The Original Zaxby’s — Statesboro, GA

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Founded in 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia near Georgia Southern University, Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley launched the brand—hence the name Zaxby’s.

Original Zaxby’s — Chicken Fingerz and glazed wings with crinkle fries, Texas toast, celery, and Zax Sauce® & Ranch, with the red chicken logo in the background.
Original Zaxby’s in a bite—hot Fingerz, sauced wings, crinkle fries, Texas toast, and Zax Sauce®

📜 A Short History

  • 1990 — First store opens in Statesboro.
  • 2000s — Spreads across the Southeast with a sauce‑first identity.
  • Today — Regional favorite for chicken fingers, wings, Zalads®, Texas toast, and crinkle fries.

✨ Why This Brand Is Special

Zaxby’s leans into sauce‑driven comfort. The chicken arrives hot and crispy, the Texas toast adds a buttery bite, and those crinkle‑cut fries hold dips like a champ. You pick the heat—Zax Sauce® for creamy‑peppery balance or Tongue Torch when you want a kick. It’s fast, but it stays Southern and personal, the kind you crave after a game or a late drive.

Heritage Stop

  • Original city: Statesboro, GA.
  • Feel the roots: Hit a long‑running Statesboro location near campus; expect Fingerz + crinkle fries + Texas toast trays.
  • Tip: Hours/menus vary—check the store locator before you go.

Where You’ll See a Lot

  • Strongest: Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida.
  • Also present: Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Virginia and neighbors.
  • Limited: Northeast and West Coast remain sparse.

🧪 Sauces People Crave

  • Zax Sauce® — creamy, tangy, peppery; the default for dipping.
  • Wimpy — mild heat, easygoing.
  • Tongue Torch — medium with a bright kick.
  • Nuclear — hot and smoky.
  • Insane — for heat chasers.
  • Also seen: Ranch, BBQ, Honey Mustard, and rotating LTO sauces.
Original Zaxby’s — Tongue Torch, Zax Sauce, and Spicy Zax bottled sauces with dipping cups on an orange fork-pattern background.
Zaxby’s sauce trio—Zax Sauce, Spicy Zax, and Tongue Torch. Pick your heat
Image Credit: Zaxby’s Official Website

🍗 What to Order (Fan‑Favorite Set)

  • 🏆 Big Zax Snak® Meal (Most‑Ordered) — Fingerz + crinkle fries + Texas toast + drink; great value and perfect with Zax Sauce®.
  • Chicken Finger Plate — More Fingerz; shareable and road‑trip friendly.
  • Boneless Wings Meal — Choose your heat (start with Zax Sauce® or Tongue Torch).
  • Alt picks: Fried White Cheddar Bites, Cobb Zalad®, Grilled House Zalad®.

🍟 Pro tip, Zaxby’s‑style
Dip crinkle fries in Zax Sauce® (ask for an extra cup). Keep chicken crispy by getting sauces on the side, then mix a little Tongue Torch into Zax Sauce® for a custom medium heat. Add extra Texas toast if you’re sharing.

💡 Deals & Special Tips

  • Zax Rewardz (app) — new‑member and birthday offers vary by market.
  • Ask for extra sauce—Zax Sauce® + fries is a must.
  • Share smart — Fingerz platters stretch well for groups.