Church’s Texas Chicken opens only Stanislaus County location in Modesto. How does it taste?
Stanislaus County’s only Church’s Texas Chicken opened in Modesto on Saturday, and it’s safe to say the community was eager to try it.
I knew better than to go on opening day — especially with it landing on the weekend — so I waited until after the lunch rush Wednesday. Still, I didn’t escape long drive-thru and lobby lines or an hourlong wait for my order.
If you’re not in a hurry to wait for fried chicken but want the tea (seriously, it’s on the menu), here’s what you need to know about the restaurant at 2020 Standiford Ave.
What’s on the menu at Church’s Texas Chicken?
If you get overwhelmed with too many options like I do, Church’s has the the menu for you.
The restaurant keeps it fairly simple with one meat option — fried chicken — and just a few ways to eat it. It serves legs and thighs, tenders, sandwiches and wraps. You can choose to make your chicken spicy or original.
Chicken combos range from $12.78 to $16.19 and come with a 22-ounce drink, a regular-size classic side and a honey butter biscuit. The chicken sandwich combo is $12.68 and comes with a 22-ounce drink and a regular-size classic side. Classic sides can be substituted for premium ones for $1.29 extra per side.
Classic side options are coleslaw, fries and mashed potatoes and gravy. Premium sides are mac and cheese, fried okra, jalapeno cheese bombers and corn.
Family meals come in eight, 12 or 16 pieces of legs and thighs or tenders, along with classic sides and honey butter biscuits. They range from $31.99 to $54.79 depending on your choice of chicken.
Wraps are a featured item and include three options: original tender, spicy tender and jalapeno cheese bombers with a tender. They are $2.99 each, two for $5.49 or six for $14.99.
The dessert menu includes apple pie and frosted honey butter biscuits, and extras are original honey butter biscuits and jalapenos to squeeze over your chicken (if you like spicy, this is a must-try).
Church’s serves fountain drinks and its signature Southern sweet — and “unsweet” — tea. Tea, lemonade and Hi-C fruit punch also can be ordered by the half-gallon bag.
The dining room is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The drive-thru is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
How does Church’s chicken taste?
Crunchy — that’s the first word that comes to mind when biting into a piece of Church’s chicken.
The crunch is comparable to Popeyes for the chicken pieces, though the sandwich had less crunch. Popeyes still reigns supreme in the sandwich department, for me.
What makes Church’s chicken unique is the jalapeno you can order to squeeze over it. They’re $1.09 for one or $3.99 for five, which may seem steep, but are well worth it if you like your food spicy.
You won’t find the honey butter biscuits and fried okra at other local fried chicken joints, either.
When it comes to fried chicken, to each their own. The region certainly doesn’t lack options for residents to choose from. Which one is your favorite?
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 5:00 PM.
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