New Albany Chicken Joint Known Overseas-Only Second One In US

A fast-food chicken spot that is still pretty new to the United States has officially landed in the Capital Region. It opened in December on Western Avenue near Crossgates, and a second local location is already in the works.

The restaurant is ChicKing, and the Guilderland location is just the second one in the entire country. The only other U.S. store right now is in Frederick, Maryland. The brand originally comes from Dubai and has more than 400 locations worldwide. It also serves halal food, meaning it follows Islamic dietary guidelines.

The local franchise is run by the Gondal family, who have the rights to expand the chain throughout New York State. They say the idea came after Sais Gondal tried the food overseas and thought it would do well back home, especially since the family already lives in the Albany area.

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They chose the Western Avenue location at 1666 Western Ave. because they felt that stretch could use more fast food options.

Meanwhile, the next location is planned for 640 Loudon Road in Latham, in a plaza near Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe and Yoshi Sushi. The goal is to open by the end of March.

The menu is similar to KFC, with family buckets of grilled, original, and spicy chicken, along with strips, wings, wraps, and sandwiches. Everything is prepped fresh daily, and the most popular item so far is the tandoori burger, a spicy chicken sandwich.