Palmetto Bay Huey Magoo's Brings Popular Tender Chain to Miami

If you'd told me back in the summer of 2018, when I first sank my teeth into a piping-hot Huey Magoo's tender in Orlando, that I'd be watching a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their very first Miami-Dade County location, I would have looked in the classifieds for a DeLorean back then.

But there we were on Thursday, June 12, as Huey Magoo's President and CEO, Andy Howard, Palmetto Bay Mayor Karyn Cunningham, and franchisees Henry Dixon and Frank Hennessey, with scissors in hand, declared that the years of hype had finally paid off. The chicken-tender faithful can now judge for themselves whether Magoo lives up to its reputation.

Howard, a bona fide "chicken man" who cut his teeth at Kenny Rogers Roasters, Ranch One in New York, and later Wingstop, didn't mince words. "For anyone that's searching for the greatest chicken tender they've ever eaten, you gotta try Huey Magoo's," he says to the crowd. "You'll then know why we say we're the 'Filet Mignon of Chicken.'"

Skeptical? I don't blame you. South Florida is no stranger to unfounded food claims, but this is the chain that the Orlando Sentinel crowned the best in its March 22, 2025, "Chicken Tender Bender" roundup.

A Florida-Born Chain Founded Near UCF in 2004

Founded in 2004 by Matt Armstrong (Huey) and Thad Hudgens (Magoo) near the University of Central Florida campus, Huey Magoo's began as a passion project: high-quality, hand-breaded tenders that prioritized clean ingredients with no antibiotics, hormones, steroids, or preservatives. It didn't take long for word to spread that these babies were something special. Fast-forward to 2016, when Howard and fellow ex-Wingstop execs Wes Jablonski and Mike Sutter swooped in to buy the then-two-year-old concept. Since then, they've expanded into 12 states, with confirmed deals in three more, and now, finally, Miami-Dade.

The Palmetto Bay spot marks Magoo's 76th restaurant. Future Miami-Dade County locations are already on the books for Fontainebleau (Midway Crossings Mall), Hialeah, and North Miami. If all goes according to plan, they'll be up to 100 locations at some point next year.

Of course, expansion is easy on paper; execution in the trenches is another beast altogether. However, this is an experienced team, and Howard insists they're ready. "Every tender we fry or grill is marinated overnight, cooked to order, and paired with sauces that we craft ourselves," he says, arms folded over his Magoo's-branded button-down shirt. On that note, let's talk sauces. The house-made ranch is solid, tangy, and creamy; you could mistake it for something made in your kitchen. But the real magic lives in Magoo's and Spicy Magoo's sauces. One bite of a tender dipped in original Magoo's will make you a believer. Crave some heat? Spicy Magoo's brings enough to remind you that you're not at a run-of-the-mill chain. And when you need to cool things down, their rotating lemonade lineup has you covered —though, full disclosure: I always reach for the original. "Electric Blue Lemonade" might taste like blue raspberry Jolly Rancher in a glass, but I still prefer the original.

Sides at Magoo's include crinkle-cut fries and fresh-cut potato chips that are crispy as all get out. Salads and wraps fill in the lettuce-and-tomato purists, but let's be honest: you're here for the tenders. If you've got room, do not, under any circumstances, share the banana pudding. I learned that lesson the hard way — one mouthful, and I found myself regretting it the rest of the night.

A Chicken Franchise That's Worth Every Bite

By now, you're probably wondering: after all these years, does Huey Magoo's deliver on its promise, or is it just another over-hyped franchise? I've been following these tenders since that Orlando summer of '18, and my answer is a resounding thumbs up. They're hot, crunchy, and seasoned just right, even before you dunk them in Magoo's sauce. And don't get me started on the grilled chicken tendies.

For now, though, Miami has a new contender in the chicken-tender wars. Whether you're a die-hard Magoo's fan or a tender purist who thinks the best strips come from a local mom-and-pop, this is one you've got to try. And who knows? If Palmetto Bay's excitement is any indicator, the next time you find yourself craving top-tier tenders, a Huey Magoo's might be around the corner.

Huey Magoo's Palmetto Bay. 14967 S. Dixie Hwy., Palmetto Bay; 786-785-1855; hueymagoos.com.