Chapel Hill adds a beloved chicken finger spot. Here’s why it’s a first for the brand
A fried chicken war is brewing on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill and a new player has set an opening date.
Zaxbys will debut its new Chapel Hill location at 127 E. Franklin Street on Wednesday, April 2.
Looking to cater to the on-the-go UNC student body, the new restaurant is on the cozy side, with 17 seats in its 2,100 square foot space.
In a first for Zaxbys, the Franklin Street location will feature self-service ordering kiosks.
“We are thrilled to continue to expand Zaxbys North Carolina footprint with the opening of this new Chapel Hill location,” said Zaxbys Regional Manager, Trina Berry in a news release. “We look forward to providing the highest quality service for our guests, particularly the UNC student body, and hope to bring our neighborhood further together over the craveable chicken and bold sauces Zaxbys has been perfecting for 30+ years.”
Most Zaxbys locations are stand-alone restaurants with drive-thru windows, but the new Chapel Hill spot is built into the heart of Franklin Street. The new restaurant takes over the former Waffle House space, which closed during COVID.
The new Zaxbys opens a mere 250 feet and on the same block as another chicken giant — Raising Canes. In 2023 when Chapel Hill nabbed the Triangle’s first Raising Canes location, diners lined up out the door on opening day and remained busy for weeks.
In fast food, chicken tenders are having a moment and the new Zaxbys looks to feed a student crowd on the move, especially through third-party delivery apps.
Zaxbys is known for its chicken tenders (which it calls “Fingerz”) as well as fried shrimp, toast, crinkle cut fries and a deep roster of dipping sauces. It also launched a new sandwich a few years ago to compete with Popeye’s phenomenon-creating chicken sandwich.
Inside the dining room, the new Zaxbys plays on Chapel Hill’s basketball obsession, with a “sauce” wall of basketballs showcasing the brand’s 12 signature sauces, which include Zax sauce, ranch, honey mustard and a range of spicy sauces.
The Carolina Blue basketball is tagged with Zaxbys “Wimpy” sauce, its mildest hot sauce. There is no basketball in Duke colors.
Most Zaxbys locations in North Carolina are franchisees, but the new Chapel Hill restaurant is company owned.
Zaxbys on Franklin Street will be open daily at 10 a.m. and serve until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The restaurant will be open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, serving late night chicken cravings.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Chapel Hill adds a beloved chicken finger spot. Here’s why it’s a first for the brand."
