Golden Chick is a popular fast food chicken restaurant chain that is primarily located in Texas. With over 185 locations across the Lone Star State, Golden Chick has become a staple for Texans craving juicy fried chicken, homemade sides, and delicious homemade yeast rolls.
What is Golden Chick?
Golden Chick is a quick service restaurant franchise that specializes in fried chicken. Founded in 1967 in Beaumont, Texas, Golden Chick has grown to over 185 restaurants across Texas and Oklahoma. The restaurant is best known for its hand-breaded, always fresh chicken cooked to golden perfection. The menu features chicken tenders, chicken sandwichs, chicken strips, fried chicken, wings, salads, sides, desserts and more. Signature items include the Big & Golden Chicken Sandwich, Honey Butter Biscuits, Fried Okra and Scratch Made Sides.
History of Golden Chick
Golden Chick first opened its doors in 1967 in Beaumont, Texas. Childhood friends Jim and Jim started the restaurant after recognizing a gap in the market for high-quality fried chicken. The first location became immensely popular, with customers raving about the juicy, crispy fried chicken. This initial success led to rapid expansion across Texas over the following decades.
By the 2000s, Golden Chick had over 100 locations in the Lone Star State. The brand further expanded into Oklahoma in 2015. While still heavily concentrated in Texas, Golden Chick now has 185+ restaurants across the two states. The company is still owned and operated by the founding Golden family.
Golden Chick Menu
The Golden Chick menu focuses on high-quality, freshly prepared fried chicken meals and sides. Some customer favorites include:
- Big & Golden Chicken Sandwich – A fried chicken breast fillet with pickles, mayo and a Brioche bun.
- Chicken Tender Dinner – Hand battered chicken tenders served with fries and bread.
- Chicken Strip Dinner – Marinated chicken strips served crispy or grilled.
- Fried Chicken – Traditional mixed fried chicken or all breast meat.
- Wings – Bone-in or boneless wings with a range of sauces.
- Chicken Salads – Gourmet salads with mixed greens, chicken and fresh toppings.
- Sides – Fries, fried okra, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and more.
- Honey Butter Biscuits – Freshly baked with whipped honey butter.
The menu has something for every chicken lover. You can get tenders or strips for dipping, fried chicken for a hearty meal, or lighter salads and sandwiches. Sides like fried okra and mashed potatoes are homemade from scratch each day.
Why is Golden Chick Popular in Texas?
There are several key reasons why Golden Chick has found huge success and popularity across Texas:
Focus on Freshness
Everything is made fresh daily at Golden Chick. Chicken is hand breaded and fried to order in small batches throughout the day. Sides like coleslaw, potatoes and biscuits are prepared from scratch in each restaurant. This ensures maximum freshness and taste.
Texas-sized Portions
Golden Chick serves up meals with Texas-sized portions. Chicken tenders, sandwiches, strips and fried chicken plates are loaded up with meat. Sides are generous in size. This gives customers plenty of food at a good value.
Localized Menu
While keeping its core menu consistent, Golden Chick tailors offerings to local tastes. Unique items like fried okra, sweet corn fritters and jalapeno peppers resonate with Texas food preferences. Localized options drive enthusiasm.
Convenient Locations
With 185+ restaurants across the state, Golden Chick has expanded to be conveniently located for Texans. Easy access and quick service make it a go-to option. New locations pop up all the time in Texas communities.
Savvy Marketing
From its name to commercials, Golden Chick leverages Texas pride in its branding and marketing. Sponsoring local teams and emphasizing its Texas roots builds brand affinity. This positions it as a homegrown restaurant.
Kid-friendly Dining
Golden Chick caters well to families with kids. The chicken tenders and fried items appeal to children. Meals also come at a good value for feeding an entire family.
Is Golden Chick expanding beyond Texas?
While the vast majority of locations are still in Texas, Golden Chick has begun expanding beyond its home state:
- Oklahoma – Golden Chick entered Oklahoma in 2015 and now has 16 locations.
- Louisiana – Two restaurants recently opened in Shreveport, the first in Louisiana.
- Arkansas – Plans are under development for some additional expansion into Arkansas.
The brand seems to be eyeing states bordering Texas for future growth. Moving forward, Golden Chick could start targeting other markets across the South and Southeast where fried chicken is also popular.
However, the rate of out-of-state expansion will likely be cautious and focused. Golden Chick doesn’t want to overextend itself by expanding too rapidly outside its home market. The brand remains committed to its Texas roots even while eyeing some broader growth beyond the state.
How does Golden Chick compare to other fried chicken chains?
Golden Chick faces competition from other fried chicken chains. Here is how Golden Chick stacks up against the competition:
KFC
| KFC | Golden Chick |
|---|---|
| Global chain | Regional chain concentrated in Texas |
| Broader menu beyond just chicken | Specialized chicken menu |
| Pressure fried chicken process | Hand breaded chicken, fried fresh to order |
KFC is much larger with far more restaurants globally. But many customers prefer the smaller Golden Chick chain for its emphasis on quality, Texas roots, and house-made approach.
Raising Cane’s
| Raising Cane’s | Golden Chick |
|---|---|
| Specializes solely in chicken fingers | Broad range of chicken menu options |
| Strong presence across the US | Concentrated in Texas and Oklahoma |
| Drive-thru focused model | Mainly dine-in restaurants |
While both chains have their chicken focus, Golden Chick wins out for Texas customers wanting more than just chicken fingers. The larger menu variety and local ties resonate.
Churches Chicken
| Churches Chicken | Golden Chick |
|---|---|
| International chain | Regional chain in Texas and Oklahoma |
| Lower-cost menu | Slightly higher-priced for premium quality |
| Higher focus on chicken tenders | Broad range of chicken dishes |
The more premium quality and larger menu selection of Golden Chick appeal strongly to its core Texas customers compared to Churches Chicken.
Why do Texans love Golden Chick so much?
Golden Chick has earned a cult following across Texas for several reasons that resonate with Lone Star State diners:
- It started in Texas – The Texas roots help it feel like a true homegrown brand.
- Freshness – Handmade, fresh-to-order food Texans can taste.
- Flavor – Signature seasonings and southern-inspired menu.
- Generous portions – Texas-sized servings satisfy big appetites.
- Local ownership – Still owned and run by the founding Texas family.
- Convenient locations – Easy access with restaurants all over Texas.
- Craveable menu – Core items like Honey Butter Biscuits keep customers coming back.
- Nostalgia – Reminds many Texans of great meals growing up.
- Texas pride – Strong local branding fits the Texas culture and identity.
Between its flavors, freshness, portions, and Texas style, Golden Chick has become a quintessential restaurant for hungry Texans. The brand just seems to do everything right when it comes to winning over Lone Star State diners. The loyalty it has built in Texas over decades is a key factor in its continued success and growth.
Conclusion
Golden Chick has built itself into a Texas institution over its 50+ year history. Loyal customers across the Lone Star State have fallen hard for the craveable fried chicken chain. The brand has found the perfect recipe for success through freshness, flavors, Texas pride, and localized marketing.
While Golden Chick now has over 185 locations, the vast majority are still concentrated within Texas. This shows that Golden Chick maintains its identity and equity as a go-to hometown chain for Texans. The brand is branching out beyond its home state, but is still staying close to its Texas roots even amid expansion.
Texans clearly have an outsized devotion and passion for Golden Chick compared to diners in other states. The combination of quality food, savvy branding, and appeal to local tastes make Golden Chick a quintessentially Texas thing. Fried chicken lovers across the Lone Star State hope to see this homegrown brand continue to spread its wings for years to come.