In 1938, two local farm women walked into Irv Kolarik’s gas station lunch counter on Route 66 in what was then rural Hinsdale, Illinois and overheard him complaining about running a gas station when he’d rather be running a restaurant. They offered him their secret fried chicken recipe in exchange for a steady supply contract for their chickens. Kolarik agreed. The chicken was an instant success. By 1946, the gas pumps were gone and a proper restaurant building stood next door on the corner of Route 66 and 79th Street. Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket appeared in Season 5, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Return to Route 66,” which aired February 2, 2009, and returned in Season 28 when Guy came back for more. The restaurant brines its chicken overnight in salt before dredging in enriched flour, milk, and breadcrumbs, and produces about 2,000 pounds of chicken per week. The building and its freestanding neon sign were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
City: Willowbrook, Illinois
Cuisine: Fried Chicken / Route 66 Diner
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 9
Episode Title: Return to Route 66
Original Air Date: February 2, 2009
Address: 645 Joliet Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527
Phone: 630-325-0780
Website: https://chickenbasket.com
Status: Open
About Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
Dell Rhea was a prominent Chicago businessman who had served as executive director of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. He bought the struggling Chicken Basket in 1963 after Interstate 55 bypassed Route 66 and nearly killed the restaurant’s traffic. His reputation brought customers back. His son Patrick ran it after Dell’s death in 1992 until the Lombardi family took over in 2019 with the commitment to keep the original recipe and character intact. The building’s neon sign is original. The fried chicken recipe traces back to those two farm women in 1938. The Lombardi family also carries on the Route 66 Hall of Fame distinction the restaurant earned in 1992.
What to Eat at Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket
The Fried Chicken is the reason to make the trip — brined overnight, hand-breaded, cooked to order with a crispy crust and juicy interior that 2,000 pounds per week of production has not made routine. Order a mix of pieces. The Baked Mac and Cheese with bacon, jalapeños, and green onions is the side Guy called “a Colorado River of cheese and macaroni.” The Chicken Pot Pie, Salad Bar, and Buffet are the other options worth knowing about for larger groups.
Bring the Route 66 fried chicken tradition home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Cluckin’ Chicken Dry Rub and Guy on Fire for your own outdoor cooking sessions. Find a Chicagoland hotel on Booking.com.
Plan Your Visit
Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket is open Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (10:00 PM Friday and Saturday). Closed Mondays.
Address: 645 Joliet Rd., Willowbrook, IL 60527
Phone: 630-325-0780
Website: https://chickenbasket.com
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Stream both the Return to Route 66 episode and the Season 28 return visit on Amazon. Dell Rhea’s is a National Register of Historic Places landmark — it earns a special trip.
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Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket appeared in Season 5, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Return to Route 66,” originally aired February 2, 2009. The restaurant has been on Route 66 since 1946 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.