For a fast food joint, the made-to-order burgers and sweet potato fries at Backyard Burgers were pretty good. That’s why I was surprised to see the Coming Soon Chicken Express sign on the location at Royal Lane and Central Expressway.

I admit I hadn’t been there lately, but I’d waited in line on my previous visits with a good-sized lunchtime crowd. And I did try eating on their outdoor patio, though the roar of traffic and the whoosh of traffic on 75 isn’t exactly my idea of al fresco.

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The sign in the window says hiring begins with interviews on May 8th, and redesign of the still-newish, all-brick store is in progress.

Chicken Express is famous for their never-frozen chicken tenders with cream gravy and sweet tea. I tend to see them in small towns as I travel to visit my college sons in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and this will be the first one inside the I-635 loop in Dallas.

No word yet when the Royal/75 store will open.