What Dave's Hot Chicken does

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant chain founded in 2017 in Los Angeles by three childhood friends with an initial $900 investment and now headquartered in Pasadena, California. The company operates on a franchise-led model with over 1,000 locations across the United States, Middle East, Europe, and Canada, offering a focused menu built around crispy fried chicken in seven customizable spice levels (No Spice through Reaper). Core menu items include Nashville-style hot chicken tenders ("Dave's Bites"), Mini Sliders, Hot Mozz (fried mozzarella launched March 2026), Dave's Slushers with Pop Rocks (launched May 2026), top-loaded shakes, fries, kale slaw, and mac & cheese, supplemented by combo offerings such as the $17.99 Dave's Big Trio.

The technology backbone centers on a proprietary mobile app for iOS and Android (which surpassed ChatGPT and Sora in Apple App Store rankings during a 2025 Free Slider Day promotion that drove over 340,000 single-day app downloads) integrated with the Frequent Fryer points-based loyalty program (10 points per dollar spent), in-app order-ahead and pickup functionality, and a pilot drone delivery partnership with Matternet in Los Angeles. The company also operates through third-party delivery platforms including DoorDash and UberEATS, and maintains standard analytics, advertising, and monitoring infrastructure (Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, Google Ads, Sentry, OLO).

Revenue is generated primarily through franchise royalties and fees from over 1,000 franchised locations (the dominant revenue stream), supplemented by direct restaurant sales at any company-operated locations. The company serves two distinct customer segments: value-conscious end consumers (including Gen Z and primary household diners seeking affordable, viral, shareable dining experiences with bold flavors) and multi-unit franchise operators seeking differentiated, digitally-native concepts with proven unit economics. The brand's customer base is highly diversified across thousands of locations with no enterprise anchor concentration, supported by a digital-first marketing strategy that combines celebrity endorsement (Drake), limited-time product launches, viral social media, and mobile-app promotions. In 2024, Roark Capital acquired a majority stake in a transaction valued at approximately $1 billion, with founding CEO Bill Phelps and co-founders retaining minority positions; Jim Bitticks subsequently assumed the CEO role, and Brandon Rhoten was appointed as Chief Marketing Officer in 2025.

Name

Dave's Hot Chicken

Legal name

Dave's Hot Chicken Franchise Co.

Website

https://daveshotchicken.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken chain founded in 2017, operating over 1,000 franchise locations across the U.S., Middle East, Europe, and Canada. It serves value-conscious consumers and franchise operators with a focused, customizable-spice menu supported by a mobile app and loyalty program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fast Casual Restaurants

NAICS

Limited-Service Restaurants (722513)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken) (THAFABAI)

Keywords

• Nashville-style hot chicken
• Fast casual dining
• Franchise restaurant chain
• Chicken tenders
• Customizable spice levels

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Royalties and Fees: Revenue generated from franchise operators through initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments based on restaurant sales. Company has sold franchise rights for over 1,000 locations.
2. Direct Restaurant Sales: Sales from company-operated or owned restaurant locations, though majority of locations are franchised.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain selling Nashville-style hot chicken in seven customizable spice levels (No Spice to Reaper), offered as tenders, sliders, and combo meals, alongside sides, shakes, and frozen drinks. The company operates primarily through a franchise model with over 1,000 locations across the U.S., Middle East, Europe, and Canada, supported by a proprietary mobile app with loyalty rewards.

Product overview

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant chain offering a focused menu built around its signature crispy fried chicken in seven spice levels. The core product portfolio centers on chicken tenders (Dave's Bites), Mini Sliders, and the newer Hot Mozz (fried mozzarella), with sides including fries, kale slaw, and mac & cheese. The company has expanded into complementary categories including frozen drinks (Dave's Slushers with Pop Rocks), milkshakes (including Top-Loaded variants), and combo meals (Dave's Big Trio). Digital offerings include a mobile app for iOS/Android enabling online ordering and loyalty tracking, integrated with the Frequent Fryer rewards program. Founded in 2017 with $900 by three childhood friends, the brand has grown to over 1,000 franchise locations across the U.S., Middle East, Europe, and Canada, with plans to open 150+ locations in 2026, and was acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital for approximately $1 billion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nashville-Style Hot Chicken The signature menu offering featuring crispy fried chicken in seven spice levels (No Spice to Reaper), available in various formats including tenders, sliders, and full meals, served at all Dave's Hot Chicken locations for dine-in, pickup, and delivery.
• Dave's Bites Core menu item featuring chicken pieces sold as standalone items and included in combo meals such as the Dave's Big Trio.
• Mini Sliders Small chicken sandwich format offered as a standalone menu item and bundled in the Dave's Big Trio combo meal.
• Hot Mozz Thick-cut premium mozzarella cheese breaded and fried with any of the brand's seven signature spice levels, launched in March 2026 as a vegetarian-friendly option priced starting at $2.99.
• Dave's Slushers Frozen slush drinks topped with Pop Rocks candy, launched May 2026 in four flavors: Mountain Berry Blast, Flashin' Fruit Punch, Orange Lavaburst, and Strawberry Lemonade.
• Dave's Big Trio Combo meal launched May 2026, priced at $17.99, combining Dave's Bites, Mini Sliders, and Hot Mozz with dipping sauces in a customizable format.
• Top-Loaded Shakes Milkshakes enhanced with toppings of choice such as Lucky Charms, available in a top-loaded format combining shake and topping in one cup.
• Spicy Buffalo Mac & Cheese Macaroni and cheese topped with spicy buffalo sauce, available in a top-loaded format reintroduced in 2025.
• Fries, Kale Slaw, and Mac & Cheese Sides Side items including regular fries, kale slaw, and mac & cheese, available as meal add-ons and standalone purchases across the menu.
• Frequent Fryer Rewards Program Points-based loyalty program where members earn 10 points per dollar spent, redeemable for free drinks (300 pts), fries/kale slaw/mac & cheese, shakes/sliders (600 pts), and combo meals (1,200 pts). Free regular-sized fountain drink awarded with first order upon joining.
• Dave's Hot Chicken Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android enabling online ordering, pickup scheduling, loyalty point tracking, reward redemption, and promotional offers. Downloaded over 340,000 times in a single day during the Free Slider Day promotion in October 2025.
• Online Ordering for Pickup Website-based ordering system allowing customers to place orders for pickup at participating Dave's Hot Chicken locations.
• Dave's After Dark Late-night menu offering returning to locations, featuring the brand's signature hot chicken items available during extended hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 57% year-over-year U.S. sales growth to $600M+ in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lavoya Restaurants GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 5 April 2026Regional operator opened Dave's Hot Chicken's fifth Saudi Arabia location at U Walk in Jeddah. Continuing regional expansion under Lavoya's leadership, bringing Nashville-style hot chicken to Saudi Arabia's premier lifestyle destinations.
• Azzurri GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 March 2026UK/Europe franchise operator reportedly preparing sale of its UK and European operations. Dave's Hot Chicken exploring sale of its European franchise operations as part of strategic review of international business.
• MatternetcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Silicon Valley-based drone company partnered to pilot autonomous drone delivery in Northridge, Los Angeles. Orders prepared at Dave's Northridge Reseda location delivered via Matternet's M2 drones directly to eligible residents' homes. Builds on Matternet's existing Silicon Valley home delivery service operating since October 2024.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Slim Chickens: Slim Chickens is a fast-growing chicken tenders-focused QSR franchise chain with a multi-level spice profile menu. It directly competes with Dave's for the hot chicken tenders occasion and has been expanding rapidly as a franchise concept in overlapping markets.
• Bojangles: Bojangles is a chicken-and-biscuits QSR chain concentrated in the Southeastern U.S. with a spicy chicken heritage and cult following. It competes for the spicy chicken occasion and represents a regional-flavor chicken QSR with similar menu simplicity.
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Popeyes is a major chicken-focused QSR brand owned by Restaurant Brands International, with a strong cult following around its spicy fried chicken (including a chicken sandwich wars moment). It directly competes with Dave's for spicy chicken occasions and is the chain cited as contracting while Dave's grows double-digit.
• Wingstop: Wingstop is a publicly traded chicken-focused QSR franchise specializing in wings with a simple, brand-forward menu and strong digital/loyalty infrastructure. It competes with Dave's for share of chicken occasions and represents a useful comparable for franchise-led, digitally-native chicken QSR economics.
• Raising Cane's: Raising Cane's is a leading chicken-focused QSR chain built around a narrow menu of chicken tenders, fries, and signature sauces. Like Dave's, it operates a focused, single-category chicken concept with strong brand loyalty and rapid unit growth, making it the closest pure-play comparable for the chicken QSR thesis.
• PDQ Restaurant: PDQ is a chicken tenders-focused fast casual chain known for its simple menu of hand-breaded chicken tenders and signature sauces. With overlapping menu architecture and target customer (chicken-tenders occasion seekers), it is a direct product comparable to Dave's hot chicken concept.
• Hattie B's Hot Chicken: Hattie B's is a regional Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant chain that popularized the multi-spice-level hot chicken concept that Dave's scaled nationally. It is a direct concept comparable — same product category, same customizable spice profiles, same casual-dining format — though without Dave's franchise scale.

Broad incumbents

• Shake Shack: Shake Shack is a publicly traded fast casual chain that pioneered the modern "better burger" fast casual wave with digital ordering, brand-led marketing, and high urban density. As a fast casual comparable, it provides a useful template for Dave's digital-first, brand-led growth and unit economics.
• KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken): KFC is Yum! Brands' flagship legacy chicken QSR chain with global scale. Cited as contracting in the same Consumer Edge report where Dave's is gaining share, it provides the legacy incumbent comparable and the scale benchmark Dave's is closing in on.
• Chick-fil-A: Chick-fil-A is the largest chicken-focused QSR chain in the U.S. with industry-leading sales per unit and brand affinity. As the dominant incumbent in the chicken category, it represents both the ceiling and the aspirational benchmark for Dave's unit economics and brand strength.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hotchickendaves
• Facebookfacebook.com/ToLiveandFryInLA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/daveshotchicken

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dave's Hot Chicken