American restaurant chain
Golden Chick, formerly known as Golden Fried Chicken, is a quick-service restaurant franchise headquartered in Richardson, Texas. Mark Parmerlee,[1] head of Golden Tree Restaurants[2] serves as the President and Chairman.
History
The first restaurant was in 1967 in San Marcos, Texas, under the name Golden Fried Chicken. Franchising started in 1972. A decade later, the franchise grew to a number of restaurants primarily in Central Texas, with a focus on cities like Houston,[3][4] Austin and San Antonio.[5] Eventually it expanded outside to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and then crossed the state line into Oklahoma. There are currently 210 restaurants operating in Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida.[6] In 2022, Golden Chick was included in Nation's Restaurant News' Top 200 Restaurant Brands in the U.S. (#142). Focused on innovation and growth, Golden Chick recently completed its third modular constructed restaurant.[citation needed]
Since 1985, the chain's flagship menu item has been its chicken strips, trademarked as Golden Tenders. In 1996, Golden Fried Chicken abbreviated to its present name, Golden Chick. The family-oriented brand is the creator of the Original Golden Tenders® and the Big & Golden™ Chicken Sandwich, along with other chef-inspired menu items including its Golden Roast Chicken and Zagat-recognized Chicken Salad.[citation needed]
In 2017, Golden Chick celebrated its 50th anniversary, and sponsored Texas Country Reporter.[citation needed]
The parent company of Golden Chick, Golden Tree Restaurants, has other subsidiaries: Heff's Burgers, Jalapeno Tree, JC's Burger House, Texadelphia and Fireside Pies.[6]
