Quick Summary
- Namkeen will make its Texas debut in Plano in fall 2026, opening at 521 Coit Rd., Suite 130, at the Beacon Square mixed-use development near Coit Road and President George Bush Turnpike.
- The fast-casual restaurant combines Nashville hot chicken with Pakistani spices, offering hot chicken, sandwiches, smash burgers, chicken and waffles, loaded fries, and other comfort-food options.
- The Plano restaurant will be the first Namkeen location in Texas and is owned by Plano resident Mohammed Shaikh.
- The restaurant is part of the growing dining and commercial activity around Plano and North Texas, with Namkeen joining other tenants at the 83-acre Beacon Square development.
Namkeen Is Bringing Pakistani-Inspired Hot Chicken to Plano
Plano is about to get another restaurant concept with a little heat and a lot of personality.
Namkeen, a fast-casual restaurant specializing in Nashville hot chicken with a South Asian twist, is making its Texas debut in Plano in fall 2026. The restaurant will open at 521 Coit Rd., Suite 130, at the Beacon Square mixed-use development near the northwest corner of Coit Road and President George Bush Turnpike.
According to CultureMap Dallas, the Plano restaurant will be Namkeen’s first location in Texas.
For Plano residents and North Texas food lovers, the concept stands out because it combines the increasingly popular Nashville hot chicken format with Pakistani-inspired flavors.
What Is Namkeen?
Namkeen was founded in 2020 and currently has locations in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Canada. The company launched franchising this year, making the Plano location part of its broader expansion.
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The name “Namkeen” means “savory” in Urdu, which fits the restaurant’s focus on bold, seasoned food.
Its signature chicken is crispy and buttermilk-brined before being seasoned with a proprietary blend of Pakistani spices, including cayenne and cumin.
Customers will be able to choose different heat levels, ranging from naked and mild to medium and hot. Namkeen will also offer tikka-seasoned and roasted chicken options.
The menu goes beyond traditional hot chicken, with offerings including:
- Nashville, Maple, and Buffalo chicken tenders
- Chicken bites
- Chicken sandwiches
- Smash burgers
- Chicken and waffles
- Cheese melts
- Loaded fries with masala seasonings
- Rose-infused gulabi waffles
- Nutella waffles
According to the article, entrees start at $9, while complete meals range from $13 to $16.
A Local Plano Franchise Owner Is Bringing Namkeen to Texas
The Plano Namkeen franchise is owned by Plano resident Mohammed Shaikh, who discovered the restaurant concept in New Jersey.
According to CultureMap Dallas, Shaikh was impressed not only by the food but also by the community surrounding the brand. He believed the concept would be a strong addition to the North Texas dining scene.
That local connection is particularly interesting.
Rather than a restaurant simply choosing Plano as another expansion market, the franchise is being brought to the city by someone who actually lives there and wants to invest in the community.
Shaikh said the goal is to serve great food while building relationships, supporting local events, and giving back to the community.
Namkeen Will Join Beacon Square in Plano
The restaurant will be located at Beacon Square, an 83-acre mixed-use development at Coit Road and President George Bush Turnpike.
Namkeen will join other announced tenants at the development, including Stella Ice Cream, Sleek Crêperie Café, and Livewell Animal Hospital.
The exact opening date has not been announced. According to CultureMap Dallas, the restaurant is expected to open in fall 2026 as construction wraps up at Beacon Square.
For people living in Plano and surrounding North Texas communities, the location should make Namkeen relatively easy to access from the major roadways surrounding the development.
My Take: Another Sign of How Diverse North Texas Is Becoming
In my opinion, what makes this announcement interesting is not just another restaurant coming to Plano.
It is the type of concept coming to Plano.
North Texas has become one of the country’s most diverse and rapidly growing metropolitan areas, and restaurants are one of the clearest ways to see that growth reflected locally. Concepts combining different culinary traditions are increasingly becoming part of the everyday dining landscape across Dallas-Fort Worth.
Namkeen is a good example. It takes the familiar Nashville hot chicken format and combines it with Pakistani spices and flavors, creating something that is recognizable but still different.
I also think the Plano location makes sense. The city has a large and diverse population, a strong business community, major transportation corridors, and an expanding collection of restaurants and mixed-use developments.
From a broader real estate perspective, restaurant openings like this can also be worth watching because they contribute to the commercial amenities available around growing neighborhoods and developments. One restaurant does not determine whether an area will succeed, but a growing mix of dining, retail, services, housing, and entertainment can make a location more attractive to residents and businesses.
Looking for a Home in North Texas?
Restaurant openings, new developments, commercial projects, and expanding amenities are all pieces of the bigger North Texas growth story. If you are considering buying or selling a home in Dallas, Plano, Frisco, or another DFW community, understanding what is happening around a neighborhood can be just as important as looking at the house itself.
As a Dallas-area Realtor, I help buyers evaluate communities and homes based on more than just bedrooms, bathrooms, and asking price. Location, development, accessibility, amenities, and long-term market factors all matter when making a real estate decision.
If you’re a Dallas homeowner trying to navigate this 2026 market, you need a pivot strategy. Click here to access my free 2-page Seller Strategy guide.
If you are looking for new construction homes in DFW and Texas, I have direct-to-builder access to real-time inventory and incentives, including homes that haven’t hit the MLS or public sites yet. Click here for your personal link to my new construction portal.
Related North Texas Dining Story
If you are interested in how new restaurants and international dining concepts continue to expand across North Texas, you may also want to read my previous article, “New Upscale Indian Restaurant in Frisco: The Mango Yard Brings Modern Global Dining to North Texas.”
FAQs
When is Namkeen opening in Plano?
Namkeen is expected to open in fall 2026, although an exact opening date has not yet been announced.
Where will Namkeen open in Plano?
Namkeen will open at 521 Coit Rd., Suite 130, Plano, Texas, at the Beacon Square mixed-use development near Coit Road and President George Bush Turnpike.
What kind of food will Namkeen serve?
Namkeen specializes in Nashville hot chicken with a Pakistani twist. Its menu includes hot chicken tenders, bites and sandwiches, plus smash burgers, chicken and waffles, loaded fries, cheese melts, and desserts.
Will Namkeen be the first Texas location?
Yes. The Plano restaurant will be Namkeen’s first location in Texas. The company currently has locations in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, and Canada.