Southwest Houston is about to get a double dose of bold flavors. Urban Bird Hot Chicken and BunSlut, two distinct yet buzz-worthy concepts, are each opening new locations under the guidance of Brandon Gawthorp, who recently took over BunSlut and is now spearheading both brands’ expansion efforts.
Urban Bird, known for its fiery fried chicken and no-frills approach to quality, is headed to 19922 Southwest Freeway in Sugar Land. Gawthorp confirmed this site will operate as a corporate location, reinforcing the brand’s continued growth strategy across the region. The move positions Urban Bird closer to a wider suburban audience that’s shown increasing appetite for fast-casual hot chicken concepts.
Meanwhile, BunSlut is making its Missouri City debut at 7270 Hwy 6. Since acquiring the brand, Gawthorp has already introduced some key updates to elevate the menu. “Since taking over we have made recipe changes,” he said. “We now use a local bakery for the buns. We changed the fries to a crinkle seasoned fry and we added Slider combos. These are made with a red bun and have been very popular.” The changes aim to offer more variety while keeping BunSlut’s signature irreverent edge intact.
Both locations are on track to open in June 2025, bringing new flavor and energy to the Southwest Houston dining scene just in time for summer.
