Pop-Up Chicken Shop — Restaurant in Bloomington

I have been to the pop up chicken/love shack twice. This establishment is 2 restaunts merged into one. This is where the first problem lies. I can say that the 2 menus make it confusing.( 1 for each restraunt). Honestly, to create consistency, they should merge the restraunt, have 1 menu, and combine names of the restraunts to 1. (POP UP CHICKEN & LOVE SHACK) The staff is extremely friendly. Seating inside is small. Parking lot is small. Ordering is simular to Hometown Buffet- order and pay first- (if there is a table), and then food is brought to the table you are assigned to. Now, the menus... the menus are both restraunts. It has a lot of odd items, and needs alot editing. They offer 2 variety of fries that have different and odd seasonings. I wish they had plain fries on the menu. I ordered the onion rings because I do not care for the fries. The onion rings are extremely greasy like the fried cheese curds. I understand the restraunt is a fried chicken joint, hence grease is part of the experience, but It was a bit much for me. They have a fabulous side salad!! The salad has kale in it! I'm a vegetarian, and there is NOT alot of meatless options on the menu. They only offer 2 salad dressings(ranch & honey mustard) they need more options. Price...it is tad on the pricey side, but not too far off compared what you pay out there. We ordered: chicken sandwich, fried cheese curds, side salad, onion rings, and 2 drinks....$39. ATMOSPHERE: Sports bar with bar seating and TVs. Crowd varies...is family friendly. The silverware is not given to you and you have to go hunting for it...at the bar.

The first time we went, the owner was going around to patrons and making sure everything was okay. That was very classy. That is somethingyou rarely see. Great customer service. It is very evident they are very attentive and care about your experience at their establishment. To sum up, think they have an interesting idea, but need they need to merge the 2 restraunts to one to eliminate confusion, edit and their menu and add options for various pallets, plain fries, and silverware given to...

An update to the previous review: I've been a few times since, and they have definitely worked everything out. If you're by yourself, sit at the bar and have a nice beer and service. It is still odd to get a drink if you are at a table, but that is the set up. The food has been solid. I didn't get the fried pickles again because fool me twice shame on me, but the dill fries have been hot and fantastic along with the chicken.

I wonder if they are struggling with the new volume. When they were at the VFW, the food was always fresh and amazing. I've been to the new location twice. The first time was for lunch on a Saturday and it was pretty crowded. The fried pickles were cold and the breading was stale. The sandwiches and the fries were cold, also. Like they were fried and just left sitting until someone got to them. The second time was during the week around 2 or so. Not much of a crowd. Again, the chicken was cold, and the fried pickles were cold. The bar situation is just not a good set up. They have so many good beers and whiskeys to get, but, if you aren't sitting at the bar, there is really no way to get them. I understand that servers are in short supply so having a wait staff for drinks might not be feasible, but the selection is definitely a draw, and to not be able to get a drink after seeing what is available is disheartening. I am hoping these things work out with some more time in the new place. When the sandwich is fresh, it is easily the best chicken sandwich in town. When the dill fries are hot, they are fantastic. They have great specials that always sound amazing, and would be if they were served hot, but that cannot be relied upon.

As an update, they have been open a while now, and the food quality continues to be an issue. The chicken sandwich, when it is fresh and hot, is absolutely the best I've ever had. But it is not consistent. The fried pickles have never approached edible as they have been cold and/or stale every time. The dill fries have sometimes been great,...

Why 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 aren't 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 can't 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 don't waste the deliciousness 😉.

I can't say enough about this place. It is one of my failsafe recommended places in Blo/No. Don't 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...