Boba Time

Chickonut brings fried chicken, games, and boba tea to Southlake

Dumplings at Chickonut

Chickonut

A fun restaurant with fried chicken, boba tea, and games is now open in Southlake: Called Chickonut, it’s a family-owned restaurant in the former Boba Chicken at 2801 E. Southlake Blvd. #100, where it combines food, drink, and fun with a slogan that sums it all up: "Spice - Sips - Play."

Chickonut is from couple Ram Reddy and Aneela Vavilla. Ram has a background in IT, while Aneela was in the hospitality industry. Owning a restaurant was always a goal they shared.

"We had a vision and a dream; I was focused on interior and the launching game tables and her focus was on the food, presentation, and training," Reddy says.

Chicken is a staple on the menu, in bowls, wraps, wings, and tenders. They have popcorn chicken, teriyaki chicken rice bowl, and fried chicken-stuffed momos (Himalayan dumplings), and a butter masala chicken basmati bowl.

Non-chicken options include a coconut shrimp fried rice bowl, veggie spring rolls, veggie momo, burgers and wraps, sweet potato fries, bubble waffle cones, and milkshakes. Food ranges from $7 for tenders to $18 for a large combo meal.

Their drink menu is dominated by boba teas, which come in a "dirty" option, with brown sugar syrup, milk, and cheese foam on top. Another signature drink is the Coco Bliss with coconut water and coconut pulp, topped with coconut cloud foam. Other drinks, which average $6, include matcha, lemonades, and lattes.

ChickonutChickonut

The restaurant is nicely outfitted, with lots of seating options and cool touches like glowing cube tables. In May, they installed interactive game tables, where customers can play kid-friendly games through a touchscreen top. Reddy says it's become a huge draw.

“The tables are fun for families and good for date nights with games like coloring, board games, and tic-tac-toe installed,” Reddy says. “You can eat and play at the same table.”

Another feature is a private karaoke room that can seat eight-10 people.

The couple has a second location in development in Little Elm in the Lakefront center. Southlake seemed like a good fit to test out the concept first, plus they're looking to add alcohol by the end of July once they get their liquor permit.

"Southlake has been a really great support for us because we've had existing customers from previous businesses, and it's a good space in a growing area," Reddy says.

openings

Closure News

Paco's Mexican Cuisine shutters location in Sundance Square Fort Worth

Paco's Mexican Cuisine/Facebook

Paco's Mexican Cuisine will host a five-course tequila-pairing dinner.

A buzzy Fort Worth Mexican restaurant has closed: Paco’s Mexican Cuisine, shuttered its location in Sundance Square at 156 W. 4th St., after three years.

According to a post, owner-chef Francisco "Paco" Islas said the closure is due to the lease ending. Their website has already been taken down.

"Given the climate in the service industry, it has been difficult to keep two concepts going with 100% effort as a small family-run business," the post read.

It also gave a nod to its location, stating that "Sundance Square has been an important part of our story — a place where we’ve grown and shared countless unforgettable moments. We thank this organization and Mrs. Bass for the opportunity."

The restaurant opened in 2022 in a space that was previously Taco Diner. It was a second location for Paco’s Mexican following the original on Magnolia Avenue in the Near Southside neighborhood, which opened in 2016. Islas closed that Magnolia Avenue location in January.

They offered a menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner featuring chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, tortas, tacos, and quesadillas. Some of the signature items included tlacoyos— a stuffed corn cake dish with tomatillo, crema, and fajita steak— and birria tacos.

With both locations of Paco’s closed, Islas will focus more attention on Shogun Taqueria, the Mexican-Japanese fusion concept he opened in March in the former Paco’s on Magnolia Avenue.

"This isn’t a decision we made lightly, but rather one rooted in a strategic refocus on the next phase of our journey which is Chef Paco’s new concept, Shogun Taqueria, located in the Near Southside," the post said.

Shogun is bringing something new to Fort Worth, although it doesn't completely abandon the Mexican cuisine diners came to love at Paco's, with a few familiar items like tacos and birria. There's also ramen, gyoza, and parilla with meats like Wagyu and pork cooked on a hot stone tableside.

downtown closings