Roll up, roll up fried chicken fans, as there’s about to be a new fast food joint serving up your favourite snack — and it’s got a serious cult following over in the US.
Dave’s Hot Chicken started in East Hollywood back in 2017, when four friends who loved chicken tenders scraped together enough money ($900) to buy a fryer and launch a pop-up business in a car park.
They began serving Nashville-style hot chicken and soon people were flocking to get a taste, with Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Usher all being counted amongst the brand’s biggest fans, and investing in the company.
The business was recently named America’s Fastest growing Restaurant chain, as it now has 200 restaurants across America.
But don’t panic if you feel like you’re missing out on something special, as the chain has just signed an agreement with Azzurri Group in the UK to open 60 sites across the country.
Azzurri currently operates several big name brands in the UK, including Zizzi, ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, and Boojum.
The full list of Dave’s locations haven’t been confirmed yet, but the first branch is set to open in London in early 2025.
Interestingly, there are just two chicken items on the menu — tenders and sliders (sandwiches) — as well as a range of sides including fries, cheese fries, mac & cheese, and kale slaw. You can also order combinations of these to make for a bigger meal.
Customers can personalise their order by selecting a spice level for the dish, from no heat at all, through to the ‘Reaper’ which is so hot you have to sign a waiver before you’re allowed to eat it.
Fans online have praised the food, with users on X (formerly Twitter) hailing it as ‘unreal’, ‘insane’, ‘amazing’ and a 10/10.
@steakshapiro posted: ‘Just found the most insane chicken sandwich. I had heard rumours about it. Can’t even believe it. Dave’s Hot Chicken. UNREAL!!’
While @RevCiancio said: ‘Dave’s Hot Chicken has some of the best hot chicken fingers and sandwiches ever. They are super tasty, extra crispy and extremely spicy.’
And @vveoko was quick to proclaim it the ‘best fast food chicken out there’, saying: ‘There’s no competition, fries are also hella good.’
Speaking about Dave’s upcoming launch in the UK, Steve Holmes, the CEO of Azzurri Group, said: ‘When we first tried Dave’s Hot Chicken we were blown away as it makes some of the most craveable and delicious food we’ve ever had.
‘We’re excited to bring this incredible brand to the UK and to be their partner in this ambitious roll-out.’
Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken added: ‘We know there is an opportunity to make Dave’s Hot Chicken one of the iconic restaurant brands, and we do that by partnering with incredible operators, like Azzurri Group.
‘The flavour of Dave’s Hot Chicken resonates across borders, and we’re looking forward to the first UK store opening soon.’
This news comes after a number of other popular fast food joints from over the pond announced expansion plans in the UK, including Carl’s Jr, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Wendy’s, and Little Caesars.
Canadian chain Mary Brown’s Chicken, MB Chicken, also recently opened its first branch in Northern Ireland, with several UK sites planned for later this year.
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