National chain renowned for its chicken tenders and Texas toast comes to Palm Beach County
In the increasingly heated battle for chicken tender supremacy in Palm Beach County, a new contender has arisen. Huey Magoo's has arrived in Boca Raton.
Situated off Glades Road, this new warrior for perfectly-seasoned, tender goodness officially began it's quest to win over the palettes of Boca residents on April 29.
Featuring cooked-to-order breaded, deep fried tenders, as well as grilled tenders, the restaurant promises quality.
Not content with using mere strips of chicken, Huey Magoo's tenders are the tenderloin of the chicken breast. The very best 3% of the chicken. They've even trademarked the phrase "The Filet Mignon of Chicken."
In addition, Magoo's serves only chicken that is hormone, steroid and antibiotic free.
Guests can order their tenders with platters that come with sides including crinkle cut fries, Texas toast and coleslaw or have them in a sandwich, wrap or in a salad.
The restaurant is owned by the father/son duo of Bob and Tyler Cafferty. It is their fifth franchise in South Florida and they also operate the Huey Magoo's concession inside Amerant Bank Arena, home of the Florida Panthers.
Additionally, they are Florida Panthers sponsors and their's is the "official chicken tender of the Florida Panthers." The Panthers are currently in the playoff. Go cats!
Tyler Cafferty said he and his wife both became familiar with Huey Magoo's while attending the University of Central Florida. There was an outlet just across from the school and they both "fell in love with the food while going to school there."
Many years later while on a trip to Disney World with his wife, Cafferty said they wanted a little taste of nostalgia and stopped in at Huey Magoo's for dinner. That one meal sparked something. After a few phone calls and several meetings, he signed a deal to open six franchises in South Florida.
Opening their first franchise in Sunrise in 2019, Cafferty said "it was me, my wife Erin, mom and dad in the restaurant" working every day.
The "fast casual thing was the thing I fell in love with," Cafferty said. He also was drawn by the hospitality — "just because you don't go to Morton's doesn't mean you can't be doted on."
Fast casual at Huey Magoo's means you order at the counter and then your food is delivered to your table as soon as it's prepared.
Cafferty had his eye on Boca Raton for a while. "We had been looking at that intersection for three years." When the right opportunity came along, they jumped.
The local franchises are new, but name Huey Magoo's goes back to the restaurant's founders Matt Armstrong and Thad Hudgens whose nicknames were Huey and Magoo respectively.
Huey and Magoo were lifelong friends who started the business in 2004 — "two dudes and a fryer," Cafferty said.
The Boca Raton location will be the 63rd Huey Magoo's restaurant nationwide. You can find Huey Magoo's in 12 states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Huey Magoo's chicken finger restaurant in Boca Raton
Where: 9982 Glades Road, Boca Raton
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Information:hueymagoos.com
Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Chicken tenders restaurant Huey Magoo's opens in Boca Raton
