Chicken Salad Chick is lining up a third Austin-area location, with new paperwork pointing to a site off I-35 in Kyle. The fast-casual chain, best known for scoopable chicken salads and quick catering, is expected to land along the strip of retail near Texas Roadhouse and the Amberwood neighborhoods. Local operators are eyeing a spring 2026 debut, with construction slated to wrap in late March and the restaurant potentially opening in late April. If that timeline holds, diners south of Austin get another go-to for weekday lunches and event trays.
Submitted filings list the future restaurant at 19037 IH-35 in Kyle, and franchisee James Oberg told What Now Austin that “the opening, we’re thinking, will be in late April.” The What Now Austin report also notes construction on the new store is expected to be completed by the end of March. Those details are drawn from permitting paperwork and a local franchisee’s projection, not an official company announcement.
Permit records show a multi-tenant shell building
Public permit listings indicate the address is part of a new commercial shell with space for multiple tenants, suggesting Chicken Salad Chick will occupy one bay in a strip center. BuildZoom records a permit (BLC2025-1435) for a “new construction shell building with space for seven future tenants” at 19037 IH-35. The permit, issued in August, tracks with the sort of site work and tenant build-out schedule that typically lines up with spring openings.
How this fits the Austin market
Chicken Salad Chick has been quietly but steadily expanding in Central Texas this year, adding an Austin Proper location in August and a Pflugerville spot in March. Community Impact covered the Austin opening at 1000 E. 41st St., and the San Antonio Express-News reported on the Pflugerville debut at 18900 Limestone Commercial Dr. The chain’s Texas push is being fueled by multi-unit franchise agreements and operators who already know the local market.
What to expect
On the menu, expect the dozen-plus chicken-salad flavors the brand highlights, from Classic Carol to Barbie-Q and Cranberry Kelli, along with sides, soups, and desserts, per Chicken Salad Chick. Past Texas grand openings have rolled out giveaways such as free chicken salad for a year, a promotion reported during earlier Austin launches. If the Kyle franchise sticks to that playbook, early visitors could see similar promos and branded merchandise during opening week…