The Untold Truth Of Dwarf House

Picture this: A Chick-fil-A, but without the crazy wrap-around line in the mall food court, or the dual-lane drive-thru filled with roaming workers. Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that dream is actually a reality, and if you're local to Georgia (and it's not Sunday) then get moving to Dwarf House — the fried chicken awaits!

Most people have never heard of Dwarf House, but it's one of fast food's most well-kept secrets for a reason. Chick-fil-A is as much of a household name as Tom Hanks, so much so that the chicken chain has steadily ranked at the top of the fast food charts for the last five years (via American Customer Satisfaction Index).

But Dwarf House, which is quite literally a miniature dine-in Chick-fil-A, is not as universally known. According to The Chicken Wire, Dwarf House first popped up in Hapeville, Georgia back in 1946, long before any Chick-fil-As even broke ground.

The blog explains that Dwarf House, originally called Dwarf Grill, was the first restaurant that Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy pioneered. That's not the only thing special about it, either. Lucky customers at the Hapeville location were the very first few to try out the now classic chicken sandwich.

Chick-fil-A would not be Chick-fil-A without, well, the chicken fillet. The chicken sandwich was created in the kitchen of the Hapeville Dwarf House back in 1960, but it didn't fully make a name for itself right off the bat. Instead, the Dwarf House was known for its typical diner fare, such as steaks and burgers, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

But just before Truett graced the world with the fried chicken sandwich, tragedy struck a Dwarf House kitchen. The second location, based in Forest Park, Georgia, suddenly burned to the ground. Facing a mountain of entrepreneurial debt, Truett decided to take the plunge and look into an entirely new kind of restaurant: a fast food joint (via Funding Universe).

And thus, Chick-fil-A was born, quite literally out of the ashes of a Dwarf House. So the next time you're at your favorite Chick-fil-A, pour a half lemonade, half iced tea out for Dwarf House's lost second location — those waffle fries wouldn't be possible without it!

The Dwarf House menu is as unique as its exterior, which is highlighted by a fittingly miniature red door, notes the Tampa Bay Times.

Don't be fooled by the Dwarf in its name, though: This restaurant may be mini, but the menu is mightier than any modern Chick-fil-A's. Dwarf House has the entirety of your favorite local Chick-fil-A's offerings, but the sit-down chain also takes far more risks with its food selection. Sure, you can grab the fan-favorite chicken sandwich right from the kitchen it was invented in, but the Dwarf House menu also offers hamburgers — yes, hamburgers — on its menu (via The Chicken Wire). Who knew?!

Even better? Dwarf House operates on true diner time. That means crispy chicken available a full 24 hours, six days a week (closed on Sundays, of course). According to Business Insider, the eater has 12 Georgia locations to choose from, which makes it surprisingly easy to snag a table at this historical joint. 

And if you're a regular at a Dwarf House, you may just get lucky, says The Chicken Wire. Legend has it that only the most loyal customers — like, every day for 60 years type of loyal — receive the "Blue Menu," which grants them access to a lifetime of 1940s prices.

If you ask us, the only thing that sounds better than a fried chicken sandwich from Dwarf House is a fried chicken sandwich for less than a buck!