Chicken Mary’s
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
In Yale, the customer doesn’t have to cross the road to get to the other chicken restaurant — it’s right next door.
Two chicken houses are pretty much side by side in what’s left of Yale, an old coal mining community about five miles north of Pittsburg near U.S. 69. At the highway intersection, billboards point to the east, one sign advertises Chicken Annie’s, the other Chicken Mary’s.
The restaurants have similar beginnings; both were started during the mining days. One restaurant is the Pichler family’s story; the other is the Zerngast story.
In the 1930s, Ann Pichler’s husband was hurt in the mines, so Ann started cooking to support the family. In the 1940s, Mary Zerngast’s husband was no longer able to work in the mines, so Mary started cooking.
Both fried chicken places have flourished, and there are four other well-established and popular fried chicken restaurants in Crawford County. Grouped together, these six restaurants were one of the eight winners of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s Eight Wonders of Kansas Cuisine contest.
Dave and I have driven through this region several times over the past few years at lunch time, but Sunday is the only day of the week these two restaurants are open for the noon meal. They cater to the evening crowd.
We had been so close, but yet so far.
On our recent trip to Franklin for a Kansas Explorers event, however, by late afternoon we were still in the area. Luckily for us, dinnertime starts at 4 p.m. at both Chicken Mary’s and Chicken Annie’s.
From U.S. 69, which is also the Frontier Military Scenic Byway, Dave and I followed a paved county road east about three miles. We pulled into the parking lot at the first restaurant, Chicken Mary’s. It was shortly after 4 p.m. and already a dozen people were walking toward the building. We stood in line just briefly as customers before us were seated.
Mary’s has plenty of room. There are several large dining areas with tables and booths. It’s not a fancy place, there are no crisp white tablecloths like you’ll find at Abilene’s Brookville Hotel. No china here either; meals are served on Melamine plates.
The restaurant moved to this building in 1966. It is decorated in earth tones with chicken wallpaper and wood paneling. I heard country music playing softly in the background.
In March, the “Food Wars” TV show aired a taste contest between Chicken Annie’s and Chicken Mary’s and the show did its best to create tension and drama between the fans of these two adjacent restaurants. “Food Wars” declared Chicken Annie’s as the winner.
Although ordering fowl is not my first inclination when I am handed a menu, I decided fried chicken was required for one’s first visit here and I ordered a thigh. As the two side dishes, I chose applesauce and German potato salad, which is odd, because I love mashed potatoes and gravy. But, I hadn’t had German potato salad for a long time.
The chicken was excellent. It had a very tasting coating, and it was crunchy. I’d say it was more crunchy than crispy. And the meat was juicy. So, thumbs up to Chicken Mary’s. I liked it a lot.
As far as side dishes go, the German potato salad had too much vinegar for me and no bacon as far as I could tell. So next time I’d definitely go with the mashed potatoes and gravy.
Dave and I were finishing up our meals when fellow Emporians Tom and Florence Haskett walked into the dining room. The Hasketts had also been to the Kansas Explorers Club meeting and, like us, were drawn to Chicken Mary’s. We stopped at their table on the way out and told them that we had enjoyed the fried chicken.
Now, Dave and I will have to arrange another trip to the southeast corner of the state to give Chicken Annie’s a shot.
- Chicken Mary’s is located at 1133 E. 600 Rd., Pittsburg, (620) 231-9510; Chicken Annie’s is at 1143 E. 600 Road, Pittsburg, (620) 231-9460. The hours for both restaurants are the same: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Closed on Mondays. The trip is about 150 miles one way, so call to confirm hours before you go.
- “Flyover People” is online at www.flyoverpeople.net. Cheryl Unruh can be reached at cheryl@flyoverpeople.net.
workingmomma (anonymous) says...
Actually, on Food Wars, they named Chicken Mary's as the winner. I happen to be partial to Chicken Annie's and was disappointed by their verdict, but it was fun to watch.
July 27, 2010 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sherryh (anonymous) says...
We just tried Chicken Annies the other day! It was great....onion rings were AWESOME....oh yeah...the chicken was pretty good too =)
July 27, 2010 at 2:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cheryl (anonymous) says...
workingmomma, you are so right, I typed in the wrong place as the winner. Chicken Mary's won in "Food Wars."
July 27, 2010 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
Love hearing these two flurish. I have ate at both of them years ago when I lived in Chanute. I don't know who I would choose but each has their own twist to a great chicken experience.
July 27, 2010 at 3:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Some years ago one of them, I can not remember which, had a branch on South Hwy 99 at the airport turnoff. Did not last long. The metal bldg. has since been used for several other porposes
Edward McKernan
July 27, 2010 at 5:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Maximus (anonymous) says...
Shout out to our very own Chicken House in Olpe! Whoop, Whoop! Chicken and pie!
July 27, 2010 at 9:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Ed you are right and they had Gayle Sayers down for the grand opening but, they could not compete with Ople Chicken House. Shop Olpe first did the trick.
July 28, 2010 at 1:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eldiablo (anonymous) says...
Anyone who says they prefer Olpe Chicken House over Chicken Marys/Annies clearly has never had Chicken Marys/Annies.
There truly is no comparison.
August 1, 2010 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )