Democrats Tim Walz and Beto O’Rourke Dine at Beyoncé’s Favorite Houston Fried Chicken Joint
The Minnesota governor followed the singer’s trail, ordering fried fish, chicken, and collard greens and predicting a March Madness win for the University of Houston
Frenchy’s is no stranger to celebrities. Houston’s iconic fried chicken joint has drawn in Beyoncé, the city’s hometown hero and possibly one of the most famous women in the world, for its crispy, craggy fowl. And now, it’s drawing in some of the country’s most famous Democrats.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and former Texas Congressional Representative Beto O’Rourke both stopped into Frenchy’s this month to get their fried chicken fix. Walz, who was Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential election, posted a video on his Instagram on Saturday, March 29, showing him and his team at Frenchy’s Scott Street location across from the University of Houston.
In the video, captioned “Go Coogs!,” Walz can be seen putting in an order for himself and his team with the assistance of a Frenchy’s staff member — not without some Midwest politeness. At one point, he asks, “What’s easiest for these guys?” while pointing to Frenchy’s cooks in the back. The staff member encourages Walz to order whatever he wants, which turns into a hefty spread of 20 pieces of fish, fried chicken, collard greens, dirty rice, cornbread, and fries. “[We’re] putting this on one ticket. I got it, so just run ‘em up,” he says.
O’Rourke, an El Paso native, previously ran to lead the Democratic ticket in the 2020 presidential election and for governor of Texas. He also served in the Texas Congress from 2013 to 2019. He can be seen in the video talking with Walz and enjoying food from one of Frenchy’s takeout trays.
Walz also dished on his experiences in Houston. “What you may not know is back in the olden days in the 1980s, I attended the University of Houston for a couple of semesters, and to come back down here, have a great meal with my friend Beto O’Rourke — it’s excellent,” he says, before hinting that we might be seeing more of him soon. “Down here talking to Texans about what’s next. So, don’t miss it.”
Walz and Beto hosted a congressional town hall event at the Fort Bend County Fairgrounds on Thursday, March 27, after Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, who represents Fort Bend County, declined to host one, according to a Houston Chronicle report.
Frenchy’s, which might have been their post-hall stop, seems to be quite popular with Democrats. Beyoncé most recently got her Frenchy’s fix while in town for an appearance and endorsement at former vice president Kamala Harris’s campaign rally when she was running for president last year.
