Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant
Knott's Berry Farm
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BUENA PARK, Calif. (2022) – You can’t talk about dining institutions in California without talking about Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Established in 1934, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant formed the basis of Knott’s Berry Farm and turned a roadside berry stand into one of the nation’s most popular family eateries. The restaurant is also recognized as one of Orange County’s most beloved historic landmarks.
The history of Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant really dates back to the 1920s when Walter and Cordelia Knott began farming 10 acres of leased land in the farm community of Buena Park. To make ends meet, Cordelia began serving hot biscuits and homemade preserves to customers of the family’s roadside produce stand. Word spread, and by 1934 it became necessary for Cordelia to expand her menu to include her country-fried chicken.
On her opening day in June 1934, Cordelia served eight 65-cent dinners on her own wedding china. By 1940, visitors were standing in line for hours to enjoy Walter’s boysenberries (developed at the Farm with the help of friend Rudolph Boysen) and Cordelia’s chicken. The challenge of entertaining the crowds led Walter to create an authentic Ghost Town on the property. America’s first “themed” amusement park had been born.
Today, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant serves an average of 1,000 chickens daily, making it one of the largest, full service, single location restaurant in the world with seating for 1,000 in eight separate dining rooms.
Mrs. Knott’s traditional chicken dinner hasn’t changed much since 1934 with its family-style dining that includes country-fried chicken; choice of cherry rhubarb appetizer or chicken noodle soup; tossed green salad; mashed potatoes and gravy; choice of kernel corn or cabbage with ham; all-you-can-eat buttermilk biscuits with butter and preserves; and choice of Mrs. Knott’s famous boysenberry pie, apple pie or boysenberry sherbet.
In 2016, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant underwent a complete refurbishment. The project helped to refresh and preserve the original dining room and bring cosmetic and thematic upgrades throughout the restaurant’s other dining areas. The restaurant features a new, welcoming lobby area, where diners will receive a text message when their table is ready to those who select the new form of notification and a new full service bar which will replace the restaurant’s Garden Room. Next door the Chicken To Go, counter service take out dining location, serves staples of the Chicken Dinner Restaurant menu.
For more information on all the exciting activities at Knott’s Berry Farm, visit www.knotts.com.
About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:
Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, three water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract. Visit knotts.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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