Texas Chicken Henderson — Restaurant in Henderson-Massey

I'm not exaggerating - I had the best night ever at Texas Chicken Lincoln Road on a random November Monday. Maybe it was the spontaneous night out with my partner, or maybe it was the freshly fried chicken we were served. What I can say with 100% confidence is that wouldn't have been such a great night if it wasn't for Chavez and their team holding down the store. As both my partner and I have worked in fast food service before, we were completely understanding of the situation we walked into last night (11/11/2024). There was a disorganised line to the counter, a few impatient looking patrons, and a very loud phone call happening between the server and a customer. First of all - I did not expect an order to be placed over the phone at a fast food branch but Chavez, the shift manager on for the night, was determined to get their order correct, with the best deal, in a timely manner. Respect. Feeling the vibe of the night, my partner and I decided to order a simple 6 piece meal, half spicy, half original, and no special orders. We took our receipt and sat down facing the front counter to watch the show - we knew it was going to be a good one. Watching Chavez expertly express their frustrations to their team, find solutions, deal with angry customers, and still boost team morale with banter and clear instructions, was truly a sight to behold. Anyone who has worked in fast food service, or was even a Christmas casual at a retail store, will know and respect the leadership and management needed to lead a team through rush hour. Even more so given an unexpected rush hour on a Monday night! Two hours to an hour before closing, you're already weighing the worth of cooking more chicken because turning off grills and cleaning everything takes an hour, and you also need to let your team clock out at their shifted time. I've seen people comment that such places "have no chicken" and yet they have the audacity to turn up towards closing time (just exercise critical thinking and empathy, people, it's not difficult). While it did take almost half an hour to receive our order, it was completely understandable why, and we would have rather waited that long to receive freshly made food than to quickly get food that has definitely been sitting in the warmer for far too long. The Spicy Chicken was delicious and fresh - only difficult to eat because the juices and the bones were steaming fresh! The fries were amazing, probably the best fast food franchise fries in the NZ market. Mashed potato and gravy was standard (I personally wish the potato to gravy ratio leaned more towards the gravy but alas it was delicious regardless). And the original chicken ... I'll be honest, it was lackluster. Still crunchy and good flavour, but it had definitely sat there for the duration of our waiting period. Until about half way through our meal, once the restaurant had quietened down, Chavez walked over to us. Lo and behold, Chavez wielding an apology for the state of the place. They expressed that they were frustrated that they had to be seen in that position, calling themself "a mess", but we had to stop them there. It was clear to us from the get-go that they wanted their team to turn out and WORK. They never wanted their team to feel stressed so instead they took that on themself and made sure to make the team laugh and get the job done stress free. They were NOT a mess. They were the baddest b*tch of the business and they kept that place running to the best of their ability. Of course, I let them know those exact thoughts of mine. Chavez, you did an amazing job, and thank you for making our Monday night an extraordinary one. It's a shame that Texas Chicken did not put enough people to work.

TLDR; chicken good, fries good, shift manager...

EDIT: don't let the comment response fool you, I have contacted Texas Chicken numerous times via the feedback form, and 11 months on still no reply. They have somehow also made Google take down the photos of UNDERCOOKED CHICKEN I posted with my review. I also believe that there are biased/fraudulent reviews being posted to boost their rating! I used to be their biggest fan, but now I'll never go back A mate of mine who lives on the other side of town & is a big fan of kfc was curious to try it as I had told him that words could not describe how much better it was than kfc. We went in and ordered my favourite megacrunch Tex Supreme combo. When the order arrived I first objected to the piddly little drumsticks that were included and the burgers being much smaller than usual, but the manager didn't want to know, so I gave up. Then, when I took the first bite of my chicken I spat it out - the chicken was pink and slimy like it was raw. I took the meal back to the front counter, only for the manager to produce a thermometer and stick it into the chicken, triumphantly declaring it to be a safe cooked temperature. I refused to accept that and requested my money back. He argued the toss with me for ages before he admitted that they had been experiencing issues with pink chicken and were talking to the supplier about it, however he assured me that it was perfectly safe I said I was not going to accept it and requested to take it higher to the franchisee or texas chicken NZ. He then purportedly went out the back to call the store owner leaving me to wait around for another few minutes. He eventually came back and offered to refund or replace our meal I said that I didn't trust the chicken pieces but he could refund me and replace the burgers. He took that as carte blanche to shuffle off and instruct the cook to replace our meal, before disappearing out the back again I was presented with a new meal and the young man on the front counter was very apologetic, while I was worn down and starving so I acquiesced. The burgers were better second time around but I still didn't trust the chicken and while it was OK on the outside it was still pink close to the bone and had that characteristic raw chicken gristly and slimy consistency. The manager had a name badge Uigval and should never have been in a customer service role. I have a video of him as I became increasingly frustrated and would happily supply this to headquarters. He even pulled off his glasses at one point and accused me of spitting at him, in a nefarious attempt to take the pressure off his totally...

As a top Google reviewer and professional influencer, I can confidently say that Texas Chicken Henderson sets the bar high for fried chicken in Auckland. From the first bite, it’s clear that this location has mastered the art of perfecting fried chicken, offering an unparalleled experience for fried food lovers.

The fried chicken at Texas Chicken Henderson hits all the right notes—crispy on the outside with a golden, perfectly fried crust, and tender, juicy meat on the inside. The chicken is consistently well-seasoned, with the right balance of spices that complement but don’t overpower the natural flavors of the meat. The texture is sublime, with just the right amount of crunch, and the meat stays moist and succulent.

One of the standout aspects of Texas Chicken is the consistency in the quality of the frying. The chicken is cooked to perfection every time, with no greasy aftertaste, ensuring a pleasant and guilt-free indulgence. The focus on achieving just the right crispness while maintaining the juiciness of the chicken sets this location apart from other fast-food chains.

While the fried chicken is undoubtedly the star, their sides also deserve praise. The biscuits, which have a slightly sweet flavor, are a perfect accompaniment, and the fries are crispy with just the right amount of seasoning. The variety of dipping sauces adds an extra layer of flavor customization, making each meal feel special.

The staff at Texas Chicken Henderson are friendly and efficient, making the dining experience smooth and enjoyable. Whether you’re dining in or taking out, the service is quick without compromising on food quality. The restaurant is clean and well-maintained, offering a comfortable environment for a casual meal.

In conclusion, Texas Chicken Henderson has earned its spot as the top contender for fried chicken in Auckland. The attention to detail in the cooking, the consistently great flavors, and the excellent service make it a standout choice for anyone craving high-quality fried chicken. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, this place is...