Tinsleys Chicken

5,543 Views | 28 Replies | Last: 2 days ago by robcovol
Marooned_n_Aggieland
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11:21a, 10/29/08
Who on the board remember this company? I remember eating in one or two in B/CS. I'm pretty sure they had a restaurant on Texas between Harvey and Holleman. Chicken was good (back in the day when FRIED chicken was not a bad word) and wonderful rolls. They also had a C-47 painted up for promotional purposes and I'm pretty sure it came to CS once. Didn't it have a big 'Boss Bird' painted on the underneath?

The company eventually sold out to Church's and that was that. Good memories though.
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95_Aggie
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11:28a, 10/29/08
AG
I had some fried catfish there once that was raw in the middle. I never ate there again.
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Stupe
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11:54a, 10/29/08
S
We used to get KFC for the chicken and then go to Tinsleys and get rolls.
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carpe vinum
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11:58a, 10/29/08
AG
yep, they had the best freakin rolls I've ever had. I forgot about that plane, thanks for reminding me.
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Birddog
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12:04p, 10/29/08
AG
Yep, I remember going there quite a bit.
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zla1976
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12:07p, 10/29/08
Yes, I loved that place. The original location was at the corner of Texas Avenue and Martin Luther King Blvd. They had the best rolls, and their sweet tea also. What great memories.
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chunk78
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12:27p, 10/29/08


RETURN OF THE KILLER CHICKEN!!
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txbbqman
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12:29p, 10/29/08
I loved Tinsleys and y'all are right the best dang rolls around
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marge
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1:05p, 10/29/08
Could not go to Pooh's Park without going to Tinsley's,,,, I also loved the rolls! I can't remember loving the chicken but ohhhhh rolls with the honey rocked!
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Marooned_n_Aggieland
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1:30p, 10/29/08
Here's a little bit of web chatter on Tinsley's ...

http://www.houstonarchitecture.info/haif/index.php?showtopic=6810&st=30

You B/CS noobs won't understand much of this :-)
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txbbqman
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1:47p, 10/29/08
Pooh's Park....now there's a name I haven't heard in a while......lots of good memories there.....

DANG...did I just give away my age......
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Texasniper
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3:17p, 10/29/08
Actually Tinsley's Chicken is still around. In fact they still have a restaurant open over in Huntsville. Not sure how many are left, but I am sure they still have one open in Huntsville. The "Boss Bird" brings back a lot of childhood memories for me. Tinsley's had a pro softball team named the "Tinsley Bucks" back in the late 70's that flew all over the country in the "Boss Bird" to games and tournaments. My dad played ball for them. They had all kinds of official Tinsley's gear including personalized Tinsley's bat bags. I remember going to the airport with my mom to pick my dad up and getting to go inside the "Boss Bird". I once even got to sit in the pilots seat and pretend I was flying the "Boss Bird". Thanks for bring this up Marooned! Good memories right there son!!!
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Clucky
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4:13p, 10/29/08
I was pretty young, but I sure do remember those rolls...mmmm. Never saw the plane, but I do remember the Flying Tomato hot air balloon, that was a pretty cool sight in the B/CS sky. I think there's still a Flying Tomato Pizza in Denton?

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phillytex24
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9:23p, 11/27/25
It's time to bring Tinsley's back, please!!
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oklaunion
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4:31a, 11/28/25

Danver's rolls would give them a run for their money.
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Nab85ag
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10:19a, 11/28/25
AG
David Tinsley, from Huntsville, was the founder. Years ago, he sold the company, that had grown to many locations, for a lot of money. I think Church's was the buyer…but could be mistaken there. He was a character!
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Brazos1865
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8:35a, 12/1/25
AG
Bring back the Boss Bird!
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Costa and Andreas
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8:56a, 12/1/25
David Tinsley used to plead with me to partner/open a Cafe Eccell in Waco. He was a great customer and nice guy.
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Aggie@state.gov
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7:46p, 12/1/25
AG
What prompted the 18 year bump?
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FlyRod
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8:14p, 12/1/25
Poster waking up from cryogenic storage?
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txag2k
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In reply to carpe vinum • 11:00p, 12/1/25
AG
carpe vinum said:
yep, they had the best freakin rolls I've ever had. I forgot about that plane, thanks for reminding me.

ppl have NO idea. the best!
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Aggieland Proud
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In reply to Nab85ag • 4:49a, 12/2/25
AG
Yes, David Tinsley was the founder and sold to Church's. To me, Church's never did much with the purchase though so not sure why they bothered. David was a nice guy but certainly seemed to march to his own drum, and I say that in a positive way.
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One Louder
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11:58a, 12/2/25
AG
Tinsley's was the go-to for chicken when I was a kid living in Huntsville but like everyone else, I thought the rolls were the star of the show. I remember slathering them in the honey they provided on the tables. If I remember correctly, the store was located along I-45.
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techno-ag
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In reply to One Louder • 1:22p, 12/2/25
AG
One Louder said:
Tinsley's was the go-to for chicken when I was a kid living in Huntsville but like everyone else, I thought the rolls were the star of the show. I remember slathering them in the honey they provided on the tables. If I remember correctly, the store was located along I-45.

Used to be on 30 after you crossed the interstate.
The left cannot kill the Spirit of Charlie Kirk.
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Aggieland Proud
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In reply to One Louder • 1:35p, 12/2/25
AG
Wasn't that the Chicken Shack you are thinking of that was on 45? Tinsley owned it as well.
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One Louder
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In reply to Aggieland Proud • 1:37p, 12/2/25
AG
Aggieland Proud said:
Wasn't that the Chicken Shack you are thinking of that was on 45? Tinsley owned it as well.


Oh, yeah! I completely forgot about Chicken Shack!
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kosmostx
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11:35p, 12/3/25
Fun facts. Somewhere right around this date in 2008 Tinsley's Chicken & Rolls reopened in Huntsville. I think they stayed open for around 5 years before shutting down for good. Not sure if it closed up before or after David Tinsley died. This menu pic popped up on my FB memories today.


They were home to possibly the best tagline of all fast food: "If there's a better piece of chicken the rooster got it."

It was always cool seeing the Boss Bird take off or land during little league games next to the airport in Huntsville. It's still flying from what I understand, but with a new paint job (or lack of), tail number, and home. I think she's living in Europe now. It took part in the D Day+75 celebration.




Also, the Chicken Shack building is still around, and in about the shape you'd expect a 50+ year old restaurant building to be in. It's got a new name, Country Inn Steaks & Seafood, but the kitchen is still turning out good food.

Of all the Tinsley's restaurants, Steak & Spirits was my favorite. The Huntsville building is long gone, but the Woodlands building is still there. It's Casa Medina now, on the west feeder in Shenandoah. He also owned Health Camp Burgers in Waco.
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Brazos1865
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In reply to kosmostx • 5:27a, 12/4/25
AG
Finally, pictures of the Boss Bird! That's awesome.
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curry97
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7:58a, 12/4/25
AG
David passed away in November 2014. I remember being stuck in traffic on highway 6 heading to Marlin for Thanksgiving after his automobile accident had occurred. I thought maybe this 18 year old bump occurred on the anniversary of his death but it was off several days.

David being a character is an understatement from the stories that I heard from my parents and their friends.
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robcovol
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2:22p, 12/5/25
The best fried chicken and rolls in BCS ever.
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