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Making delicious fried chicken, seafood and more since 1957, Bud's Chicken & Seafood recently opened a seventh location.

The new restaurant opened on Feb. 16 and is located at 8801 W. Boynton Beach Blvd. in Boynton Beach.

Serving South Florida for nearly 70 years, the original was opened in Pompano Beach by Bud Brinkman and that legacy is being carried on today by third generation family members Chris, Nick, Phillip and Luke Brinkman.

Bud Brinkman was an engineer in Minnesota who moved with his wife and family in the mid-1950s to Pompano Beach. It was there that he put down his slide rule, grabbed an apron and began serving fried chicken and other dishes based on his grandmother's recipes.

Brinkman would eventually relocate the family and business to Palm Beach County and opened that Bud's in Boynton Beach on US 1. At the time, a four-piece chicken dinner went for 99 cents.

That original restaurant would eventually relocate about a quarter mile away to Boynton Beach Boulevard and remains the local chain's busiest location. Other restaurants include Greenacres, two West Palm Beach locations, North Palm Beach and Royal Palm Beach.

Standing the test of time, not only has Bud's been in business for nearly 70 years, but their chicken has been voted best in Palm Beach County seven times in the Palm Beach County Community's Choice Awards presented by The Palm Beach Post. Those awards are driven by people nominating and then voting on businesses by various category.

Though Bud's started out serving chicken, the menu has expanded over the years. Phillip Brinkman said early on the menu saw items other than chicken and seafood make an appearance, including three-bean salad, hamburgers and even hotdogs. But that was early on. The current Bud's menu has been varied little for the past 30 years. He said "it's based on the demands of the people."

Brinkman said that he, along with brothers Chris, Nick and Luke are all sons of Tom Brinkman and that "We started in the business right after we graduated college" about 15 years ago. Though born into the family, he emphasized that they all "started as regular employees" learning the business from the ground level.

He said that when they finally did take the reins of the business at the end of 2025 that "it wasn't just a flip of the switch." He said his father Tom along with uncles, Michael, Mark and Tim Brinkman had been overseeing the transition for several years.

With a menu that features their signature fried chicken, fish and shrimp along with chicken and fish sandwiches, Phillip said that it's their tenders that are currently their most popular item, with a popularity that has grown over the past decade.

Competing against such massive brands as Raising Cane's, Huey Magoo's, PDQ comes down to brand awareness in the community and consistency, and always using the best ingredients — "We never compromise on our sourcing."

That mantra extends to their entire menu including their homemade coleslaw, potato salad, macaroni salad and much more, he said.

The new Boynton Beach location is Bud's first since 2001 when they opened their sixth restaurant in Royal Palm Beach.

He said they have plans for an eighth restaurant in the future, but "We want to do it the right way. We want to expand at a rate we're comfortable with."

Another element of Bud's investment in community can be seen in their hiring. When they make a hire, Bud's focuses on mentoring, helping develop that person. "If we can make an employee on their last day, better than on their first day, we can make an impact on the community."

Bud's Chicken & Seafood, Boynton Beach

Where: 8801 W. Boynton Beach Blvd., Boynton Beach

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Information: budschicken.com

Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

Boynton Beach, Fl., March 11, 2026-The following referendum questions in the City of Boynton Beach were approved yesterday in the municipal election. Also, two candidates ran unopposed for city commission in Boynton Beach, Mack McCray, District II and Aimee Kelley-District IV and will be sworn in March 17, 2026.

Charter Referendum Question 1—Received 86.63% of vote 38/38 precincts reporting

Addition of a City Charter Preamble

Ballot Question: Shall the City Charter be amended to add a Preamble establishing the foundational purposes and principles of the City’s government, including protecting the general health, welfare, and safety of residents and promoting honest, efficient, and responsive government?

What the proposal does: This amendment would add a preamble to the City Charter. A preamble is an introductory statement that explains the purpose and guiding principles of the City’s government but does not change how the City operates day-to-day.

The proposed preamble: The citizens of the City of Boynton Beach, in order to protect the general health, welfare, and safety of its residents, promote honest, efficient, and responsive government, hereby adopt a City Charter in accordance with the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Florida.

Key elements of the preamble include:

Charter Referendum Question 2-Received 92.80% of vote-38/38 precincts reporting

Candidate Residency Requirements for Elected Office

Ballot Question: Shall the City Charter be amended to require that candidates have resided continuously within the City for at least two (2) years prior to filing for office?

What the proposal does: This amendment would increase the minimum residency requirement for candidates running for Mayor or City Commission.

Current requirement: One (1) year of residency

Proposed requirement: Two (2) years of continuous residency in the City (and district, if applicable) before filing to run for office

Who this affects:

Charter Referendum Question 3- 74.31% of vote-38/38 precincts reporting

Modernizing Charter Language and Notice Requirements

Ballot Question: Shall the City Charter be amended to: (1) modernize language by replacing outdated masculine-only pronouns; and (2) update notice and publication requirements to comply with current Florida law and include digital communication methods?

What the proposal does: This amendment would update multiple sections of the City Charter to reflect current legal standards and modern communication practices.

The changes include: