If there's one thing Dallas needs, it's another place to get chicken. Prayers answered with the DFW arrival of Layne's Chicken Fingers, a baby chain from College Station that's opening its first area location in Allen, at 102 Central Expy., in a former Pollo Tropical space at the southwest corner of McDermott Drive.
Layne's Chicken Fingers is an A&M haunt that was founded in 1994, and it's nearly identical to Louisiana chain Raising Cane's. It specializes in chicken fingers, which you can get in a plate, in a sandwich, or in a bucket. Other items on the very short menu include crinkle-cut fries, a page out of the book of Shake Shack, which also serves frozen, crinkle-cut fries.
If crinkle-cut fries are not your thing, there is also potato salad. Finally, there is Texas toast. A plate combines all those things: chicken fingers, potato, and Texas toast. Do not concern yourself with green foods, everything here is tan.
There is also a "secret sauce," which they describe as tangy, spicy, zesty, peppery, and perfectly balanced — IE, a more jazzed up version of Russian dressing, which is what "secret sauce" is usually code for.
Founder Mike Layne opened the original location in College Station in 1994. He eventually sold out to his partner, Mike Garratt. There are three locations in the College Station area. Allen represents the first foray outside of the A&M area, but the chain has high hopes of expansion.
A spokesperson confirms that the Allen restaurant will open "soon" and that other DFW locations are in the works, including Dallas and Fort Worth. The chain also has plans to expand to San Antonio in 2018.
