Crafty’s Kitchen, a new quick-service chicken-focused restaurant, is getting ready to open at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park at 8039 Beach Boulevard.
The company’s new location is set to open in the former home of Johnny Rockets, which will close after the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, with construction beginning on April 15, 2026, according to a press release. Crafty’s Kitchen is scheduled to open in Summer 2026. The concept will highlight two Knott’s signature foods, chicken and boysenberries, presented in a self-service, cafeteria-style format. Customers can expect a menu centered on chicken tenders, crispy wings, chicken-and-biscuit variations, and boysenberry-inspired desserts.
Crafty’s Kitchen will be located in the Charleston Circle and Memory Lane area of the park, taking over the former Beary Factory cafeteria space. The restaurant is themed around Crafty Coyote, a familiar character from Knott’s Bear-y Tales lore. The storyline portrays Crafty as a reformed outlaw who has traded pie-stealing for cooking. This will be an excellent landing space for the new concept, tying directly into the park’s long-standing characters and attractions.
The interior design will lean heavily into that backstory, blending nostalgia with a modern look. Decor will include playful mug shots, wanted posters, and blueprints for over-the-top fryer inventions. The space is designed to feel immersive while remaining functional for high-volume service. Team members will wear Crafty Coyote-themed hats as part of the overall presentation.
The menu will focus on a variety of chicken offerings, including tenders, wings, and several takes on chicken and biscuits. Fresh-cut fries will be available either plain or loaded, alongside homemade pickles and a range of dipping sauces called sassy pup sauces. Alternative chicken options will also be offered to accommodate different dietary preferences.
Knott’s Berry Farm customers have long enjoyed the unique, immersive experiences throughout the park. So, when we looked to reimagine the food and beverage space from its current concept, it made sense to draw upon the legends and characters already here,” Raffi Kaprelyan, Senior Vice President Operations and Guest Service at Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, said in a press release. “Crafty’s Kitchen will bring together Knott’s culinary excellence featuring clever chicken dishes and boysenberry, of course, with a continuation of Crafty Coyote’s story.”
