The conversation about who has the best fried chicken in Dallas can often lead to arguments. From staples in southern Dallas like Rudy’s Chicken and Williams Chicken ― to favorites like Mike’s Chicken ― everyone has an opinion.
One spot that comes up often in the debate is Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken, which is rich in both flavor and family. Mackenzie Hall, 25, is the owner of the recently opened Medical District location. She explains the history of Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken, what it’s like being in the business at her age, and ― of course ― the secret to darn good fried chicken.
“My great-grandfather Herman Henderson started Henderson Chicken in 1948,” Hall says. “Thomas and Hall Street is the most well-known location for people who went to the original Henderson Chicken.”
That’s the restaurant where Mackenzie’s dad, John Hall, got his start. “Him and his brothers, which are my uncles, worked there,” Hall says. “It really was a family business.”
Despite working in the restaurant since he was a teenager, John Hall ― the youngest son ― realized he was at the bottom of the food chain when it came to owning his own Henderson’s, so he branched out and created Hall’s Chicken. His brothers followed, assuming his Buckner location and opening a Lancaster Road location. John Hall later changed the name of his Duncanville location to Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken. Soon after, the opportunity for a Medical District location presented itself.
“We never talked about whose name it was technically going to be under and paperwork-wise who was going to be the owner,” Mackenzie says. “I just knew that I would be running the store, I didn’t think about the ownership aspect. It wasn’t until we found the Medical District location that we had the conversation that it would be in my name, a separate corporation. I was 24 at the time.”
Twenty-four, yet well-equipped for the responsibility. Before owning her own location, Hall worked at the Duncanville spot doing everything from payroll to paperwork her dad never got around to doing ― all while working a separate 9-to-5 job as an administrative assistant at a local university.
“I absolutely hated it," she says. "I worked in the computer science department, which is one of the top departments in the school. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. The job market was really hard. My degree was in marketing and management.”
There’s no doubt these skills are being applied to her current role. And despite the rockiness that comes with being a 25-year-old owner, she’s earned the respect. When it comes to the chicken, Hall is respecting the family tradition. Many are taken aback when they find out the Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken recipe lacks seasoning salt yet still generates a flavorful, juicy bird.
“We follow the original Henderson’s recipe,” Hall says. “We don’t use seasoning salt. Our recipe is not super fancy. The thing that sets us apart is the chicken quality. We use fresh chicken. We don’t use anything frozen. Everything always comes to us fresh.”
And if you’re not a fan of sweet, don’t fret. The “honey” in the moniker refers to the color of the chicken, not the flavor. Sweet lovers, however, can rejoice. There are waffles on the menu. Whatever you get, just know you’re getting a taste of family with every bite.
Hall’s Honey Fried Chicken, 1407 Medical District Drive, Dallas. hallshoneyfriedchicken-md.com.
