Slim Chickens to Open Restaurant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama Next Week

Tuscaloosa's newest quick-service restaurant is set to officially open for business next week, its franchisees have confirmed to the Tuscaloosa Thread.

John Drain, who will own and operate two Slim Chickens restaurants in the Druid City, said their initial location on Skyland Boulevard next to Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux will welcome its first customers next Monday, August 2nd.

Get our free mobile app

In a press release, Drain said he and Denise Drain-Mashburn will join their operating partner Rodney Ramsey to develop and run 16 Slim Chickens restaurants across Alabama, joining more than 130 existing franchise locations in the U.S., the U.K. and Kuwait.

Their eateries in the Yellowhammer State are among 400 Slim Chickens that are currently in development, and Drain said the brand aims to operate 600 restaurants worldwide in the next 10 years. The original Slim Chickens launched in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2003.

Drain said Slim Chickens prides itself on serving fresh, hand-breaded, cooked-to-order chicken alongside 17 housemade dipping sauces, featuring standard options such as honey mustard and buffalo sauce to more unique offerings like cayenne ranch, buttery garlic parmesan sauce and a tropical mango habanero jam.

Their menu will include chicken tenders, fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and waffles, wings and side items including fried pickles and fried okra.

The new restaurant is likely to find tough competition in the saturated Tuscaloosa market, where they will be within spitting distance of Milo's, Chick-fil-A and Zaxby's and a short drive away from Guthrie's, Foosackley's and a plethora of chicken wing joints. Still, Drain and his team believe the quality of their food and the atmosphere and hospitality inside the restaurant will make "Slimthusiasts" of anyone who gives them a try.

Be sure to check out Slim Chickens after they open Monday, but if the line leading to Foosackley's on their first day of business last summer is any indication, patrons should make plans to get there early.