Starbird, the Bay Area-born premium chicken concept, has finally come to Alameda County.
The chain has renovated a free-standing Pleasanton restaurant space on Owens Drive near Interstate 580, and offers seating for 40 indoor and on the patio. It’s the second East Bay location after Contra Costa’s Walnut Creek.
Starbird’s concept was developed by the innovators at Culinary Edge, who started experimenting with chicken after deciding there were too many burger players in the marketplace. The result was a fresh, antibiotic-free bird that’s marinated in a signature brine before being fried in rice bran oil, which co-founder Aaron Noveshen says gives it a lighter taste and better crunch.
The brand made its debut in 2014 in Sunnyvale.
The signature Starbird 2.0 sandwich is topped with rainbow slaw and avocado. Other sandwiches include the new seasonal Cali Gold BBQ, with bacon and barbecue sauce; the Seoul Star, with a Korean sauce, sweet soy glaze and veggies; and the Nashville HotBird, with a Greek yogurt ranch dressing and dill pickles. Flavors are also available as wings, tenders or nuggets or atop salads.
Besides Pleasanton, Starbird has opened locations in Palo Alto and South San Francisco this year. Coming before year’s end will be a Cupertino restaurant on Stevens Creek Boulevard.
Details: Open daily from 10:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 p.m. Sunday at 6455 Owens Drive, Pleasanton: www.starbirdchicken.com
