Chicken News

Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant seizes hot spot near SMU Dallas

This chicken is hot.

Photo courtesy of Hot Chicks

One of the most popular of the new Nashville hot chicken places in town is about to hit Dallas: Hot Chicks Nashville Hot Chicken will open a location at 5609 SMU Blvd., with an opening date set for March.

The restaurant is taking over the space on the ground floor of the Shelby building previously occupied by a Twisted Root burger joint, which closed in July 2019 after a decade.

Hot Chicks is the fast-casual restaurant from One Entertainment (Landmark Bar & Kitchen, Texas Republic, The Yard, Playground in Fort Worth; Theory Nightclub, Cutie Pies Pizza, Playground Bar in Uptown Dallas) that does scratch-made, Halal, dairy-free, peanut-free hot chicken, with heat levels varying from "none" to "Hot AF."

The concept began as a pop-up in Fort Worth, before finding their first permanent location in Plano, at 1885 Dallas Pkwy., which they opened in late 2020.

Sam Sameni, Principal of One Entertainment, says the SMU location checked off a lot of boxes for what they wanted.

"It's near SMU, in the middle of everything and so convenient - right off US-75, near Greenville Avenue, and there's lots of parking," he says.

They make nearly everything inhouse, not only coleslaw and sauces but also their own crinkle cut fries, hand cut daily, which is unusual.

"It's more time-consuming and more expensive, but we feel like it's definitely worth it," he says.

Bread is baked and delivered daily from a local artisan bakery. The chicken is Halal, dairy and peanut free in hopes of being more inclusive. The menu also boasts a grilled hot chicken option for the health-conscious and gluten-free consumer.

Their menu includes tacos, mac & cheese, plus loaded and seasoned fries.

They're also doing another trendy item: "boozy slushies," including frozen and spiked versions of sweet tea, lemonade, Big Red, and a Super Claw.

Other locations coming soon include Willow Park, west of Fort Worth, which they'll open in April.

In addition to dine-in service, Hot Chicks offers curbside pickup and delivery through DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber EATS. Guests can also order ahead by calling the restaurant, and they're also now offering online ordering.

"That has been a big surprise, even with the pandemic, what a large percentage of our orders are to go," Sameni says.

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Pizza News

Famed pizzeria Slice House by Tony Gemignani to debut in Frisco, Texas

Slice House

A famed pizzeria from California is coming to Texas, starting right here in the Dallas area: Slice House by Tony Gemignani, the fast-casual pizza brand by world-renowned pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani, will open its first Texas location in Frisco at 5995 Preston Rd. #102, in a storefront that was once a grilled cheese place.

According to a release, it'll open in January 2026.

Gemignani is the 13-time World Pizza Champion who, inspired by a pizzeria in Naples, Italy, founded Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco in 2009. He opened the first Slice House — a fast-casual concept — in 2010, then began franchising in 2023. There are now nearly 30 locations open and many more coming soon.

The concept features an extensive menu with four styles of crust:

traditional New York
homestyle Grandma
rustic Sicilian
Detroit-style

… all available by the slice or whole pizza.

“Opening our first Texas location in the heart of Frisco is a huge milestone for Slice House,” Gemignani says in a statement. “With the dedication of our brand partner, Daniel Hawkins, we look forward to becoming part of the local community and sharing our signature menu and Slice House craft as we expand into the South.”

Slice House Frisco will feature an expansive menu of Gemignani’s famous New York, Sicilian, Grandma, and Detroit style pizzas available by the slice or whole pizza with gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options available, as well as pasta, wings, and salads.

The drink menu will include craft beers and premium wines, in addition to non-alcoholic sodas and juices.

The new pizza spot will have indoor seating for 30, outdoor seating for 8, and will offer takeout, online ordering, and delivery. It will be open seven days a week – from 11 am-9 pm Sunday-Thursday and until 10 pm on Friday-Saturday.

“We’re proud to partner with world champion pizzaiolo Tony Gemignani to introduce his acclaimed pizzas and artisanal offerings in Texas,” Hawkins says in a statement. “Slice House’s expansive pizza menu, commitment to quality, and lively atmosphere, will quickly make it a local favorite in Frisco. Whether guests are grabbing lunch with friends or taking a pizza home to enjoy with family, we can’t wait to open our doors and welcome everyone soon.”

Slice House Frisco will open in a shopping center that’s home to a mix of dining, retail, and service-oriented businesses, including Kolache Factory, Koto Hibachi and Sushi, and Classique Jewelers. There's another DFW location penciled in for McKinney, at 7851 El Dorado Pkwy., which is still "coming soon."

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