NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal stops by Fort Worth to open new chicken restaurant

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal stopped by Fort Worth this week to open his new fried chicken restaurant.

Big Chicken opened on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 9755 North Freeway near the Alliance Town Center shopping plaza. The Fort Worth location is the chain’s first in North Texas where it also has locations in Austin and Houston.

O’Neal stopped by Big Chicken’s Fort Worth grand opening, where he signed autographs and took pictures with guests. The Dallas Mavericks’ mascot, Champ, also made an appearance at Tuesday’s event.

The first 34 fans, a reference to O’Neal’s jersey number, in line at Big Chicken, received free food and drinks for an entire year.

Frank Perez was the first person in line and had been camping outside Big Chicken since Sunday, according to the Star-Telegram’s media partner WFAA-TV. Several other North Texans braved the rainy weather to also nab free Big Chicken for a year.

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Big Chicken mainly serves fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, popcorn chicken, and salads. Side items include macaroni and cheese, fries, and jalapeno coleslaw.

A couple of specialty items include “The Ultimate” fried chicken sandwich, which is topped with mac and cheese, crispy fried onions and roasted garlic barbecue aioli. Another is “Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot” fried chicken sandwich with lettuce, mayo and pickles.

Big Chicken was founded in 2018 and has locations in 18 states and on Carnival Cruise Line. In Texas, the chain has locations in Austin, Houston, Richmond and Lubbock.

O’Neal now has a Big Chicken close to home in North Texas, where he’s been living for the last few years.

The 15-time NBA All-Star bought a nearly 5,300-square-foot home in Carrollton for $1.2 million in July 2022. Earlier this year, O’Neal put the home on the market and then bought property in Rockwall , according to the Dallas Morning News.

O’Neal will be back in Fort Worth this fall at his second annual Shaq’s Bass All Stars Festival . The electronic music event is returning to Panther Island Pavillion on Nov. 16.

Big Chicken is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily at 9755 North Freeway.