Pudgie's Famous Chicken, often referred as simply Pudgie's, is a chain of
fast food restaurants. Competing with
KFC and
Popeyes
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., also known as Popeyes and formerly named Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits, is an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants that was formed in 1972 ...
, many locations today are co-branded with
Nathan's Famous
Nathan's Famous, Inc. is an American company that operates a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in hot dogs. The original Nathan's restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of the B ...
, many of which are also co-branded with sister chain
Arthur Treacher's, and have several locations in the
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also commonly referred to as the Tri-State area, is the largest metropolitan area in the world by urban landmass, at , and one of the most populous urban agglomerations in the world. The vast metropolitan area ...
. It is famous for its skinless fried chicken products and for their signature
fried chicken having 25% less fat than traditional fried chicken.
History
Pudgie's Famous Chicken was founded in 1981 in
Bethpage, New York by George Sanders, who developed a secret batter recipe and skinning process. This concept was spread throughout
Long Island and by 1989 Pudgie's became a franchise company. TruFoods Systems, Inc., bought the trademark in 2002, and as of 2011, TruFoods operates the Wall St. Deli, Ritter's Frozen Custard,
Arthur Treacher's, and Pudgie's. Today, this concept is exclusive to
Nathan's Famous
Nathan's Famous, Inc. is an American company that operates a chain of fast food restaurants specializing in hot dogs. The original Nathan's restaurant stands at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in the Coney Island neighborhood of the B ...
, and as such, many of these are cobranded with Nathan's.
On July 21, 2014 the first rebranded "Pudgie's Naked Chicken Co." opened in
Massapequa, New York.
TruFoods President, Gary Occhiogrosso, said he is reinventing the Pudgie's brand which still offers skinless fried chicken but also offers fresher ingredients. Its menu has been modernized to spotlight what Ochiogrosso called “grilled and healthier options." Nothing is frozen, and all items — including fries and roasted vegetables — are freshly prepared, as much to order as possible.
As of November 2018 there are only three Pudgie's Famous Chicken restaurants open in
East Islip,
Selden and
West Islip. Pudgie's Naked Chicken Co. last location in
Massapequa
Massapequa (, ) is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, on the South Shore of Long Island, in New York, United States. It is considered the anchor community of the Greater Massapequa area. The po ...
closed in July 2016.
[ ]
See also
*
List of fast-food chicken restaurants
This is a list of notable chicken restaurants. This list includes casual dining, fast casual and fast food restaurants which typically specialize in chicken dishes such as fried chicken, chicken and waffles, Chicken sandwiches or chicken and ...
References
{{reflist, 30em
External links
Pudgie's website
Fast-food poultry restaurants
Fast-food chains of the United States
Fast-food franchises
Restaurants established in 1981
Companies based in Jacksonville, Florida
1981 establishments in New York (state)
Chicken chains of the United States