Chicken N Pickle, North Kanas City
November 2022
At first glance chicken and pickleball seems an unlikely combo, but it definitely works thanks to founder and owner, Dave Johnson.
Just across the Missouri River from downtown Kansas City, Chicken N Pickle’s first restaurant boasts eight pickleball courts, an expansive lawn-performance-picnic space, a chef-driven casual restaurant and sports bar. Live entertainment, trivia night, brunch and bingo, can-in-hand yoga and pickleball and a summer tiki shack add to the fun. Laughter and competition between family members and friends takes place over giant lawn games and on the pickleball courts.
Rewind to 2015, Johnson discovered the game of pickleball in Phoenix and decided to bring it to Kansas City. On other travels, his favorite eatery in Grand Cayman, Chicken! Chicken!, served wood-roasted chicken. With both in mind, he bought property for this first location near his office and called on long-time Kansas City restaurateur, Bill Crooks, who spearheaded the development of the sizeable, freshly-made menu.
Johnson’s mission to provide an atmosphere that fosters family, fun, friendship and community starts with an enjoyable atmosphere, local suppliers and giving back to the community. Through its “Our Hearts Are Local” program, this location raised nearly $71,000 last year and supported 476 charitable organizations. Each of the company’s six locations, with three more coming, has a dedicated community engagement manager.
When my husband and I walked into Chicken N Pickle’s courtyard on a Thursday evening for dinner, it was hopping. For starters and sides, tasty avocado hummus, fried pickles, sides of spicy coleslaw, grilled broccoli boasting a bit of heat and street corn complemented the entrees. Perfectly smoked chicken, brined then cooked on a wood-fired rotisserie fueled by Missouri post oak came with the choice of four different house rubs—from mild to spicy—accompanied by a melt-in-your-mouth, non-GMO flour tortilla from local Yoli Tortilleria. A meal can be made of the hearty five-piece chicken wings or tasty burnt end sandwich, both smoked over post oak for hours. There’s also a popular salmon bowl. Mondays, the $5 flat burger special is quite a deal as is Taco Tuesday. Beef hails from local Good Natured Family Farms. A yummy, sharable cast iron skillet cowboy cookie capped our meal.
Each location features a broad selection of local beers on tap (some rotate seasonally) as well as domestic and international styles, plus cocktails. Besides the restaurant’s main bar, the rooftop bar affords panoramic views of downtown Kansas City.
Visit ChickenNPickle.com for more information.