Dave's Hot Chicken: From Parking Lot Pop-Up To Fast Track In 5 Years

EAST HOLLYWOOD, CA — Dave's Hot Chicken — a Los Angeles-based restaurant launched in 2017 in an East Hollywood parking lot by four guys with a $900 deep fryer and a penchant for spicy chicken — was declared "the fastest-growing restaurant" in America.

In just five short years, Dave's Hot Chicken built a cult following and counts among its investors California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, Good Morning America anchor Michael Strahan and musician Usher.

Since 2017, the chicken-centric chain kaboomed from parking lot pop-up to one solo shop, to more than 30 restaurants throughout California and 62 nationwide. From 2020 to 2021, sales skyrocketed 262%, according to the chain. But that growth pales in comparison to expansion in the works.

Dave's Hot Chicken has 700 nationwide stores in the pipeline over the next five years — including many in the Golden State — for patrons craving its sliders and tenders, with a sliding heat scale from no-spice to "reaper," management said.

Technomic, a U.S. restaurant trade research firm, dubbed the biz as the "fastest growing" in a recent study, noting it's an enterprise "growing so fast, that it’s hard to keep up."

"Dave’s Hot Chicken has one the greatest origin stories in the restaurant business,” said Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken.

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.

Oganesyan created buzz on Instagram. Two nights later, after Eater/LA showed up to check out the fuss, a morning headline read "East Hollywood's Late Night Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind." And lines stretched around the block, the company said.

A year later, the foursome opened a brick-and-mortar shop in an area strip mall — décor courtesy of local street artists — and a cult following began.

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

"Wow! Just Wow! I have been ruined from all other fried chicken sandwiches," said another.

The eatery, with its burgeoning fan following, specializes in chicken tenders and sliders, with a sliding scale of seven "heat" options. For the heat-hesitant, there's "no spice." For those who dare, there's "reaper" — the over-the-top level that requires a signed waiver. Usher recently posted an Instagram video of himself sweating and fretting while eating Dave’s "reaper" spice-level slider, according to People magazine.

Ice cream milkshakes also are on the menu, along with such sides as house-made kale slaw, mac 'n' cheese and crinkle-cut fries.

Dave's Hot Chicken now is crossing the road to several Golden State locales.

Planned to open in the next six months in California are sites in Anaheim, Artesia, Escondido, Fair Oaks, Folsom, Fontana, Hemet, La Habra, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Novato, Oakland, Sacramento, San Leandro, San Luis Obispo, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Temecula.

Current California locations include: Costa Mesa; Culver City; East Hollywood; El Cajon; Fountain Valley; Fullerton; Glendale; Indio; Irvine; Lakewood; Lancaster; Los Angeles/Fairfax; Los Angeles/Ladera; Los Angeles/Koreatown; Menifee; North Hollywood; Northridge; Ontario; Pacific Beach/San Diego; Palm Desert; Pasadena; Port Hueneme; Rosemead; San Bernardino; San Diego; Santa Ana; Santa Rosa; Seal Beach; Sherman Oaks; Tustin; and Union City.

For restaurant and menu details, go here. Those interested in a franchise or investment opportunity can follow this link.

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