Chicken N Pickle: One of the Coolest Hangouts in KC

Pickleball. It's the newest sport taking the world by storm, and in Kansas City, the fun all began at Chicken N Pickle's flagship location in North Kansas City. The locally owned chain (all locations are owned by one Kansas City owner), boasts fantastic food, a friendly casual atmosphere, and tons of fun with pickleball courts, sports watch parties (especially FIFA World Cup and Chiefs games this time of year), and a great vibe. 

Chicken N Pickle is the place to gather on game day. "Sunday Funday" is where parents can watch the game, kids can play in the game yard, and families can come for brunch & bingo. They also offer trivia nights, special events like Skate with Santa, and fun throughout the year. Whether you're enjoying a fun adult date night, a family looking for a place to have fun with mixed ages, or friends and neighbors wanting to have a good time, Chicken N Pickle invites their guests to spend a few hours enjoying great food, laughs, and fun.

For the uninitiated, one of the great things about this restaurant is that you can come for the food, come for the fun, or come for both. 

Guests are welcome to enjoy the restaurant only, pickleball only, or, of course, a bit of everything at Chicken N Pickle's locations.

The Overland Park location boasts indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, an outdoor ice skating rink (in the winter), tons of fun yard games, shuffleboard, bocce, Snowbound (a holiday pop-up bar for adults at Christmastime), and of course, their signature great food!

The North Kansas City location is smaller but packs all the punch into its footprint with indoor and outdoor pickleball courts, Snowbound (the adults-only holiday pop-up bar), and, as the original location, their full delicious menu.

In addition to these local locations, they now have locations in Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and more coming soon.

Pickleball Courts

Pickleball - what on earth is it? And, why is it called pickleball?

A few years ago, no one had heard of Pickleball. Then, Chicken N Pickle showed up in Kansas City, and seemingly overnight the sport became all the rage. Kids were playing it. Parents were playing it. Grandparents were playing it. Everyone loves pickleball.

The game is a cross between table tennis, whiffle ball, and full-court tennis. Many players come and follow the official pickleball rules, and others make up their own games as they go along. However you play it, the game is accessible and easy to learn for even the unathletic types making it a great sport for easy and fun social gatherings. 

If you're curious (as I was) about the history of the sport and its name, you may want to check out this interesting article from Pickleball Magazine.

Both locations offer indoor and outdoor courts. There is indoor and outdoor seating so you may enjoy food while you play.  Reservations are accepted for courts up to two weeks in advance, with walk-up reservations available as well. Players reserve courts for one hour of playtime per session and may bring their own pickleball equipment or rent it on-site.

For Newbies, you can sign up for a newbie night with onsite instruction, or clinics and camps, including Youth Pickleball Clinics and School Break Camps. For Pickleball enthusiasts, Chicken N Pickle hosts seasonal leagues and monthly tournaments. Info at https://chickennpickle.com/camps-and-clinics/

Ice Skating (Overland Park Location Only)

Offering the most affordable daytime skate rates in town, Chicken N Pickle offers fun on their Ice Pond all season long. With outdoor seating, you can even enjoy your food rink-side. Check their calendar for family skates, character skates, ice hockey, and holiday skate parties. The rink is open, weather permitting, through February. Starting Jan. 9, 2023, they'll offer skate clinics for 2-hour sessions for no additional fee (skate pass and rental or bring own skates still applies). Reservations are not required for open skate sessions. Info at: chickennpickle.com/overland-park/ice-pond/

Snowbound

An annual tradition, Chicken N Pickle hosts Snowbound their seasonal holiday pop-up bar for guests 21+ (both locations). Reservations are required for two-hour flights. Enjoy a menu featuring three small bites and eight festive cocktails. Last year, my husband and I checked out Snowbound at the North KC location, enjoying the retro vibe as the entire space is decorated as a vintage ski lodge bursting with holiday decor. The creative cocktails and apps were great  - making this a fun spot for a date night or a group gathering. Snowbound: A Merry Ski Lodge is open thru New Year's Eve (closed Christmas Day).

Ski Passes: $15 per person. Tables accommodate parties of 2, 3, 4, and 6 people, and the reservation fee covers your stay for up to two hours in Snowbound. The fee also includes a small bites buffet of Spinach Artichoke Dip, Meatballs & Holiday Snack Mix. Make a reservation today: North KC Snowbound, Overland Park Snowbound.

Great Events

Chicken N Pickle hosts great events all year long including Brunch and Skate with Santa, Bingo, Trivia, Tournaments, Watch Parties, a Mystery Dinner (in February), and more. During their weekly Brunch and Bingo (Bingo is free to play), they award great prizes to winners. Their family-friendly events are featured on KCParent.com's calendar here.  

Tons of Fun

In addition to pickleball, the Overland Park location also boasts shuffleboard, bocce, cornhole, and a variety of fun yard games. All ages enjoy the fun atmosphere - you may even bring your pet dog (just not inside the restaurant) to enjoy the fun. Doggy Days are offered periodically throughout the year where guests may enjoy drinks and food on the patio with their favorite furry best friend.

Delicious Food

I've enjoyed every meal I've eaten at Chicken N Pickle. With locally sourced food (as much as possible) and a chef-prepared menu, this isn't your typical bar food. On my recent visit, I tried the North KC Chicken Sandwich (which packs just the right amount of heat) - I highly recommend it! Their menu is affordable and parents will love the pricing and quality of the kid's meals. Check for daily specials including Taco Tuesdays, Pot Pie Wednesdays (seasonal), and more. The menu at: https://chickennpickle.com/kc/menu/

All Around Good Times

In addition to all the fun, Chicken N Pickle believes in giving back to the community. Chicken N Pickle's Community Engagement program is strong. Every two weeks they sponsor a new Community Cups Campaign with specially designed cups supporting local charities - the proceeds benefit the recipient organization and the cups are a great reminder for patrons to support great causes too. On Tuesdays, they host Give Back Night (with 10% of all sales donated to the charity of the week). They also host Charity Bingo Nights and other events to support local causes. Learn more about their charitable work here:  https://chickennpickle.com/kc/our-hearts-are-local/

Chicken N Pickle is a great place for a date night, a family hang-out, or a party. They host parties and celebrations for groups of 20-2000 people - you name it, they can help you do it!

There's a reason Chicken N Pickle has become a favorite spot for locals - part of it is the food, part of it is the fun, part of it is the fabulously friendly atmosphere, and a lot of it is that CNP is truly a community place and patrons can feel it. Everyone loves hanging out in a place that feels like home.