First, amazing food as usual. Tried the stuffing for the first time; it was delicious. We had a huge problem in which George and Kayley (sp?) were a tremendous help, going above and beyond. There was a huge downpour while we were eating. Somehow all our car windows, including the moon roof opened fully on their own! Our waitress alerted the manager, who went out in the rain to help my husband secure a garbage bag over the top (all the other windows closed, but moon roof wouldn't). They sealed up the inside with tape and we were able to get home without incident. Thank you George and Kayley. read more

Food service and ambiance is all top notch! The best chicken anywhere! I've been going here since 1967 and it has never disappointed.

I absolutely love this place! The chicken dumpling soup is amazing, and they have a solid menu as well They offer a buffet (for lunch) too! read more

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket - American Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

Some of the best home-cooked food in the area. Love the chicken, biscuits and fritters, along with so many other great options. Service is always welcoming and friendly and a comfortable atmosphere to enjoy! read more

So much to see in this restaurant. Love the RT.66 nostalgia. I came here because of a Jeep event, very cool place. Had never heard of it before. SO glad the Jeep event brought us here. The food was really good & service was super nice & attentive. Chicken had great flavor and love the breading. The drinks were really good too. Highly recommend this cute spot. read more

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A really lovely family place. Food is good and portions generous. Have holidays and special occasion events...very nice to save mom cooking time and service was excellent despite being extremely busy. Casual and welcoming. read more

Iconic This place is a blast from the past. Lots of nostalgia. This restaurant is right off Rt 55. For those that aren't old enough to know, Rt 55 used to be the infamous Rt 66. You still may not know what that means. Rt 66 is an old but famous highway built in 1926 at the early years of families owning cars. This highway started in Chicago and went all the way to Los Angeles. Back in the 90's I drove what was left of Rt 66 from Chicago to Arizona, and then to Los Angeles. In the 90's it had partially been rebuilt to different / new highways, but there were still many parts of Rt 66 you could drive on. Even back then it was crumbling road but had so many roadside dinners and motels. Anyway, Dell Rhea's Chicken has been around since 1946, right off Rt 66. Most restaurants off Rt 66 were iconic in that people would stop frequently at these dinners as part of their journey. Rt 66 may not have survived, but Dell Rhea's certainly did. They survived because they have amazing fried chicken. I'm not going to go into detail about the chicken because you'll have to try it for yourself. I will say that you should plan on being here for a couple hours so you can see all the Rt 66 memorabilia and pictures, and you can take your own pictures. read more

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Stopped here for their Sunday buffet and it was very tasty. The service was great and the food hot and fresh. Hush puppies and chicken took up most of my plate. I really enjoyed the salad bar. They had dark green lettuce mixed in with the iceberg which I like. So many times restaurants use only iceberg. Bean salad and coleslaw were tasty. read more

we have loved Dell Rheas for a very long time. We travel over and hour and half for the chicken livers. last nights dinner was horrible. The biscuits were hard and cold and not fluffy at all. The chicken liver were burnt and all dried out. last nights experience was horrible i doubt we will be traveling there again and will not be recommending this restaurant. read more

A favorite when traveling across Route 66 near Chicago--perfect, juicy chicken with all the fixings. A couple of chef friends raved about this restaurant so we had to go! The service was helpful and friendly, like an indoor picnic, where everyone was happy. Gingham table cloths, buffet entrees and sides, salad, and dessert stations. Help yourself or order al a carte of the menu. Friendly neighbor patrons and gracious service. Thanks for a memorable Sunday dinner with family! read more

This nostalgic Route 66 icon is a throwback to the 1940s. Known for traditional fried chicken dinners, they've expanded their menu over the years and they currently offer a weekday lunch buffet. I went with a group of friends for the buffet. We were wowed. At just $15.99, this was an excellent value that included everything except beverage. Both fried and roasted chicken were on the buffet that day. I must admit that I like both versions equally, the well-seasoned roasted chicken having crispy skin. Even the BBQ chicken pizza was rather good. All items on the buffet were replenished frequently. I also wanted some chicken to take home. No problem, carryout from the buffet is a reasonable $6.99 per pound. The restaurant was short of staff that day, so the manager rolled up his sleeves and pitched in. The servers were friendly and accommodating. It's always a treat to view this restaurant's display of Route 66 memorabilia and tchicken tchotchkes. read more

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Lunch buffet for $19 daily or 9.99 per pound Togo! They have a variety of options, their famous chicken is available with the buffet as well as soup and salad bar. We got to sample almost everything in just over a pound. The food was good, pretty standard American food, the chicken I think was the best part - super juicy and fresh. They did have a 30 min wait for dine in so we chose to take our buffet to go! read more

Our version of a Wisconsin supper club. This is not haute cuisine. But it is delicious chicken served in a comfortable atmosphere with zero pretension. Just a lot of families looking to enjoy themselves with a tasty meal, good company and at a very reasonable price. Good soup/salad bar and my favorite chicken in the world. I have been coming to this restaurant for 60 years. It's gone through ups and downs over the years but the chicken remains the jewel. Still juicy and delicious! Great service and good, reasonable cocktails too! read more

Have been going to Dell Rhea's for several years now and love the food and our regular server ("Yessi, i think?) who, only after our second visit almost a year later remembered us! Last night, unfortunately we had a very unpleasant experience. Apparently they closed due to impending bad weather (the second such storm to pass through the area within 1 to 2 hours). When we arrived just before 8PM, there were paper signs indicating they were closed "to keep their chicks safe". It was confusing because there were a fairly large number of parties sitting and eating in the dining room. Thinking the signs might be from the earlier storm, we decided to try the outer vestibule door just to inquire. We were quickly greeted by a young man who was nothing short of SNARKY. I started to ask if they were open and he spoke over me "WE'RE CLOSED!!!" I said OK we were just making sure to which he admonished me for not reading the rather cryptic paper sign. My wife quietly said that we were just checking to make sure because we saw so many people still dining. He rudely responded to her that once they were finally done eating they were all going for the night (NOBODY gets to be rude to my quiet, considerate wife!!!). I don't have a problem with closing due to weather but his manner of handling this was uncalled for. We are an older couple who left a volunteer event as quickly as possible so we weren't arriving just as the restaurant was closing. The problem was his attitude and tone of voice, he was VERY put out for us even trying to clarify that they were, in fact, closed... completely inexcusable!!! We have recommended this place to so many people in our volunteer community and most recently to customers visiting our business near O'Hare all the way from Bloomington who sat at my desk and wrote out in advance what they were going to order from the online menu! It's also concerning that my FB post from last night regarding this is nowhere to be found this morning! Those recommendations, if ever, will come hard and if they do resume, they'll come with a strong warning about this unprecedented awful customer service experience. By the way, 10 minutes later the longtime shift manager at the Willowbrook Portillo's subsequently treated us like old friends even though we had NEVER visited that location! DO BETTER IN THE FUTURE, DELL RHEAS!!! You can erode decades of great service acting like this!!! read more

Simply the best. I've been coming here since I was a child. It's been a while since I've been in, but came here with my family and everything was just as good, if not better than I remembered it. We love the building (50s style diner), and how warm and cozy it is inside. The staff was amazing, the soul & salad bar is SO GOOD!, they had a dinner buffet when we came in (on a Sunday night). We didn't get the buffet but it did look delicious. We got the famous chicken dinner, and even the baby approved. We will be back! read more

The food was so delicious and the hospitality was excellent. There were plenty of options available. read more

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket - Morning buffet. - American Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

GREAT food, but be warned: the chicken takes 30 minutes!! I stopped by on the way back to Chicago after running an errand in the area, and what I thought was going to be a quick solo meal ended up being a 30 minute wait and having to get the meal to go. I reheated it in the air fryer once I eventually got home, and it HIT. The staff was so wonderful and kind, and the place had a homey feel. A great place for a casual meal with friends and family! read more

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I have been wanting to go to Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket for so long and finally the time has come! My husband and I went here yesterday and had a 5pm reservation. It wasn't too busy at first, but around 5:30, the place was packed! Reservations are reccomended, so definitely snag one. The staff was so kind and welcoming from the moment we walked in to the moment we left. Our server was super nice as well and prompt. The inside is cozy with a fireplace and has super cute decor. They also have some antique items and are true to their roots. We ordered the fried chicken dinner and roasted chicken dinner. Each dinner was $19.99. Both dinners came with their soup and salad bar. The soup and salad bar is AMAZING! They had cream of chicken soup, chicken and dumpling soup, fresh greens with SO many toppings to choose from, homemade salad dressings, relishes, pasta, etc. We LOVED the salad bar. So fresh and so many good flavors! We both appreciate how everything is homemade here. Now onto the most important part and star of the show...the CHICKEN! The fried chicken had a simple light breading on it that was flavorful and crispy. The roasted chicken was super tender and seasoned perfectly. The green beans were good and the homemade mashed potatoes were excellent with their house made gravy. We were VERY satisfied with our full bellies. There is definitely a reason this establishment has been open since 1946. They are doing everything right! I wish there was another option to give more than 5 stars. Hands down, one of the BEST restaurants around! read more

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Parking was easy and plentiful. They open at 11am and by 11:20am it was nearly full. Tells you a lot about the place. They have menu options that fill all your chicken and rib needs. On the other hand they have a buffet for $17.99 and that is what we opt to do. It was a great choice. We are not buffet people but I'm glad we did it. The chicken was DELICIOUS! Corn fritter was perfect the biscuits were a little dry but still tasty. Service was quick and attentive and the owners were present. The decor was 40/50s gas station vibes and the was right up my alley. The back has a cozy gather area that looks like it can seat up the 30 or 40 comfortably. If you love to spend some money they have a few gambling games in the back. Overall we will be back for them delicious looking ribs. Sorry forgot the picture! read more

Been going here for many many many years chickens always good food's always good service is always excellent. Big complain is they put too many tables together too close so when they have buffets it's hard to get around people, but it's a family business and I support family business all the way. read more

GREAT service!! The famous fried chicken is good, but their French fries are even better! Caution: the chicken and fries are extremely hot and they stay that way for a while. Also, we started with the corn fritters, so delicious with the honey! The chicken meals come with four pieces and we dearly wished we had split one. We took the leftovers but will probably throw them away. Addendum: The leftovers were our dinner that night and it still tasted great! read more

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket - We're here! - American Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

*** I've Been a Dell Rhea's Customer Since 1979... This Historic Restaurant Has The BEST Fried Chicken Dinner And Customer Service within The Chicagoland Area!!! (BAR NONE) read more

Christmas Eve 2024. Ordered meals to go for 4 people. Pick up time at 4:00. Still standing here 45 minutes later. Why set a pick up time if you're not going to honor it?? read more

Hmmm. This place was so highly recommended, but really was disappointing. I tried a lot of their dishes. The "fried chicken" was kinda like unseasoned shake and bake, kinda small birds, and kinda dry. The mashed potatoes were real and good, the sausage gravy was good. Sweet potatoes were ok. Biscuits were not biscuits to me, but that may be cultural. Server was wonderful, and got me a fresh fried chicken thigh. It was better than what I had been served, but still not very good. I guess my South Louisiana tastes are different from Chicagoland tastes. My local guest LOVED it. They wouldn't make it one weekend in Louisiana, but they've lasted 70+ years in Chicago. Glad they're successful, but they sure don't cook to my taste! read more

I had a good time, the food and manager was really great and so was the staff and I would've given a 5 star review but I noticed whom I would think was the owner just berating and belittling the manager, needless to say I won't be coming back because I spent 20 years in the restaurant industry myself and that is so wrong to treat your employee like that let alone the manager in that way. Extremely unprofessional. read more

Good food, but their reputation far exceeds the value. We placed an order to go here as we were heading down the street to a local brewery. We ordered a turkey sandwich, chicken and waffles and a blackened chicken sandwich, along with corn fritters and soft drifts. Each of us liked our sandwich and fries..no complaints there. The corn fritters were kind of off. White Fence Farm has a much better version. The soft drinks were in baby sippy cups, which irritated us as they charged us for full size adult drinks. But because they were out of to-go cups, this is what we got. If that's the case you don't charge the customer for them, but they did and didn't bother to say that. The food we bought was easily overpriced by about $20. Again, we liked what we ordered, but the price just doesn't warrant a return trip. read more

How good must a place be to be hidden behind an industrial park with no traffic and be there for decades... Well it's pretty clucking good. Built on what was the old RT.66 and bypassed decades ago this amazing spot had not only endured but has thrived! The chicken is always hot and fresh cooked to order. The tenders are large and juicy and the appetizers are large. The staff is friendly and very attentive with the management involved. In fact they have a holiday buffet for everything but Christmas and just got a table for Easter read more

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket - American Near Me - Willowbrook, Illinois

The fried chicken is of course delicious and the service has always been great until a week ago. Had a server who is typically a food runner who clearly doesn't understand or care what it means to provide good service. Very quiet evening for them, only four tables had guests, we ordered very simple food. After 40 minutes no food had arrived and the server couldn't be found. She finally brought it ten minutes later with no clue that we were upset. A week earlier we had essentially the same meal, also a quiet night for them and it was on our table in 20 minutes. The manager was unapologetic and ended up taking 10% off of each meal. A whopping 2.20. We won't be back, but If you go, ask for Vicky- she's pretty amazing. read more

Terrible food and service. Went there with my in-laws and wanted to like it. The servers are very rude and entitled - thought it was a joke at first on how crappy the service was. Then the food came. The chicken has a weird old oil flavor, zero seasoning and leaves a slimy taste in your mouth. They won't let you order sides. Very weird. The server literally said, "I am doing you a favor by letting you add a piece of chicken to your salad". Mind you....its very expensive and they were making like $12 off one small chicken breast add but stated three times how she was doing us a favor. It's a dirty diner feel - and normally these are the places with awesome food and service. Unfortunately neither were worth it. We left for 4 people (2 adults and 2 little kids) and a $125.00 later - we were left disappointed and feeling very mistreated. HIGHLY RECOMMEND AVOIDING THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS. read more

Great experience and good along with excellent service. Go there regularly for years.

Came in one weeknight. One of the employees said let me just clean off a table for you. Couple minutes later she came back and said it's gonna be half an hour. Soured the place for us and we left. Had food from there previously and it was good. Decor is kinda cool but probably just do to go from now on. read more

This is a classic joint. I feel like they just keep getting better over the past few years. A handful of years ago, not a big fan. Now, they keep doing it right. We are talking basic meat and potatoes type of place BUT, they are doing a great job of it. The servers are great and the place is always clean. They have a room that is their bar, with plenty of seating, in case there is a game or live entertainment. They also have a main dining area. They have a fried chicken sandwich that is juicy and tasty. They have a special sauce with it that has chunks of pickle in it. (I order the double of that sandwich in order to eat the second piece for lunch the next day.). The parking in front can be hard BUT they have plenty of parking on the sides. read more

We arrived 10 mins before open.. they were already starting to be busy.. they have a Sunday lunch buffet that was overflowing with chicken and many other appealing items. We were sat immediately and chose the buffet that included salad bar, buffet and a few dessert items for $21.99. Although I enjoyed everything I had from the buffet, the food coming out off the menu looked AMAZING! I can't wait to go back and try an entree. There's a big dining room with lots of tables.. it was more than half full 10mins after they opened. The bar area looked quiet and mostly inviting. read more