Shaq Attack

NBA giant Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken restaurant drops opening date for new Houston locale

Big Chicken opens this Saturday.

Big Chicken Facebook

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.

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lumpia lost

Guy Fieri-loved Filipino restaurant closes in the Heights after 6 years

Courtesy of Be More Pacific

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A pioneering Houston Filipino restaurant has served its last meal. Be More Pacific is closed as of Tuesday, March 31, the restaurant announced on Instagram.

The note traces the restaurant’s evolution from an Austin food truck to an Austin restaurant and eventually to a Houston location.

“To our guests, friends, and community — thank you. Thank you for the support, the Kamayan feasts, the celebrations, the halo-halo summers, the karaoke parties, and for letting us share a piece of our culture with you,” the note reads in part. “You helped make Filipino food part of the conversation, and we’re incredibly proud of that.”

The Houston location opened in 2020. It distinguished itself with its stylish layout that includes an indoor-outdoor bar, a spacious patio, and karaoke rooms. At the time, founders Giovan Cuchapin and Mark Pascual teamed up with Houston hospitality veteran Roveen Abante (Conservatory Gallery, among others) to bring the Houston location to life. Abante referred all questions about the closure to Cuchapin, who has yet to respond to CultureMap’s request for comment.

When it opened, the restaurant quickly earned a following for its flavorful Filipino fare, including signature items such as lumpia, garlic fried rice, and chicken adobo. Groups could order a kamaya feast built around proteins such as roast pork or whole snapper.

Guy Fieri featured Be More Pacific on a 2021 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. In this clip, he samples the restaurant’s kare kare, a curry made with brisket.

Be More Pacific was among the first ambitious Asian restaurants to open in the Heights. While it may have closed, its legacy lives on with concepts such as JŪN and Agnes and Sherman, both of which earned finalist nominations in the 2026 James Beard Awards.

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