Layne’s Chicken Fingers is preparing to expand its presence in San Antonio with a third location planned near the Marbach Road exit off Loop 1604, targeting an April 2027 opening.
The upcoming restaurant will be part of a new development featuring Target and Sam’s Club. Although the full street address has not yet been assigned, the location will mark an important step in the brand’s expansion across the San Antonio market.
Eli Cohen, a partner in the franchise group C5 Restaurants, told WhatNow San Antonio in an interview that the company is excited about the opportunity to introduce the Texas-based chicken chain to more residents.
“We feel great about this market and how the brand is going to resonate in San Antonio. That’s why we’re not just starting with one. We’re coming in with three restaurants,” he said.
The Marbach Road location is part of a three-restaurant expansion that also includes a location at 7249 Bandera Road, which was scheduled to open Oct. 27, 2026, and another at 742 Southwest Military Drive, expected to open in March 2027. The Marbach Road restaurant is the third planned location and is targeting April 2027.
Unlike the other two San Antonio locations, the Marbach Road restaurant will be built from the ground up using Layne’s Chicken Fingers’ prototype design. The project represents a significant investment for C5 Restaurants, which has already established the brand in Lubbock, Texas, where it operates three restaurants.
“Marbach is exciting because it’s our third restaurant that we’re bringing to San Antonio, and it will be the first one that we build from the ground up using the Layne’s Chicken Fingers prototype,” Cohen said.
“It has open spaces and great natural light. The drive-thru is designed for a very effective speed of service, and we’re really excited to showcase a brand-new build,” he added.
Cohen said the company has high expectations for the location and believes the area’s growth makes it a worthwhile investment.
“Building a location from the ground up costs more than renovating a second-generation building that previously housed a restaurant,” Cohen said. “You have to have real conviction to make that investment, and we believe that Marbach Road justifies it.”
Layne’s Chicken Fingers is known for its focused menu centered on chicken fingers and complementary comfort-food options. The Marbach Road location is expected to follow the chain’s standard menu rather than introduce items exclusive to San Antonio.
Customers can expect regular and spicy chicken fingers, fries, Texas toast, the brand’s signature Layne’s sauce, shakes and grilled cheese.
“We take great pride in our entire menu, and it’s intentionally focused,” Cohen said. “We only do a few things: chicken fingers, both regular and spicy, fries, Texas toast, our Layne’s sauce, shakes and grilled cheese. That’s the entire menu.”
The approach reflects the company’s emphasis on consistency and quality rather than an extensive menu.
“Do a few things and do them better than anyone else. That’s how we operate,” he said.
Cohen said C5 Restaurants believes the brand’s product and customer experience will help it stand out in a competitive chicken restaurant market.
“Other chicken concepts have done very well in this market, and we believe that we have a premium product,” he said. “Our team at C5 is just as focused on delivering a premium experience for our guests.”
C5 Restaurants expects to begin recruiting employees for the Marbach Road location around March 2027, approximately four to six weeks before the anticipated opening. The company hired about 85 employees for its Bandera Road restaurant and expects a similar hiring effort for the new location.
While specific grand opening plans have not yet been finalized, Cohen said the company typically celebrates new locations with community events and promotions.
“At every grand opening, the first 50 guests get free Layne’s for a year,” he said.
Past celebrations have also included a DJ, face painting and other activities, although the details for the Marbach Road event remain undecided.
The franchise group also plans to continue its community-focused initiatives by hosting special nights during the first 10 days after opening to provide free meals to teachers and first responders.
“We love giving back to people who give so much to their communities,” Cohen said.
The initiatives are part of C5 Restaurants’ approach to building relationships with the communities it serves.
Founded in College Station, Texas, Layne’s Chicken Fingers has expanded beyond its original market as the brand grows across Texas and other parts of the country. C5 Restaurants began its franchise operations in Lubbock before turning its attention to San Antonio.
The Marbach Road restaurant will add to that growth while introducing the chain’s ground-up prototype to the local market.
For the team, the goal extends beyond opening another restaurant. Cohen said the company wants residents to feel welcome and comfortable visiting its locations.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of this community. We invite everyone to come in and feel at home in our restaurants,” he said.
With the Marbach Road project targeting April 2027, additional details, including the final street address and grand opening activities, are expected to emerge as development progresses.
WhatNow San Antonio will continue to follow the project as more information becomes available.
