Latest news with #SlimChickens
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Watch: Shannon Smith samples chicken restaurants across the Triad
PIEDMONT TRIAD, N.C. (WGHP) — Chicken chains are flocking to the Piedmont Triad. Four new fast-casual franchises opened this spring in Guilford County alone, and more are under construction. People have packed Dave's Hot Chicken on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro. The Los Angeles-based chain serves huge tenders and sliders. Customers can choose their heat level, starting at no spice and running all the way up to reaper, which comes with a disclaimer. Just across the street on Lawndale Drive, A Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken is under construction, and one is already open on North Main Street in High Point. Their menu is inspired by Nashville's Famous Hot Chicken. Again, you can customize your spice levels. The hottest one requires you to sign a waiver to try it. Also in High Point, off NC 68/Eastchester Drive, Slim Chickens opened, serving a variety of all-natural fresh chicken tenders and wings with a selection of sauces and seasonings. Finally, a chicken restaurant with international flair. Pollo Compero is a chain started Guatemalan in 1971. They specialize in fried chicken, empanadas and other Latin-inspired side dishes. FOX8 FOODIE Shannon Smith took a tasting tour of the four new franchises and shares her thoughts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
US chicken chain that's 'better than KFC and Popeyes' set to open on Swansea's Wind Street
US chicken chain that's 'better than KFC and Popeyes' set to open on Swansea's Wind Street It promises to deliver 'cooked-to-order chicken and authentic Southern hospitality at its finest' Slim Chickens, the beloved American fast-casual brand known for its signature Southern comfort food (Image: Slim Chickens ) Popular chicken chain restaurant Slim Chickens is set to open up one of its newest branches in Swansea. The Southern-inspired restaurant, which first opened in Arkansas in 2003, will open a new spot in the south Wales city, together with other locations in London's Leicester Square, Wembley and Edgeware Road, along with the west and east Midlands, Reading and Newcastle. It is understood the new venue will open its doors along Wind Street, following on from another popular chicken hotspot, Wingstop, which also arrived there in recent months. Some of the chain's menu items include buttermilk marinated chicken tenders, chicken wings, boneless bites, sandwiches, salads, wraps, fries, and a range of 14 house dipping sauces. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here . The dipping sauces include blue cheese, buffalo, cayenne ranch, gravy mayo, honey mustard, Korean BBQ, Slim Sauce and a limited-time "Unknown" sauce. Slim Chickens is set to open in Swansea (Image: Leicestershire Live/Tristan Potter ) According to the UK menu, a three-piece tender meal will set you back £10.95, while a four-piece costs £12.45, a five-piece sits at £13.45, and a seven-piece is £14.95. Article continues below The chain also offers a plant-based version, and the most expensive meal you can order is the "best of both" five and five tender and wing meal, which costs £16.95 and is served with Texas toast, seasoned fries, house sauces and a bottomless soft drink. Ben Blore, head of operations at Slim Chickens, said: "We couldn't be more excited to bring Slim Chickens to these locations. "Our team has been dedicated to making sure every guest experiences our fresh, cooked-to-order chicken and authentic Southern hospitality at its finest." The chicken shop chain first made its way across the pond to the UK in 2018 after launching in the US state of Arkansas in 2003. Currently, it has over 65 sites in the UK, with restaurants in Wolverhampton, Leeds, Bournemouth and Belfast. It also has venues in Cardiff and Brigend. In the states, it has over 200. Popeyes also revealed plans to open its doors in Swansea back in January 2024, but the wait goes on. At the beginning of this year, the chain said that "the landlord has experienced delays in being able to commence the construction of the drive-thru" and that it was "in their hands". You can read more about that by clicking here. On social media, fans have raved about the chain over the last few years. On Instagram, one person said the food "looks phenomenal", while on Reddit, another said "prefer it over KFC". Over on X, there were similar sentiments, with one person posting: "Slim Chickens is the best chicken place I have ever been to and it's not even close.." Another added: "What is the best fried chicken franchise and why is it Slim Chickens?" A third said: "Slim chickens is much better if you want good chicken, better than both KFC and Popeyes imo." Article continues below
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
A Fast-Growing Chicken Chain Uses AI in Quest to Become a Household Name
If you haven't heard of Slim Chickens, it is Patrick Noone's job to make sure that changes. Noone this year became chief marketing officer at the Fayetteville, Ark.-based chain, which has opened about 300 restaurants, up from around 100 in 2020, with 1,000 more in development globally. Slim Chickens, which opened its first location in 2003, sells buttermilk-brined, hand-breaded chicken tenderloin sandwiches and other Southern fare.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
A robot served me coffee at XNA — and I kind of loved it
One experience when visiting Northwest Arkansas National Airport struck me (no, not Slim Chickens — though I did try it and Zaxby's still wins). It was trying out the robot coffee shop, Bionics by Onyx. Why it matters: I've heard most locals walk past it. But for travelers — especially newbies — that robot kiosk near Gate A1 was a charming surprise. What they're saying: "That's at the airport to impress people like you when they get off the plane," Axios Northwest Arkansas' Worth Sparkman told me. It worked; I was intrigued and decided to find out more about the robot serving coffee. The big picture: The robot is one of two kiosks in the area, and they are part of a bigger experiment by Onyx Coffee Lab, the Northwest Arkansas brand already known for high-end coffee, sleek cafés, and its shiny new three-story Springdale flagship. "We always try to innovate," Onyx co-founder Jon Allen told Axios. "This started during COVID, when we were asking: how can we deliver high-quality coffee in a no-contact way?" Zoom in: The robotic barista is the result of a partnership with a San Francisco-based company. It crafts a limited menu—espresso drinks, lattes, even matcha—on demand. The robot's performance wasn't perfect out of the gate: "During beta, it was up about 60% of the time," Allen said. "Now it's closer to 95%." One major hiccup was airport security. Refilling the machine with beans required hours of screening and clearance. "Half the downtime was just trying to get coffee past TSA," Allen said. State of play: Onyx sees Bionics as a complement to its in-person service, not a replacement. Allen says the robot has already paid off in marketing alone. "We're not trying to replace baristas," he said. "But for places like airports, universities, even museums—it makes sense." Onyx already operates a Bionics unit outside its Bentonville café, keeping the location running 24/7. The company also plans to expand to the University of Arkansas and a local museum. Yes, but: The robot still has limits; one customer didn't have Google or Apple Pay. She gave me $6, and I bought her a latte. Allen knows that limitation and says Onyx is working on an app to let customers pre-order from the tarmac or classroom. And yes, they're gathering customer data—regional preferences starting to emerge by flight origin. New Yorkers, apparently, like different beans than Dallas folks.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US fast food chicken restaurant opening at Merry Hill centre
A popular US chicken chain is opening a new restaurant at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. Slim Chickens, the Southern-inspired fast food chain, is opening at the centre in Brierley Hill on Thursday May 15. It will be in the former Pizza Express unit, opposite Nandos in the food court. The restaurant, which will be over two floors, will offer a dine-in experience for over 100 guests, featuring music, and live sports. It has created 50 jobs. To celebrate the launch, Slim Chickens is giving early customers the chance to win prizes, including free Slim Chickens for a year, with a total of 5,000 Golden Tickets being handed out to guests and every single ticket guaranteeing a prize. (Image: Handout) The first 30 guests through the doors on opening day will also receive three free chicken tenders. Slim Chickens merchandise, including their fan-favourite hoodie, will also be given away. Ben Blore, Head of Operations at Slim Chickens, said: 'We're incredibly excited to open at Merry Hill – it's a buzzing location with a loyal shopper base and strong family footfall. "We're looking forward to bringing our famous Southern hospitality, cooked-to-order chicken, and feel-good food to the heart of the centre.' The restaurant was founded in Arkansas in 2003 by Greg Smart and Tom Gordon, and has since grown to more than 200 locations in the US and more than 60 in the UK. The menu is rooted in Southern cuisine, featuring buttermilk-marinated chicken tenders, along with chicken wings, boneless bites, sandwiches, salads, or wraps. There are 14 different house sauces to choose from including blue cheese, buffalo, cayenne ranch, gravy mayo, honey mustard, Korean BBQ and Slim Sauce. The sides include unique options not commonly found at other UK fast-food chains, such as fried pickles and Texas toast.
