Fried Chicken News

Denver dispatches newest fried chicken sandwich restaurant to Frisco

Birdcall fried chicken tenders, fried chicken sandwich, and fries.

Birdcall

A fried chicken sandwich restaurant from Denver is swooping down on Dallas-Fort Worth: Birdcall, which specializes in chicken sandwiches and salads, has opened a location in Frisco at 5350 Preston Rd. in Preston Lebanon Crossing, taking over a former Taco Cabana in front of a Sprouts and Hobby Lobby.

According to a release, the restaurant opened on July 10.

This makes the second Birdcall in the DFW area: The first opened in 2022 in Carrollton, also in a former Taco Cabana space.

Birdcall debuted in 2016 in the historic Five Points neighborhood of Denver, and has since grown to 10 locations in Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. More openings planned for these three key markets including Richardson and Dallas; wonder if they'll be in former Taco Cabanas as well?

Birdcall does chicken sandwiches on "artisan buns" from Signature Baking Company, plus chicken tenders, salads, tater tots, gluten-free and dairy-free chicken nuggets, and milkshakes with an option to make them boozy.

Birdcall caters to gluten-free diners with a wide range of options, and there's an exciting plant-based Meati sandwich, made from mushroom root protein.

Kids meals include chicken tenders or gluten-free and dairy-free chicken nuggets with fries, tater tots, or fruit, and a "fun swag item."

A bar program offers house-made cocktails on tap, such as a spicy cucumber margarita, a frozen house margarita, and draft beer inncluding locals such as Manhattan Project Beer Co. IPA. These make up for some of the disappointment that goes with the loss of Taco Cabana, which had its own amazing frozen cocktails.

Proprietary technology-driven kiosks empower guests to take control of the ordering process, tracking the progress of their meal on digital displays throughout the dining area and "conveniently" collecting their orders from 11 meal cubbies.

The dining room includes free-to-play arcade games like NBA Jam and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Frisco location will also showcase mural by Jaime and Pedro of The Worst Crew.

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School Cafeteria News

Unusual new restaurant in Lewisville summons Korean school cafeteria

Andrea Young/AsianGrub in DFDUB

F&F on the Go

An adorable restaurant that serves up a Korean school lunch has opened in Lewisville: Called F&F On The Go, it's at 2405 S. Stemmons Fwy. #201, on the second floor of Korean specialty Zion Market, where it specializes in Geupshik — a Korean custom that refers to the homestyle lunch meals provided by schools or companies.

At F&F, you get a pre-set meal, served in a stainless steel tray with compartments for the different courses. You make two choices: black or white rice and your protein, from choices such as Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Pork, Teriyaki Chicken, Spicy Squid, and Salmon Steak.

Everey meal comes with the banchan, or Korean side dishes, which the restaurant rotates daily — there's usually a salad and kim chi — plus a classic Japanese yogurt drink called “Yakult."

For $14.99, you get an authentic, yet approachable taste of Korean comfort food, says co-founder Eric Song.

“It’s a unique concept in DFW that blends Korean and Japanese flavors with a nostalgic touch,” Song says.

F&F On The Go is part of the growing Fast and Furious brand, which launched in Irving in 2013, where Song is head of operations and brand development. Their first concept was F&F Japanese Grill, a fast-casual hibachi restaurant featuring Korean and Japanese fusion cuisine which now has locations in Addison, Plano, Frisco, and Greenville Avenue.

In 2016, they expanded with a food truck, F&F Express, which makes K-style bowls.

With F&F On The Go, Song wanted to create a casual, but high-quality dining experience inspired by the nostalgic Korean school lunch style.

The presentation was designed to bring a touch of nostalgia, yet be appealing to diners unfamiliar with the style or dishes. The counter and seating area have a clean finish while capturing the essence of a Korean school cafeteria. The word “Geupshik” (급식) in Korean literally means "school meal" or "lunch service."

The restaurant is in a multicultural area north of the Sam Rayburn Tollway in Lewisville — surrounded by sushi restaurants and Korean street food stores.

“We chose the location based on strong community presence and growing demand for Asian comfort food in the area,” Song says.

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