Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual chain that originated in 2017 as a $900 parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, founded by chef Dave Kopushyan (a French Laundry alumnus) and childhood friends Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The chain's Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, available at seven heat levels from 'No Spice' to 'Reaper,' fueled expansion to Salt Lake City and hundreds of locations worldwide. The brand was acquired by Roark Capital in 2025 at a $1 billion valuation.

Fried ChickenFried Chicken SandwichMilkshakesChicken Tenders