Fat Boy Phillies brings soul food to Southland Mall with new restaurant location

A Houma-based food truck has branched out with a second location inside Southland Mall.

Fat Boy Phillies opened a restaurant inside the mall Friday, July 12. The restaurant is where Chick-Fil-A used to be, next to Pocket Change. It was opened by K.J. Townsend, a Houma chef. More than 40 people were waiting Friday to place their first orders.

“I've been walking in the mall every day, and every time I've seen someone in here I was asking them, 'When y'all going to open?,'" Antoinette Hewitt said. "I did over five miles today, and I'm over 80-years-old."

That exercise worked up her appetite, and she ordered the fish basket and fries. She said she had been eyeing the restaurant since the sign had been put up about two weeks ago and was excited to try the new food.

She was happy to see a new restaurant because it was bringing variety. Hewitt tried a French fry before leaving to bring her husband an O.G. Philly and said they tasted homemade.

Venessa McKinley Stewart described the food as soul food. Her favorite is the Boo Special, which is a fully loaded potato, with a cream sauce, shrimp, crawfish and served with two pieces of fried fish. She said she had been eating the meal since Quizine Quarters.

"I've been following him since he had his other establishment... and once I heard he closed down I was kind of upset," she said.

She described the potato's flavors as "back in the day. Old school, like when the family would cook out, like when we have gatherings."

Other meals include the Fat Boy Philly, a Philly cheesesteak with peppers and Townsend's blend of seasonings, and the Mac Daddy, a mountain of fries tossed with a sweet Thai chili sauce served on top of macaroni and cheese.

Townsend said the recipes are his own takes on his grandmother’s recipes. He described her as the “GOAT” of the family — the greatest of all time. He introduced some of the dishes to the public during his time at Quizine Quarters, which eventually closed. He opened Fat Boy Phillies earlier this year as a food truck.

According to Townsend, the food truck will continue to operate at 5505, Highway 311. Both establishments are open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and closed on Sundays. He said he has plans to turn the restaurant into a franchise, and already has a meeting set July 18 to plan out his sauce distribution.

"The brick-and-mortar, I love it," he said. "Of course, this is the beginning of my franchise. My secret sauce, it's almost like that red hot: I put that sh*t on everything."