Founder of San Antonio vegan chain Project Pollo debuts concept offering real chicken on its menu

Editor’s note: This story was changed to clarify that Side Chicks is owned by Project Pollo founder Lucas Bradbury but isn’t part of the Project Pollo chain.

The founder of Alamo City-based vegan restaurant chain Project Pollo, known for its meat-free take on fried chicken sandos, has unveiled a new concept featuring real chicken at its revamped store near downtown.

Project Pollo founder Lucas Bradbury has rebranded the shop at 303 San Pedro Ave. as Side Chicks, slinging an assortment of real chicken sandos, nuggets and wings alongside the vegan options Project Pollo is known for.

The decision to expand on a previously plant-based menu may seem like a head-scratcher, but Project Pollo owner Lucas Bradbury said he’s trying to ensure the business stays viable. Having real-chicken options can help broaden its clientele, he explained.

“When we started Project Pollo, we wanted to create a platform that could serve as many people plant-based foods as possible. And that’s just not going to happen with a 100% vegan concept, because you’re reaching such a small percentage of the population,” Bradbury told the Current during a sneak preview of the new menu.

The downtown location will be a test run for the Side Chicks concept. If successful, it could expand to more stores, according to Bradbury.

Side Chicks’ menu includes sandwiches such as the Sancha, which features hand-breaded bird, house pickles, habanero seasoning and Japanese mayo. Also newly available are chicken nuggets and wings that can be tossed in any one of Side Chicks’ five house sauces: spicy buffalo, raspberry barbecue, garlic parmesan and mango habanero.

Each of the real chicken sandwiches can be made vegan by substituting a plant-based Tindle patty, Bradbury said.

The Side Chicks store occupies what was Project Pollo’s first brick-and-mortar venture. The company began as a food trailer outside of downtown’s Roadmap Brewing in 2020.

Bradbury — whose restaurant experience includes an executive slot at Wing Stop along with stints with other big chains — embarked on a breakneck expansion of Project Pollo last year, opening a total of 15 shops in Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Side Chicks is Bradbury’s second venture in San Antonio.

In May 2022, Bradbury appeared on Shark Tank, the ABC reality show that matches entrepreneurs with deep-pocketed backers. However, he failed to land a deal.

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This article appears in Feb 8-21, 2023.