Chicken sandwich franchise backed by Shaq opening first NJ location. Here's where

Big mall, big chicken.

Big Chicken, a fast-casual chicken sandwich chain restaurant backed by Shaquille O’ Neal, is opening in the Village at Bridgewater Commons in mid-June.

It will be the first New Jersey location for the chain, which has 30 national stores and 350 in the works.

“Bridgewater Commons is just a short drive away from my house, which is how I know that Chad and Adi chose the perfect location for their first Big Chicken restaurant in New Jersey,” said Big Chicken CEO Josh Halpern.

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Franchisees Aditya Patel, a South Plainfield resident, and Chad Patel, a Princeton resident, plan to open five more Big Chicken locations in Middlesex, Mercer and Somerset counties.

Big Chicken offers six types of massive, hormone-free chicken sandwiches with eclectic sauces and ingredients. Those include the Big & Sloppy with mac and cheese, fried onions and roasted garlic barbecue aioli; the Big Aristotle with Muenster cheese, fried onions and sweet and smoky Memphis barbecue sauce; and the crispy chicken grilled cheese with three cheeses and chipotle barbecue sauce on Italian bread.

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It also offers chicken sliders; mac and cheese encrusted with Cheez-Its; fries with cheese sauce, banana peppers and bacon; shakes; and the “Big Cookie,” among other items.

“The top chicken sandwich restaurants only offer two types of chicken sandwiches — regular and spicy,” said Chad. “We chose Big Chicken not just because of the big man behind it. Most people will visit for the first time because of Shaq, but I’m sure that they will return because of our sandwiches.”

Staff Reporter Jenna Intersimone: JIntersimone@MyCentralJersey.com

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Chicken sandwich franchise backed by Shaq opening first NJ location. Here's where