Popular Southern Food Chain Is Finally Headed To Albany!

One of the biggest culture shocks upon moving up north from the southeast wasn't the weather, it wasn't the terrain, it was the lack of my favorite regional eateries.

Read More: The Ruck Set To Open 2nd Capital Region Location

There are so many that are ubiquitous to the south that simply haven't expanded to the northeast, but, much like Raisin' Canes and Chick-Fil-A, another one is headed to the Capital Region...

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Chicken Salad Chick

Okay, so in case you're unaware, Chicken Salad Chick is an insanely popular establishment in the south. It's a fast-casual, southern-style restaurant that specializes in, you guessed it, chicken salad.

It's considered the "healthier" fast food option (a very low bar to clear in the region with a Waffle House on every block), and has exploded in popularity over the past decade or two. That's why they've announced their largest expansion to date, and Upstate New York is at the heart of it.

Moving to Albany

On April 21st, 2026, the company announced a landmark deal with the state of New York to bring 25 locations across Upstate. Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and the Upper Hudson Valley are the testing grounds, hoping they create a larger demand for a bigger northeastern expansion down the line.

Specific locations have not yet been announced, and the franchisee is unnamed, but it has been noted that this isn't their first rodeo. They've been named as an experienced franchisee, with multiple other brands and units across the Capital Region.

This is just the first step, but who knows how much larger this expansion will get.