When Dave’s Hot Chicken began as a humble pop-up located in an East Hollywood parking lot, founders Arman Oganesyan and best friend Chef Dave Kopushyan, along with brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan only wanted to make the best-tasting hot chicken tenders possible.
What they didn’t know, but had hoped for, was that their hard work, social-media savvy and undeniable hot chicken recipe would shake up the food world. Today, Dave’s Hot Chicken is the fastest-growing restaurant in America.
If a hefty following isn’t enough, Dave’s Hot Chicken has received support from many well-known celebrities like Usher, who braved the company’s Reaper heat-level slider and even secured an investment from Billboard’s Artist of the Decade, Drake.
Boasting a cult-like following, Dave’s Hot Chicken even attracts people from other states. In one account, a couple trekked 10 hours to attend Denver’s first opening. Its follower engagement is further highlighted by these company milestones:
- 262% total 2021 sales growth compared to 2020
- 471% total 2021 open unit count growth compared to 2020
- More than 700 locations in the development pipeline, with restaurants currently open in major DMAs across North America, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Detroit, Toronto, Portland, Milwaukee and more
- 31-plus million views of organic, user-generated TikTok content with the Dave’s Hot Chicken hashtag
- Highest Instagram followers per restaurant of any national fast casual brand
For those unfamiliar with Dave’s Hot Chicken, the company specializes in Hot Chicken Sliders and Tenders, which are offered in seven spice levels from No Spice to Reaper (which actually requires a signed waiver). You can also grab classic sides like mac n’ cheese, fries and kale-slaw to go with your meal.
“Dave’s Hot Chicken has one the greatest origin stories in the restaurant business, with the founders starting Dave’s as a parking lot pop-up restaurant in Hollywood with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards just five short years ago,” said Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s CEO.
