Shaq Attack
NBA giant Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken restaurant drops opening date for new Houston locale
Big Chicken opens this Saturday.
Houston chicken sandwich fans will be able to try a new option beginning this weekend. Big Chicken will open for service this Saturday, April 8 in the Westchase District at 9660 Westheimer Rd.
First announced last year, Big Chicken is owned by NBA Hall of Famer and media personality Shaquille O'Neal. Based in Las Vegas, the restaurant serves fried chicken sandwiches with a range of toppings such as the Big & Sloppy (mac and cheese, fried onions), the Big Aristotle (fried onions, Muenster, Memphis-style barbecue sauce), and the Shaq Attack (pepper jack, jalapeño slaw, spicy chipotle barbecue sauce).
Big Chicken also serves fried chicken tenders, sliders, and milkshakes. Sides include Cheez-It-crusted mac and cheese, jalapeño slaw, and fries (both potato and sweet potato).
O’Neal — along with local franchisees Fazil Malik, Frank Malik, and Noordin Jhaver — plan to open 50 Big Chicken locations across Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas. The Maliks operate gas stations and convenience stores via their company Northwest Petroleum, while Jhaver brings experience as a Sonic franchisee via his company Drew Real Estate Holdings.
“Since the moment we signed the agreement with Big Chicken, we couldn’t wait to open our first restaurant,” Fazil Malik said in a statement. “We look forward to introducing folks across the state to Shaquille’s home-cooked favorites.”
Previously, Big Chicken announced that its second Houston-area location will open later this year in Richmond at 3415 FM 762.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Fazil, Frank and Noordin,” Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern added. “We knew from the get-go that these three were going to be all-star owners, and the best people to expand Big Chicken into Texas. We look forward to supporting them in their growth as they expand in major cities across the state.”
Although O’Neal has ties to Houston, a representative could not confirm that he’ll be in town this weekend for the opening.
