Straight heat at Angry Chickz

By Centerspread Editor Naisha Koppurapu and Staff Writer Aaqib Zishan

Angry Chickz, the popular Nashville fried chicken chain, has landed in Fremont, opening a location in the Central District on August 15. Founded in Los Angeles in 2018, the chain is known for its vibrant and trendy in-store atmosphere, serving up fast-casual eats with a focus on spicy fried chicken. 

Born in the early 1930s, Nashville fried chicken is said to have begun when a vengeful wife hoped to discipline her cheating husband by maliciously offering him a platter of scorching hot fried chicken. Unexpectedly, he fell in love with the flavor and  opened up the first Nashville hot chicken shop, naming it “BBQ Chicken Shack.” As one of Nashville’s largest exports, fried chicken has produced multiple nationwide chains, from Hattie B’s Hot Chicken to Red’s Hot Chicken, with Angry Chickz bringing a piece of Nashville to Fremont.

The colorful interior, neon signs, and dabbing chicken create a playful, upbeat vibe, attracting the younger demographic of Fremont. With bright lights and Bay Area-referenced graphics, such as the San Francisco Bay Bridge, Angry Chickz builds on this atmosphere with rhythmic house music and live TV to create a great fast-casual space for teens. “It’s a really fast-paced [environment], especially at night. We get lines out the doors …  It’s a nice late-night place for people to go. It’s sit down, but casual at the same time, because [the restaurant has] a lot of open area, so I think it’s very different,” Employee Mateo Solar-Sanchez said.  The outdoor seating and open windows add a refreshing breeze to the atmosphere, allowing customers to be comfortable while indulging in fresh, hot chicken. Fried chicken is known to be messy, so a good rule of thumb is knowing how prepared the bathrooms are –– Angry Chickz delivers with a clean, well-stocked space that keeps the dining experience comfortable. 

Although the restaurant maintains a trendy and modern atmosphere, Angry Chickz still does the iconic fried chicken justice, emphasizing freshness and friedness and concocting the perfect fried chicken paired with classic sides, such as mac n cheese, fries, buttered rice, and toast. Much like all other fried chicken chains, Angry Chickz’s dishes include multiple combinations of these sides paired with their iconic chicken. Though they offer everything from sandwiches to tenders on toast, nothing beats their most popular dish: the Angry Mac. Without a doubt the star of the show, this flavorful bowl sets the chain apart from other fried chicken spots, layering mac n cheese, fried chicken, and fries topped with their signature sauce.

However, although their food is nothing short of classic, Angry Chickz falls short in certain aspects. In contrast to the Angry Mac, the Hangry Fix — a combination of tenders, mac n cheese, cole slaw, sauce, and rice — is an awkward combination of flavors and textures, siding on the lower half of their menu. Not only that, Angry Chickz doesn’t offer as many drinks and food options as its competitors. The restaurant is also priced slightly above average for most meals, charging nearly $17 for its most popular menu item. Though their food is lacking variety and overpriced, Angry Chickz offers a comforting yet flavorful taste experience, aligning more with the fast food side of cuisine, rather than the semi-casual dining it claims to be.

Yet, their fast food-like atmosphere is not necessarily negative; Angry Chickz promises food efficiency, customer service, and promptness. Despite always being busy, the employees maintain a courteous demeanor and make sure customer needs are met. “[We’re] super big on customer service and being friendly to [our] customers. And just with that going on, I feel like we end up being friendly to each other, too. We’re always smiling,” Employee Shanti Mohanty said. From asking genuine, personalized questions to customers to serving quality food within minutes, the staff makes the dining experience smooth and effortless. 

What Angry Chickz lacks in affordability and menu options, it makes up for in quality of food, attentive service, and an enjoyable ambience. The central location of the restaurant near Fremont Hub makes it a social hotspot for families and friends to enjoy a hearty, satisfying meal.

Grade: B