Slim Chickens
Slim Chickens is an American fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps, and chicken-and-waffles meals.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Slim Chickens is an American fast-casual restaurant brand focused on cooked-to-order chicken meals and Southern-inspired accompaniments. The chain was founded in 2003 by Greg Smart and Tom Gordon, who opened the first restaurant at 2120 North College Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in a building that had previously housed a sushi restaurant. Its core menu centers on chicken tenders and wings, supported by sandwiches, salads, wraps, chicken and waffles, fries, fried pickles, coleslaw, Texas toast, and a broad selection of dipping sauces. The company initially developed through company-operated restaurants in Arkansas. A second restaurant opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2005, and expansion accelerated in 2008 when five additional company-owned locations opened across Arkansas and Oklahoma. Slim Chickens began franchising in 2013, when Greg McKay opened the first franchise location in Texarkana, Arkansas. Franchising became an important part of the brand's growth model, allowing it to expand beyond its original regional base while retaining a menu and restaurant format built around chicken tenders and wings. Slim Chickens also pursued international development. In partnership with Alghanim Industries, the brand opened its first international restaurant in Salmiya, Kuwait, in May 2017; that location later closed in 2022. The first United Kingdom restaurant opened in London in March 2018 through a partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group. Subsequent UK locations were established in Cardiff, Bristol, Birmingham, Kent, Bournemouth, Southampton, Plymouth, Bury St Edmunds, and Crawley, among other markets. The brand later entered Turkey, Germany, and Malaysia, with openings reported at Istanbul Airport in 2023, in Berlin in 2024, and in Subang Jaya in 2025. In the United States, the company reported reaching its 100th location with the opening of a Little Rock, Arkansas, restaurant on December 18, 2020. In 2019, Slim Chickens announced a minority investment from 10 Point Capital. Chief executive Tom Gordon said the investment was intended to support a long-term objective of opening 600 locations over the following decade. The investment and stated development target reflected the brand's shift from a primarily regional chain toward a larger franchised and internationally operated restaurant system. Slim Chickens competes in the fast-casual and quick-service chicken segment. Its positioning combines a focused chicken menu with made-to-order preparation, dine-in restaurant presentation, takeaway, and franchised expansion. The available reference material confirms operations in the United States and several international markets, but does not provide a definitive current store count, ownership structure, consolidated financial results, or an official corporate website URL. The brand remains active, although the exact present footprint should be verified against current company or franchise disclosures.
History
Slim Chickens began in 2003 when Greg Smart and Tom Gordon opened a chicken-focused restaurant at 2120 North College Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The site had previously been occupied by a sushi restaurant. The founders developed the concept around chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, sauces, and Southern-style side dishes, creating a focused menu suited to both dine-in and takeaway occasions. The first phase of growth was concentrated in Arkansas and neighboring Oklahoma. A second restaurant opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2005. Expansion accelerated in 2008, when five more company-owned restaurants opened across Arkansas and Oklahoma. This period established the brand's regional operating base and provided a foundation for a larger restaurant system. Slim Chickens began franchising in 2013. The first franchise restaurant was opened in Texarkana, Arkansas, by Greg McKay. Franchising enabled the chain to expand outside its original company-operated network and became a central element of its development strategy. The brand subsequently grew to more than 100 locations across 19 U.S. states, according to the cited reference material. Its 100th location opened in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 18, 2020. International development began in the Middle East. In partnership with Alghanim Industries, Slim Chickens opened its first international location in Salmiya, Kuwait, in May 2017. That restaurant later closed in 2022. The company then entered the United Kingdom through a partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group. The first UK location opened at 35 James Street in London in March 2018. Restaurants followed in Cardiff and Bristol in 2019, with later openings in Birmingham and at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent in February 2020. Additional UK openings were reported in Bournemouth, Southampton, Plymouth, Bury St Edmunds, and Crawley. The chain continued to pursue new international markets. Its first Turkish restaurant opened at Istanbul Airport in July 2023. Germany followed with a first location in Berlin in August 2024, and Malaysia followed with a first restaurant in Subang Jaya in July 2025. These openings demonstrate the use of local partnerships and market-entry arrangements alongside domestic franchising. In 2019, Slim Chickens announced a minority investment from 10 Point Capital. Tom Gordon said the investment would help the company pursue a target of opening 600 locations over the next ten years. The available material does not identify a public listing, disclose transaction value, or establish a parent company. It also does not provide sufficient evidence to confirm the current ownership structure or the exact number of active locations. The brand is best characterized as an active private restaurant chain with a U.S. origin, a chicken-specialist fast-casual proposition, and an expanding international franchise presence.
- 2025
First Malaysian location opens
[1]The first Malaysian restaurant opened in Subang Jaya on July 15.
- 2024
First German location opens
[1]The first German restaurant opened in Berlin on August 24.
- 2023
First Turkish location opens
[1]The first Turkish restaurant opened at Istanbul Airport on July 23.
- 2022
Kuwait location closes
[1]The first Kuwait location in Salmiya was reported to have closed.
- 2020
100th location opens
[1]The 100th location opened in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 18.
- 2019
Minority investment announced
[1]10 Point Capital made a minority investment in Slim Chickens to support the company's expansion ambitions.
- 2018
United Kingdom launch
[1]The first UK restaurant opened in London through a partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group.
- 2017
First international location opens in Kuwait
[1]Slim Chickens entered international markets through a partnership with Alghanim Industries, opening in Salmiya, Kuwait.
- 2013
First franchise location opens
[1]Greg McKay opened the first Slim Chickens franchise restaurant in Texarkana, Arkansas.
- 2008
Company-operated expansion accelerates
[1]Five additional company-owned restaurants opened in Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Products and positioning
A fast-casual and quick-service chicken restaurant brand built around cooked-to-order tenders, wings, sandwiches, and Southern-style sides, with growth driven by company-operated restaurants, franchising, and international partnerships.
Core chicken entrée · 2003
Chicken tenders
Chicken tenders are the brand's central menu product and are commonly served as meals with side dishes, Texas toast, coleslaw, fries, and dipping sauces. They form the basis of Slim Chickens' chicken-specialist identity.
Chicken entrée · 2003
Chicken wings
Wings extend the brand's core chicken offering beyond tenders. They are part of the restaurant chain's standard fast-casual menu and support individual meals, combination orders, and shareable occasions.
Sandwich
Chicken sandwiches
Chicken sandwiches provide a handheld version of the brand's core offering. They complement tenders and wings and help Slim Chickens compete across several formats within the broader chicken restaurant category.
Light meals and handhelds
Salads and wraps
Salads and wraps broaden the menu beyond fried chicken meals. These formats use the brand's chicken-centered proposition while providing alternatives to its traditional tender, wing, and sandwich combinations.
Specialty entrée
Chicken and waffles
Chicken and waffles connect the chain's fried chicken focus with a Southern-inspired comfort-food format. The item is one of the more distinctive offerings associated with the brand's menu.
Condiment
Dipping sauces
A selection of dipping sauces accompanies tenders, wings, and other chicken items. Sauces are an important part of the meal experience and help differentiate the brand's focused chicken menu.
Brand decisions
2019
Accept minority investment from 10 Point CapitalM&ABackground
Slim Chickens was pursuing rapid domestic and international growth and had stated an objective of reaching 600 locations within ten years.
Action taken
The company announced a minority investment from 10 Point Capital.
Aftermath
Chief executive Tom Gordon said the investment would help fund or otherwise support the company's expansion plans. The available source does not disclose the investment amount or subsequent ownership effects.
2013
Begin franchise-led expansionStrategyBackground
After developing through company-owned restaurants in Arkansas and Oklahoma, Slim Chickens sought to expand its geographic reach.
Action taken
The company opened its first franchise location in Texarkana, Arkansas, operated by Greg McKay.
Aftermath
Franchising became a significant part of the brand's subsequent domestic and international development.
Recent events
- 2025
Slim Chickens enters Malaysia[1]
Other
The brand's first Malaysian location opened in Subang Jaya on July 15, 2025.
- 2024
Slim Chickens opens first German location[1]
Other
The first German Slim Chickens restaurant opened in Berlin on August 24, 2024.
- 2023
Slim Chickens expands into Turkey[1]
Other
The brand opened its first Turkish restaurant at Istanbul Airport on July 23, 2023.
- 2020
Slim Chickens opens its 100th location in Little Rock[1]
Other
The chain marked the opening of its 100th location in Little Rock, Arkansas, on December 18, 2020.
- 2019
Slim Chickens announces minority investment from 10 Point Capital[1]
M&A
Slim Chickens announced a minority investment by 10 Point Capital. Tom Gordon said the investment would support the company's stated ambition of reaching 600 locations over the following ten years.
Sources2 sources
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