Charlotte's Kitchen — Restaurant in Johnston

Went to this place with my girlfriend yesterday. Had some high hopes because I’ve been to similar establishments in other states. Particularly places that sell the Nashville hot chicken sandwhich.

I ordered Mac and cheese and the Nashville hot

One thing places always struggle with is balance on these sandwiches. I was left with a lot of breading left over. The sandwhich was decent but left some things to be desired. Don’t skimp out on the chicken, it’s in your name. If you’re going to use a bun that’s twice the size of the chicken, you’d better use more chicken to compensate. Or just do the smart thing and use a smaller bun. Then people won’t feel cheated when they spend money and end up with a handful of bread at the end. I should preface that by saying balance is absolutely possible. If you’re ever in the Wisconsin dells area, there’s a place called Rockin Chicken that nails it every time.

The other big thing was the chicken was very, very salty. To the point where you don’t taste chicken in some places, only salt.

My girl ordered the tenders, I tried them, it was especially prevalent on those.

Mac and cheese was kind of mid, I’m not a fan of receiving my food in cheap plastic containers. It makes me nervous that it’s been in a microwave or something, and if it’s warmed up in plastic, that’s actual poison that can leach into your food. Just because we’re going out to a fried chicken place doesn't mean people don’t care what goes into their bodies most of the time. When they eat elsewhere the places they’re eating at don’t serve food like that.

The noodles felt undercooked. I probably only ate 3 bites out of it.

And you’re probably charging a bit too much. 28$ felt a bit steep. That’s like a third of my weekly grocery bill, plus you’re asking for a tip after? Either the food better be perfect, or you lower the price. It’s that simple, and my food was far from perfect. Mind you, I can pay 5$ more for a full service restaurant and my woman counts that as a date night.

I’ll probably be back again, I’m all for second chances, but if it’s the same I probably won’t...

Updated Post (Oct. 2022): While this place still deserves 5 stars, I wanted to provide an update. The chicken strips are not as big as they used to be. My original review I weighed a couple close to 4 ounces or almost a quarter pound. Slowly over time, I've noticed they have gotten a little smaller and smaller. Today, I had 3 strips at 1.5 ounces a piece. Since inflation, understandably, the price had to raise as well. Although it's no longer the great bargain it used to be, it's still worth it's current price.

Everything else is as good as it always was. Delicious seasoned fries and drink cups that keep your drinks cold and sweat free. You can't pick a bad chicken sandwich as they are all great. The cheese curds are like the fairs, fresh and gooey on the inside. My daughter says the shakes are really tasty and she's pretty picky.

Original Post: Since opening I have ordered here at least 10 times and each time it has been very consistent. The freshest will always be towards peak times but you can ask for freshly fried if you go at an off time.

The Large #8 Chicken Tender combo has got to be not only the tastiest but the cheapest in town. You get 4 LARGE juicy chicken strips with a crispy crunch on the outside. I weighed one of my strips and it weighed in at just a hair under 1/4 lb. That's almost a pound of chicken strips, delicious fries, and a drink for 7 dollars. This can easily feed 2 people. Not only is it a bargain, they taste way better than Cane's or any other place. The Charlotte sauce is also better than Cane's sauce. It just has a bolder flavor profile.

Of course the Memphis fried chicken sandwich is also excellent and beats Popeye's in every category. Spice, flavor profile, texture, and meatiness.

Can't comment on any of the other items but the staff is always friendly.

Tip: If you have a drive over 5 min before you open your bag, pull over at Casey's and crack the box tops open. Fried food that doesn't vent gets soggy if it...

WOW! Hands down, the best chicken place ever! There are countless reasons to love Charlotte’s. One of these reasons is the sheer quality of the chicken. Every time we eat there, the chicken is so moist and insanely fresh. In addition, it always has a perfect crispness and incredible taste, no matter what - of the many - unique flavors they offer. Then, there are the sides (I mean, hello? Waffle fries! Not to mention that they’re seasoned to perfection!). We’ve tried all three of them and it is SO hard to pick a favorite. That being said, they have the best brussels sprouts I’ve ever tasted- and they do not hurt my stomach like some fried brussels do. Next, there’s the drinks. The shakes are delectable and made with REAL ingredients. And the lemonade and iced tea tastes homemade! But, out of everything the menu offers, Charlotte’s sauces are simply the best! Of course, their signature sauce is nearly impossible to beat (think Raising Cane’s except a million times better), but the ranch is some of the most delicious I’ve had. The affordability for the level of food that’s offered is remarkable. I can feed my family of four with a very satisfying meal for thirty-dollars. This convenience makes it easy for us to go back, time after time (and I’m talking at least once a week). I love that I’m supporting a local business, created by young entrepreneurs in my community. The fact that they took over a run-down building and transformed it into their business just demonstrates how committed they are to their neighborhood. I can’t even describe how much I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication the team at Charlotte’s displays. This restaurant and food truck will forever be a family favorite and I recommend...