Crimson Coward. This is the unique name of a local restaurant that may not sound familiar at first, unless you’ve happened upon other locations of the Nashville hot chicken concept in California and Virginia. Now, there is a new location in Frisco, which is the first in Texas, and there are more on the way. The word ‘Crimson’ is a type of red rooster, and then there’s ‘Coward,’ because if you decide to order the “BURRRRN, Baby, Burn” flavor, you may feel like one after a few hot-but-worth-it bites.
Crimson Coward is the new restaurant in town that you possibly haven’t heard about yet but will be glad to have checked out. And it’s the proprietary—and addictive—sauces and seasonings that will keep you coming back. Located at Preston Road and Gaylord Parkway in Frisco, Crimson Coward has been serving up Nashville hot chicken and all the sides (just try to resist the mac-and-cheese) for several months. It’s a concept from brothers-in-law Ali Hijazi of California and Hassan Bawab, a 23-year Dallas resident, who determined that Frisco would be the perfect location for fresh, made-to-order Nashville hot chicken that you can’t find elsewhere in Texas. Hijazi spent more than a year carefully and meticulously researching Nashville hot chicken recipes in Tennessee to get Crimson Coward’s version just right.
“Our concept is different from other Nashville hot chicken restaurants and other fast-casual establishments because we only use fresh ingredients and food,” Bawab says. “We only serve premium, all-natural, non-GMO chicken that is free of hormones and antibiotics. Nothing we serve is frozen, and everything is cooked to order. We don’t even have a food warmer. When you come in and order your meal—that’s when we make it.”
It all starts at 9:30 a.m. each day when the Crimson Coward team starts preparing the house-made sauces, spice mixes made from more than 50 ingredients, and fresh sides. A quick, yet healthy restaurant concept is something Bawab has wanted to be a part of since embarking on his own health journey a few years ago. “I realized as I was starting to take better care of my health that we needed more healthy dining options here,” he says. “Fresh, never frozen is best. And if you eat fried food, then you want to eat the right fried foods. I have learned there are ways to prepare food that are much better for you. The oil we use comes from premium farms. Even our bread is delivered fresh every day and served with butter from Europe. Quality is extremely important to us.”
Now, onto the menu.
First thing’s first—select your heat level for the Nashville hot chicken. Crimson Coward offers five options—country (no heat), mild (just a hint of heat), medium (almost there), Crimson-Hot (most people stop here), or BURRRRN, BABY, BURN (you’ve been warned.) Crimson Coward’s chicken tenders are served with bread and pickles, or try the wings and homemade sauce. There’s also the Lonely Coward, a boneless chicken breast atop bread and pickles. All chicken menu items are served with your choice of signature Crimson, ranch, or honey sauce. The Crimson Sandwich comes piled high with a boneless chicken breast, Crimson sauce, slaw, and pickles all on a warm Brioche bun. The Homestyle Sandwich has the same fixings as The Crimson but is served on toasted bread and topped with melted American cheese. Crimson Coward’s loyal customers—and a growing number of Tik Tok fans—often order the newest menu item, the Garlic Twister. It’s made with fresh made-to-order chicken, slathered with garlic sauce, garnished with fresh pickles, and served in a pressed flour tortilla.
Then there’s the famous Joey Eats Fries. If you are wanting all the flavors of Crimson Coward in one bite, then thank Joey for this one, because Joey Eats Fries is a meal in itself with a boneless chicken breast, Crimson sauce, slaw, pickles, and cheese served over a bed of seasoned Crimson fries.
Nashville hot chicken wouldn’t be complete without Crimson Coward’s classic sides. The most popular is the mac-and-cheese, prepared fresh each day with a blend of five cheeses and spices that make it far superior to your average mac. (Crimson Coward devotees often place an extra order for a late-night snack or the next day’s lunch.) And no entrée here is complete without a side of fried pickles, Crimson fries, tangy potato salad, or slaw—all Nashville hot chicken must-haves.
The best way to discover your “Coward level”? Stop by the restaurant for a freshly made meal. “I would say that if you like spicy food, then order a medium,” Bawab says. “But if you want to really go for it, then get the BURRRRN, Baby, Burn. I have heard that it will make a grown man cry—but it’s a good cry.”
Crimson Coward continually comes up with innovative menu items, customer events, and giveaways, so follow the restaurant on Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok to keep up. Ordering for a crowd? Ask about Crimson Coward’s full catering program, or order your chicken for delivery or takeout online here.
Crimson Coward is located at 3246 Preston Road, #510a in Frisco. Be sure not to miss their Valentine’s Day Special!
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