Chicken wings and chicken fingers, chicken sandwiches and chicken salads — Zaxby’s has them all in over 600 locations in the Southeastern region of the United States. Established in 1990 by Tony Townley and Zach McLeroy in Statesboro, Georgia, Zaxby’s is a casual dining chain of restaurants that have monikers for the dipping sauces which accompany their chicken fingers such as the Zax sauce, Nuclear and Insane.
Zaxby’s restaurants have a whimsical feel to them and, while varying in theme because of region or location, have objects and other decorations that feature whatever are common to the local communities they are in. In Zaxby’s Orlando, Florida location, for instance, the walls are lined with citrus-themed décor. The first Zaxby’s outside of Georgia state opened in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1994. Today, Zaxby’s is operational in 15 states.
Celebrities Actually Eat Zaxby’s Chicken
Zaxby’s began featuring celebrities endorsing their menu items in 2007. John Schneider, Evan Holyfield, Richard Thomas, Spud Webb, Penny Marshall, and Diana DeGarmo were among the first batch of celebrity endorses followed by Paul Sorvino and Mike Ditka, among others, in 2009. The celebrities seen on TV commercials eating Zaxby’s chicken in two succeeding years – 2010 and 2011 – included Little Richard, Jaime Pressly, Ryan Stiles, Doris Roberts, and Guiliana Rancic.
Two years ago, NFL linebacker Clay Matthews, Chris Kattan, Lee Ann Womack, Rachel Dratch, and Jill Hennessy were the featured celebrities. Last year, Zaxby’s celebrity endorsers included Wayne Brady, David Alan Grier, Leigh-Allyn Baker, and Waylon Payne. Zaxby’s was also featured in the video game, Midnight Club: Los Angeles, on a Los Angeles, California street in 2008.
Zaxby’s Salads are Spelled with a “Z” for Zesty
The “Most Popular” menu items at Zaxby’s restaurants are the Chicken Fingerz with the Texas toast, coleslaw, Crinkle fries, and Zax Sauce and the Wings and Chicken Fingerz with Crinkle fries, celery, Texas toast, and Ranch and Zax sauces. The “Zappitizers” include Spicy Fried Mushrooms, Onion Rings, Tatter Chips, and Fried White Cheddar Bites. And then there are the fresh, luscious salads:
House Zalad: carrots, roma tomatoes, mixed greens, Jack and cheddar cheese, red cabbage, cucumbers, and fried onions are served with either grilled chicken or Chicken Fingerz and Texas toast with a choice of dressing (Mediterranean, Lite Vinaigrette, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Lite Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Caesar).
Caesar: Chicken Fingerz or grilled chicken with Parmesan cheese, bacon, mixed greens, and croutons served with a choice of dressing (Mediterranean, Lite Vinaigrette, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Lite Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Caesar).
Blue: carrots, mixed greens, red cabbage, roma tomatoes, fried onions, blue cheese crumbles, and blackened chicken or Buffalo Fingerz served with Texas toast and a choice of dressing (Mediterranean, Lite Vinaigrette, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Lite Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Caesar).
Cobb: cucumbers, mixed greens, fried onion, tomatoes, bacon, Jack and cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs and Texas toast, with a choice of dressing (Mediterranean, Lite Vinaigrette, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Lite Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Caesar).
Because You Can’t Have a Sandwich Without Chicken
The Big Zax Snak Meal includes Chicken Fingerz, Zax Sauce, Texas toast, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage. Other Zaxby’s Meals to try include:
Buffalo Wings Meal: chicken wings, Ranch sauce, celery, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich Meal: grilled chicken served with crisp lettuce, honey mustard sauce, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage.
Chicken Finger Sandwich Meal: Chicken Fingerz with Zax Sauce, crisp lettuce, toasted bun, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage.
Kickin’ Chicken Sandwich Meal: Tongue Torch and Ranch sauces with Chicken Fingerz on Texas toast, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage.
Nibblerz Meal: three pieces of snack-sized Nibblerz with Crinkle fries and a small-sized beverage.
Boneless Wings Meal: five pieces of tender Boneless Wings served with celery, Ranch Sauce, Crinkle fries, and a small-sized beverage.
Chicken Salad Sandwich Meal: all white chicken meat, crisp lettuce, red and juicy tomatoes, and honey-wheat bread served with Crinkle fries and a small-sized beverage.
Party Platterz with a “Z”
Unlike other food chains, Zaxby’s has several Party Platterz with Zaxby’s favorites in party-sized portions such as:
Nibblerz Platter: 20 pieces of Chicken Fingerz tucked neatly inside soft toasted buns and topped with Zax Sauce.
Chicken Fingerz Platter: 40 pieces for 8 to 12 people or 60 pieces for 12 to 18 people, this Platter consists of chicken tenderloin lightly battered and served with Zax Sauce.
Wings Platters: choice of Traditional or Boneless, this Platter is served with four of nine delicious Zaxby’s sauces, including Ranch, and celery to serve 8 to 12 or 12 to 18 people.
Zampler Platter: popular favorites Boneless or Traditional Wings and Fingerz in one single Platter served with Zax and Ranch sauces, and celery.
Zalad Bar: a Do-It-Yourself vegetable bar with Zaby’s incredible House Zalad with grilled, fried or half-grilled, half-fried chicken with a choice of dressing (Mediterranean, Lite Vinaigrette, Ranch, Honey Mustard, Lite Ranch, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island or Caesar).
From the Eastern Seaboard to the Rocky Mountains
Between 1990 and 2014, Zaxby’s has opened stores from Madison, Alabama to Jefferson, Indiana and from to Roanoke, Virginia all the way to Ogden, Utah.
Joining the Zax Club offers more than newsletters and promotions to its members: Zaxby’s give one Meal Deal and one Nibbler, both for free, on a member’s birthday.
