I tend to think of Kansas as beef country but as a photographer, I’ve been asked to shoot many more fried chicken restaurants in Kansas than steak houses. A few of my favorites have been the Brookville Hotel (pictured here) in Abilene, the Carriage Crossing in Yoder, the Hays House in Council Grove and of course the “feuding” Chicken Annies and Chicken Marys near Pittsburg. They’re each great in their own way and perhaps their differences are what makes each of them greater still. I know there are others – the Chicken House in Olpe and Tevis in Topeka, for instance – where’s your favorite?
-Michael
I agree, great fried chicken is tough to beat! One of my most memorable family dinners was at the Brookville Hotel, in the original location in Brookville. What a homey, stay-awhile feeling you’d get, while devouring that delicious chicken and all the fixings. Another place I like to eat fried chicken is the Hickory Tree in Smolan, south of Salina just off I-135. It’s only open on weekends, and it’s located in an old schoolhouse. There you can eat to your heart’s content, not just chicken but also ribs, roast beef, etc. etc.! How lucky we are to have these family-run places in our state!