1 /5 Washington State resident: I rarely write reviews, but my experience at Underground Chicken in Federal Way was so astonishingly bad that it feels almost like a public service to warn others. The name “Underground” couldn’t be more fitting, because the entire establishment looks and feels like it belongs beneath street level. The dining area was cluttered, grimy, and downright filthy. Tables were sticky, trash cans overflowing, and there was a faint smell that made you question whether anything in that kitchen sees soap or sanitizer. It’s the kind of environment where you hesitate to touch anything including the food.
The service somehow managed to be even worse. There were three staff members working on the floor, a young woman, a guy in a hat, and another younger boy with a styled, Korean-inspired haircut who stood out for all the wrong reasons. He was by far the worst of the three. The young boy at the counter was rude, dismissive, and completely uninterested in doing his job. No greeting, no urgency, just a glare that said customers are an inconvenience. Another customer waiting beside me was clearly frustrated too and with good reason. There’s no sense of professionalism, no pride, and certainly no understanding of what hospitality means.
When my order finally arrived, it was the final insult. The chicken tasted like something thawed from a freezer and microwaved until barely edible and bland, rubbery, and completely lacking in flavor. It’s amazing how a restaurant can serve food that tastes exactly like the environment it’s made in: cold, lifeless, and unclean.
This place needs a serious wake-up call. A full sanitation overhaul wouldn’t hurt either. Until they learn that cleanliness, respect, and edible food are the bare minimum for running a restaurant, Underground Chicken will remain exactly what it is a dirty, dismal experience best left buried where it belongs.
