Gate area in Main terminal means Slim Chickens is hard to miss
You’ll find Slim Chickens airside in the Main terminal at XNA, past security and along the single concourse. It’s the same Arkansas-born chain you see around Fayetteville, so the menu leans heavily on fried chicken tenders, wings, and sauces instead of burgers or pizza.
Chicken tender meals usually run in the $10–$14 range as of 2024, with combos including fries and a drink. Portions are solid for an airport, and you can grab extra signature sauces without much pushback. If you want something lighter, the wraps and salads use the same tenders but keep the fries off the tray.
Expect airport-style hours that roughly track the first and last bank of flights, often opening before the earliest departures out of XNA and closing after the final evening departures. On tight connections of 30 minutes or less, you’ll cut it close here, since food is cooked to order and waits can stretch past 10 minutes when a couple of flights dump out at once.
Best bet is a three- or five-tender combo or a buffalo wrap; fries come hot more often than not. If you’re about to board a 2+ hour leg, grab an extra sauce and one of the Texas toast pieces to stretch the meal. Tip: order to-go, then walk it down to your exact gate so you’re eating within sight of the boarding line.