Houston car dealer to bring California chicken chain Starbird to Texas

This will be the Bay Area-based restaurant chain's first locations beyond the West Coast.

By Chyna Blackmon, Food Reporter March 10, 2026 A California chain restaurant is heading to Texas, courtesy of one of Houston's most prominent car dealers. Starbird, a Bay Area-based concept known for its crispy fried chicken, is opening new locations in Houston, San Antonio and Austin—the brand’s first beyond the West Coast. Starbird’s expansion is part of a 36-unit franchise agreement with Mac Haik Restaurant Group, a Houston-based restaurant operator and division of Mac Haik Enterprises. A spokesperson for Mac Haik told Chron that they don't have any locations to announce, but that they are in the works for 2027.

"Starbird delivers a level of culinary quality and operational sophistication that we believe is still underserved in the premium fast-casual chicken category, particularly in Texas," MHRG’s chief operating officer, Dan Anfinson, said in a release.

Starbird was founded in 2016 with a vision to "re-invent the traditional fast food experience," with a belief that fried chicken hadn’t reached its true potential, according to its website. With a chef-driven approach, the restaurant offers a variety of wings, sandwiches, salads and more, all made to order with antibiotic-free chicken hand-breaded in a secret blend of gluten-free flour and spices.

The brand has a total of 19 locations in the U.S., most of which are in California along with one in Denver, with plans to open more in other markets.

"As we mark our 10th anniversary, this is shaping up to be our biggest year yet in terms of expansion," said Greg Levin, CEO of Starbird. "Texas is a critical market for us moving forward, and partnering with an experienced organization like Mac Haik Restaurant Group allows us to grow thoughtfully while staying true to what makes Starbird special."

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Chyna Blackmon

Food Reporter

Chyna Blackmon is a food reporter at Chron, covering everything from restaurant to grocery news in Houston and across Texas. A South Carolina native and a graduate of Queens University of Charlotte, Chyna’s career across North Carolina and Virginia spanned four newsrooms in both broadcast and digital media. Before joining Chron, she reported on dining and entertainment for The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer. When she isn’t digging into Houston’s culinary landscape, Chyna is likely running, traveling, or checking titles off her reading list.