Meridian is for the birds. Yet another chicken chain opens this week — a ‘breakout brand’
Idahoans can debate whether it’s something to crow about, but chicken chains are flocking here.
Especially to Meridian.
Clucks Nashville Hot Chicken successfully debuted in 2021 at 3223 E. Louise Drive. And since that brand is from the Gem State, it didn’t need to fly far. (Clucks’ second location recently laid an egg in downtown Boise, unfortunately.)
Rising California-based star Dave’s Hot Chicken followed in Meridian at 3450 N. Eagle Road in late 2022. And judging from Google reviews (a 4.6 out of 5 rating), residents loooove it. (I had Dave’s takeout last week, and it’s definitely solid if not exactly mind-blowing. My fast-food-expert son, 13, found it “above average.” The fries, however, dinged his overall assessment. They were only “par,” he said.)
Alabama-headquartered Guthrie’s is coming to Meridian and building a restaurant, too.
But before Guthrie’s invades us?
Another expanding poultry powerhouse will open — this week.
Slim Chickens debuts Monday, Aug. 14, at 3369 W. Chinden Blvd. — near the Ten Mile Road intersection. The new restaurant, which is about 3,000 square feet, will offer indoor dining and drive-thru service.
Slim’s is sure to ruffle a few competitive feathers. Headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas, it was QSR Magazine’s “Breakout Brand of 2021.”
Foodwise, a comparable chain would be Chick-fil-A, according to Oscar Garcia, operations director for Slim’s franchisee Ultra Vortex Chicken, “but our menu is even broader.”
“We do tenders,” Garcia told the Statesman in June, “we do sandwiches, wraps, salads, Mason jar desserts and a whole bunch of things.”
Slim Chickens’ bird is hand-battered, buttermilk-dipped and “cooked fresh to order,” Garcia said. “You wait a few minutes, but it’s still fast. If you wait more than 3 minutes, we’re not happy. Let’s put it that way.”
The other thing that separates Slim Chickens? The sauces. There are 17, all made in-house.
By the time Slim Chickens is done with its Idaho expansion, five or more locations could be operating in the Treasure Valley, Garcia said.
With all the other chicken chains coming to this market, that’s confidence.
“We really, really love the product,” he said. “The two hallmarks, if you will, are Southern hospitality and the blues. There’ll be blues music playing in the lobby all the time, and we will be demonstrating and serving up Southern hospitality all the time.”
The Meridian location will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, he said, and the drive-thru will be open until 10:30 p.m.
However, if you don’t want to leave the nest to try Slim Chickens, get delivery. It costs only $3.99 through Aug. 13 for orders of $15 or more. To get that deal, you have to order through the Slims app or website.