No, Texas isn’t particularly known for its fried chicken. But a homegrown spot in the land of Tex-Mex, tacos and perfectly smoked barbecue is frying up something worthy of praise. As the price of food at grocery stores, fast-food joints and sit-down restaurants continues to rise, it’s not a bad idea to have a few spots where the “bang for your buck” ratio is strong. What do you get when you mix the Southern comfort food of fried chicken with the convenience of a statewide grocer like H-E-B? Fried perfection in sandwich form for under $10 — that’s what.
Finding a “best of” bite at a food hall in a grocery store was never on my bingo card, but crazier things have happened (those are stories for another time). But the fried chicken sandwich at a particular stand inside the Main Streat Food Hall at the Mueller H-E-B in Austin deserves to be celebrated for its perfectly fried golden goodness. I’d argue it’s the best dang fried chicken sandwich in the state of Texas. Dubbed “the big bird,” the chicken sandwich at Roots Chicken Shak features a massive piece of succulent chicken fried in duck fat. Do I know what this means? No, but I know the results are so delicious it’s almost upsetting. (Food Republic tells me that frying things in duck fat allows a “much deeper, more complex flavor to your chicken than any of those other fats could possibly muster,” which rings true for the fried chicken at Roots).
The toppings for the sandwich, served on a sweet potato bun, are totally customizable. And here, you order your food at one of several touch screens located in the food hall (pro tip: it doesn’t have to be the screen by the particular stand you’re trying to get grub from — so don’t feel the need to wait in line at an ordering kiosk if another one is open!). I’m not big on “stuff,” aka, toppings, but my standard “big bird” order includes tomato and kale. But hey, if you want the pickles, onions and herb mayo, too — do you.
You really can’t go wrong with “the big bird,” and its $8.95 price is beyond worth it thanks to its monstrous size. Oh, did I mention the fries ($3.50) are also fried in duck fat? Which, I’ll warn, you might not even have room for these, thanks to the ridiculously satisfying portion of the sammie itself. Aside from passing the “bang for your buck” test, the sandwich itself slaps. I’ll be honest, I’ve had this exact sandwich several times over the years, and it never ceases to impress or satisfy. I should also note that I’m no foodie; I’m just a fan of good-tasting food that isn’t ridiculously overpriced, and this, without a doubt, fits the bill.
Roots Chicken Shak predates Main Streat Food Hall in Austin
The pros of Roots being inside the Mueller H-E-B’s food hall are hard to ignore. Not only are there multiple food stands to mix-and-match from, there’s also an adjoining bar through automatic sliding doors where you can snag one of several $5 cocktails while waiting for your food or get the typically overpriced draft pour of Pinthouse Pizza’s Electric Jellyfish hazy IPA for a very reasonable price of roughly $7.50 a pint. There’s also a soda fountain, tea and other nonalcoholic options, and kids are welcome to dine inside the bar area or on the adjoining patio…