There is a running joke among a few friends I have: Some of the best friend chicken is available to petrol stations and grocery stores. Roots Chicken Shak proved the latter to be true. While visiting Austin, I went to Roots Chicken Shak before heading back to my hotel. You order at a kiosk and can then have your food in their spacious seating area. Their friend chicken wings tasted like they had been fried in duck fat. For the record, that is a good thing. Those chicken wings were no joke. And I love it when my fries are crispy. They won me over. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Fried Chicken Wings with Fries - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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You know those chicken sandwich wars from not too long ago??? This place should've been named in at the least the top 5 as it's way better than any of the other restaurants that were being mentioned. Ordered the chicken sando and biscuit sando wit a side of fries and some of their sweet tea. These are made to order so there is a little wait. Pro tip: since the food is made to order and not under heat lamps, it comes out pretty hot so you may want to wait a bit before you bite into it, unless you're into that kinda of pain The breading on the chicken, on top of having all these great spices added to it, is super crispy and light. It has such a fantastic crunch. The chicken too, is super juicy and flavorful. The sandwich itself is great as it comes and all the toppings work perfectly together. That potato bun is something else and really brings everything together. The biscuit is quite nice, buttery and big enough to hold that massive piece of chicken. The sweet jalapeno jam add a good kick of spice. Oh the duck fat fries! These really dont need anything added to the them. Just enjoy them as they come as they're perfection. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Chicken sando - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Roots Chicken Shak certainly lives up to the quality of food and innovative creativity of its namesake, as I've not had any menu item past few years that doesn't knock it out of the park. My favorite is the The Big Bird Chicken Sandwich made with a succulent boneless chicken thigh on a sweet potato bun with kale salad, pickles, tomatoes, red onion and herb mayo. Put together elegant for a beautiful presentation as well as a taste and flavor explosion! Get the Dyck Fat Fries as a side! Located in the Mueller H-E-B Food Court, so there's certainly something delectable for everyone among the five restaurants. read more

Came for lunch on a Saturday. No line, and I was able to order at the kiosk right away. I tried to ask the staff for recommendations, but they were not responsive sadly. Perhaps they were just busy, but I was a little taken aback. I got the spicy chicken sandwich, as I had been wanting to try the duck fat fried specialty for some time. The videos I had seen showed a massive piece of chicken thigh, and while mine was slightly smaller it did taste fantastic and certainly was enough food to satisfy me. The sandwich wasn't overly greasy, and the kimchi mayo + giardiniera combo was bomb. I'd like to come back another time and sit outside at HEBs cafe area. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy Chicken Sandwich 1 - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Located right inside of Mueller HEB you do not want to pass this up! The chicken sandwich was delicious, the spices were not overpowering and you could taste the other flavors. I love that there was kale on the burger, although I didn't taste much sweet potato in the bun, it was delicious and the perfect comfort meal. The fries were warm and crisp! There was a bit of a line when I went and it took about 15 minutes for my food to be delivered. You cannot beat this quality and the prices!! It's extremely affordable and so good I may go back again for dinner tonight! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy chicken sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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All I can say is wowie zowie! This place is fantastic. I honestly can say the best fried chicken sandwich I have ever had. I ordered the big bird which came with sweet potato bun, loaded with a fantastic tasting herb mayo, very fresh kale, tomatoes, pickles and onions. And let's not forget the humongous piece of deliciously juicy fried chicken. I never had a sweet potato bun, and was wary, but I am now a fan. It was light, tasty, fresh, and not overpowering. Wish I could get all my sandwiches with this. The sandwich pic looks like the topping were light, but they were actually perfect. Too many times places throw huge pieces of topping on sandwiches which over power and take away from the taste of the man ingredient. Not this one. It was just right. The chicken. MAN! The chicken was so good. The crust was just right and not as thick as it looks in the pic. The meat was juicy and cooked perfect. This chicken reminded me of my favorite fried chicken in the world; Japanese Karaage fried chicken. The magic is a great piece of dark meat chicken including the fat, and a perfectly made and layered breading crust. My first bite and I thought I was back in Japan, it is that good. I am sure being fried in duck fat makes it even tastier. I wasn't too hungry for fries, but when I read that they were fried in duck fat, I couldn't resist. They were perfect. Also, it is made to order, fresh out of the fryer as all food should be. The other plus was ease of ordering at the kiosk. This place rocks! read more

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2 Stars - A Judge's Kitchen Should Judge Itself First I was genuinely excited to try Chef Tiffany's restaurant, especially after seeing her on TV critiquing other chefs. Naturally, I expected high standards. But after two visits and over $75 spent each time, I left with one question: How can someone judge others' food while their own restaurant feels so overlooked? I ordered the banana pudding twice. The first time, there were no bananas at all. I assumed it was a fluke and ordered again on my second visit--this time, I counted maybe one or two banana slices per cup. Good flavor, but without the banana, it lost its purpose. The biscuits with the jalapeño jelly were excellent and frankly, the highlight of both visits. But the chicken, which should be the star, was the biggest disappointment. I tried wings, strips, and nuggets. All lacked seasoning, as if salt had been forgotten entirely. The wings were dry, and while the strips and nuggets were tender, they had no real flavor. I also ordered the duck fat fries. Even though I ate them in my car right outside, they were already cold and lacked the rich flavor duck fat should bring. As someone who cooks with duck fat regularly, I know how bold it can be when done right. This wasn't it. I truly wanted to love this place. I gave it two full chances. But what it needs most isn't hype--what's needed is attention, care, and consistency. Before critiquing others on national TV, I hope Chef Tiffany revisits her own kitchen with the same scrutiny. read more

Since moving to Texas I've become a big fan of H-E-B for the breadth and quality of its products. I was pleased to discover the food court at the Mueller location-everything I've sampled there has been very tasty. Roots Chicken Shak has a very limited menu with a few sandwiches, wings, fries, biscuits, salad and dessert. That translates into some really delicious food however focusing on quality over quantity. We tried the Spicy Bird chicken sandwich and the duck fat fries. The chicken was well breaded and fried nicely so the meat remained tender and juicy with a light touch of spices. On the sandwich we enjoyed the vegetables and pickled peppers and a punchy kimchi mayo that played well off of each other. The fries had a creamy texture and rich flavor from the duck fat. My favorite chicken sandwich in Austin is at Spicy Boys but this sandwich is excellent and well worth a visit to H-E-B. Highly recommended. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy bird chicken sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Excellent food Excellent service Great environment inside of HEB. Chicken was fried perfectly biscuits were buttery and the jelly had a hint of spice which made for a new experience. read more

Soooooo delish! Highly recommend this place. Chicken is crispy, juicy and tender. Duck fat fries and pepper jelly biscuit are where it's at. The chicken sandwich is amazing as well. Whole family enjoyed this place and we have been back a couple of times. read more

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I'd eat here again for sure. The spicy bird was really good and proper spicy. The various ingredients, the sweet potato bun, the duck fat fried chicken, the spicy mayo all worked together to create something really tasty. The chicken has crispy batter on the outside yet juicy and flavorful inside, just the way I like it. And the piece is huge! With that said, price felt a bit steep for frequent returns. At almost $10, I would like a bigger bun to be proportional to the chicken piece inside. Or more preferably, lower the price a little along with reducing the size of the chicken to be the size of the bun. In any case, I definitely will be back with the better half who I'm sure will enjoy this spicy sandwich! I just gotta convince her first that paying $20 for 2 chicken sandwiches is going to be worth it!! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Front - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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i ordered the spicy bird & fries. this sandwich is pretty fantastic. perfectly spicy for a spicy chicken sandwich. nothing crazy, but my chapped lips are burning! the chicken is perfectly cooked, crispy, uniform, and flavorful. the duck fat adds a unique, robust flavor. i love the addition of kale. the pickles, tomatoes, onions, and peppers have great flavor. the freshness compliments the richness of the chicken and sauce. i didn't get a strong kimchi flavor from the mayo, but it is flavorful. the bun is perfect. the fries are nice. nicely salted and fresh. a bit in consistent (some floppy). but hey. they're not the star here. my only critique is that the moisture of the ingredients causes the sandwich to fall apart halfway through. not a bad "problem" to have! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - spicy bird & fries - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My Austinite brother claimed this was the best fried chicken sandwich in town and he was 100% right (trust me when I tell you I had doubts lol). Construction is key to a good sandwich, only a top chef would understand how superior shredded greens are to whole lettuce leaves. Have you ever taken a bite out of a sandwich/burger with slippery whole lettuce leaves and then have all the contents spill out? Not this sandwich. It is carefully and thoughtfully crafted. Recommend y'all try the original and spicy chicken sandwiches as well as the fries (the duck fat really puts it over the top). Also there's a dining area that you can eat in as well as order a beer if you wish. Wish we had a place like this in Sac! read more

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Who knew that HEBs had awesome super simple fast takeout spots? I didn't! You walk right up to any of the five or so food court places and order and pay at kiosk. They then text you when ready. All the spots include fountain drinks (with Mexican cola my favorite) along with sweet teas in the bar area with inside/outside tables to eat at. Not to mention the bar has happy hour Now my food... I had the chicken tenders with duck fat fries!! Both perfectly seasoned to perfection. The chicken was juicy and the skin was just the right amount of "crunch". I also ordered three sauces that were phenomenal: ranch, honey mustard, sweet n spicy bbq! All together my taste buds were singing!! As if that wasn't enough - I did the southern sweet tea which was quite refreshing. I'll be back next week and will be taking my coworkers because there are other yummy places in the same spot. By far the best food court area ever. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Duck fat chicken tenders and fries with trio of sauces! - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Best duck fat chicken tenders, fries and the West Indies sauce. Kale salad and biscuits are amazing.

I loved the Spicy Bird chicken sandwich when I tried it for the first time at the Roots Chicken Shak location at Legacy Hall in Plano, TX, so of course I had to try it at the new Main Streat Food Hall location at my local HEB. It's the same delicious sandwich I remember! Tender chicken, full of flavor, spice and ingredients that just work well together, all between a perfect sweet potato bun. So good. The lightly seasoned fries are the perfect accompaniment; they don't compete in flavor and allow the sandwich to be the absolute star! A must try. Celebrity Chef, Tiffany Derry is a native Texan whose food has always looked drool-worthy on TV. I'm super thrilled to be able to try her food for myself and now support her culinary talents beyond the screen, right here at home. Welcome to ATX! read more

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A really top-notch chicken sandwich thanks to the decision to use chicken thighs instead of lesser cuts. The well-breaded chicken thigh is juicy and tasty when you bite into it. In addition, the large sweet potato bun and various toppings provides a great overall textural combination. It's a really terrific sandwich that, at its price (and no tip), is a one tht I'd be happy to eat over and over again. Now for a few minor criticisms/notes: - Get the original, not the Spicy. The spicy kimchi mayo is too sweet and is a distraction for the overal sandwich - Kale salad topping is an undressed handful of kale. Would prefer the kale sald we see in the photos. - Can't say I really tasted the duck fat. Doesn't make a huge difference, but don't expect some canardine hit of flavor. - Duck fat fries were very forgettable. I would forgo. - Popular stand, worker seems very overworked. Get her some help, please. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy Bird with Duck Fat Fries - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wow! Like wow. I ordered a large Caesar salad with chicken and sweet tea for $15.70. It was soooooo good. The seasoning on the chicken, the portions, the flavor! Next time I would ask for less bread combs on the salad, but every single bite was amazing. Will return many times. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

We had the spicy chicken sandwich and the chicken fingers. Really liked the sandwich...would have been next level if the bun had been toasted. Chicken fingers...ordered 3 not knowing size. Wished I had order more BUT breading was not to much and the ability to have multiple sauces was a plus! read more

You ever see a picture of a delicious local chicken sandwich that makes you say "oh shit I would pay anything for that sandwich" but once you get it, it's cold, smushed, and tiny? (I'm looking at you flyrite). Well, this place delivers a picture perfect chicken sandwich every time. It legit looks like the gorgeous photos. I've been disappointed by many fried chicken sandwiches in town, but this is far and away my favorite. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy chicken sandwich - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

These are seriously some of the best chicken tenders that I have EVER had. And the chicken wings... also amazing and such a great value! When you see the quantity, keep in mind that you are getting the whole wing (drumstick + flapper), so it's really 2 wings in one. Another bonus, GREAT banana pudding. And that Cesar Salad with the white anchovies? Woah dang. Sadly, I found this place only weeks before leaving the ATX area. It is stellar, and you'd never suspect it, with it being in a grocery store food court. Well done once again, H-E-B!! read more

Full disclosure, I'm a big Tiffany Derry Stan. She's my favorite Top Chef contestant ever. The story, the personality, the talent. Everything. And so I know I'm a bit biased so take what I say with a grain of salt but YAS GAWD HALLELU *twirls-dips-tongue-pops* the spicy chicken sandwich was THE TRUTH. Even if you don't understand anything I just said, it'll all make sense once you eat this sandwich. First of all, the chicken portions are enormous. They're so big that I'm not sure Tiffany is aware of how big they are. Like maybe she has a couple of rogue/disgruntled employees who are trying to screw up her profit margins? Where do you even find a chicken with thighs that huge? It's at least 50% larger than a Popeye's sandwich and easy twice as big as Chick-Fil-A's homophobic ass sandwiches. The ordering system is really cool and easy. You order at a tablet kiosk, provide your phone number, and they text you when your food is ready. Gives you some time to do some quick grocery shopping or grab a drink at the adjacent bar instead of just standing there. However, if you do opt to just stand there (guilty), you'll see that they ensure the sandwich's cheese is perfectly melted by hitting it with a blow torch. Bit of a flex for a $9 sandwich, and I live for it. Anyway the chicken was super moist. The batter was crispy and surprisingly not too heavy considering it was fried in duck fat. There's a good amount of acidity from the pickles and kimchi mayo to balance the fattiness of the bird, and the sweet potato bun held everything nicely. The flavors are pronounced and yet balanced. Shockingly premium quality for a sandwich from a grocery store food court. I'm pretty sure that after the first bite, both my partner and I gave each other that look, like we might leave each other if we had to choose between us or the sandwich. Chick-Fil-A could never (despite desperately wanting to). So yeah, if you are blessed enough to live close to the Mueller HEB, get on this. I wish there was one of these closer to me in Round Rock, but it was 100% worth the drive. For me. 10/10 will come back. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Absurdly large spicy chicken sandwich for only $8. It's like they don't even care about profit margins. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Food is really really good. Bartenders are super nice. The chicken spot is really good. I wasn't expecting the wings and sandwich to be so good. Wings are crunchy. Sandwich is moist! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Inside photo! But def come check out the wings and the big bird! Honestly wasn't expecting much.... Was blown away. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

My husband can't stop dreaming about this place, I'm starting to feel like "the other woman." We were getting hungry and on that side of town at a friends house. The friend suggested that HEB had a food hall, so why not check it out? Roots immediately drew my husband in. We got the spicy bird and duck fat fries to split. These sandwiches are definitely thick enough to share, in my opinion. My husband on the other hand, wishes we didn't because he could have kept on eating. The chicken itself was a crispy perfection with a tender, mouth watering inside. It was just spicy enough as well, your mouth wasn't burning on fire. The duck fat fries were very flavorful as well. It was very complimentary and delicious! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy Bird - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I don't watch Top Chef but I heard that one of their stars was opening up a chicken shop inside HEB near me, so I made it a point to try them. It was mid-afternoon and I just wanted a snacks, so I placed an order for 3 chicken strips for $6 if I remember correctly. While I was waiting, I saw a few people excited that the Top Chef star was at the restaurant. I would have never known. When my chicken was ready, Tiffany said to her staff, "Well, those are way bigger than normal!" She handed me my order and I told her I would never complain about getting more than I paid for! When I got home and opened the box I couldn't believe how freakishly large the 3 chicken strips were. They weren't kidding. I ate all 3 with their delicious sauces and was stuffed when I was done. Not what I had intended in the middle of the afternoon, but again, I'm not complaining. Very good chicken strips, maybe a little too salty for me, but very good. read more

So good! I had the chicken sandwich. The chicken thigh filet was huge, juicy and well seasoned (which includes a good amount of black pepper so be mindful), the veggies on it were also very fresh! The sandwich is for sure in the top 5 of best chicken sandwiches in Austin! Can't wait to try other things on their menu. Ps: this is a black owned business; we love to see it read more

Roots Chicken Shak - The chicken sandwich. Absolutely delicious - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

How often do you walk into a grocery store and walk by the food hall without a thought? Well, let me change that for you. Recently, I walked around the Mueller HEB and noticed they have a nice set up called Main Streat Food Hall. After looking at the various vendors, I ultimately decided to get some food from Roots Chicken Shak. I got the Big Bird which is their original chicken sandwich and costs $7.95 and comes with a sweet potato bun, seasonal kale salad, veggies, and herb mayo. Y'all - what a great idea! It tasted great! I was genuinely surprised and it really made me open-minded about food halls in grocers because this was high quality. And it's no surprise. After doing some research, I find that it's ran by Chef Tiffany. She was a Top Chef competitor and a Top Chef: All-Stars finalist on Bravo! All in all, I was highly satisfied. Great price, great food, and it came out really fast. Come check them out and let me know what you think! All in all, I gotta give them a 5/5! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - The Big Bird - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

We were fortunate to patron Roots today as it's in our neighborhood and they are offering self seating in reasonably distanced tables that is bar side to H‑E‑B. We ordered 6 chicken wings, 3 chicken strips and a spicy chicken sandwich at their ordering station that had a plexiglass barrier between ordering screens. The sandwich was great but I wished it was cooked a little less crispy. The bread was amazing and so was the sauce that compliments the chicken, spicy and tangy. My son loved the chicken strips and we enjoyed the wings which included both the drum and wing attached. I thought the chicken wings were a little salty but the batter overall was so flavorful. So happy to have them in Mueller. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Chicken wings with ranch - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Roots Chicken Shak is one of the newcomers to the fried chicken game in Austin but it's definitely a heavyweight. The duck fat fry gives the chicken a ton of flavor, slight denseness but also plenty juicy and well seasoned throughout. All about that spicy bird! The sandwich itself has a slight kick, but definitely not melt your mouth kinda spicy. Kimchi mayo helps cool it off but the cheese and hot peppers will make things interesting for sure. Sweet potato bun also gives it a subtle sweetness over your standard potato buns without losing too much of the plush. Some fresh veg completes the sandwich package. The fries here are also very good, also fried in duck fat. They're aren't super crisp, but resemble a bit of the British chip. They're flavorful though and well salted, to the point where I don't think you even need the ketchup. Definitely stop by if you're in the Mueller area or need a lunch/dinner while shopping at the HEB. read more

Been here a few times and have had a chance to try a variety of menu items...The Spicy Bird is a for sure winner Along with the Tenders (Wifes favorite--she needs to use her camera more)....Wings are good, but quality seams to be declining...Last order a couple wings seams over battered and were just a clump of chicken/breading...still good...and yes I still ate them and It wont stop me from coming back...Food is always hot, customer service is all great...Working at HEB, its tuff not coming here daily.. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy Bird - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Ok this place is GOOOOOOD! House made Cesar dressing. The coating on the chicken was amazing. And a great amount of food for the price you get. It's located inside the HEB right near the entrance. Great lunch spot! read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Shak Caesar Salad add Duck Fat Fried Chicken Strips - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I like the convenience of the restaurants at Main Streat food hall inside of the Meuller HEB. This chicken sandy was pretty tasty. The flavor was herby, the bread was soft and buttery and the french fries were thick cut and also very flavorful. $12 for sandy and fries. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Chicken sandwich (not the spicy one) and duck fat fries. - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I was pleasantly surprised by this hidden treasure. The menu is very focused: chicken tenders or sandwiches. That's it, and they have perfected it. I had the Big Bird. The bun melts in your mouth, the batter on the chicken packs a little heat - or maybe it's the special mayo sauce. Either way, it all compliments each other perfectly. This is my new chicken sandwich spot. Tucked away and unsuspecting of deliciousness right inside HEB of all places. If you try it once, I'll bet you return. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Big bird - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I think that the chicken strips and nuggets are the best fried chicken I've ever had. Perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and juicy within, it's hard to imagine how these could be any better. The chicken sandwich is completely different and not my thing, but the fries and salads are excellent. Sadly there is no blue cheese dressing available. In fact most of the sauces are sweet, too sweet to go with the savory fried chicken. But the ranch dressing is wonderful enough to make up for it. Fried chicken and ranch dressing; what else do you need? read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had such high hopes...Mediocre at best. Ordered 6 wings which cost $13, accompanied with 3 sauces. The wings were tiny, the breading fell off and the chicken has a bit of an odd flavor in my opinion. The sauces weren't very flavorful and none taste like what they're supposed to be. Ranch taste like mayo, honey mustard has tang but didn't catch the honey. Most likely wouldn't return there are several chains that are much less costly and taste better. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - a piece of food on a piece of paper - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

Hands down, the best chicken sandwich you'll find in Austin. The chicken is always tender and juicy, there's a perfect mix of spice and salt and crunch, the toppings pair super well with the rest of the sandwich and it's also set at a great price point. read more

Had the kale salad. Delicious. And that biscuit. Yay! My mom had the chicken she really enjoyed it

I used to think cfa had the best chicken sandwiches but they don't compare to the spicy bird from roots! I wasn't expecting it to be this amazing but everything about it is so perfect! The sauce, the cheese, the kale and the breading are the best combo for a sandwich ever. The fries are alright, you can def skip them because the sandwiches are rather big. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - Spicy Bird - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas

I come here too often to mention, but the nuggets are the best nuggets in Austin. And the fries are so good too! Some days, it is a bit salter than I'd like, but I think that's just this type of food in general. So if you looking for healthy, this definitely ain't it!! The banana pudding is great too! read more

Look at my ginormous and beautiful piece of chicken! Got the original with spicy Mayo, feel like I should have skipped the Mayo because it was a bit salty but the rest of it was amazing. This is going to be my go to after H‑E‑B run going forward. read more

Roots Chicken Shak - The original - Chicken Wings Near Me - Austin, Texas