Dave's Hot Chicken Opens 1st South Bay Location Friday

SUNNYVALE, CA — Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fiesty, fast-growing restaurant chain serving fiery, "blow your mind" chicken, opens Friday in Sunnyvale — marking the first South Bay locale for the company launched five years ago by four guys with a $900 deep fryer in an East Hollywood parking lot.

The new El Camino Real site will serve chicken tenders and sliders, along with such sides as house-made kale slaw, mac n’ cheese, crinkle-cut fries and milkshakes.

For Dave's Hot Chicken, it's the heat-packing, spice blends that kicked off something of a cult following for the Los Angeles-based operation.

"Lookin' for outstanding chicken with kickin'? Then, look no further. Dave's Hot Chicken has you covered," one SoCal Yelp reviewer wrote.

Dave's chicken can be ordered at one of seven spice levels ranging from No Spice to Reaper, (which requires a signed waiver for those who dare), according to management.

• RELATED: Dave's Hot Chicken: From California Pop-Up To Fast Track In 5 Years

In 2017, the restaurant's founders — Dave Kopushyan (a Thomas Keller restaurant-trained chef), Arman Oganesyan, plus brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan — scraped together $900, bought a fryer and set up shop in an East Hollywood parking lot. The longtime friends were intent on perfecting spicy, juicy chicken, topped with Chef Dave’s spice mix.

After Instagram buzz and an Eater/LA headline, lines stretched around the block and drew attention from such investors as former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, Good Morning America's Michael Strahan and musician Usher, who posted an Instagram video of himself sweating and fretting while eating Dave’s "reaper"-level slider, according to People magazine.

“Dave’s Hot Chicken will blow your mind! Every tender is hot, juicy and spicy,” said company CEO Bill Phelps. “We’re thrilled to be opening our first restaurant in Sunnyvale. ”

The eatery maintains a loyal fan following, and now operates locations throughout California and other states, including two in the San Francisco Bay Area — Santa Rosa and Union City.

Other Bay Area sites planned to open in approximately the next six months include Novato, Oakland, San Leandro, San Jose and Santa Clara, the company said.

The Sunnyvale site, at 118 El Camino Real, will be open Sundays through Thursdays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Fridays through Sundays.

Follow this link for more info and menu details.

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