Chicken Basket Review

Unless you get the buffet be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes to get your food. They didn't tell us that up front and we were ready to walk out. When we told them we were leaving they said it took at least 30 minutes to get the chicken unless you got the buffet which they continuously replenished while we sat waiting for our chicken to be cooked.

Friendly excellent service. Large facility. Good food. Comfy seating. Table by fireplace is teally nice. Clean restrooms. Fairly priced for the large portions. Interesting decor.

If you accept it for what it is, this place is fantastic. if you're planning to come here, thinking you're a foodie and you're going to give this place a restaurant review, please don't. You're just going to embarrass yourself.

Awesome food!! The service is wonderful too. Came on a Sunday about 7 PM and the place wasn't packed at all. Got a chicken basket with mashed potatoes and corn fritters to start. They also have their own crafted sodas which are delicious! The food was unreal! The chicken is mouthwatering, tender, and juicy. The mashed potatoes and gravy are worth the upgrade. Everything here is amazing. I am now a customer for life!

OMG!! What a great place. I live a state away, but found it on the internet. On Rt 66. Wonderful people and the food will bring me back!

. , Horrible, obviously a dive. Don't get the chicken! There are way better places not far away. 1) Zazzo's 2) Papa Passero's not even close to a five star place it was list on dinner drive inns and dives as a dive for a reason. Enjoy your day.

Absolutely a MUST! If you are on Route 66 you will not regret a dinner at this historic venue. The main dish is fried chicken: don't miss it!

Casual old-school mom and pop chicken restaurant. Really good chicken. Salad bar. We tried the corn fritters. Yummy.

Best chicken I've ever had! This place has been there since 1938 so you know they've got to be doing it right! It's been on Food Network and many other TV shows. It was on the original Rt. 66 which is now a frontage road off the highway. Little tough to find but worth the trouble. My wife got the jumbo shrimp and said it was the best she's ever had too. Be careful, chicken is crazy hot when it comes out, takes a little bit of time to cool off. Juiciest, tastiest chicken I've ever eaten. This review is making me crave their chicken, lol. I'll have to go back soon!

We hadn't been here for quite a while so came here tonight for dinner. I had the chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans! Absolutely awesome! Everything was excellent! Food, service and atmosphere! Glad we came back and will continue to do so!

Very good chicken, nice and hot
Comfortable heated tent
No inside dining

We have NOT been disappointed!! This food is delicious!!! And the chicken......PERFECT!!! WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!!!

Best chicken I've had. Buffet was really good everything remind me of home made country cooking

Great food and fun in a casual, cozy environment. Recommend!

This was my first time here and will not be the last nice clean place and the food was good and yes il go .plus they sell t-shirt

Baked lobster mac and cheese is a "once a year" indulgence...while the chicken soup is a routine must have!

Even being an hour away from where we live, we find a way to end up here a couple of times a year. Some of the best friend chicken around. Love the lunch buffet especially, a surprisingly good salad bar.

We had a blast, fun atmosphere and delicious chicken and waffles.

Always good! Great comfort food. Stephanie was an awesome server. She was attentive and had a great attitude. We'll be back soon.

This is my go to place for fried chicken. You will definitely be surprised just as I was when I first came here as to how juicy, moist and flavorful their chicken is you won't be disappointed. They also have an awesome lunch buffet which doesn't have a whole lot of options but the ones they do have, are all delicious. Service is awesome very friendly and attentive staff.

Great chicken on route 66
Great lunch buffet
Loved their route 66 Root beer

Homemade soup, biscuit and fried chicken are delicious. Friendly staff. I liked it!

I don't know which I love more the food or the service!

The service was very good. However, the hype from the food channel did not equal the product. The chicken was adequate at best. This is coming from the whole group I was with. Have not made an effort to return and more than likely won't. Cannot give a high recommendation.

Like taking a step back in time. Chicken is ALWAYS excellent. I normally don't eat the crust/breading on fried chicken, but I do here. Nice salad bar. The lunch buffet is a great deal. Service is always great.

Dee was an awesome waitress!
Friendly and great food.

The fried chicken is very delicious. Nice iconic, historical atmosphere.

I have wanted to visit this restaurant for years and finally got the chance last week.

The first thing that greets you is their wonderful vintage neon sign outside that feels so familiar even though, until now, I've only seen it in pictures. As soon as you walk in the door you are warmly greeted by their staff and welcomed to the restaurant. There are chicken decorations in almost every nook and cranny and they can't help but make you smile. The entire atmosphere is inviting and friendly and it feels more like you are visiting old friends or one of your relative's for a good down-home meal.

Chicken is in their name and it's what they are so famous for and so that is what I set out to have. I ordered the chicken tender basket and it was incredible. Usually chicken tenders are really dry because there aren't any bones or skin to help to keep the meat moist...but somehow Dell Rhea's made these incredible pieces of chicken moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. The dinner also came with the most delicious home-made biscuits that I've ever tasted in my life (sorry gram). It would honestly be worth driving miles just for these huge buttery pillows of goodness! Also included was a heaping mound of French fries and some coleslaw. There is so much food on the plate that I doubt if anyone would be able to finish the entire meal in one sitting. One thing that I have to point out is that even though the chicken is fried...somehow it's not greasy...how do they do that??

The whole experience was a total joy, from the warm and friendly smiles on the staff, to the cozy atmosphere to the heavenly fried chicken dinners...it was one of the best restaurant experiences that I've EVER had, bar none. If I had to find a fault, and it's pretty hard to find one here, I'd just say that the coleslaw portion is pretty small in comparison to the other items on the plate...but that is such a minor thing to point out when everything else is so incredibly delicious.

If you have a chance to visit this restaurant, don't hesitate for a second because it's an experience that your tummy will thank you for! Oh and the prices are incredibly reasonable for everything that you get...another plus. As we were leaving, one of the staff smiled and said "Hurry back soon!" And you know what? We definitely will!

Historic restaurant where everything is good from long island's to the chicken. The ambiance is stuck in the 60's, but the food compensates for that especially if you came as a child, not a thing has changed. Better than white fence farm!!

Kind of touristy. Fried chicken was ok, wings were better. They have a buffet for lunch which is a great value. Was expecting a little better chicken, but it was not a bad experience overall. Just nothing memorable that would make me go out of my way.

I like it chicken is good setting on route 66 is a big fraw

Best Cod Plate I had in 30 years ..the cod was 2 to 2 1/2 inches thick ..and at least 5 inches long ... breaded perfectly. VERY moist and great flaking of the fish....good fries... good cole slaw. Very good!!

This evening with friends was unrushed by our waitress. The food was delicious and my chicken pieces were large.
I can't wait to come again.

This is a Chicken institution. The chicken they make is not comparable to any other chicken. The food is great and plentiful. The mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy with the dinner is just over the top. The homemade soups and even their chilli is incredible. The salad bar is always fresh. Been here 40 plus times and it is always good, fresh and hot! They have these vesuvio wings that are to die for. I haven't had much else on their menu because we always come for the chicken

Greatest chicken you will ever eat in you life time . Good prices great friendly service .

I simply liked their dishes. I always get awesome service there. The place is always clean and the staff members are always very welcoming. Will come visit again.

Great food, awesome chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy

Great chicken, fun atmosphere. Cross between sports bar and family restaurant. The house made soda is fantastic!

Super delicious food on the old Route 66. The local was getting old but not negative. It's just nostalgic.
The service was very nice and helpful. The food of course u.a. Chicken wings and sandwich were delicious and recommended. The prices were humane.
A must to experience something old history ...

Excellent chicken. The chicken fried chicken or chicken and waffles are the bomb!

Amazing chicken. Lightly fried. Not too greasy. Nice, historical venue and a nice postcard of classic route 66.

The fried chicken breading is different but good. Enjoyed the mashed potatoes! That was definitely real potatoes! Biscuits were good with honey! Also had the chocolate cake (special that night) and the bread pudding for dessert! Enjoyed that we were in a restaurant that was part of Route 66. We will be back!

This place is absolutely fantastic the Chicken, Chicken Wings are awesome, there other food items is great as well. I am one who always thought Hooters had the best wings, well move over Hooters there is a new and better Wings and its name is Dell Rhea's

Always great chicken and very easy to pickup while the pandemic is going on, just queue up in the front and they'll bring the food directly to your car.

Place is amazing been going there for years chicken fried chicken is where its at mashed potatoes are just right and the chicken breast is big full and plump

Going here for chicken is the best I've ever had nice bar and courteous service

It seems like a very charming place, and we were enjoying our chicken until my husband found an entire latex glove in his cole slaw. The manager was apologetic and said it had never ever happened before and was an anomaly. They comped the meal, but only after we asked them to.

Ordered chicken tenders. There were about 8 small tenders with fries and Cole slaw. Slaw was very good. Chicken good, not the best Ive ever had. Cute chicken decor all around. They also have a buffet

This is a legendary food establishment on historic Route 66. Great food and attentive service. The ambience takes you back to a simpler time.

Came for brunch. Not a great selection to choose from. Check menus before coming, different items served on different days. Wait staff was very pleasant.

It doesn't get any better than this for fried chicken ! Great selection of sides, other entrees - lunch buffet was AWESOME.

Decent food but we waited 45 min for 4 simple plates of food. Server was unconcerned so it seems this is normal for this place. I'm not running on nostalgia. First time I have tried this place and probably the last. Food was good but not great. High hopes but ended up being a disappointing visit.

OK but would not go again. After we ordered we were given an ETA of 15 mins and waited in our car. After waiting over 30 mins my husband went inside just to check and before he could say anything they said it s not ready yet! very rudely. But then it was ready less about 5 mins later so maybe could have simply said it will be ready so soon thank you for your patience! Our lunches were good but VERY similar to a fried chicken sandwich at any other restaurant and not worth 40 mins and rude staff. I hate leaving not ideal reviews during this time but also doesn t seem that they want service & would much prefer to give my business where it would matter more

One of the greatest chicken establishments in the state of Illinois.

Small buffet but food super fresh. Corn fritters are to die for.

Chicken!!! Prepared, cooked and served the way it was meant to be! Fantastic service and delicious everything. Dont miss out on their hush puppies!

Made sure catering order was ready to serve ... Great chicken and beef

Have been coming here since I was about 3. Always love to see their segments on the many travel and food shows. Very comfortable atmosphere, like being with family. I'm sure your grandmother/aunt/mother is a wonderful lady and makes amazing chicken but no, it's not better than Dell Rhea's. It is worth every second of the wait. Besides that gives you time to munch some ridiculous fried mac and cheese while you sip a black cherry soda. Warning: come hungry!!!!

Absolutely accommodating. With the virus going on its tough for restaurants but they are doing a great job. I am currently hiking Route 66 and they gave me nothing but love and a treat for my doggo!!! Definitely a fan and great portions for the price. The cream soda and classic basket are to die for.

Best chicken and waffles i have had in the area. Chicken was super tender, waffles were slightly sweet.

I ordered the chicken spicy, for my pallet i found it to be quite hot. Portion was nice and price was reasonable.

They have an outdoor dining tent and curbside. Will definitely be going back

2/2006: I am now a retired long haul truck driver now, I was telling my wife about the great place I had been once and had to look it up "The Chicken Basket" on Rte 66. Ok, I had worked all day in the freezing rain. Cold, Wet, Tired and very hungry. The nearby motel said there are a Pub just within a short walk that they thought there was food, nope. I Saw the Chicken Basket farther down and walked on. The lady was closing up and I asked if I could get anything to eat. She smiled at me (likely thought I was homeless , but not) and asked if I had $5 and could I eat it in the Bar section of the Restaurant. "Sure Can" I sat by the fire for a bit warming up then moved to the Lounge. She was so nice 5 or 6 pieces of Chicken 3 rolls, Slaw. It was all very good. And they were a lot of fun, Great hospitality, nicest crew working there.

Super cutie
Great staff
It has a great dinner with a simple menu.
Meal sizes are good
Has a buffet
The fire place is amazing
Great route 66 establishment from the 40s
There is also a great little tap room too.
Video gaming and beers on tap
The neon lighting is great here.
Love the open air feeling the dining room has with windows on both sides.
Great hidden gem off the beaten path that used to be on the only road.
Great for families groups or date nigth.
Super inviting and welcoming.

Walking in the Del Rey's is like going back in time the food and service is excellent chicken is second to none one of our favorites.