SLO diners line up to try new Nashville-style chicken joint. Here’s what it’s like
A new restaurant featuring spicy, Nashville-style fried chicken has arrived in San Luis Obispo — and the business has been packed.
Jay Bird’s Nashville Hot Chicken opened Saturday in the SLO Public Market at the corner of South Higuera and Tank Farm Road, with customers lining up at 10 a.m. for the restaurant’s 11:30 a.m. opening.
After another busy Sunday, the business was closed Monday, but opened again Tuesday with another long lunch queue.
“SLO definitely showed up,” said Branen Fitzgerald, creative director for Wild Tyme Restaurant Group, which owns the business. “We were not expecting what happened. We have a good feel of what we think we can expect, and that changed 100% when it came to opening, which is exciting.”
Fitzgerald said he doesn’t have the data yet, but the turnout far exceeded expectations, even compared with Jay Bird’s openings in more populated Southern California communities such as Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange and Arcadia.
Jay Bird’s has five locations in Southern California and one in Sedona, Ariz.
SLO is its seventh opening, with another venue launching later this month in Rancho Cucamonga.
“I don’t have any metrics right now,” Fitzgerald said. “But the San Luis Obispo opening has equated to record-breaking numbers for a grand opening for us.”
How are customers reacting to new chicken spot?
On Tuesday, Cayucos resident Ben Horton ordered the standard $11.95 “Chicken Sandwich and Fries” (chicken breast, coleslaw, Comeback sauce, dill pickles, brioche bun and spicy fries) after waiting in line for about 40 minutes.
Comeback sauce is Jay Bird’s tangy, Nashville-style house sauce.
Horton said it was the best chicken sandwich he has tasted since moving to California from Cleveland two years ago.
“The fries, meat and sauce all have spice, and so it adds up,” said Horton, who requested medium spice level. “By the end, you’re glad to have a drink. The chicken is juicy and good. I can’t imagine going to the top of their fire scale. For me, that would be a difficult sandwich.”
Horton said he has been to the new SLO Public Market often and was eager to try out the long-awaited chicken joint.
“When I got here, the line was long, but I decided I’ll commit,” Horton said. “There’s just something about chicken, people really get into it. I can see this staying busy, especially if they get service tightened up a little bit.”
Jamie and Bill Boucher of Los Osos avoided the rush hour, coming a little later in the afternoon to get some Jay Bird’s.
“We came about 2 p.m. (on Tuesday), waited about 20 minutes,” Jamie Boucher said. “We wanted to avoid the lunch crowd that came earlier. It’s a good sandwich.”
.jpg "Chicken Sando (1).jpg")
What is Jay Bird’s?
Jay Bird’s first opened in Long Beach in May 2019 and the business plans to open 25 locations within three to four years, according to Fitzgerald.
“If we could do like eight (new spots) per year, I think we would be on a pretty nice target for our goals, but that certainly depends on economic conditions and what’s going on in the world,” Fitzgerald said.
The idea for the business was inspired by Chef Jay Bogsinske’s upbringing in Chicago where “he would spend the summers visiting Nashville and frying chicken every Sunday as a family tradition,” the business’ website notes.
The business was developed by Heinrich Stasiuk, owner and CEO of Wild Thyme Restaurant Group, and Bogsinske.
“Nashville hot chicken in general has exploded,” Fitzgerald said. “I think culture as a whole is moving towards being able to eat spicier foods or wanting that spicier flavor profile overall. I think people in general just love a good fried chicken sandwich, and Jay Bird’s is no exception to delivering that in my opinion.”
Fitzgerald said part of the communal experience is experimenting with spice levels.
“There is something fun and engaging about watching that experience go down,” he said. “But if you just try our chicken by itself with no spice, it is a very delicious fried chicken.”
Fitzgerald said the business is still hiring for staff; those interested may email inquiries to eat@jaybirdschicken.com.
What’s on the menu at Jay Bird’s?
The menu offers variety of chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, “blazin’ fries,” a chicken-and-waffle combo and coleslaw.
Known to ramp up the heat, according to customers’ preferences, Jay Bird’s offers “five levels of spice ranging from ‘Plain Jay’ to ‘Fire,’ which can only be described as reaper hot,” according to the SLO Public Market post about the business.
The chicken-and-waffles option features two jumbo tenders served with two waffles, maple syrup, sliced bread, dill pickles and sauce.
The restaurant’s “Mac Daddy” offers a chicken sandwich with macaroni n’ cheese, sauce and spicy fries.
Prices range from a $3.85 solo tender to the $12.45 Mac Daddy plate.
Drink options include iced tea ($2.50), freshly squeezed lemonade ($4) and an Arnold Palmer ($4).
SLO Public Market businesses open
Several businesses in the SLO Public Market have opened recently, with more to come.
Those open include: Orangetheory Fitness, Central Coast Hair Co., Parker Clay, Kraken Coffee Co., The Neighborhood Acai, Kitchen & Vine, Veg on the Edge, Bottlecraft, Baht, Bing’s Bao Buns, Torricella Pizzeria, Central Coast Creamery, Perfect Scoop, Night Shift Cookie Co., SLO General Store and Mama Ganache.
Those planning to open include:
- Nexus Dance Company, which is currently open for private dance lessons and holding its Grand Opening celebration on March 19.
- Brooks’ Burgers (had its permitting finalized in February and is planning to open in spring).
CA Tacos Cantina & Distillery (still working on tenant renovations in advance of opening).
On its Grand Opening night, Nexus Dance will host a live dance performance from both local and visiting dancers as part of a black-and-white theme.
Alicia Aragon, owner of Nexus, said that she’s thrilled to be opening her studio to the public on the bottom floor of the SLO Public Market with daily dance classes in a variety of styles, including swing, folklorico, salsa, ballroom and more. The studio will be open to dancers of all levels.
Additionally, Nexus will be hosting hip-hop-based fitness classes and hold special events with bands, instructors and orchestras.
“We’ll have special events and special guests,” Aragon said. “It’s so exciting to get to this point.”
Taylor Judkins, San Luis Public Market owner, said the tenant spaces in the marketplace are currently 100% leased and 80% filled with some remaining tenant improvements needed before all are open to the public.
%20Cropped.jpg)