Willie’s Chicken Shack photo
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South Beach just got a taste of the French Quarter. Willie’s Chicken Shack, the New Orleans-born fast-casual restaurant known for fried chicken, frozen daiquiris, and late-night energy, has officially opened at the corner of Washington Avenue and Española Way, marking the brand’s first Florida location and its only outpost outside Louisiana.
For a stretch of Miami Beach that thrives on foot traffic, people-watching, and post-sunset cravings, the move feels intentional. The bustling intersection draws a steady mix of tourists, locals, and nightlife wanderers, exactly the kind of crowd Willie’s built its reputation serving back home in New Orleans.
Willie’s Chicken Shack photo
From the French Quarter to South Beach
Founded in 2012 by Aaron Motwani, Willie’s Chicken Shack grew into a recognizable New Orleans staple with nine locations concentrated around the French Quarter and downtown. The formula is simple but effective: crispy fried chicken, Southern comfort sides, cold drinks, and a casual, come-as-you-are vibe that caters equally to daytime visitors and late-night crowds.
Each location carries a touch of New Orleans’ personality, bringing a bit of Bourbon Street character to Miami Beach.
The South Beach space itself adds another layer of charm. According to New Times contributor and Miami food historian Burger Beast, Willie’s is housed in a former five-and-dime McCrory’s department store; the historic building immediately stood out. Old Miami Beach spaces like this still carry stories in their walls, and it is refreshing to see one filled with something lively again.
Biscuits, Big Tenders, and No-Nonsense Fried Chicken
According to Burger Beast, who visited the new location, the menu includes biscuits dripping in honey butter, wings tossed in a Cajun sweet-and-sour sauce, and large chicken tenders. “Calling them jumbo almost undersells it,” he writes in his review. “They’re huge and crispy and juicy. The only issue was the sauce container being way too narrow for tenders that size.”
He also notes that the bone-in fried chicken followed with the same winning formula. “[They’re] Deeply seasoned, shatteringly crisp, and perfectly moist inside.”
Willie’s Chicken Shack is also known for its daiquiris, which are notoriously strong. The opening comes right off the heels of Miami Beach’s new law to help revive its restaurant scene in Lincoln Road and nearby areas.
Willie’s Chicken Shack. 1441 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; willieschickenshackneworleans.com.
