Huey Magoo’s is the Filet Mignon of Chicken ...

Posted Saturday, August 3, 2024 3:30 am

By Dylan Bailey

… or so Huey and Magoo say. And that’s a bold claim, especially in the south where fried chicken is as common as church buildings and Walmart. Depending on the day, you can find it at both – which is all right by me. I love chicken, so when Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders opened in Wildlight, I had to stop by and see if their claims of “filet mignon” would be true or if they’d end up fried.

I don’t know Huey or Magoo, but from what I’ve read online, this chicken chain has some dedicated clucking fans. From people claiming it’s manna from heaven to others saying, “It’s just alright, I guess.” I’ve never been to a Huey Magoo’s before, and while I was excited, I was also nervous. The claims of delicious chicken excited me, but could it be true?

I got to Huey Magoo's at 11:30 a.m. and there was already a line forming, but it didn’t take long for me to order. I wanted to try their Tender Plate, a Magoo’s Sandwich and one of their cookies. They also sell salads and meals for kids, but the menu is small. Their focus is on the tenders.

Huey Magoo – if that’s even his real name – has a signature lemonade. I don’t order lemonades often, but since it’s the middle of summer, it felt seasonally correct. The drink is great, but that first punch of sour can be a heavy hitter. Once my lips uncurled, the remaining sips were delicious.

The food arrived at my table and I started with the 3-piece tender meal, sauced with garlic parmesan, crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and their signature Magoo’s Dip. For $12.43, the portion size was much bigger than I was expecting. Magoo’s Dip, which tastes like a spicier Zax’s Sauce, complimented the tenders perfectly. The fries and the toast were great additions, but the tenders filled my heart with love.

Next, I tried the chocolate chip cookie, which took more attempts to pick up than I’d like to admit, only because this was one of the softest cookies I’d ever eaten. Not that it was bad, but maybe I’d gotten the batch that needed a little more time in the oven.

To round out the meal, I finished with the Magoo’s Sandwich, which has three of their hand-breaded tenders drizzled with Magoo’s Sauce and some strong pickles. It’s a simple sandwich, but it’s the simplicity that makes it so good. The sandwich focuses on putting the tender’s flavor first and everything else supports it.

If you enjoy chicken tenders, Huey Magoo's is going to be a place you don’t want to skip out on. For me, these are easily some of the better ones I’ve had, and I’m already planning my return for another Magoo’s Sandwich.