Big Chicken Locations TBA Big Chicken, the Shaquille O’Neal-owned fast casual poultry concept, is heading to Florida in a massive way. The company recently signed a 45-unit franchising deal with Florida-based commercial hospitality development company DMD Ventures, which means we can expect Big Chicken locations in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami in addition to Tampa Bay. There’s currently no timeline for when Tampa Bay’s debut Big Chicken franchise will open, a representative for the company told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The casual chicken spot’s menu is a combination of Shaq’s home-cooked childhood favorites and the hottest trending flavors, chock full of chicken sandwiches, tendies and more. Photo via Photo c/o All Points PR Credit: Photo via Photo c/o All Points PR
Shaquille O’Neal-approved chicken sandwiches are coming to Tampa.

Big Chicken, O’Neal’s fast casual chain, opens Tuesday, May 6 at 725 W Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa’s Westchase neighborhood, several outlets have reported.

The international franchise that started in 2018 is known for its “Big & Sloppy,” with mac and cheese, crispy fried onions and garlic BBQ aioli, and the “Uncle Jerome” with Nashville hot chicken, lettuce, mayo and pickles.

If that’s not enough, you can get sides of loaded fries, mac and cheese and jalapeño slaw. For a little sweet treat, there are hand-spun milkshakes, thick ice cream sandwiches and cookies.

After announcing its Florida expansion in 2022, Big Chicken has yet to open dozens of other promised locations in Central and South Florida with DMD Ventures, as well as in Northwest Florida and Arkansas with Panhandle Restaurant Group.

A Lake City location that opened in 2024 closed the same year. Locations announced last year in Orlando and Doral appear to have never opened. Tampa is the only Florida location listed on its website, along with hiring applications.

The arrival of another hot chicken spot follows homegrown King of the Coop’s return to Seminole Heights and adds yet another place to get a fried tendie in Tampa Bay to the list.

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This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2025.

Selene San Felice is managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. Prior to joining CL in 2025, she started the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter and worked for her hometown paper, The Capital in Annapolis,...