Slim Chickens — Restaurant in Minot

Audited Verified Review (AVR)

Brief History

Slim Chickens was founded in 2003 by Greg Smart and Tom Gordon in Fayetteville, Arkansas, starting as a single restaurant focused on fresh chicken tenders, wings, and house-made sauces. The brand expanded into a franchise, reaching Minot, ND, with its first location opening in 2019, notable as North Dakota’s only Slim Chickens at the time. It has grown to over 250 locations globally, emphasizing Southern-inspired comfort food.

NAICS Code 722511 - Full-Service Restaurants (primary activity: fast-food service with dine-in and drive-thru).

Ownership

The Minot Slim Chickens at 1416 S Broadway is owned and operated by Preferred Restaurant Group Inc., based in Minot, ND. This group also manages other Slim Chickens locations in North Dakota and Montana, as well as 14 Taco John’s restaurants, reflecting a regional franchise focus.

Management

Specific management details for the Minot location are not publicly available. Corporate leadership includes CEO Tom Gordon, Chief Development Officer Greg Smart, and Chief Marketing Officer Paige Nyman. The local franchise likely has a general manager overseeing operations, supported by shift supervisors, ensuring adherence to brand standards.

Address 1416 S Broadway, Minot, ND 58701 Phone Number (701) 839-7838 Website www.slimchickens.com/us-en/Locator/Detail/?localechange=1&store-id=1041

Economic Impact

The Minot Slim Chickens contributes to the local economy through job creation, tax revenue, and support for local suppliers. With an estimated annual revenue of $500,000–$1M (typical for fast-food franchises), it boosts commercial activity on S Broadway. Its 3,430-square-foot facility with dual drive-thrus and dine-in seating enhances accessibility, drawing customers and supporting nearby businesses.

Employment

The Minot location employs approximately 20–40 workers, typical for a fast-food restaurant of its size, including full-time managers and part-time crew for roles like cashiers, cooks, and servers. Wages likely range from minimum wage to $15/hour, offering flexible schedules appealing to students and part-time workers. The franchise’s growth supports job opportunities in Minot’s service sector.

Compliance

The Minot Slim Chickens operates under North Dakota health and labor regulations, overseen by the North Dakota Department of Health. No major compliance violations are reported, but minor customer complaints about service speed suggest operational oversight is needed. The franchise adheres to Slim Chickens’ food safety and quality standards, supported by corporate systems like Netchex for HR compliance.

Reputation

The Minot Slim Chickens enjoys a strong reputation, with a 4.2/5 rating from 10 Tripadvisor reviews, ranking #74 among 147 Minot restaurants. Customers praise the lightly breaded, flavorful chicken and unique jar desserts, often comparing it favorably to Chick-fil-A. However, some note high prices and underwhelming fries. Service is generally described as friendly and fast, though occasional order errors occur.

Social Responsibility Participation and Involvement Score (SRPIS) 5/10

Slim Chickens engages in corporate-level social responsibility through partnerships with The Victory Project and No Kid Hungry, focusing on youth mentoring and hunger relief. However, no specific local initiatives in Minot are documented, such as community events or local charity support. The franchise’s community engagement appears limited to corporate efforts, earning a moderate score for broader but not locally focused...

It was my first visit. I had been wanting to try it for some time. I guess my timing was off. Having never visited before I thought going in for carryout was better than drive through. There were 8 or 9 cars waiting in the drive through lane. Upon entering I didn't really know where to stand because of all the people standing in front of the counter. I found my place into what I'll call the line and waited my turn. After an average wait I made my selections and placed my order. All I kept thinking was this is kinda expensive, I hope it's good. I was handed a huge plastic number table tent. I hung it on my arm and tried to find a place to stand and wait. Again, there was no obvious place. So many people were just standing around and the drink dispenser filled the wall to the left of the counter, so I didn't want to be in the way. It turns out that all the people standing around were for online orders and DoorDash pickup. After a while an employee approached me to see if I had been helped. (Giant number sign should have been a hint) I said just waiting for my order. They asked what I ordered and walked away, returned and looked at my receipt. Then walked away again. "It shouldn't be much longer", they said, then they went back to the work in the kitchen. There was another customer waiting and asked me if I had been waiting long. I told him about 20 minutes at that point. He kept looking at his watch and saying he didn't have that much time. He asked an employee how much longer. They asked what he had ordered and then they pointed to the order screen and said, "It's right there, so soon". About that time my number was called and I was given my order. I told the other customer "good luck" and headed to the door. I had been in the restaurant for over 30 minutes at that point. Unfortunately, the food was just average and not really worth the time and money. Maybe I will try again in the future, but it...

This place is awesome, and I love eating here on the regular. Wings are ready fast and I can get a hot meal eaten in under 15-20min. Love it! Great place is town.

With that being said, there is one business practice that is so excruciatingly annoying, it’s worth mentioning. It’s if the person at the POS forgets to add dipping sauce to the sale. You then need to stand back in line and pay $0.31. This has happened 3-4x to me in the last couple of months. Today I ordered a Memphis style chicken sandwich meal with bbq dipping sauce. My guess is that the person running the POS thought I wanted the chicken shaken in bbq sauce, not a side. I told the server and she informed me I had not paid for it, I shook my head and I wasn’t as patient as I could have been. I had to stand back in line behind 2 people and wait to pay my $0.31. I agree I did not pay for it, but it’s embarrassing and my food was cold (not super cold but annoyingly warm). If y’all could build $0.31 into your items somewhere so you can just hand a side of bbq, or whatever sauce so you don’t have to ask customers to get back in line. Rant over…this is just a thing making it not a 100% amazing experience.

With all that…this place is the...