Our Story
Back in the late ’80s, we opened our first shop in NYC to give people something better. Fresh halal food, southern-style flavor, and service that never slept. What started with an idea quickly grew into neighborhood staples—and turned local flavor into East Coast demand.
Bold flavor. Halal roots. Built in NYC.
Late 1980s – A trip back in Time
As a group of friends, we saw the need for affordable, easy-to-grab, delicious halal food—something fast, filling, and made for the neighborhoods we called home.
For working-class New Yorkers, immigrants, and especially Muslim immigrants, classic American comfort food like fried chicken and burgers wasn’t always accessible. Most fast food wasn’t halal. And what was available often lacked flavor, freshness, or trust.
So we built our own solution.
We opened small storefronts in the Bronx, Harlem, and Brooklyn. Places like Kennedy Fried Chicken—modest in appearance but full of purpose.
Open late. Priced right. Made fresh, 100% Halal every time.
Southern-style fried chicken became the heart of the menu. Crispy, golden, boldly seasoned. We obsessed over the details—breading, timing, and flavor—perfecting the craft through years of hands-on experience.
These weren’t just fast food joints. They became neighborhood staples. The objective was to make it Worth Every Bite.
And in New York City, where the food often rivals or even beats the original, these local shops earned a loyal following.
That spirit shaped everything we are today.
Tex’s is born.
In 2016, we opened our first storefront under the name Texas Chicken & Burgers.
By then, we had already spent years in kitchens, serving our neighborhoods, and making good food for people who needed it. The idea to open our own place came naturally—and when the time felt right, we went for it.
We started small, in the same kinds of communities we came from—places like Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, where people value food that’s fresh and fairly priced.
There was no big announcement. Just a menu we believed in and recipes we trusted. Crispy, juicy, full of flavor, and 100% halal certified.
People came in, gave us a shot, and started coming back.
One location turned into two. Then three. The word spread, and we did our best to keep up.
Today, we’re proud to serve from 55+ locations and counting across the East Coast.
As we grew, we changed the name to Tex’s—something simpler that still felt like home.
If you see one of our older signs, don’t worry, it’s still us. Same food. Same team!
So... why the name “Tex’s”?
We get this one a lot. Tex’s was inspired by the kind of breading you can’t forget—crispy, golden, and full of flavor. That southern-style crunch gave us a starting point, but we knew we wanted to make it our own.
So we added our touch. We turned up the flavor, made it halal, and kept it fresh every single time.
It’s the kind of bite people come back for.
The kind of flavor you don’t have to explain.
The kind you can hear before you taste.
NYC Made — in the Food Hub of the World
Tex’s got its start in New York City, and that means something to us.
NYC isn’t just our hometown—it’s one of the biggest food hubs anywhere. From food carts in Manhattan to pizza in Brooklyn, the flavor here is unmatched.
New Yorkers know how to spot the real thing. And more often than not? It tastes better here than it does back home.
That shaped how we cook, how we serve, and what we care about most.
Every Tex’s carries that New York feel. Fast-moving, full of flavor, and made for everyone.
We’re not here to follow trends. We’re here to do what New Yorkers always done—serve food that’s real and do it right.
From one shop to 50—and growing fast.
Since 2016, we’ve grown from a single storefront to 50+ locations across the East Coast, with plans to franchise and reach 150–200 stores by 2030.
You’ll find Tex’s wherever there’s a craving for:
- Crispy, juicy halal fried chicken
- All-beef halal burgers
- Freshly made sides and sauces
- Late-night fast food
We’re expanding our drive-thru’s, launching new digital experiences, and doubling down on quality, consistency, and value at every stop.
Worth Every Bite because this is what fast food should’ve been all along.
At Tex’s, we believe food should do more than fill you up—it should bring you back. That’s why we obsess over the details: the breading, the seasoning, the crunch, the service. It’s why we stay open late. And it’s why we lead with halal—because trust matters.
Whether you’re a regular at your local spot or just discovering us for the first time, you’re part of the Tex’s story.
We built Tex’s on feedback, flavor, and hustle. So keep talking to us.
We’re proud to serve you food that’s always fresh, always flavorful, and always Worth Every Bite.