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Restaurant · Local

The Thirsty Chicken

ClosedGoogle: 4.4★ (656)$
WORTH IT
LocalPatioKid-FriendlyGood for GroupsBeerCocktailsTakeoutDeliveryDine-InReservations

Your call, Leander

The Thirsty Chicken

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Anthony's take

By Anthony Martinez, The Leander Local · Updated June 2026

There's a sign that swears this isn't fast food, and I went in unsure if that was a brag or an apology. It's a brag. Everything's made fresh to order so it hits the basket hot, and the chicken strips are massive, four pieces and I, a grown man, tapped out full. I ran the twisted tail feather (spicy lemon pepper) and the kickin chicken buffalo, plus fried cauliflower sauced in the raging rooster, and the homemade ranch and chipotle aioli with its real kick earned their keep.

The thick-cut curly fries are unique and filling, the slushies come boozy or not, and the outdoor seating is shaded but exposed, so a 95-degree Texas afternoon will cook you a little alongside the wings. Worth the sweat.

The Order

Four-piece strips in hot lemon pepper, the twisted tail feather wings, fried cauliflower with the raging rooster, curly fries, chipotle aioli on the side.

⚠ Gotcha

The Cheetos wings run a dollar extra per wing and underwhelmed me. Spend that money on a slushie instead.

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