# Dave's Hot Chicken

> Dave's Hot Chicken is a Pasadena-based fast-casual restaurant company built around Nashville-style chicken tenders and sliders offered at seven heat levels. Launched by four childhood friends as a $900 East Hollywood parking-lot pop-up in 2017, it grew through social-media demand, a deliberately narrow menu and a franchise model aimed at experienced multi-unit operators. Roark Capital acquired a majority stake in 2025 in a deal that valued the company at about $1 billion; Dave's has since expanded internationally, introduced new snackable products and drinks, and continued to use its app, limited-time collaborations and creator-friendly food as engines for repeat visits.

- **Founded:** 2017
- **Headquarters:** Pasadena, United States
- **Founders:** Dave Kopushyan (Co-founder and chef), Arman Oganesyan (Co-founder), Tommy Rubenyan (Co-founder), Gary Rubenyan (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 2,600 employees in supplied company data; because most restaurants are franchised, public corporate headcount and total restaurant employment are not directly comparable.
- **Products:** Hot chicken tenders and sliders, Sides, shakes and drinks, Dave's NOT Chicken, Frequent Fryer Rewards and mobile ordering, Mini Sliders and Dave's Bites
- **Notable:** Grew from a $900 East Hollywood parking-lot pop-up in 2017 to more than 300 restaurants by the 2025 acquisition., Reached nearly $617 million in 2024 U.S. systemwide sales, up 57 percent year over year, according to Technomic., Ranked No. 89 among U.S. restaurant chains in Technomic's 2025 Top 500 based on 2024 performance.

## Products & services

- **Hot chicken tenders and sliders** — Made-to-order Nashville-style chicken served in seven heat levels, from No Spice to Reaper, with the hottest level requiring a waiver.
- **Sides, shakes and drinks** — Fries, cheese fries, kale slaw, macaroni and cheese, shakes, fountain drinks and rotating beverage innovations support the core chicken menu.
- **Dave's NOT Chicken** — A breaded cauliflower alternative offered in tender and slider formats in participating markets and during limited runs.
- **Frequent Fryer Rewards and mobile ordering** — The app supports pickup, delivery at participating restaurants, personalized reordering and a points program that awards 10 points per dollar.
- **Mini Sliders and Dave's Bites** — Smaller, snackable formats designed to broaden occasions and enable sampling without abandoning the chicken-led menu.
- **Hot Mozz** — Fried mozzarella seasoned with Dave's spice, developed as a social-friendly cheese-pull product and launched nationally.
- **Restaurant franchises** — Multi-unit development rights, training and brand systems for experienced quick-service and fast-casual operators; U.S. candidates are generally required to develop at least five restaurants.

## Achievements

- Grew from a $900 East Hollywood parking-lot pop-up in 2017 to more than 300 restaurants by the 2025 acquisition.
- Reached nearly $617 million in 2024 U.S. systemwide sales, up 57 percent year over year, according to Technomic.
- Ranked No. 89 among U.S. restaurant chains in Technomic's 2025 Top 500 based on 2024 performance.
- Completed a majority sale to Roark Capital in June 2025 at an approximately $1 billion valuation.
- Said it opened 125 new locations worldwide during the year following the Roark transaction.
- Built an app with tens of thousands of ratings and a 4.9 score in Apple's U.S. App Store as observed in 2026.
- Expanded beyond North America into the Middle East and Europe through master franchise partners.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Launched a limited-time X-Men '97 meal with four collectible figures and app-only digital rewards.
- **2026-06** — Reported 125 new restaurant openings in the year since Roark Capital's majority acquisition and highlighted Hot Mozz and mini sliders as new products.
- **2026-06** — CEO Jim Bitticks said slushies lifted drink attachment to 52 percent and Hot Mozz produced a sharp initial comparable-sales response.
- **2026-06** — Outlined tests and deployments involving AI-assisted drive-thru ordering, mobile ordering, delivery rovers and robotic fry equipment while emphasizing human guest service.
- **2026-01** — Jim Bitticks became chief executive, succeeding Bill Phelps in the post-acquisition leadership transition.
- **2025-06** — Roark Capital completed its majority acquisition in a transaction valuing Dave's Hot Chicken at approximately $1 billion.

## Links

- Website: https://daveshotchicken.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daveshotchicken
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/hotchickendaves
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavesHotChickenOfficial
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daveshotchicken/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToLiveandFryInLA
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daveshotchicken

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/dave-s-hot-chicken
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13