Mere weeks after revealing its first San Antonio location, Layne’s Chicken Fingers is spreading its wings. The cult-favorite chain is heading to the Hill Country to debut its first restaurants at 2564 Loop 337 in New Braunfels.

In fall 2025, the Frisco-based chain signed a major franchising deal with real estate and restaurant developer Eli Cohen to bring 44 units to San Antonio, West Texas, and the Coastal Bend. At the time, it filed state regulatory paperwork for a new location along the growing TX-46 corridor near Seguin — the only one of the three area units that is listed as coming soon on the website.

Entrepreneur Mike Layne founded the fast-casual concept in 1994 in College Station, where it soon became a hit with students. Then-Texas A&M student Mike Garratt was soon brought in to help with operations, eventually taking over the brand. Now, Layne’s is a franchise with locations spread across Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The concept is known for its “soon-to-be-famous” chicken fingers, available in combo meals with fries and Texas toast. The menu also includes items like club sandwiches, grilled cheeses, and grilled chicken wraps, which can all be dipped in sauces such as barbecue, honey mustard, and jalapeño ranch.

In New Braunfels, it will face less competition than in San Antonio, where a growing number of chicken finger and Nashville-style hot chicken chains are crowding the market. Still, the booming city does have one major player, Louisiana-based Raising Cane's.

According to new Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings, the 2,430-square-foot Layne’s in New Braunfels plans to wrap up construction in late October. The exact timeline for the opening is unconfirmed.