Kick's Chicken Cafe Review - Fresh and Casual Fare

By Heidi Prahl

Kick’s Chicken Cafe Review – Fresh & Casual Fare

Kick’s Chicken Cafe is truly a Naperville GEM! It combines the best parts of cafes that everyone loves with today’s modern dining,. Homemade sauces, soups, dressings, mashed potatoes and gravy are just a few of the things that make this restaurant so unique. We quickly realized we were in for a very special experience! The service at Kick’s Chicken Cafe, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, is friendly and quick. The menu is clear and descriptive, with a lot of options, no matter your dietary preferences or requirements, from broasted chicken to grilled chicken options. Literally something for everyone!! Dining is casual and comfortable, and the atmosphere is upbeat with lots of good energy! There are plenty of seating options including tables and booths. We quickly noted that “Back to the Future” was playing on one of the TV’s, which was instantly scored big points with our two teen sons.

We started with the Santa Fe Chicken Salad which turned out to be the biggest surprise. Normally, when we dine out, and I order a salad, I feel like I’m secretly missing out on something. Not with this salad. Chopped romaine, red onions, pinto beans, roasted corn and cilantro are just a few things that make up the base of the salad. It’s topped with amazingly seasoned pulled chicken, tortilla strips, and Monterey Jack cheese. You get the pleasant surprise of a homemade chili lime vinaigrette that is just the most perfect and unexpected addition. It’s light and fresh and just makes the salad pop in a way that makes it feel like a real treat!! Add to that, a drizzle of homemade Chipotle Ranch dressing and a side of Garlic Focaccia Kick’s Sticks and your taste buds are in for a joyride!! No feeling deprived when you order this salad!!

We also had the privilege of trying the house made Chicken Tortilla Soup. It’s one of the best sellers at Kick’s Chicken Cafe, and we quickly realized why. A nice thick, creamy soup with just the right amount of kick to it, chunks of hand pulled chicken and a swirl of sour cream along with some crispy tortilla strips. Perfect on the 90 degree day we were there, but will also be perfect on harsh Chicago winter days! (Extra bonus…they DELIVER!!! Instant gratification and I can stay in my jammies!)

We tried the Chicken Strips with French Fries and honey mustard sauce. Not just your average strips! Deliciously breaded tender chicken strips and perfectly seasoned fries. Back to those homemade sauces again…the honey mustard is outstanding! Perfectly sweet and tangy!

The Chicken Ceasar wrap comes with your choice of grilled or breaded chicken. I opted for the grilled chicken, although the breaded chicken was VERY tempting! The Caesar wrap consists of a tender tortilla FILLED with chunks of grilled chicken, shredded lettuce, Caesar dressing AND, my favorite addition, croutons! Another surprise addition that just sets Kick’s food apart from others. For my choice of side I chose the onion straws. Wow!! Perfectly seasoned, thin and crispy…and did I mention…ADDICTING!! (The wrap is huge! I took half home and had the rest for lunch the next day. It stayed fresh and crisp and didn’t get soggy at all! Impressive!!)

Enter the BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich and Homemade Macaroni and Cheese. Honestly, there are no words! The pulled chicken is perfectly bathed in barbecue sauce that is sweet and thick and rich and tangy, just as you’d expect. Served on a (delivered fresh each day!) Turano hoagie bun. If that’s not enough they add those delicious onion straws and dijon mayo and Monterey Jack cheese, with an extra cup of BBQ on the side. And the mac n’ cheese? Honestly, this is the BEST cheese sauce I’ve ever had. Thick, creamy, ribbons of cheese sauce cover fresh noodles. Luckily you can get this as a side OR you can get a family size. (No one said you need to share!)

We rounded off our lunch with a side of the Roasted Corn, sweet, buttery, peppery, and roasted to perfection, and the Homemade Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. There’s no doubt that these are handmade and they are fantastic! With so many good options to choose as your side, it’s hard to pick just one. (and, as you can see, we didn’t choose just one for each entree. As a bonus you can purchase sides separately and in Family Size!)

Our visit to Kick’s Chicken Cafe was memorable, for sure! Ken, the manager is passionate about the restaurant and the food they serve! He takes pride in the selection they offer, the homemade options that set them apart from other places and the atmosphere itself, and with good reason!! We not only had a fantastic lunch, we found a new regular “go to” spot, along with a new “It’s Tuesday night at 5:30 and I didn’t take anything out for dinner, we should order something” place. I’m already making a mental game plan for our next visit!