Southern Jerks is embarking on a major expansion! The popular black-owned, chef-driven Caribbean fried chicken concept is working on opening not one, but two locations this fall. According to a press release announcing its “biggest chapter of growth yet,” Southern Jerks is expected to open at 111 Greens Road in October and in South Park at 12374 Martin Luther King Blvd. in November.
“We will be doing a grand opening for both locations; dates are TBD. Every location will go through a soft opening stage to ensure all kinks are worked out,” co-owner Chef Jabril Riddick said in an interview with What Now Houston.
“We want to bring quality fast food back to the doorsteps of people who look like us. For so long, other people have opened restaurants in our communities and have been serving them low-quality food. Our goal is to bring back quality food and service back into our community.”
The expansion marks an exciting evolution for a concept that got its start in an unexpected place — inside a Houston gas station on Gears Road.
“Houston has embraced Southern Jerks in a way that has allowed us to continue dreaming bigger for this brand,” Riddick said in the press release.
“Opening two new locations is a huge milestone for us, but what makes it even more exciting is being able to bring Southern Jerks into new communities across the city. We want every location to have the same energy, flavor, and hospitality our guests have come to expect from us.”
Southern Jerks officially opened their first location on April 25, 2025. Created by Chef Riddick and his brother Jordan Riddick, Southern Jerks is known for blending authentic Caribbean spices with Southern culinary traditions. The concept took about five years to develop and was heavily inspired by their Caribbean grandmother’s family recipes.
“We are a family-owned, family-operated business. My brother Jordan Riddick has a strong financial backing from working in finance on a very high corporate level,” Riddick said.
“I have been a chef for 20 years; 15 of these have been in leadership positions(executive chef, culinary coach, regional director, culinary director, etc.) So together we have been able to build a concept that is culinary-driven with a corporate mindset. Southern Jerks will be the next household name around the country.”
Chef Jabril has an extensive culinary history in Houston, which includes leading the kitchen at Winsome Prime and creating the menu for Rockhouse Southern Kitchen.
Southern Jerks achieved viral word-of-mouth success and transitioned to serving 100% halal-certified chicken to accommodate more of the local community. After celebrating its one-year milestone at its original location, the brand announced plans to open new locations and expand into new communities across Houston.
“We first listen to our guests; we always ask customers what area they are coming from so we can get a sense of where our client base lives,” Chef Riddick said to What Now.
“It helps us pinpoint new locations without pulling too much from the current one or ones. We also like to be close to the airport.”
The menu features crispy, deeply marinated fried chicken, wings, tenders, and scratch-made Southern sides like collard greens, dirty rice, and mac and cheese. But Chef Riddick said that Southern Jerk’s highlights are more than just the food.
“First, I would say our customer service. We get compliments all the time about that. Also, how quickly we get the food out. We believe that it’s important to consider our customers’ time, especially during lunchtime,” Chef Riddick said.
“Last but not least, our flavors. It’s a unique taste that you won’t find anywhere else in the city and the country.”
But developing a booming brand does come with its challenges.
“The obvious would be staying profitable in an economy where it is hard to be a start-up,” Chef Riddick said.
“We have been able to leverage a lot of relationships and of course a lot of prayer to keep us rolling pretty nicely. Expansion brings in buying power, so it’s only gonna get better as we open more locations.”
And that’s exactly the plan! Chef Riddick confirmed that the Greater Houston region can expect more Southern Jerk locations to pop up in the near future.
“Expansion is for sure in the cards,” he said.
So, keep your eyes peeled and your ears perked for the latest on this exciting expansion for what is becoming a community staple.
Southern Jerks is anticipated to open at 111 Greens Road in October and in South Park at 12374 Martin Luther King Blvd. in November.
“This isn’t just about adding restaurants,” Riddick said in the press release.
“We’re building something that started here in Houston, and we want Southern Jerks to become a brand people across the city — and eventually beyond Houston — know and love.”
