Local hospitality group Tandem Restaurant Partners is gearing up to launch several exciting additions to its portfolio, including a new quick-service restaurant concept.
Tandem co-owner Tony Westmoreland told The Daily Memphian that while Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs was initially set to move into the former Avenue Coffee space at 786 Echles St, it will now be replaced by a new concept called Gangsta Fried Chicken. (Turkey leg lovers need not fret; Uncle Red’s is still expected to open at 2583 Broad Ave, as reported late last year.)
Westmoreland is collaborating with local chef Duncan Aiken, who designed the sandwich menu at Tandem’s recently reopened Front Street Deli.
The Gangsta Fried Chicken menu will showcase Southern-style sweet and spicy fried chicken served with Aiken’s signature sauce, complemented by classic sides like cornbread, collard greens, and mashed potatoes.
Aiken developed his “famous Memphis original gangsta fried chicken” recipe in 2016, and it quickly gained popularity on his former Rogue Chefs food truck.
“The sauce is made from a gastrique, Sambal, Sriracha, and a few other things,” Aiken explained to The Daily Memphian. “I have been working on the recipe for years, so the fried chicken keeps its crumb and still stays crunchy.”
Gangsta Fried Chicken is scheduled to make its debut later this year.
