“That sandwich was so good, I made it again two weeks later for my stepson’s birthday,” Fields said.
As word got around, Fields found himself taking orders through Instagram and fulfilling them in his home’s kitchen. Within his first month, he took over 100 orders.
While Fields previously worked in the oil and gas industry and maintained several side hustles, he said he was never able to stay interested. Meanwhile, cooking has always been one of his hobbies.
“I’ve always liked cooking but never took it serious,” he said. “If I was in a bad mood when I cooked, it was therapeutic.”
The “Houston hot” chicken Fields serves is his own twist on the popular Nashville-style spicy chicken. Fields said the recipes are his own creation as he experimented in the kitchen until he found the blend that “hits.”
“It’s more flavorful, but you get your heat, too,” Fields said. “You get a little bit of sweet with the heat.”
Two months later, Fields opened Chicken Headz out of a 20-foot food truck in Porter in October.
Fields said he was initially unsure about setting up in Porter as opposed to Houston proper. However, after nearly a year of growth, Fields said he made the right decision.
"I could’ve been in Houston,” Fields said. “But now I brought a Houston vibe out here, a place for people to hang out and vibe. I’m stuck right here, and I love it.”
But Chicken Headz will not be mobile for long, Fields said. As the business’s one-year anniversary approaches, Fields said he plans to move into a converted shipping container to optimize his workspace.
The end goal for Fields is a brick-and-mortar sports bar-style atmosphere, which Fields said he is already trying to build—the truck’s parking space features a plasma TV hosting the latest games and fights for patrons to watch.
Fields said for now, he is riding the wave on Chicken Headz’s success.
“We’re just getting started,” he said.
Chicken Headz
23242 FM 1314, Porter
713-732-0695 • www.facebook.com/chickenheadzhtx
Hours: Tue.-Thu. 4-9 p.m., Fri.-Sun. noon-9 p.m., closed Mon.
