History of Dave's Hot Chicken in Timeline

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Nashville-style hot chicken. Founded in Los Angeles in 2017, it quickly grew from a single restaurant to over 100 locations in multiple countries by mid-2022. The chain is headquartered in Pasadena, California.

May 2017: First Dave's Hot Chicken Opens

In May 2017, the first Dave's Hot Chicken restaurant was opened by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan, inspired by In N Out Burger and the demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles. Dave Kopushyan developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe after raising $900 to set up a small shop.

2017: Dave's Hot Chicken Founded

In 2017, Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in Los Angeles, California, as a single restaurant serving Nashville-style hot chicken.

2018: Restaurant Opens on Western Avenue

In late 2018, Dave's Hot Chicken stand was closed and a restaurant was opened in a nearby strip mall on Western Avenue. The restaurant was decorated with street art by local artists, a style that has become a recognizable feature of the chain.

2019: Franchise Agreement Formed

In fall 2019, Dave's Hot Chicken founders agreed with an investment group, including Bill Phelps and John Davis, to franchise the restaurant, planning more than 300 locations in the United States and Canada. Bill Phelps was named as the chain's new CEO.

2019: New Locations Opened in Los Angeles

In winter 2019, Dave's Hot Chicken opened 2nd and 3rd locations in Los Angeles' North Hollywood and Koreatown neighborhoods.

May 2020: Agreement to Open Restaurants in Canada

In May 2020, Dave's Hot Chicken signed an agreement with Bite Brands to open 25 restaurants in Canada.

2020: Expansion into Orange County

In late 2020, Dave's Hot Chicken began expanding into Orange County, with stores in Anaheim, Orange, Irvine and Tustin.

January 2021: First International Location Opens

In January 2021, Dave's Hot Chicken's first international location opened in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

2021: Bay Area Expansion

In 2021, Dave's Hot Chicken expanded to the Bay Area with stores opening in Santa Rosa and Union City.

2021: Widespread Expansion in 2021

In 2021, Dave's Hot Chicken opened upwards of 30 new locations and expanded into Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.

2021: Expansion Plans in Orange County

In early 2021 Dave's Hot Chicken planned to open 4 more stores in Orange County by the end of the year.

September 2022: Opens in Dubai, UAE

In September 2022, Dave's Hot Chicken opened a location in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

November 2022: Opens in Doha, Qatar

In November 2022, Dave's Hot Chicken opened a location in Doha, Qatar.

2022: Expansion to Over 100 Locations

By mid-2022, Dave's Hot Chicken had expanded to over 100 locations in four countries.

2022: Continued Expansion in 2022

In 2022, Dave's Hot Chicken expanded into Wisconsin, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma, Arizona, Idaho, and New Jersey.

January 2023: Expansion into Nebraska and New Hampshire

In January 2023, Dave's Hot Chicken expanded into Nebraska, opening a single store in Omaha, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

July 20, 2023: Chain Expands to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

On July 20, 2023, Dave's Hot Chicken expanded to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

July 2024: Deal Signed to Open Restaurants in the UK

In July 2024, Dave's Hot Chicken signed a deal with Zizzi operator Azzurri Group to open 60 restaurants in the UK.

August 2024: First Georgia Location Opens

In August 2024, Dave's Hot Chicken opened its first Georgia location in Conyers, owned by Lawrence Kourie, Andrew Feghali, and Usher, featuring free food and music at the grand opening.

June 2025: Acquisition by Roark Capital

In June 2025, Dave’s Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion.

2025: Acquisition by Roark Capital Group

In 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital Group in a deal valued at $1 billion, anticipated to fuel expansion plans.