Here’s the best fried chicken for Elvis Presley’s birthday, and where to eat free
If this is going to be the Year of the (Fried) Chicken, Chuy’s Tex-Mex is kicking it off with a hunka-hunka burning deal.
Four local restaurants in the Austin-based Chuy’s chain will launch 2020 with a love-me-tender fried chicken special Wednesday, and a Dallas location will host a special show.
There’s a very important reason:
It’s Elvis Presley’s 85th birthday.
Chuy’s locations in Arlington, Fort Worth and Southlake will offer a free dinner for anyone dressed as Elvis or his ex-wife, Priscilla.
There’s also a special “Elvis Fried Chicken” platter: chicken-fried chicken battered in crushed Lay’s potato chips, topped with green chile and cheese ($9.79 Wednesday, regular $10.79).
On the menu, it’s labeled “Fat Elvis’ Favorite.”
(If you eat that regularly, there is no guarantee you’ll make it to your 85th birthday.)
The celebration deal also includes $1 off the “Elvis Presley Memorial Combo”: beef, chicken and cheese enchiladas with a taco and queso, $10.99 (regularly $11.99).
If you’d rather make Elvis’ personal favorite fried chicken recipe, you’re too late. The recipe calls for soaking it for five days in an herbed-up buttermilk marinade.
Chuy’s also serves special drinks for the day, such as a frozen “Blue Hawaiian” and “The King’s” punch.
The Dallas location, the oldest in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will offer a special Elvis tribute show from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday featuring Alba, Texas, Elvis artist Gib Maynard.
That address is 4544 McKinney Ave. at Knox Street; 214-559-2489, chuys.com.
Tarrant County Chuy’s are: at 4001 Bagpiper Way, Arlington, 817-557-2489; 2401 West Seventh St., Fort Worth, 817-332-2489; 9700 North Freeway, Fort Worth, TX, 817-741-6090; and 1221 Texas 114 East, Southlake, 817-421-2489.
(These are not to be confused with the small, locally owned suburban Chuy’s restaurants.)
If Chuy’s special isn’t enough, try the chicken at these restaurants:
5. Family-style chicken-fried chicken at Billy’s Oak Acres BBQ, 7709 Camp Bowie West., 817-731-2278, facebook.com/BillysOakAcresBbq
4. Old-time cafe fried chicken at Drew’s Place, 5701 Curzon Ave., 817-735-4408., drewssoulfoodfw.com.
3. Memphis hot fried chicken at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, 1067 W. Magnolia Ave., 817-927-4693., gusfriedchicken.com.
2. Chicken tenders in five heat levels at The Cookshack, 500 University Drive, thecookshack.com.
1. Family-style fried chicken at the oldest local Babe’s Chicken Dinner House, 104 N. Oak St.., Roanoke, or at newer locations in Arlington, Burleson or North Richland Hills; babeschicken.com.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 5:45 AM.
