For my money, Houston’s best fried chicken is Gus’s. Frenchy’s is solid. And, until recently when it shut down, Barbecue Inn. For sandwiches, Mico’s is my absolute favorite hands down. The San Jacinto Inn back when it was still going. But long before all of those heated up there was Youngblood’s.  

Before chicken sandwiches became the subject of memes, internet debates, corporate marketing campaigns and the odd fist fight, Youngblood's was quietly turning out fried chicken that Texans of a certain age still remember. 

Youngblood's began in Waco, opening its first restaurant in 1945 after founder J.H. Youngblood built a successful poultry business. The company eventually grew into a chain of more than 30 restaurants across Texas—including several Houston locations, earning a loyal following with its simple menu of fried chicken, biscuits, potatoes and family-style meals. 

Unlike most restaurant chains of its day, Youngblood's controlled nearly every step of production. The company operated hatcheries, chicken farms, feed mills, processing plants and its own distribution system before serving customers in its restaurants. The farm-to-table story is pretty common today, but at the time it was a heck of an angle. And the approach helped build a reputation for freshness and quality decades before the phrase became fashionable. 

Which brings me to this wonderful piece of ephemera. The bad news: This isn't a complete Youngblood’s Fried Chicken box. Well the whole box, if used, was probably pretty gross. So, on second thought, this actually might be good news. What survives is the illustrated front panel and one side—carefully cut away and preserved long after the chicken itself became somebody's dinner. Probably eaten in the front seat of a ‘65 Mustang on the way to a Rice University football game. 

This display piece remains in good overall condition and presents beautifully framed or alongside other Houston restaurant memorabilia. It obviously served as a decoration at one time, as there is a small piece of tape at the very top of the piece that has yellowed a bit with age. I can imagine it hanging in a work shed somewhere next to a Lone Star Beer sign and maybe some college football paraphernalia. This is a delicate item, so after purchase I would 100 percent put this in a frame to prevent unintentional damage. 

Details

• Original Youngblood's Fried Chicken box cutout

• Front and side panel preserved

• Color-printed cardboard

• Good overall condition

• Excellent display piece

• Mashed potatoes, gravy and angioplasty not included 

 Hell, that packaging works. I kind of want some fried chicken right now.