Sophie Bennett
Knott's Berry Farm, one of the largest theme parks in the nation, was built on the popularity of its fried chicken dinners. Fried chicken was the most famous dish on the menu long before the boysenberry became synonymous with the park. The chicken dinner, which includes four pieces of chicken and a slice of pie, was initially priced at 65 cents. Today, the same meal costs $26.50.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost of chicken dinner in 1934 | 65 cents |
| Current cost of chicken dinner | $26.50 |
| Number of pieces of chicken in the dinner | 4 |
| Number of fried chickens served on a busy weekend | 2,500 |
| Number of pounds of chicken served annually | 2 million |
| Seating capacity | 900 |
| Popularity of chicken | 90% of customers order chicken |
| Other dishes offered | Burgers, pasta, fish, BBQ pork, steak, etc. |
| Other types of chicken dishes offered | Roasted chicken, chicken with waffles or dumplings, tenders, wings, sliders, pot pie, plant-based chicken |
| Side dishes | Handmade biscuits, cup of soup, side salad, cherry rhubarb, mashed potatoes, corn or cabbage |
| Dessert options | Boysenberry or apple pie |
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What You'll Learn
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant's history
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant, located just outside the Knott's Berry Farm main gate, has been a staple of Buena Park since 1934. The restaurant first opened its doors to the public on June 13, 1934, with Mrs. Cordelia Knott and her children serving eight chicken dinners on her wedding china at 65 cents apiece. The restaurant has grown over the years into one of the largest in California, serving an average of 1,000 chicken meals a day, with 2,500 fried chickens served on busy weekends and up to 2 million pounds of chicken per year.
The classic fried chicken dinner is still made using Mrs. Knott's original recipe, with the meal including four pieces of chicken and a slice of pie for $26.50. The restaurant also offers other dishes such as burgers, pasta, fish, BBQ pork, and steak, but 90% of customers still order chicken. You can get your chicken fried, roasted, with waffles or dumplings, as tenders, wings, or on a slider, in a pot pie, and even as a plant-based option.
The restaurant's decor pays homage to the Garden Dining Room that preceded it, with a rustic and modern farmhouse theme. The large dining room to the right of the entrance is inspired by Mrs. Knott's kitchen pantry, and the restaurant also features a full-service bar serving signature boysenberry-infused cocktails.
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant has become an iconic and cherished landmark in Orange County, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2024 with a series of fried chicken feasts and special offerings. The restaurant has played a significant role in the growth of Knott's Berry Farm, which began as a roadside berry stand and chicken dinner restaurant and has now become one of the nation's largest theme parks, attracting millions of visitors each year.
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Chicken dinner price in 1934
In 1934, Cordelia Knott served her now-famous fried chicken dinners for the first time at her family's roadside produce market. The chicken dinners cost 65 cents each and were served on Cordelia's wedding china. The dinners included a salad, a side of rhubarb, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, and a slice of berry pie.
The story of Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm began during the Great Depression. To keep their berry farm in business, Walter and Cordelia Knott sold their goods at a roadside stand along Highway 39. They also sold homemade jams and jellies, but it wasn't enough to support their growing family.
So, on June 13, 1934, they added four tables to their tea room, and Cordelia served her first chicken dinners to guests. That day, they sold eight chicken dinners, and it marked the beginning of something big. By the end of 1934, they expanded their seating to accommodate twenty people, and the tea room soon became a full-fledged restaurant with room for 350 people.
The classic fried chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm is still made using Mrs. Knott's original recipe, and the restaurant has grown into one of California's largest. Today, it serves over 1.5 million guests each year and up to 2 million pounds of chicken annually.
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Current chicken dinner price
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm first opened in 1934, with Mrs. Knott and her children serving the first customers in their tea room. The restaurant has grown into one of California's largest, but the classic fried chicken dinner is still made using Mrs. Knott's original recipe.
The chicken dinner includes handmade biscuits, a cup of soup, a side salad, cherry rhubarb, four pieces of fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and a choice of corn or cabbage. For dessert, you can choose between boysenberry or apple pie.
In 2020, Mrs. Knott's Famous Chicken Sliders were priced at $11.99, and Chicken Tenders were $13.99. A whole chicken dinner was $26.50.
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant serves 2,500 fried chickens on a busy weekend and up to 2 million pounds of chicken per year. It is the world's largest single-location chicken restaurant, with seating for nearly 900 people.
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What's included in the chicken dinner
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at Knott's Berry Farm has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1934. The classic fried chicken dinner, priced at $26.50, includes four pieces of chicken and a slice of pie. The original meal, served on Cordelia Knott's wedding china, consisted of fried chicken, a salad, a side of rhubarb, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, and a slice of berry pie. Today, the chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm includes handmade biscuits, a cup of soup, a side salad and/or cherry rhubarb, four pieces of fried or roasted chicken with mashed potatoes, and a choice between corn or cabbage. For dessert, diners can choose between boysenberry or apple pie.
The restaurant offers a nostalgic dining experience with generous portions. While the famous fried chicken dinner is a highlight for many, other dishes are also available, such as burgers, pasta, fish, BBQ pork, and steak. The boysenberry pie, in particular, is a popular dessert option. The full-service bar serves signature boysenberry-infused cocktails, and the décor pays homage to the Garden Dining Room, with a rustic yet modern farmhouse theme.
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant has grown into one of California's largest restaurants, serving 2,500 fried chickens on a busy weekend and up to 2 million pounds of chicken per year. It has become a beloved establishment, celebrating its 90th anniversary with a series of fried chicken feasts and special events. The restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, with the latter providing beautiful views of the California Marketplace fountain and the popular GhostRider roller coaster.
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Other menu items
While fried chicken is the most famous dish at Knott's Berry Farm, there are many other menu items available at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. The restaurant has grown into one of the largest in California, but it still serves classic fried chicken made using Mrs. Knott's original recipes.
The restaurant offers a nostalgic dining experience with generous portions. In addition to its famous fried chicken, Mrs. Knott's serves chicken roasted, with waffles or dumplings, as tenders, wings, or on a slider, in a pot pie, and even as plant-based 'chicken'. Burgers, pasta, fish, BBQ pork, and steak are also available, but 90% of customers still order chicken.
Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant first opened in 1934, serving hot biscuits, sandwiches, homemade pies, and preserves made from the family farm's signature boysenberries. Today, a complete chicken dinner includes handmade biscuits, a cup of soup, a side salad, four pieces of fried chicken with mashed potatoes, and a choice of corn or cabbage. For dessert, diners can choose between boysenberry or apple pie.
The restaurant also serves breakfast, with options such as omelets, toast, hash browns, cereal, and seasonal fruit.
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Frequently asked questions
A chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm, also known as Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner, costs $26.50. The dinner includes four pieces of chicken and a slice of pie.
The chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm includes four pieces of fried chicken, a cup of soup, a side salad, cherry rhubarb, mashed potatoes, and a choice between corn or cabbage. For dessert, you can choose between boysenberry or apple pie.
The chicken dinner at Knott's Berry Farm dates back to 1934 when Mrs. Knott and her children first started serving customers in their tea room. The original price of the chicken dinner was 65 cents, and it included salad, a side of rhubarb, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, and a slice of berry pie. The classic fried chicken dinner is still made using Mrs. Knott's original recipe.
