Fried Chicken News
Fried-chicken sandwich restaurant Budlong from Chicago comes to Irving

Budlong chicken
A new chicken concept is coming to DFW, this one from the Windy City: Called Budlong Southern Chicken, it's a Nashville hot chicken brand opening at Toyota Music Factory, at 316 W. Las Colinas Blvd. in Irving.
This is a corporate-owned store from parent company Craveworthy Brands and it opened on November 15.
Budlong was founded in 2015 and has four locations in the Chicago area. It was acquired in 2022 by Gregg Majewski, a former Jimmy John’s CEO, who launched Craveworthy Brands, which also owns brands such as Genghis Grill and Krafted Burger Bar.
The menu includes chicken sandwiches, tenders, salads, popcorn chicken, and also chicken-fried steak.
Sides include mac & cheese, Cajun potato salad, hush puppies, fried cornbread, slaw, fries, and a biscuit with strawberry balsamic jam, which seems sufficiently tempting that it should be an entree. Desserts include banana pudding, and two hand pies, cherry and chocolate.
The Irving location will also feature a full bar once the liquor license is processed and issued.
“The Budlong is by far a leader in the chicken category, and we can’t wait to open our doors in Irving to get more fans excited about the brand and our southern chicken experience,” Majewski says in a statement. “Awareness is what this brand needs more than anything, and our location at the Toyota Music Factory is the perfect fit for the spirit of our brand and the fan base we serve. The Budlong experience has thrived in Chicago, and we’re now ready for bigger markets like Dallas.”
The restaurant will be open Sunday-Thursday, 11 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday, 11 am-10 pm, but will extend their hours on event days.