April 21, 2026 // Franchising.com // Cincinnati, OH - CityBird, a premium chicken tender restaurant focused on unmatched quality, is rolling out a new menu update designed to give guests more flavor and flexibility. As part of the brand’s commitment to increasing value for both consumers and franchisees, the updated lineup introduces bigger, juicier tenders, new customization options, refreshed tender boxes, and expanded sandwich offerings.
At the center of the menu evolution are larger, hand-breaded tenders, delivering a more satisfying, high-quality portion while maintaining the brand’s signature made-to-order approach. As consumers are having to make tougher choices when deciding where to eat, with value-focused offerings continue to take center stage across the restaurant industry, CityBird is focused on delivering more for every order. Guests can now also enjoy greater control over their meals with three preparation styles (House, Hot or Naked), allowing them to tailor flavor and heat levels to their preference.
“Our goal has always been to serve the perfect tender, and this menu revamp is a direct reflection of that commitment,” said Joe Lanni, co-founder of CityBird. “From increasing the size of our tenders to introducing new ways to customize every order, we’re giving our guests even more reasons to love CityBird.”
The brand has also reimagined its Tender Boxes with updated formats and pricing, including 3-, 4- and 5-piece meals served with fries and sauces, as well as a 10-tender option, delivering greater value and flexibility for a variety of dining occasions. At the same time, CityBird is expanding its sandwich lineup with the addition of Chicken Salad, made with diced tenders, celery, pickles, iceberg and pickle mayo, and Simply Chicken, featuring house brined and dredged chicken topped with pickles. These offerings, joining fan-favorites like CityBird, Lemon Thyme, Hot and Buffalo Bleu, are all available as full meals or à la carte, with updated pricing tiers that make it easier for guests to choose how they enjoy the brand.
These updates build on CityBird’s intentionally focused menu, allowing the brand to introduce more variety without adding operational complexity, all while supporting consistent execution, speed of service and a seamless experience across every location.
“As we continue to grow, it’s important that every update works just as well behind the counter as it does for the guest,” said John Lanni, co-founder of CityBird. “This menu was designed to be easy to execute, easy to scale and consistent across every restaurant, which is critical as we expand into new markets.”
Founded in 2018 by brothers Joe and John Lanni, the visionary restaurateurs behind Thunderdome Restaurant Group, CityBird has quickly made its mark in the booming fast-casual space with its commitment to cage-free, all-natural chicken that’s brined, hand-dredged, and fried fresh to order. With a concise menu, CityBird the brand has perfected the art of the chicken tender, delivering fast service and consistently high-quality execution across all locations.
As CityBird continues to focus on consistent innovation, the brand is actively looking for dedicated single and multi-unit franchisees passionate about providing the ultimate chicken tender experience to their community.
To learn more about franchising with CityBird, visit www.citybirdtenders.com/franchise.
CityBird is a fast-casual chicken tender concept founded and backed by the veterans behind Thunderdome Restaurant Group. Known for its fresh, made-to-order tenders, bold house-made craft sauces, and delicious simplicity, CityBird was created as a carryout companion to the group’s other restaurant brand, The Eagle, and quickly became a smash success among locals in the Cincinnati area. With a growing footprint and a franchise model built for scale, CityBird is offering untapped markets and rising popularity for prospective entrepreneurs looking to join a booming industry. For more information, visit www.citybirdtenders.com.
SOURCE CityBird
CityBird is a fast-casual chicken tender concept founded and backed by the veterans behind Thunderdome Restaurant Group.