Missoula’s food scene grows more diverse (and delicious) with each passing year, and that goes for our community of food trucks, too. A number of these new mobile eateries popped up in 2020, and one that’s gaining traction quickly is M-80 Chicken.
M-80 was the product of a few things—community support, COVID-19 hardships, and a passion for fried chicken. The owner, Nick Jackson, made Missoula home eight years ago and attended the University of Montana, but it wasn’t until after graduation that he found his love for southern food. “My band, Newlyweds, went on tour right after college and we ended up spending a lot of time in the South. I fell in love with the food and couldn’t get it out of my head.” After returning home and seeing a shortage of fried chicken, he began experimenting with new recipes himself. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he turned bad news into a new opportunity and changed the course of his career path. “When COVID hit, I got laid off from my office job and decided to pivot to something I really cared about. I wanted to fill a gap in the Missoula food scene, and be involved with this community that I love so much.” And with that, M-80 was born.
Photo by Sophie Echeverio.
Nick is currently living in downtown Missoula with his fiancé, McKenna, their two black cats and a new puppy, and he gets to run his own business and make delicious fried chicken full time. When it comes to their menu, they keep it simple and do it right. “With M-80 chicken, what you see is what you get. We don’t claim to be the fanciest meal in town, but we serve up some really good chicken that people love. I spend a lot of long hours in that truck making sure everything is up to our standards, and everyone gets quality chicken.”
Photo courtesy of M-80 Chicken.
Aside from cooking great food, Nick loves the community aspect of owning a food truck in Missoula. From fellow business owners to repeat customers, Nick told us, “we’ve felt supported from day one and we hope to pay that back as much as possible.” That sense of local pride is evident as soon as you make it to their order window, where tourists and locals alike are greeted like friends. “We like to get to know our customers, and we want them to feel like they know us. When you come to M-80, you know you’re going to see me, have a good time hanging out in line, and walk away with some really good chicken.”
M-80 can usually be spotted outside of KettleHouse Brewing near Missoula’s Hip Strip, and their signature “hot sando” pairs perfectly with a cold pint. And just as much as you’ll enjoy the chicken, you’ll love supporting these friendly, talented and resilient Missoula locals.
Photo courtesy of M-80 Chicken.
