Fried Chicken News

Bojangles to bring its fried chicken and sweet tea to buzzy Mansfield

Bojangles fried chicken and iced tea.

Bojangles

There can never be too much fried chicken, as far as this Southern fried chicken chain is concerned: It's none other than Bojangles, the North Carolina-based chain, and it's opening a location in Mansfield, at 1764 U.S. 287 Frontage Rd., along East Debbie Lane on a vacant lot between a RaceTrac gas station and Saltgrass Steakhouse.

There’s no concrete opening date yet, it's a ways off — but the goal is to open by fall 2025, according to franchise owner Kirby Dolliole. The Mansfield City Council voted on the restaurant’s approval for a drive-through and zoning as a restaurant during their August 12 meeting.

Bojangles was founded in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina and has approximately 800 locations across the U.S. The company began to plot its North Texas expansion in 2021. There are now five DFW locations — Euless opened first in 2023, followed by Frisco, Lancaster, Little Elm, and Wylie.

Menu favorites include Bo’s chicken sandwich, chicken tenders, and family meals with sides such as cole slaw, mac & cheese, and Bo-Tato Rounds, which are mini hash browns.

They also do breakfast, that includes the Cajun chicken biscuit filet sandwich, sausage & egg biscuit, steak biscuit, and Southern gravy biscuit, as well as their "Legendary Iced Tea. Prices range from $3 for a breakfast sandwich to $54 for a 20-piece family meal.

Dolliole, COO of Hospitality for First Hartford Realty, is the franchisee for this location and previously opened the Bojangles in Wylie. Dolliole and First Biscuit Enterprises, LLC hope to open more Bojangles across DFW, as well as the Austin/San Marcos area in the next two years.

"Bojangles is the best chicken restaurant that I believe has great quality food, great brand, great organization, and that is really the reason why we chose it," Dolliole says. "Biscuits get made from scratch every 20 minutes, 48 hours marinated chicken. Can't get any better than that."

trends openings

Food Events Time

Crazy tasting tops 7 best food & drink events in Fort Worth this week

Photo courtesy Daniel Hooks

Tim Love will share a 25-course tasting menu this weekend.

The crazy "May-cember" arrives this week with its onslaught of social events. From prom to graduation parties, end-of-school festivities to Mother's Day gatherings (make brunch plans with this list here), the calendar fills fast. Save room for these tasty events that all land this weekend, including a 25-course anniversary dinner, three-day barbecue smoke-out, and Derby Day brunch.

Friday, May 2

Lone Star Smokeout
Making its Texas debut is this three-day outdoor barbecue and country music festival, an expansion of the award-winning Windy City Smokeout held in Chicago. The parking lot party will be held outside AT&T Stadium Friday through Sunday featuring country music headliners Cody Jinks, Jon Pardi, and Midland along with more than a dozen other bands. Tickets include access to barbecue from 13-plus pitmasters from across Texas and the country, including local favorites Dayne’s Craft BBQ, Hurtado Barbecue, and 2025 CultureMap Fort Worth Tastemaker Award winner Panther City BBQ. Single day tickets start at $73.

Lonesome Dove 25-Course Anniversary Celebration
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of his landmark restaurant in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Tim Love will offer an exclusive 25-course retrospective tasting menu. Dishes will pay homage to Love’s adoration of wild game, including a culinary journey through proteins and ingredients from the sea, air, and land through various flights. A few highlights include rabbit & rattlesnake sausage dumplings, kangaroo larb tacos, snapper ceviche, and quail oatmeal with black truffle. Reservations are $250 and the celebratory menu will be offered Friday through Tuesday.

TX Whiskey Presents: Cowtown Comfort Cookbook Book Launch Party
Visit Whiskey Ranch for a Friday night party celebrating the launch of Cowtown Comfort: Fort Worth Recipes, Places and Food Traditions. The book signing event will feature live music, author Q&A, Heim Barbecue food truck, and samples from Melt Ice Creams (both of whom have recipes featured in the cookbook.) There’ll also be a demo by TX Whiskey lead mixologist Jason Shelly, who’ll share how to the make The Bootstitch cocktail featured in the cookbook and share samples. The $10 ticket price includes a cocktail – no book purchase required, although signed and personalized books will be for sale for the retail price of $32.50. The party will run from 6–9 pm.

Saturday, May 3

Kentucky Derby Party at Emilia’s
Start Derby Day with this festive brunch at The Crescent. The hotel’s elegant restaurant, Emilia’s, along with The Circle Bar and outdoor patio, will host a Kentucky Derby party with live music, chef displays, cocktails, and all-day viewing of the races live from Churchill Downs. The Southern-inspired brunch menu includes biscuits with Benton’s country ham, buttermilk fried chicken, East Coast oysters, Woodford Reserve bourbon pecan pie, and more. The $100 brunch price comes with a glass of bubbly and a mint julep. Wear your Derby best for a hat contest with a grand prize of an overnight stay at The Crescent with dinner for two at Emilia’s and a bottle of Woodford Reserve. The brunch will run from 11 am–3 pm.

North Texas Pacific Islander Festival
Celebrate the rich culture – and tastes – of the Pacific Islands at this festival in Bedford. Vendors will be on-site to sell their Pacific Island-inspired cuisine, including adobo dishes, Hawaiian fare, poke, and more. Admission and parking are free and the event will take place at the Bedford Boys Ranch from 12–7 pm.

5th Annual Rosé Soirée at Hotel Vin
Posh downtown Grapevine hotel invites guests to put on their rose-colored glass during this annual rosé-themed patio party. More than 40 wine vendors will pour on the pink for tastings, and there’ll also be specialty cocktails, food pairings, live entertainment, and photo ops galore. The $75 ticket plus tax and a small fee, includes 10 tastings. Purchase additional passports good for 10 tastings for $25. The party will run from 3–6 pm. Tickets are going fast and the event typically sells out.

Sunday, May 4

Fort Worth Veg-Fest Summer 2025
All vegan outdoor food festival & market at Belentys Love Mexican Vegan Restaurant, 3516 Bluebonnet Cir., will feature products from nearly 20 vendors and food stands with offerings such as bean & cheese pupusas, vegan shrimp cocktail, and jalapeno & cheese kolaches. Entry is free, prices a la carte. 12-5 pm.

chefs holidays event-planner