New Halal Chicken Chain ChicKing Opens First US Location in Albany

The Dubai-based fast-food restaurant has ambitious expansion plans for New York State.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A new fast-food chicken restaurant called ChicKing has opened its first U.S. location in Guilderland, New York, near Albany. The brand originally comes from Dubai and has over 400 locations worldwide. The local franchise is run by the Gondal family, who have the rights to expand the chain throughout New York State. The menu features halal chicken dishes like grilled, original, and spicy chicken, along with sandwiches and burgers, with the tandoori burger being the most popular item so far. A second location is already planned to open by the end of March in Latham.

Why it matters

The arrival of ChicKing marks the introduction of a new international fast-food brand to the U.S. market, providing Albany-area residents with more halal dining options. The Gondal family's ambitious expansion plans for New York State also signal their confidence in the brand's potential success.

The details

ChicKing opened its first U.S. location in December 2026 at 1666 Western Ave. in Guilderland, near Albany. The restaurant serves a menu similar to KFC, with family buckets of grilled, original, and spicy chicken, along with strips, wings, wraps, and sandwiches. Everything is prepared fresh daily, and the most popular item so far has been the tandoori burger, a spicy chicken sandwich. The local franchise is run by the Gondal family, who have the rights to expand the chain throughout New York State. A second location is already planned to open by the end of March 2026 at 640 Loudon Road in Latham.

  • ChicKing opened its first U.S. location in Guilderland, New York in December 2026.
  • A second ChicKing location is planned to open in Latham, New York by the end of March 2026.

The players

ChicKing

A fast-food chicken restaurant chain that originated in Dubai and has over 400 locations worldwide. The Guilderland location is the first ChicKing restaurant in the United States.

Gondal family

The local franchise owners who have the rights to expand the ChicKing chain throughout New York State.

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What they’re saying

“The idea came after Sais Gondal tried the food overseas and thought it would do well back home, especially since the family already lives in the Albany area.”

— Sais Gondal (q1057.com)

What’s next

The Gondal family plans to open additional ChicKing locations throughout New York State in the coming years as part of their expansion plans for the brand.

The takeaway

The arrival of the international halal fast-food chain ChicKing in the Albany area provides residents with more diverse dining options and signals the Gondal family's confidence in the brand's potential success in the U.S. market.