Fast-casual chicken chain Starbird has signed its largest franchise development agreement to date, a move that will bring 36 new restaurants to Texas and more than double the brand’s current footprint.
The California-based brand has partnered with the Mac Haik Restaurant Group, a Houston-based operator, to open locations across Houston, Austin and San Antonio, with development expected to begin in the coming years.
The expansion marks a major milestone for the company as it moves beyond its traditional West Coast base. Founded in 2016, Starbird currently operates fewer than two dozen restaurants, primarily in California along with a location in Denver.
Texas is selected as a strategic market due to its fast-growing population and strong restaurant culture. The multi-unit agreement will allow the brand to establish a large regional presence quickly while working with an experienced franchise partner familiar with the local market.
Starbird positions itself as a ‘super-premium fast food’ concept focused on chicken-based dishes made with antibiotic-free poultry. Its menu features hand-breaded chicken, sandwiches, wings, salads and bowls, with gluten-free flour used for breading and a variety of chef-driven sauces and flavours.
The company has been steadily expanding through franchising as it looks to grow nationally. Earlier development deals targeted markets such as Colorado, Illinois and Utah, signalling a broader push outside California.
With the Texas agreement alone adding 36 locations, the deal is expected to significantly accelerate Starbird’s national expansion and introduce the brand to one of the most competitive and high-growth restaurant markets in the United States.
