This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

a ground-chicken “smash” burger concept on the Troost corridor in KCMO, founded in 2020 as a pandemic-era ghost kitchen by Kansas City native and military veteran Anthony Dedmon; classified Tier 1 as an owner-operated, KC-rooted Black-owned business with an explicit community-and-youth mission.

Description

Chixen (pronounced “chick-sen”) is a Kansas City restaurant built around a single idea: the chicken burger. Patties are hand-formed from fresh, in-house-ground chicken, seasoned, and smashed thin on a flattop until crispy and caramelized at the edges — the same technique used for a beef smash burger, applied to ground chicken.12 The kitchen runs without fryers and uses no pork products, with items made to order in a scratch kitchen.3

The menu is organized around burger variations: “Chief”-style burgers with traditional toppings and exotic “Culture” builds featuring international flavors, in sizes from a quarter-pound “Mini” up to nearly two-pound “Heavy” burgers.3 Signature items include The Culture (a half-pound chicken burger with tomato citrus slaw, sliced red onion, Swiss cheese, and jerk aioli) and The Monarch (caramelized onions, jalapeño, beef bacon, and cheddar with a bourbon-barbecue glaze), alongside cornbread waffles, salads, and a jerk chixen chili.24

Chixen bills itself as Kansas City’s first chicken-burger restaurant.45 It sits at 7502 Troost Avenue, part of the wave of independent restaurants that has reanimated the Troost corridor as a dining destination.67

Ownership and history

Chixen is owned by Anthony Dedmon (LinkedIn: Anthony Olusegun Dedmon), a Kansas City native, Raytown High School graduate, and military veteran who served three tours.58 Before Chixen, Dedmon — with no prior restaurant experience — co-founded Distrikt Biskuit House at the Adam’s Mark Hotel near the stadiums in 2018.5

When the 2020 pandemic forced that operation to close (the hotel shut down and his commercial space was requisitioned for military PPE production), Dedmon pivoted to a new concept: a chicken alternative to the beef burger.43 He had never made or tried a chicken burger before inventing the idea.5 Chixen launched in 2020 as a ghost kitchen at 1407 Southwest Boulevard, serving the city’s first chicken burgers for pickup and delivery.45

Dedmon opened a brick-and-mortar Chixen in Kansas City, Kansas, in March 2021, then closed it that December — citing low traffic despite local awards — to relocate.2 The restaurant moved into the former Epicurean Lounge space at 7502 Troost, soft-opening ahead of a grand opening in March 2024, paired with an event space called Culture X developed with partner Bryan Davis.29

Beyond the restaurant, Dedmon has run multiple small businesses and founded a youth-mentoring nonprofit, Xseed in Life, aimed at increasing social mobility in inner-city communities.5 Chixen’s own stated mission centers on partnerships with schools, youth groups, and social programs to teach young people business skills and build generational wealth.3

Sources

Disputes

(None active.)

Footnotes

  1. Chixen Kansas City (official site) — https://www.chixenkc.com/ — asserts: ground-chicken smash burgers; address 7502 Troost Ave, KC MO 64131; signature Monarch/Culture burgers, cornbread waffle, jerk chixen chili. ↩

  2. Flatland KC, “Restaurants Become Cornerstones of Troost Renaissance” — https://flatlandkc.org/eats-drinks/restaurants-become-cornerstones-of-troost-renaissance/ — asserts: owner Anthony Dedmon; opened KCK location March 2021, closed December to relocate; moved into former Epicurean space at 7502 Troost; grand opening March 20 (2024); Culture/Monarch burger descriptions; Culture X partnership with Bryan Davis. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  3. Chixen Kansas City — About — https://www.chixenkc.com/about — asserts: founded 2020 during pandemic after Adam’s Mark closure / PPE requisition; hand-formed fresh ground-chicken patties, no fryers, no pork, scratch kitchen; Chief/Culture/Mini-to-Heavy menu structure; community/youth mission; franchise ambitions. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Feast Magazine, “Chixen Kansas City offers smash-style chicken burgers for carryout and delivery” — https://www.feastmagazine.com/kansas-city/article_fdea2320-a82a-11eb-b43c-234bff5a1bdd.html — asserts: smash chicken burgers, jerk chicken chili, cornbread waffles; ghost-kitchen origin; The Culture and The Monarch. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  5. IN Kansas City Magazine, “Chixen KC Serving the City’s First Chicken Burgers” — https://www.inkansascity.com/eat-drink/news/chixen-kc-serving-the-citys-first-chicken-burgers/ — asserts: Dedmon is a KC native, Raytown HS grad, military veteran (three tours); founded 2020; ghost kitchen at 1407 Southwest Boulevard; Distrikt Biskuit House (2018); never made/tried a chicken burger before; Xseed in Life nonprofit. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. KCUR, “Along Troost Avenue, Kansas City’s new restaurant row emerges” — https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2024-03-10/troost-avenue-kansas-city-new-restaurant-row — asserts: Troost corridor restaurant revitalization context. ↩

  7. The Pitch, “Dish & Drink KC: Chicken burgers and cornbread waffles come to Southwest Boulevard” — https://www.thepitchkc.com/chixenkc-ssongshotdogs/ — asserts: chicken burgers and cornbread waffles, Southwest Boulevard ghost-kitchen coverage. ↩

  8. Anthony Olusegun Dedmon — LinkedIn (Owner, Chixen Kansas City) — https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-olusegun-dedmon-2021ab34 — asserts: owner identity / full name. ↩

  9. Martin City Telegraph, “Chixen Kansas City and Culture X transform The Epicurean Lounge” — https://martincitytelegraph.com/chixen-kansas-city-and-culture-x-transform-the-epicurean-lounge/ — asserts: Chixen + Culture X took over the former Epicurean Lounge at 7502 Troost. ↩

See also

  • Registry
  • Owner-And-History-Research-Toolchain
Categories
  • Locally owned
  • Chicken
  • Troost