A congressional record is framed in a black frame

U.S. Congress recognizes Spanky's River Street as the Home of the Original Chicken Finger.

Finger-Licking History


The year was 1976. Savannah sweltered under a southern sun, but inside Spanky's Pizza Galley & Saloon, a culinary revolution was bubbling...

Behind the counter, a man with a mischievous grin and a twinkle in his eye, wrestled with a dilemma. He had a giant chicken breast, destined for a hero-sized sandwich, but it wouldn't fit in the bun. Defeat? Not in Spanky’s kitchen.

Fueled by a hunger more potent than any midday thirst, inspiration struck. With a flourish, he sliced the juicy bird into golden rectangles, each one a promise of crispy joy. A secret blend of spices tickled their senses, a whisper of southern magic. Then, into the sizzling cauldron of oil they plunged, out they emerged, a glorious armada of golden spears.

With a grin wide enough to split a watermelon, he dunked them in a honey-tinged, horseradish-laced sauce, a sweet counterpoint to the savory crunch. The first chicken finger had landed, and Spanky's would never be the same.

Folks from all over Savannah, young and old, flocked to Spanky's to try the amazing creation! They crunched, they dipped, they laughed, Spanky's became a place where friends made memories, families gathered and everyone left with a smile. A legacy which still continues today!

So, remember, the next time you bite into a chicken finger, pause for a moment. Let the taste transport you back to that summer, to Spanky's kitchen, when five friends from Thomason, Georgia changed Savannah forever. For it was there, in the heart of River Street, that the chicken finger was born– a testament to the magic that can happen when hunger meets ingenuity, and a bite-sized piece of finger-licking history.

So, remember, the next time you bite into a chicken finger, pause for a moment. Let the taste transport you back to that summer, to Spanky's kitchen, when dear friends from Thomaston, Georgia changed Savannah forever. For it was there, in the heart of River Street, that the chicken finger was born– a testament to the magic that can happen when hunger meets ingenuity, and a bite-sized piece of finger-licking history.

Original + Best

Now it’s important to remember that not only are our chicken fingers the originals, they are simply the best! But don’t just take our word for it -- Southern Living recently named Spanky’s Chicken Fingers “the best they’ve ever tasted.” Yep, that happened.  

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