Layne’s Chicken Fingers Opens in Mission Bend, Texas

Layne’s Chicken Fingers, the fan-favorite chicken franchise out of Texas, is bringing a new location to the Mission Bend area of Houston. Opening in May at 6700 S. Hwy 6, the new location will give Mission Bend residents a chance to find out what has made Layne’s an iconic name in Texas. (Hint: chicken fingers don’t get much crispier than these.)

A Texas A&M graduate and former CPA, Masroor Fatany transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2016 and launched The Halal Guys in Houston, growing it to seven successful locations. Then, in 2020, he became Layne’s Chicken Fingers’ first franchisee, bringing its first restaurant to Houston and opening five additional locations in Garden Oaks, River Oaks/Montrose, Katy, Beaumont, and Pasadena—with another set to open this April in Nederland, Texas. Fatany also has long-term plans to establish five more locations throughout the region.

“The response to our six existing Layne’s locations in Houston has been amazing, and I’m excited to see how our growth manifests moving forward,” Fatany said. “Our new restaurant in Mission Bend will be a valuable addition to the community, and we’re kicking off with a huge grand opening celebration, including music, Layne’s swag giveaway and the chance to win free Layne’s for a year.”

The menu will feature irresistible twists on classic fried chicken fare, including a three-finger chicken sandwich served on Texas toast, a fried chicken club sandwich with bacon and cheddar and of course, chicken fingers served with insanely addictive sauces like buttermilk ranch, honey mustard, BBQ and Layne’s — a tangy, zesty in-house creation that has become a go-to among loyal customers.

Franchise growth

Layne’s new Missi on Bend location is the latest addition to the fast-growing franchise brand’s roster of thriving restaurants, including 15 in Texas.

“As we continue to grow rapidly in multiple markets nationwide, we remain committed to establishing a strong foothold in our home state,” said Samir Wattar, chief operating officer. “Masroor is a prime example of the type of driven, committed business owner we want to represent us as we grow, and I’m proud to see him continuing to succeed in his Layne’s journey.”

Expansion plans

The franchise has plans to reach 100 units in markets across the country within the next four years and is actively recruiting franchisees who want to join the growing brand. Top markets for development include Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida.

Founded in 1994 in College Station, the original location became a Texas A&M legend known for its small-town charm, friendly service, iconic chicken fingers and secret sauce. While opening corporate locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the leadership team focused on fine tuning its operations and starting to franchise.