Fried Chicken News

Houston chicken tender chain Urban Bird to open 3 Dallas-area shops

Urban Bird
Fried chicken at Urban Bird Urban Bird

A new fried chicken restaurant has swooped into Plano: Called Urban Bird, it's bringing tenders and sandwiches to the former Hot Chicks space at 1885 Dallas Pkwy. #300, in the Willow Bend Crossing center, where it opened in late February.

Urban Birds Urban Bird is a chicken tenders concept with increasing levels of heat. Signature items include: the tender basket, with two tenders, bread, choice of side, pickles, and Bird Sauce for $12.75; and the Sando combo, with two tenders on a toasted bun with kale slaw, Bird Sauce, and pickles, for $15.75.

The concept was founded in Houston by husband-and-wife Brandon and Chantel Gawthorp, who opened opened the first location in Katy in 2020. They've since opened 14 locations across Texas, including in Fulshear, Houston, Spring, College Station, and San Marcos.

Plano is the first to open in Dallas-Fort Worth.

One notable menu item is the Urban Fries, like a loaded fries topped with a tender and mac & cheese; it started as a limited-edition item before getting bumped up to permanent status.

The Urban Fries became the inspiration and centerpiece for a companion ghost kitchen they founded called Chronic Fries, which is housed within each restaurant, featuring street-food-style fries topped with chicken and ingredients such as mac & cheese or elote.

“Coming off COVID, a lot of people were doing virtual restaurants, so the different fry options came from creating different combinations that would work for that concept," Brandon says.

Plano is only the first of three DFW locations they have planned, with two more oening in Arlington at 1707 N Collins St. #121, and Grand Prairie at 4125 South Carrier Pkwy. #110.

“We’re kind of running out of room in Houston,” Brandon says. "We go into a lot of second generation locations where previous restaurants have closed so we can move quicker with the equipment that’s already in there."

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