Southern fried chicken chain Zaxbys enters Manhattans chicken finger fight with first UES location

Winner winner … you know the rest.Beloved Southern chicken chain Zaxbys has, at long last, landed in Manhattan, thereby expanding its territory in the tender takedown.Known for its famous fingers and signature sauces, Georgia-born Zaxbys opened its Upper East Side location at 1267 First Avenue (between 68th and 69th Streets) last week, and celebrated with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting on October 8. “New York is one of the most influential food cities in the world, and we’re incredibly proud to introduce Zaxbys to this market,” said Bernard Acoca, Chief Executive Officer of Zaxbys.“Whether it’s Southern transplants looking for a taste of home or New Yorkers discovering our Chicken Fingerz and signature sauces for the first time, we’re excited to share the Southern hospitality and bold flavor experiences that have made Zaxbys a fan favorite for more than 35 years.”Zaxbys, which was founded in 1990 and boasts more than 1,000 locations across 24 states, made its NY debut earlier this summer with a Bronx location at 3260 Boston Road.Zaxbys foray into the New York market could put heat on rival tender peddler Raising Cane’s, threatening its dominance in the city.Raising Cane’s was first to the game, opening its first New York location in 2023 with an 8,000-square-foot global flagship store in Times Square.“From exclusive menu innovations inspired by New York’s iconic food culture to community-focused experiences and surprise moments for fans, the brand will be showing New Yorkers how to Zax,” Zaxbys promised.The rivalry between Zaxbys and Louisiana-based Raising Cane’s—often dubbed the “Chicken Tender War”—is one of fast food’s most intense battles.Many a content creator has made their mark and their money by comparing the two.

A recent Reddit thread was titled simply “Zaxbys is better and I’ll die on that hill.”While both brands offer nearly identical platters (chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast, and a signa...