Shaq has a chicken spot now, and the first Maryland location just landed in Gambrills. Big Chicken opened inside the Villages at Waugh Chapel, and it’s a fast-casual counter slinging loaded chicken sandwiches, tenders you can dunk in Nashville or Holy hot oil, and thick shakes for around seven bucks a pop.
The standout for me was the Hot Shot, a single fried tender piled high with Cholula mayo, pepper jack, pickled jalapeños and cheese curds. TBH I had no clue Shaquille O’Neal even had a restaurant until the team invited me in to try a few items, lol.
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What Big Chicken Is Known For
If the name’s new to you, Big Chicken’s the fast-casual chain Shaquille O’Neal started back in 2018, first in Las Vegas. The whole concept’s built around his childhood comfort foods, so a lot of the menu ties back to a story or a flavor from his life. Think over-the-top chicken sandwiches, crispy tenders, sides like the Cheez-It crusted mac and cheese, and a big lineup of shakes.
This Gambrills location’s their first Big Chicken in Maryland, and it’s a freestanding restaurant, not a stadium stand. You’ll find it in the Villages at Waugh Chapel right by the usual shops, so it’s an easy one to swing by if you’re already out that way. If you’re the type who likes to compare every chicken sandwich in the area, it slots right in with spots like Kokee Kitchen over in Columbia.
What to Order at Big Chicken
They invited me in to try a few different menu items, so keep that in mind, but here’s what I actually got and how each one landed for me.
The Hot Shot ($6.99)
This was my favorite of the day. It’s a fried chicken tendie topped with Cholula mayo, pepper jack cheese, pickled jalapeños and cheese curds, so you get heat, tang and that squeaky cheese-curd thing all in one bite.
3 Tenders ($7.99)
Pretty solid tenders. You can get them dunked in Nashville or Holy hot oil if you want some heat, and they come with one sauce (I thought the golden BBQ and Memphis BBQ were both tasty picks). One heads up, extra sauces are a small upcharge, so if you’re a serial dipper like me, budget for a couple more. It’s 50 cents for each additional one.
Double Chocolate Shake ($7.99)
This one was yummy and thick. I love that they do a mini version too, so you can add one without fully committing to a big shake. They’ve got other flavors like salted caramel, cookies and cream, and peanut butter chip if chocolate’s not your thing. This was definitely one of the highlights from the meal IMO.
How much does Big Chicken cost?
Most of what I tried landed between about $6 and $8. The Shaq Snacks like the Hot Shot start around $6.99, the 3 Tenders run $7.99, and the full signature sandwiches climb toward $10 to $11. Shakes are roughly $5.99 to $7.99 depending on the flavor and size. It’s fast-casual pricing overall but the sandwiches are pretty big for the price.
Good to Know
- Where: 📍 1407 S Main Chapel Way, Suite 103, Gambrills, MD 21054, the Villages at Waugh Chapel in Gambrills, an easy stop if you’re already shopping the center.
- First in Maryland: this is the state’s very first Big Chicken, so expect a crowd while the buzz is still fresh.
- Ordering: dine in or grab takeout, and there’s online ordering and delivery through their site and app.
- Hours: it’s brand new, so double-check the current hours on their site or Google before you head over.
- Heads up on sauces: tenders come with one sauce, and extras are a small upcharge.
TBH, I wouldn’t go out of my way to try this place, but if you’re in the area, the Hot Shot, tenders and shake are good options. It’s not reinventing fried chicken, but it’s a fun addition to the Gambrills lineup. Curious to hear what you guys think if you go – make sure to let me know your thoughts by commenting below!