crunch is sooooo satisfying to all your senses. As for the side, they are solid--you're in a small town, eating good, typical sides that compliment the star of the meal very well. I love this place and love that I come here twice per year (once in the spring and once in the winter) so I don't overdo it and it becomes routine--not that it would be a bad thing at all, but it keeps in special to me. I won't give up on bringing my family to have them experience this place for themselves. There's a great attraction not too far called Big Brutus, the second-largest electric tractor/crane/shovel, which is the centerpiece of a mining museum in West Mineral, Kansas, where it was used in coal strip mining operations. It. Is. Gigantic. I'm sure the kids would love it, along with the fried chicken!

Hot, juicy, and tasteless. Literally, no flavor. There are hints of spices in the breading, but none of it offsets the blandness. Sides? Green beans were like they opened a can and put them on the plate. The white gravy was the only thing that had flavor. We have tried this place a few times and each time it's the same. Blah.

This place is literally in the middle of nowhere but man, it is out of this world. First of all the service was fantastic, our waitress was knowledgeable of the menu and gave us plenty of time to order- she even gave us recommendations on what was good. My food came out hot and fresh and it was definitely the kind of food that makes you feel full while having plenty of flavor. If I had to criticize anything it would be the gravy needed a touch more salt. That being said it doesnt affect my rating. I would most definitely eat here again.

Had heard about "a locally famous chicken place" in Pittsburgh, probably while searching for good fried chicken in Kansas City / OP. So on the way back from a road trip to Dallas, we diverted over to this restaurant. Checked Yelp for address/directions, and learned there were two places next to each other - Chicken Annie's and Chicken Mary's -- and the latter showed 4.5 stars while the former showed 3.5 stars. Annies looked a bit nicer on the outside, but a block or two later (moving east to west) we arrived at Mary's. BEST. FRIED. CHICKEN. EVER. We started with fried chicken livers as an appetizer (normally my entree), and I believe, they too, were the best I've ever had. Crispy and moist on the inside. Got a plate with 4 pieces of chicken - large breast, thigh, maybe another thigh, and a wing -- along with choice of 3 sides. I chose green beans, German cole slaw and mashed taters with cream gravy. Chicken - 5+ Stars (best in my life) - Why? Crispy, Hot, Juicy, yet not greasy, perfectly cooked inside, tasty. The mashed taters were passable -- didn't strike me as noteworthy, but I didn't care, given the amazing chicken. Green beans were also fine but not exceptional (no pork drippings or onion; just kinda boiled). The German cole slaw was also 5 stars - vinegary and fresh. They also offered creamy cole slaw, but I chose the German to limit the fat overload. That huge platter of food was priced at $10.25, so an excellent deal, compared to big city prices (woulda been $18 or more at Strouds, and 1/4 the quality). And we brought home 3 pieces from the plate (since we also had the livers). In the afterglow, we agreed that the meal was so good, we'd consider a day trip in the future with friends from Overland Park (about a 2 hour drive) to share the delights.

Chicken was good. Service was excellent, manager stopped at our table to make sure that we were pleased. Restaurant was very clean.

I would never have expected to find really GOOD fried chicken outside the South, but, well, there we were in the Midwest eating some of the best damn fried chicken I've had the pleasure of slamming into my gob. I ordered the fried backs, as I'm a back man from way back. (Don't knock chicken backs until you've tried them. Just DON'T.) The backs are cut differently than most, thus leaving a LOT of dark meat from the thighs. (I'm a dark meat guy, kid. Don't give me any of that overly dry white meat stuff unless it's in chicken salad.) The beans were spot on, too, but the coleslaw was a bit sweet for my tastes. I'd heard about this iconic place for years, and was glad to finally be able to stop in and see why the chicken here is so famous. You don't have to be from the South to appreciate really good fried chicken, no. (But it helps. It helps.)

My husband and I had been debating on whether to go to Chicken Mary's and Chicken Annie's while driving through Pittsburg. We settled on Chicken Mary's and were not at all disappointed! The chicken was, juicy on the inside and the perfect "crunchy" on the outside. We got their 10 piece special and actually got 12 pieces, mashed potatoes and white gravy and coleslaw. Their portions were huge and we got two days worth of food for $20. Not at all sad ;) Of course, we didn't get to see the inside of the restaurant due to current circumstances and restrictions, so I can't tell you anything about that, but next time! We will for sure be back :)

After seeing them on food network we had to road trip to try it. A 2 hour drive later we had a less than stellar experience. We ordered the family style dinner for 4 12 PC dinner. The chicken was fine, there was no seasoning all you got for flavor was flour. Our 12 PC dinner had 3 backs and only 1 anemic breast 2 1/2 legs (one looked like it came off a wing) 2 wings and a thigh. The mashed potatoes were bland and the gravy was milk and flour no chicken flavor. The cold German potato salad was very good and so was the German slaw. The onion straws were fantastic. Dry bread was kind of a let down, biscuits would have gone with it better. The service made the experience oh so special. I believe her name was Ashley was either new first day or just incompetant. When we sat down, got 2 napkins and our silverware. First thing after bring us tea, asked what we wanted to order. We told her that we had never been there the she responded with "oh so do you want to order now". We had to ask for a few minutes, 2-3 minutes later she asks for our order. So we ordered the family dinner for 4. Our food as described above shows up and we never saw her again. If you have had the onion straws and the chicken you need more than 1 napkin. We did not see here again until she brought us the check. Not a pop by or a refill nothing. The comical part was she brought us 1 take away box for the leftovers. When we asked for a few more for the sides and chicken she asked what 2 more? They placed a large family party of 16 in the section and we never saw her again. Her attitude and body language became can you get out so I can rack up a big tip with this big party. We might go back, but we will have to give them time to get new service staff.

We got the 6 piece family dinner. The onion strings and chicken were very good.Mac and cheese also good. The potato salad consisted of chunks of potato floating in vinegar. I couldn't even taste the potato, if you like vinegar you'll love this! Green beans were likely out of a can. Our server was a gem, she did a great job.

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*

Outstanding Fried Chicken. Always order the large onion rings as a appetizer. Great Service, Great Food, and Budget Friendly. This region is blessed with many good fried chicken restaurants; this is one of the very best!