Kerbside pickup
Yes
Pop Up Chicken Shop in Bloomington
Categories
Location on the map
Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, US
Service options
Takeaway
Yes
Dine-in
Yes
Delivery
No
Health and safety
Staff required to disinfect surfaces between visits
Yes
Popular for
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Solo dining
Yes
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible seating
Yes
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Yes
Offerings
Comfort food
Yes
Quick bite
Yes
Dining options
Lunch
Yes
Dinner
Yes
Amenities
Good for kids
Yes
Toilets
Yes
Atmosphere
Casual
Yes
Crowd
Groups
Yes
Phone: +1 309-827-3999
Site: http://keepitpopup.com/
Site: http://keepitpopup.com/
Opening hours
- Monday:Closed
- Tuesday:11AM–4PM
- Wednesday:11AM–4PM
- Thursday:11AM–4PM
- Friday:11AM–4PM
- Saturday:11AM–4PM
- Sunday:Closed
Comments (199)
The hype is real! First time trying pop up. It was amazing. My wife and I enjoyed it and will certainly be back!
Being someone who travels for a living I love finding great places to eat wherever I go. Pop Up Chicken is one of those places. I have been there 3 times, getting a different menu item each time. They have all been fantastic. The medium spice on the chicken is just right, with a bit of burn but great flavor so it compliments the food. The staff is friendly, the place is clean. The prices are reasonable It is inside the VFW, so you can get a beer if you want. I highly recommend this restaurant.
I’ve been on the hunt for the best chicken sandwich for my entire life. I lose sleep every single night trying to think of the best one in the world. If only I started eating at pop up sooner. If you’re not eating a Sando for breakfast lunch and dinner you’re doing life wrong. The chicken is fried to perfection every single time with the perfect amount of crunch and juiciness. I would baptize my children in the pop up sauce if it was an option. The buns are toasted exquisitely with a soft top and a slight crunch. The gouda mac is the perfect side dish. The creamy cheese with the hint of spice is everything I need in life. Don’t forget about the bev. The lemonade is to die for and if you don’t get refills every time there is something wrong. Overall Pop Up Chicken Shop is tastes quite well
Amazing food & decent sized portions. The dill fries were the best fries I’ve ever had. Had the medium tendos & a hot sando. If you’re sensitive to spiciness I wouldn’t get either of those levels.
Very good chicken sandwich. One of the best ive ever had. As someone who likes spicy on everything, i struggled with the hot level of spice. Its on another level!
Incredible chicken sando. Their slaw and house sauce with the chicken was fire.Chicken and waffle was just okay (waffle felt soggy like it wasnt cooked for long enough). The butter on it was quite delicious.Dill fries were good.Fries pickles were far from great. Too much breading for me and low on flavor.
Great food at an affordable price!The chicken is very high quality and you can choose your preferred spice level. The mild is a great level with just a hint of spice. The sandwich is absolutely huge and you can taste the high quality meat. The chicken and waffles are also fantastic, the waffle is made with a cinnamon flavoring. For the waffles, you can choose either a chicken breast or wings. I would also try the mac and cheese (omg yum) along with the lemonade, which you can also flavor.This restaurant is located in the VFW hall. I visited here when Braize was in the same location, and it is so exciting to see the restaurants earn their own storefront after operating out of the hall. I wouldnt doubt this restaurant will eventually. They had a large number of carryout orders in addition to everyone eating in. I hope they stick around, because it was the best fried chicken Ive had in a long time! It by far beats out any chain competitors and we should be supporting these awesome local businesses. Thanks for a great meal!
Place has great food and prices. The line can get a bit long at times during the day, not their fault, but might impact times. Prices have raised a bit but still within reason
They have really awsome chicken when you walk into the crowded place and just see people take a bite wipe sweat take another bit their hot is no joke delicious
I had medium heat Nashville chicken (white meat), dill fries, and street corn. The chicken was good for my first time having Nashville chicken. I ate half of the chicken and all of fries, which were good with and without the dipping sauce. Also, they had the best restaurant lemonade, because I love tart lemonade. Because of drinking too much lemonade, I took the rest of the food home.
Pop Up Chicken Shop is truly a hidden gem in the BloNo area, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting the area or to those who already live in the area. A big thank-you to my dental hygienist for the recommendation. I had the Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles, which was delicious and with enough spice to make me tear up. As someone who loves spicy food it filled my cravings for something to challenge my love of spice. Of course there are lesser heat levels for those who do not like spicy food, or are not fond of the burn your mouth of flavor. I will say for as hot as it was it had complexity to the flavor not just heat, which can often happen in extremely spicy cuisine. The staff was great and very informative about each different level of spice, and they possessed great customer service skills. The selection on the menu was large enough that I feel anyone could eat there, but not so large that it would be overwhelming to someone who had never been to the restaurant. The presentation of the food is perfect and in the most casual way possible. The people who were dining in the establishment were a variety of ages and cultures, which is no surprise with the quality of food. Check out their Facebook page for more information on their daily offerings. Love supporting local business rather than large chains this is the place to go.
I was 2 hours away from home for a work event when a local suggested this place to me. He told me its literally a hole in the wall place. Well he wasnt kidding. But those are the best places! When I arrived there was already a line of 10 people before me. I got the chicken and waffles with a side of mac and cheese. It was delicious! I got medium on my chicken. It had good flavor but not much heat. I should have gotten hot. But it was great! Definitely recommend this place!
This restaurant was recommended to me and it lived up to her recommendations and more! While a bit of a challenge to find, you have to go through the VFW doors before getting to the restaurants door, its worth the hunt. The Sando sandwich was great, corn also awesome. A bar also exists with pool tables and darts. Lots of room, looks like a band could also play here.
This was my first visit to the Pop Up Chicken Shop. The staff was very helpful in helping us make a selection. The food was delicious and we were warned ahead of time to go early in case they run out. We did just that and watched the place fill up on a Monday lunch hour. The food was interesting. Very flavorful. I loved the sauce they used. We will go back.
Ive had this a couple time. Quality is excellent. Its all chicken obviously. They have heat levels. If you like hot, Id go with medium to start. Were backing down to mild. I also recommend the Gouda Mac & Cheese for an add on. Its excellent. Prompt service too.
This is a great place to eat. Everything on the menu is great. They usually have a rotating weekly special sandwich that is usually awesome. All of their sides are good. Its a limited menu but really all you need is the chicken sando & a couple sides like the fries & Mac & cheese. Only complaint is they are not open longer & in more locations around town. Make sure you either go for lunch or get there early before they close. Sometimes there is a line or a wait but plan for it & enjoy.
Great little lunch spot. The chicken is fantastic. Hubby got the Sando. He said two thumbs up. I had a chicken breast. Both were medium heat and yes, the heat was there. The street corn was a great side. I was ambivalent about the fried pickles. Otherwise, 10/10. Will return.
The chicken was Awesome, you can pick your level of spice from country to HotThe curly fries were good and the corn on the cob with sauce is great and there is beer.
I live in Champaign, and have specifically driven to Bloomington (with wife and kids in tow) just to eat here. Multiple times. We all agree its worth it. They make an extremely good chicken sandwich, and I appreciate their creativity with their weekly sandwich specials. Have I perused their Facebook page, seen a weekly special, and manufactured a reason to drive to Bloomington to eat lunch here? I confess I have...
Great chicken in an unexpected place! I ordered the Sando - a very generous boneless breaded chicken breast, topped with slaw and pickles. They ask what heat level you want; I went for the hot and they werent kidding, but the slaw balances it perfectly. No frills, good food. Would recommend the fried pickles!
The food is so amazing!! & customer service is A1. I would share a pic of the food but I already ate it so you’ll just have to take my word for it that it looked bomb as well. Coming all the way from STL & will be coming back for sure.
Delicious and unique sandwiches with genuinely spicy options including an off the menu version of their sauce which should speak to the serious chile heads. Good value, fairly quick, definitely friendly service and plenty of seating. Highly recommend.
This shop is definitely a spot. Very flavorful chicken. But recently they add way too much salt to the chickens. If only it was less saltier.
Great fried chicken and waffles. You get to choose the level of heat. Everything we tried was delicious.
Some of the best chicken in town!Arrive early, and you still may have to wait in line.Make sure to check the specials and you can see posts on Facebook.
The best chicken sandwiches Ive ever had. Their side dishes and desserts are also next level.
Phenomenal food at a great price! Regardless if I’m dining in or taking my order to-go, they’re very fast and efficient! The staff is also very friendly and welcoming which is great to see. I’ve had almost everything on their menu and you can’t go wrong anywhere, there’s no such thing as ‘ordering the wrong item.’ Every single item is an absolute BANGER, from their limited time weekly sandwiches/deserts, to their every day menu items, they’re all delicious. If you decide to dine-in, you’ll be very satisfied with the cleanliness of the establishment and the amount of seating. This is my absolute go-to restaurant that everyone must experience, any time I have family/friends fly in from out of State I drag them to Pop-Up Chicken and they can’t wait to go again when they come back. Thank you Pop-Up Chicken Shop for staying mad consistent with the quality in the food you serve and thank you to all of the great employees running the establishment! The community is extremely grateful.
Hi there- I know why you’re reading this. A pop-up chicken shop in a VFW? You think you’ve got better things to do with your time. Well I’ve got news for you, Walter Kronkite- you don’t. We indulged today on what I can honestly say was the most angelic breast of a chicken that fell directly from the Lord Himself into their deep fryer, was bathed in the most phenomenal “my nose ran like the Illinois river” hot sauce, and intricately decorated with some of the smoothest bleu cheese I’ve had in this dang state to eat. Eat there, you will. Leave happy, you will. Return to eat there again? GOSH DARN IT HECK YES YOU WILL. God bless this establishment and God bless America.
Stopped in for lunch today and our order was great as always! The chicken was all cooked perfectly along with the dill fries and Gouda macaroni and cheese! Definitely our favorite spot for amazing chicken!
It was great! I had the Crunchy Kale Salad W/ Pulled Chicken and Street Corn . The flavor combinations are delicious. This place is a gem, go see for yourself
Chicken breast voodoo? Maybe. I have never had such a juicy and flavorful piece of white meat fried chicken in my life. Add the Nashville hot and its heaven. I had the Korean BBQ sando today and it is really tasty! Hubby had the pulled chicken sando and it was also delicious. Ive never had anything I havent enjoyed here actually. The coleslaw, cornbread, Dill fries, and Mac and cheese are all good too! The employees are all very helpful and friendly, the dining area is kept really neat and tidy. I highly recommend!
Always love their food!! Fresh, and full of flavor!
The best chicken in town sometimes. Weve had it several times and its usually amazing but the last time we had it the chicken tenders were a lot smaller and overcooked. It would be 5 stars had it not been for our last order.
Best damn chicken sandwich Ive ever ate
The sandwiches would be good if they fried to order. Mine was not hot and it was dried out. I told them and they seemed very indifferent to the feedback. Probably give it another chance.
Food was delicious, recommend the Sando or Chicken and Waffles. The heat escalates pretty quickly as you go up the scale...
Best chicken sandwich in town, hands down. There specials are always good too
Awesome chicken, and if you like it REALLY spicy, ask them about their poultrygeist seasoning. Probably the spiciest food Ive ever gotten from a restaurant
I LOVE Pop Up Chicken Shop! I recently threw a birthday party for my friends and I am incredibly impressed with their catering service. Their responses were prompt, the food packaged well, and their attention to detail made the whole experience flow seamlessly. The staff clearly has a passion for their product and provided instructions for how to prep and serve the food to make sure everything tasted delicious. And trust me when I say that Pop Up Chicken Shop is the best chicken in central Illinois! They even were available for a quick reminder call right before the party started to make sure everything was good to go! I highly recommend and will be looking to them for future events!
Really good food at reasonable prices, and quick service, will return when Im in town again.
Awesome chicken wings!!!!! Come with an appetite because the portions are huge. I have only had the guts to try the mild but it is perfectly seasoned, just a nice layer of heat. You have to try this place!!!!!!
This is such a unique, yummy spot. The country chicken sando is my fave. It’s so juicy! Also, the gouda mac n cheese is delish as well as the corn bread! I love supporting local & Aaron is great! I definitely recommend checking this place out. You won’t be disappointed!
The best fried chicken sandwich of them all. I dont usually go for fried chicken sandwiches and I have a fantastic go-to grilled chicken sandwich at another place in town ... The Pop Up sandwich was a pandemic indulgence -- and it surpassed its hype. I recommend medium spicy. The kale salad was also a tasty surprise.
First time diner, and for Illinois hot chicken, it was great.
Very good fresh chicken with large portions. Chicken and waffles is my favorite so far.
So delicious! Sauces are great. Street corn and dill fries were super good. Fairly quick service. Great specials. Will definitely be back!
Consistently the only place my wife wants to go back to in Bloomington-Normal. Delicious fried chicken made fast. You cannot beat it.
Has the best chicken sandwich Ive had and a lunch meal will probably last you the whole day. More than worth the trip; just expect to pay over $10 per person and serving times will obviously differ per time and day, but theyve been pretty consistently fast for dine-in.
I’m glad to say it’s as good as everyone says. If you want to some fine chicken come here.
Food is amazing!! One of the best (and biggest) chicken sandwiches Ive had!! Went on a Friday around 12:30 and my food was brought out to me in about 5 minutes after ordering. Ill for sure be back!!
Great food all around. Be prepared for a long line, but its worth it.
Pop Up Chicken Shop is my go to place for a great chicken Sandwich. Always hot and crispy. The street corn is out of this world. Everyone needs to try this place. They offer different levels of spicy heat for the chicken. The service is always friendly and amazing. Believe me, these people know what they are doing!
So amazing! Place has the best chicken there is, and it comes in any heat level you like. Im a fan of hot stuff, but they got EXTRA on the heat. Its amazing and delicious. People sleep on the pulled chicken, but its a real winner of an option and VERY competitive w/ the fried. Sides are all amazing. Cant recommend enough.
Everyones orders were great! Went for the first time today, Friday, right at 11a. Business was already starting to get hopping. Took about 15 minutes to place order and get my carry out. Son says it was the best chicken sandwich he has had, and he has had plenty to compare it with. He ordered the country sando with no slaw.Chicken strips were large and great flavor. Other chicken sandwiches were all great to. The Mac and cheese was very good as well.Im sure we will be back!
The place was a bit difficult to find but their fried chicken is the best Ive had till date!Crispy & juicy chicken with the right amount of spice/flavor, all for affordable prices, a must try for sure! 💯😋
Best chix sando Ive had (including Nashville)
Great weekly specials. It seems the quality is going downhill though. New employees? They changed the recipe for dill fries and they arent as good anymore. I love the Sandos though, I just dont order any sides anymore. Would highly recommend the sandos.
Pop up chicken is the best chicken sandwich in town. It is REALLY spicy, so I suggest mild or medium youre first visit. I can handle all levels of spice, and the hottest level really pushes it. My kids say the mild is perfect but wouldnt go any spicier. Dill fries and great, as is the fry sauce. Ia busy, so plan ahead for a wait
By far the best chicken sandwiches in town. I visit every week and Im never disappointed.I recommend even if youre not someone who enjoys anything remotely spicy to at least get something at mild heat. It brings out so much flavor in the food!
Listen up.This place is open like 2 hours a day 3 days a week or something. Disregard that, rewire your day, get there, eat chicken.Features and benefits? Good chicken, like real good. Good good. Fries. Iced tea. Big portions. Accepts American currency for goods/services like a true capitalist business should.Not a single communist was present on on near this establishment, this is likely due to the fact that they work out of a VFA.15/10. Will eat hot chicken sando again.
Best chicken shop around, and a horseshoe that cant be beat. Owner is a top notch guy as well!
We brought a small group here. Walking up to the building we heard patrons leaving talking about what a good choice it was. We felt the same after our lunch too. The sando was excellent, and the chicken and waffles that my friends had looked great too. Service was quick! They do take cards.The tea selection was enjoyable, and a good pairing with the food selections. Kitchen staff was friendly from the window, and enjoyed interacting with patrons. You could tell that they pride in their food and business.I highly recommend Pop Up Chicken Shop.
Absolutely amazing! We went as a group of six; everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food and we are all planning our next trip back! The hot chicken is actually hot, the mild chicken had just a bit of a kick, and all of it from country to hot was delicious and crunchy. The dill fries were thicker cut, but still crispy, and the fried pickles had just the right amount of batter to be crunchy, but not soggy. They dont have a kids menu, per se, but kids could easily eat the chicken. They have a pop up sauce that is really good, and also offer other sauces (even though the chicken doesnt really need anything). They do have a kiosk, so you can pay with card or cash. They are currently only open from 11-4 Monday through Saturday, but it is worth it to check this place out!!
Not my favorite fried chicken. I found it to have a crust that was to thick and the only seasoning seems to heat. I peeled the crust and found the chicken to be juicy and very tasty. The full fries were very good not overly spiced with dill, just enough to make an interesting taste.
So of youre coming here for the atmosphere, youll be disappointed. If youre coming here for some of the best chicken youve had, youre gonna be fine. May be the best chicken in town. I always order the hottest they have, but I wouldnt mind if they came up with one a little hotter. But if you dont like spicy they have some milder ones.If you do like spice, the good news is they dont just slather it with a vinegar-based sauce. They actually use spices.Make sure to get a Spud for a side and try the slaw.
So, so good!!Didnt get a pic, ate it too fast. Large portion, excellent flavor. I had an original sando, mild, with dill fries. Highly recommend, will be going again!
I cannot recommend this place highly enough. Every single menu item is FANTASTIC and this is now the best fried chicken joint in town, BY FAR. Be sure to get the dill fries and elotes for sides -- they are amazing. Chef Chris has outdone himself with each item on the menu. Delicious sweet tea as well. Again, 100 stars is not enough for how good their chicken is -- crispy and perfectly seasoned on the outside, succulent and tender on the inside. Extremely affordable prices as well. Considering the quality of food, they could get away with charging a lot more. We got the highest spice level and it was just right for us. Spice novices may want to start at the lower spice levels.
Chicken was incredible! Great food and friendly staff.
Got the mild breast and waffle plate with the street corn. The chicken was good, the skin was crispy and the waffle was pretty good. The skin doesnt really hold on to the meat itself but that doesnt matter when youre scooping it all onto a spoon anyway lol its in the VFW so nothing too fancy but its a nice lunch spot and theres a good amount of seating. Drinks were bottled water, can soda, tea with pump flavor (peach, raspberry, etc.) and lemonade. All in all a good spot for a quick chicken plate. Only removed a star because it was very hard to cut the breast and waffle into pieces with the plastic silverware but I get why they have it. Recommending to everyone else at the office!Edit: Changing my old review to 5 stars. Ive visited multiple times since my initial visit and everytime, the chicken is delicious, service is great, and even with the line/wait, they still get your food to you in a reasonable time. Love these guys, check em out!
The hype is real!!! I ordered the Sando and dill fries. Both were delicious and better than I expected. The pop up sauce with the fries was excellent as well. Best chicken sandwich in town! I will definitely be returning.
Great Nashville hot chicken. A little more heat than others, so you might want to try a step down from what your used to. Very busy at 11:00, so plan accordingly. Dill pickle fries are very good too.
Good chicken. The mild wasnt too hot while having good flavor, but still hot enough to make me sweat a little, which I want from mild. The dill fries were great as well as the street corn. All around good chicken place.
Pretty good chicken sandwich. It reminds me of Princes down in Nashville, but Im more into Hattie Bs type of sandwich haha Just a matter of preference! I really love the sides - the chefs there know what theyre doing!
Hands down the best fried chicken in town. Its slightly more expensive than anywhere else youd go, but Ive never left feeling anything other than stuffed! Simple menu, but has different specials that add variety. Definitely my #1 spot for chicken.
This was deceivingly good chicken! Super delicious!Its run out of the VFW building, so I went in with lower expectations. The line was out the door, and it was pretty slow moving. The menu is simple and easy to understand. Its a walk up service window, then you take your plate to a cafeteria style table. Because this is not an actual dedicated restaurant, the decor feels weird for a restaurant, but thats not the point.Only offered four stars for the slow moving line, but the rest is awesome!
They deserve 5 stars but not when you lock up 20 min early.
Best chicken in town. They are the only place in town that delivers spicy when they promise spicy. Staff has always been great too.
One of the best meals Ive had in Bloomington. Best chicken for sure. As good or better than Watson in Champaign for whoever knows the reference. Not to be missed, a must try.
Five stars is not enough to explain how good the food is here! Unbelievably delicious, and the prices are surprisingly low given the quality of the food. The chicken is so tender and juicy, and every side is worth getting. The gouda mac and cheese, street corn, and dill fries were my favorite. Hands down, best food in town.
Can I leave more than 5 stars? Unfortunately no, but if I could I would. Dont sleep on this place. Small, kind of hidden ... but its a gem of a place. Food is good, service is good... if I could eat pop up daily and not gain weight I would. I havent had a single thing from them that hasnt been amazing. My mouth waters thinking about it. First it was catered to my office. Having never heard of it before I was astounded. We started going every weekendThen covid hit and we havent been going out as much but this is one place that dreams are made of.
Great food, friendly staff. You wait in line to order and pay, then they give you a number and bring your food to the table hot & freshly cooked. Best chicken sandwich Ive ever had! Will be back - recommend 100%
OMG... How did I only just discover this place. Fantastic hot chicken. Really cute environment. But amazing food. Cant wait for my next visit to Bloomington, Ill be coming with an empty stomach. Lots of variations so dont worry if you dont like it too spicy.
My 5 stars are for their beautiful and delicious corn bread. It has amazing jalapeno pieces with a slick butter and honey sauce on top. One of the most delicious corn breads I have tried. Must try!
The food was brought to our table quickly and accurately. It was hot (temp) and at the perfect spice level. A Hidden gem you need to discover. Everything was great! Dont think about it, just go there and eat. Like & share.
I had the sando, hot, and it was great! Beats anything the fast food places are doing. The Mac and cheese was amazing as well.
Everything was fantastic! Some if the best chicken I have ever had. Fried pickles are excellent and the dill fries are a treat!
Unbelievable fried chicken. Awesome crispy breading, meat is tender and juicy, pop up sauce rocks. Can get mild, medium or hot. Warning medium is hot. Sides all great, mac n cheese, dill fries, jalapeno cornbread. Vinegar slaw also wife loved.
Fantastic food!!! Pulled chicken sando is amazing!! We got medium it is a little spicy though...but if you like spice try it out!! Gouda mac n cheez, chicken n waffles, street corn, fried pickles, and dill fries are alllll yummy!! Great place to eat!! And you can enjoy a cold beer at the VFW while you wait for to go or sit and dine in!!
Pop Up is hands down one of the best places for chicken in Blono. I love their Kale Salad and Street Corn. Their Dill Fries are like no other fries in town and are definitely a must have! We always treat ourselves to the sweet tea which youll need to mellow the heat from the chicken. Its worth the wait if the line is out the door and now with the pandemic, theyve made ordering from you car super easy!
Genuinely the best food Ive had in BloNo. Everything Ive had has been incredible. The poultrygeist is hands down the hottest thing Ive ever eaten, but even then the great seasoning still comes through.
The food here is elevated, not just your average fried chicken or even French fries. The prices are average. Hubby and I got the Sando, the street corn and fries. The food was very good and we will be back. They are located within the VFW, I hope one day they open up their own location and expand their menu.
Absolutely delicious! Everything I have tried has been on point. Chicken is hot and juicy. Mac is cheesy and creamy. Street corn is fresh and tasty. My only criticism would be that the waffles could be a bit crispier in my opinion.
Fried pickles were AWFUL. If you want them go to meatheads. They were dry. The thing that confused me though is the pickles they put with my chicken breast and thigh were thick and would’ve fried PERFECTLY. But for whatever reason the pickles they chose to fry were thin enough that there was no moisture in the end product. I’m an avid fried pickle lover so I was horribly disappointed. Also whatever gross frying batter they use for medium spice chicken was sweet? And powdery???? It’s only getting 2 stars because my friend liked their chicken sando. Not gonna be going back again!
Holy good gravy. Eat here. Do it. Just eat the food here. Its so good. Best chicken sandwich Ive ever had. I just wish they had something a bit more hot but Im a freak for hot food so dont hold it against them. Amaaaaaazing food.
The food combinations are delicious. I got the pulled chicken sando and a side salad. You can tell someone who enjoys cooking is creating the menu. Staff is friendly, fast, and accurate. Definately worth checking out!
Best Nashville hot chicken Ive had. Best fried chicken in general.Tip: if you like finding the spiciest food at a restaurant then you need then you need to try their Poultrygeist seasoning!
Had the medium dark chicken. Perfect lunch size and crazy good flavor. Highly recommend!
Sando is Awesome! What your heat, hot is pretty spicy but if you choose the poutrygiest, be ready for some heat. I also recommend the gouda mac and cheese! Great spot.
Eat here. Had the last special - the Duke, Medium, and it was fantastic. Wife enjoyed the Sando, mild, and the corn. Friendly service and I highly recommend a cold one at the VFW bar!
Delicious. Best fried chicken Ive had. Cool environment too.
Best hot chicken outside of Nashville. Maybe even better than Princes.
Best chicken sandwich Ive ever had! Love the simplicity!
Amazing chicken and top 2 in waffles I have ever had. Street corn was also great.
Excellent food. Mild and medium rubs were great. Tried the soup, corn bread and fries. Wont be dissapointed with any of those options. Staff were all nice. Lots of area to sit. Absolutely go back again.
Best dam chicken sandwich you will ever eat. Gouda mac n cheese n cornbread are killer. Street corn great. Get sandwich 4 different ways. Country,mild,medium,hot.
Hands down the best place to get chicken and various sides with an amazing homemade and gourmet taste, presented with attitude and stacked with flavor.
Really awesome Tendos and street corn!
Chicken and waffles are delicious. Good options for spice level, including no spice if you dont want any heat.
Best chicken place in all of Illinois. Love coming back nearly every week for the new, exciting specials. Highly recommend.
Had the chicken sandwich twice in a row for lunch while in town. If I ever moved to Bloomington, I would base my house search off of this location. It is that good.
10/10 some of the best chicken Ive ever had, great service and a chill environment
Awesome and huge chicken sandwich, great dill fries!
This is the best chicken place Ive been to. Their prices are fair and their sides are amazing. Fair warning, the spice level is true to word. Hot is HOT.
Literally the best chicken ever. Great service as well!
Incredible chicken and the owner is a really cool and passionate about making a quality product with different deals and offerings. Check them out!
Great food! Highly recommend the street corn!
Really love this place. Their chicken and waffles are one of my favorite meals in town. Nice staff and great food! Ill keep coming back.
The portion could be a little more generous, but the chicken was good and different for whats available around here.
Perfectly cooked and crispy chicken in different styles and heat levels. Fairly simple concept but it works great. Its actually located inside the VFW.
This is the best place to eat in town! I am in love! If you like hot food this is the place! This sides are absolutely amazing as well! The Gouda Mac and the street corn 😍😍😍
Super delicious fried chicken and sides. Love the location. Braize never should have left but glad it was replaced by something just as good.
Best Chicken sandwich I have ever had!! The ingredients are fresh and the food was prepared in a short amount of time and the price is right!! Excellent customer service!!
Im difficult to earn a great rating from but this food is fantastic! Flavors are spot on and good portion sizes. A little pricey but worth every penny!
Awesome lunch place! Probably the best chicken Ive ever had. Clean, casual atmosphere and friendly staff. Highly recommended.
I mean... Its just one of the, if not the best place around. Chicken is amazing, some sides may be improved a bit, but to each their own, it still is easily a 5 star place.
If you’re looking to taste best chicken sandwich in Bloomington, the only shop is Popup chicken. It’s been only 3 months in Bloomington and I would’ve ordered at-least 10 times and every time the food was excellent.The street corn with sauce was really tasty and chicken sando was my all time favorite. They will have specials and it will change biweekly or weekly.
Chicken is fantastic. Pickles, slaw, street corn, corn bread... All awesome. Service is fast. Reasonable prices. Will be going again for sure.
Juicy, delicious chicken with great sides to choose from. Cool relaxed lunchroom feel. Best chicken sandwich Ive ever had!
Best chicken in town and if you like spicy, you wont be disappointed.
Get the Sando with medium spice. Its perfection on a bun.
Best food in town bar none!
My boyfriend and I go about once a week it’s kind of obnoxious, but also oh so worth it. THE best & ALWAYS in the mood for it. Never a bad time for the best chicken in town
One of the best sandwiches ever 😍
Excellent food at the VFW pop-up. The food is wonderful but be warned that when they say setting is hot, they dont mean standard American restaurant hot. They mean magma and pain hot...
Everything was fantastic! When I ordered the hot rub the lady at the register tried to talk me out of it. When the food was brought to me one of the guys told me there was a hotter one that they do not have on the menu...I plan on returning to try it.
Always great best in town
Best spicy chicken sandwich ive had in a long time. Will melt your face off.
Easily the best chicken around. A little off the beaten path in terms of location, but do not let that deter you.
Omg😩🙌🏾Hands down the best chicken spot in town I’ll never eat or go to anyone else Popeyes sorry not sorry yes just cooked so perfectly big sized chicken Brest n wigs n when I mean it’s so delicious 🤤 I think i 😢first bite yes I love you guys chicken keep making it happen cause hands down y’all got 🔥🔥💪🏽 And five stars isn’t enough more like 💯⭐️Yes yes it’s that good
Love the food here. So spicy and flavorful. Its a shame they dont have evening hours.
Seriously the best, Ive gotten the Sando twice now, and cant stop craving it. The peach tea and gouda mac and cheese are also scrumptious.
The Sando, Dill Fries, and Gouda Mac & Cheese were all delicious, and the service was great. Will definitely be back to try more.
Best chicken sandwich period. Love watching this place grow
I cannot go to Bloomington without stopping at Pop Up Chicken Shop. Everything on the menu is awesome.
Had the Country Breast & Wing with Fries. Excellent taste and quality on both. Will definitely be going back
Lov the chicken and curved fries.
Service was great, food came fast, and the food was delicious! 10/10 would recommend and would go again!!
This chicken has got to be illegal..its too good
My wife and I eat here at least two times a month
If you are in Bloomington and you like chicken, you simply have to try this place. Its top notch food!
Best chicken sandwiches!
Met the owners on a business trip and can’t wait to visit Popup Chicken when we are in the area. Great people! They love what they do!
One of the best restaurants in town. They know how to do hot chicken and their specials are always on point.
Sando was tasty! Friend pickles were more batter than pickle. Wings had way more breading than necessary.
Best food Ive ever eaten, Ive worked at literally every chicken place in town. Nothing compares to pop up chicken shop.
Food is EXCELLENT here. The line was long, but it moves pretty quickly. I recommend getting there early or a little late lunch.
Really good sandwiches and sides in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. Also, reasonably priced.
Best chicken sandwich in town jalapeño cornbread is a must try
Great chicken sandwiches and sides. Nothing else like it in town!
Food is delicious. Only problem is if you go once you’ll want to eat there every week.
The best chicken in town. Be sure to order the jalapeño corn bread!
Mac n cheese and fried pickles were perfect. Only a little spicy for me.
The mild and normal spice very good I will not go any higher
Forget the religious chicken place and the louisiana chicken place pop up hands down has the best chicken sandwich in the usa
Despite the very helpful degenerate with the neck tattoo working in the kitchen, the food was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend.
Delicious. Expensive but great food.
Great food, located inside the VFW. Little hole in the wall type thing, small menu but everything on it is perfected.
Awesome food. Very large portions. Good menu, with plenty of side items.
Amazing food from a local business. Heres hoping for many great years in the community
Big pieces of chicken cooked perfect. Really good sides. Everything had great flavor.
This place is awesome.
Certifiably the best chicken in town
Excellent food and friendly service!! There was a line out the door today so word must be getting out.
Delicious. No outside signage, go inside the VFW.
Great chicken, great people. Just wish it was open after I get off work.
Excellent sandwich. Puts Popeyes and Chick fil a to shame
Said they were not allowed to serve water when questioned about it they were rude when called the inspection department they said they were required to serve waterthey only started serving water in a glass after the health department talk to them and forced them to
Absolutely amazing. Went three times in a row. Impressed and highly recommend. 💚
I love the food here, from sandwiches and salads and sides to chicken ,wings and sodas
Amazing hot chicken.. good specials that change daily. Cant wait to go back.
Best chicken sandwich in a 300 miles radius
Wish there were 6 stars because it is well deserved for this place.
Best chicken sandwich ever. Have the Sando, you wont regret it.
Absolutely the best place in town!!
Goodness gracious, the food at this place is mind-blowing. Its a must-try!
Very good! 3 of us went and got 3 different things and it was all delicious!
They are awesome. Great food. A little pricey but it was worth it.
Chicken is delicious. Sides are delicious. Why arent you eating here already?
This was the worst place to eat the chicken wings where so big like they pumped them with growth hormones or steroids with no flavor I am not happy!!!
Total reviews rating 4.8
199 Reviews for Pop Up Chicken Shop 2023:
Review №1
2022-02-12Hands down one of the best places Ive eaten at here in the Bloomington-Normal area. Everything tastes fresh and the pop-up sauce was PHENOMENAL. We ordered the Sando sandwich, Mac and cheese, street corn, and potatoes wedges. Everything tastes amazing!! Definitely recommend this place of youre craving a chicken sandwich!
Review №2
2022-01-19Best Chicken Sando ever! The right combo of juicy, tender and crispy breading. You can order the heat level you want, Medium is comparable to other Spicy Chicken heat levels, Hot is Intense but still extremely flavorful. The Dill fries with pop-up sauce are fluffy crispy spirals of deliciousness and the Gouda Mac n Cheese is creamy and flavorful. This place is worth the trip!
Review №3
2022-06-03Why have I not reviewed Pop up chicken? Who knows why I waited so long, but I will say they make the best chicken sandwich I have ever had.This place checks all the boxes for me anyway. Not flashy on the atmosphere (located in a local VFW kitchen), off the beaten path, but focused on great products. The menu is not huge, which makes it easy to know what you are gonna get. Or so you would think the small menu would make it easier to order, well you are wrong. The small menu focused on hot chicken tells me they know what they do and they do it excellent each time. If u want something else, well they arent for you. They do chicken and stick to that fomula. Everything I have had here is fantastic.The product is based around a crispy, juicy, white meat hot chicken sandwich. That is the core of this place. The sandwich comes mild, med, or hot. Topped with slaw, pickles all on a Kaiser roll. This is a whopper of a sandwich what I call a double fist sandwich. Grab this monster with both hands and get in there. That being said you will get messy when you sink your teeth into this bad boy.The side I usually cant pass on is the street corn. Cheesy, buttery, and with spices/lime that give it a tangy finish. Do what I do, snag a grip of napkins cuz u will certainly need them. And if there is extra sauce in the paper boat it is served in....dip that sandwich in there. That is a pro tip so you dont waste the deliciousness 😉.I cant say enough about this place. It is one of my failsafe recommended places in Blo/No. Dont believe me, take a gander at the numerous readers choice trophies at the register or have a look at their social media. They have a cult following and rightfully so. Do yourself and your stomach a favored hit up POP-UP Chicken soon!
Review №4
2022-03-16First time here and it definitely wont be my last! Wanted to try a variety of items without spending a ton, so I opted for the Horseshoe. The menu described the chicken potion as 2 breaded tenders but honestly it was more like a large chicken breast cut in half lengthwise then breaded...in other words, no skimping on portions!
Review №5
2021-12-10This is the heaven for chicken lovers. Yummy food with decent price.Be prepared to wait in queue. (Imagine how best there food is!! so people stand in queue to buy)Roughly ur food will be served in 10mins tea. I love this place and would love to visit again and again.Note: if you want to try something new then order spice level as hot 😊👌It’s firing hot 😅 You will just love it!!
Review №6
2021-09-10When my sister said she was taking us to a VFW for fried chicken, I was skeptical. And then I had their chicken and … OH MY GOD. I have NEVER had fried chicken that tasted like this anywhere in Chicago or elsewhere. It’s crunchy, it’s fresh, it’s juicy, and boy is it Nashville level SPICY. Beware if you have any problems with heat or heartburn, this one did me in, but it was well worth it. We came back the next day before we departed and got a Horseshoe (special) and The Sando. 100/10 would come back and MIGHT even make a road trip out of it just for this chicken. You will not be disappointed.
Review №7
2021-07-14Deeelicious! The Sando was amazing. Definitely not something you can eat and drive with. The elote, the jalapeño cornbread and Gouda Mac n cheese were equally amazing. Need to make it back before my school year starts. Hours are lunch only.
Review №8
2022-08-17If you are looking for simply the best chicken sandwich in town. This is simply it. The owners (head chefs), and their staff are amazing, fast, and proud of their menu. Every special is a hit, every regular item is a hit, this place doesnt miss on deliciousnes.
Review №9
2022-04-25Amazing chicken, amazing specials, amazing people. Pop Up is a place I recommend over and over again. Cannot say enough good things about them. They put love and attention to detail into every thing they serve. I’ve had Prince’s. I’ve had Hattie B’s. This is better. Do yourself a favor and get yourself some Pop Up!(That’s their Horseshoe in the pic)
Review №10
2022-08-18Best chicken sandwich in town by far! And the dill fries are delicious. It’s a little pricey but 100% worth it. The chicken is on the spicier side so keep that in mind. Normally I get mild at places but I prefer country here.