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Dave's Hot Chicken

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Dave's Hot Chicken
TypePrivate
IndustryRestaurant
GenreFast casual
FoundedMay 2, 2017; 9 years ago (May 2, 2017)
Los Angeles, California
FoundersDave Kopushyan
Arman Oganesyan
Tommy Rubenyan
Gary Rubenyan
Headquarters
Pasadena, California
Number of locations
283 (December 26, 2024)
Area served
  • United States
  • Canada
  • Kuwait
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • Ireland
Key peopleJim Bitticks (CEO)
Products
OwnerRoark Capital Group
Websitewww.daveshotchicken.com

Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Pasadena, California, specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken.[1] Founded in 2017, the company operates over 390 locations across United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Middle East as of 2026.[2][3][4]

Dave's Hot Chicken has received investment from a number of celebrity investors including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver, Michael Strahan and Tom Werner.[2][5][6] In June 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion.[7][8]

History

[edit]
Dave's Hot Chicken location in Anaheim, California

The first Dave's Hot Chicken opened in May 2017. It was founded by Armenian-American childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan.[9][3][10] Inspired by the simple business model of In-N-Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles, the founders pooled $900 to set up a small parking lot stand in East Hollywood.[11] Kopushyan, a professional chef who trained under restaurateur Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe.[3][12]

Initially, the street food stand operated with a portable fryer, a few picnic tables, and a menu that only featured a hot chicken combo plate.[3] Following a feature on the food blog Eater Los Angeles, the stand gained popularity and generated long lines that reportedly stretched around the block at times.[3] By late 2018, the founders closed the stand and opened a restaurant in a nearby strip mall on Western Avenue.[3] In fall 2019, they partnered with an investment group, including former Wetzel's Pretzels CEO and co-founder Bill Phelps as well as movie producer John Davis, to franchise the restaurant.[2][10] The agreement outlined plans for more than 300 locations in the United States and Canada, with Phelps named as the chain's new CEO.[2] In January 2026, Jim Bitticks was named the new CEO.[13]

By winter 2019, the chain opened its 2nd and 3rd locations in North Hollywood and Koreatown.[10] Between late 2020 and early 2021, the company expanded into Orange County with stores in Anaheim, Orange, Irvine, and Tustin.[14] In 2021, it entered the San Francisco Bay Area with stores in Santa Rosa and Union City, followed by openings in Oakland, Sunnyvale, and San Leandro the following year.[15] Throughout 2021, the chain opened more than 30 new locations, expanding into Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.[16][17] The brand established its first locations in Seattle[18] and Pennsylvania in 2023.

Expansion continued through 2024, with the opening of a South Burlington location at Vermont's University Mall on September 13,[19][20] and a Georgia location in Conyers that August.[21] The Georgia franchise is owned by Lawrence Kourie, Andrew Feghali, and the musician Usher.[22] By 2025, there were five locations in the Portland metropolitan area.[23] That same year, the private equity firm Roark Capital Group acquired Dave's Hot Chicken in a deal valued at $1 billion to support further expansion.[24][25]

International expansion

[edit]

In May 2020, Dave's Hot Chicken signed an agreement with Bite Brands (a subsidiary of Obelysk Inc.) to open 25 restaurants in Canada. The chain's first international location opened in Toronto in January 2021.[26] In September 2022, Dave's Hot Chicken opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.[4] In November 2022, Dave's Hot Chicken opened in Doha, Qatar.[27]

On July 20, 2023, the chain came to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.[28] In July 2024, Dave's Hot Chicken signed a deal with Azzurri Group to open 60 restaurants in the UK. The first British location opened on Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on December 7, 2024.[29][30]

In September 2025, the company announced plans to open 180 restaurants in Europe across 10 countries including France, Portugal, Spain, and Germany. This expansion includes the 60 UK locations previously announced in July 2024, with Azzurri Group serving as the master franchisee for Europe.[31]

In June 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken opened its first Irish location in Dublin, Ireland.[32]

[edit]
2 slider combo from Dave's Hot Chicken

The chain's menu features two options: chicken tenders and sliders, served alongside various sides.[5][33] Tenders are served on white bread, while sliders are served on buns with pickles, kale slaw, and a chipotle mayonnaise-based "Dave's Sauce."[5][33] Customers can choose from seven spice levels, ranging from "no spice" to "reaper," the latter of which requires a signed waiver.[5][33] Sides include french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and kale slaw,[5] which consists of vegetables, mayonnaise, and spices.[34] All locations serve halal chicken.[35]

In January 2024, Dave's Hot Chicken added cauliflower-based vegetarian menu items under the branding of "Dave's NOT Chicken": "Dave's Cauliflower Sliders", "Tenders" and "Bites".[36][37]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken Cooks Up Growth and Expansion in 2023". Pasadena Now. Archived from the original on November 10, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dave's Hot Chicken Named America's Fastest-Growing Restaurant | RestaurantNews.com". May 13, 2022. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About Us – The History of Dave's Hot Chicken | DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN". DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Charlesworth, Louise (September 19, 2022). "First look: the hottest fried chicken in LA is now here in Dubai". Time Out Dubai. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dave's Hot Chicken Menu – Hot Chicken Tenders, Sliders & More | DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN". DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Drake Invests in Dave's Hot Chicken Restaurant Chain". Hypebeast. September 20, 2021. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  7. ↑ Durbin, Dee-Ann (June 2, 2025). "Dave's Hot Chicken sold to Subway owner Roark Capital in a $1 billion deal". Associated Press.
  8. ↑ Lucas, Amelia (June 2, 2025). "Private equity firm Roark Capital invests in fast-growing restaurant chain Dave's Hot Chicken". CNBC. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Our Story". Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Dave's Hot Chicken wins major investment to launch franchising". Nation's Restaurant News. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  11. ↑ Louise Charlesworth (September 19, 2022). "First look: the hottest fried chicken in LA is now here in Dubai". Time Out Dubai. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  12. ↑ Anooshahr, Bahar. "Drake's in the hot chicken business? This celebrity-owned restaurant is opening in Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ Lisa Jennings (January 5, 2026). "Jim Bitticks named CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken". Restaurant Business. Archived from the original on January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ "LA cult favorite Dave's Hot Chicken is bringing new shops to south OC". The Orange County Register. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  15. ↑ Madrigal-Yankowski, Nico (May 29, 2022). "Hot chicken shack backed by Drake to open three new Bay Area locations". SFGate. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken Plans 30 Openings for 2021". QSR magazine. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ Rinella, Heidi Knapp (December 28, 2021). "Another hot chicken venture to open Friday on the Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 16, 2022. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  18. ↑ Cheadle, Harry (August 11, 2023). "Dave's Hot Chicken Is Planning a Capitol Hill Location". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ Hallenbeck, Brent (March 13, 2024). "Jersey Mike's Subs, Dave's Hot Chicken coming to University Mall in South Burlington". The Burlington Free Press. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  20. ↑ Cusanelli, Michael. "Dave's Hot Chicken to open first Vermont location at University Mall in South Burlington". NBC 5. South Burlington, Vermont. Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  21. ↑ Legoas, Miguel. "OMG, Usher helps open first Dave's Hot Chicken in Georgia with more restaurants to come". Online Athens. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
  22. ↑ Perkins, Erin (September 3, 2024). "R&B Superstar Usher Brings Dave's Hot Chicken to Georgia". Eater Atlanta. Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Fast food chain plans location on Portland's NW 23rd Ave". Portland Business Journal. October 3, 2025. Archived from the original on October 28, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
  24. ↑ Lisa Jennings (June 2, 2025). "Roark Capital acquires Dave's Hot Chicken for $1B and eyes international growth". Restaurant Business. Archived from the original on June 3, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Roark Capital Finalizes $1 Billion Acquisition of Dave's Hot Chicken, Leadership Team to Stay On Board". StacheCow. Archived from the original on September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Canada's first Dave's Hot Chicken opens in Toronto | Dished". dailyhive.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken - Place Vendome Mall, Lusail City, Qatar". Dave's Hot Chicken. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 20, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken secures first UK site". Archived from the original on September 9, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken confirms London opening date". Archived from the original on December 13, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken to open 180 restaurants in Europe". www.thetimes.com. August 31, 2025. Archived from the original on September 1, 2025. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Daves Hot Chicken". Dave's Hot Chicken. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  33. 1 2 3 "We Tried The Reaper At Dave's Hot Chicken And It's No Joke". Delish. August 19, 2022. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Dave's Hot Chicken Coleslaw Recipe - CEO Chicken". January 29, 2024. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  35. ↑ "A Celeb-Approved L.A. Hot Chicken Chain Makes Its Houston Debut This Week". September 22, 2021. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  36. ↑ Gralia, Luke (January 8, 2024). "Review: Dave's 'Not' Chicken Is Pure Cauliflower Power". The Takeout. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
  37. ↑ Snider, Mike (January 8, 2024). "Dave's Hot Chicken is releasing 3 new menu items that are cauliflower based, meatless". USA Today. Retrieved September 20, 2026.
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