Atomic Wings
Atomic Wings is a New York-born fast-casual chicken wing franchise founded in 1989, operating 24 U.S. locations with plans to expand to 44+ in 2026. It sells halal, fresh never-frozen wings across 14 signature sauces, generating revenue via franchise fees, 5% royalties, and direct sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersMaryland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Atomic Wings does
Atomic Wings is a New York-born fast-casual chicken wing franchise founded in 1989, headquartered in New York City and operating across the United States under private ownership of CEO Zak Omar and his brother Ray. The company sells fresh, never-frozen, halal, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken wings and tenders across a menu of traditional wings, boneless wings, chicken sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, and sides, paired with 14 signature sauce flavors and 6 dry rubs ranging from Mild and Honey BBQ to Atomic and Nuclear heat profiles. Distribution spans 24 restaurant locations (as of early 2026) with planned growth to 44+ units, distributed through dine-in, takeout, drive-thru, catering (EZ Cater), third-party delivery, an in-house e-commerce platform, and iOS/Android mobile applications. New menu items in April-May 2026 include the $7.99 Slap Box value meal (co-developed with Hellmann's), Meltdown Queso line, and Dirty Soda beverage lineup at Downtown Brooklyn.
The business model is primarily franchise-driven, generating revenue through a $30,000 one-time franchise fee per unit, a 5% ongoing royalty on franchisee gross sales, and direct food and beverage sales at company-owned locations. Total initial franchise investment ranges from $153,500 to $525,437 per unit with a $100,000 minimum liquid capital requirement, positioning the concept at the lower end of QSR startup costs. Customer acquisition relies on a multi-channel approach including organic social (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X), the "Wing Beat" email newsletter, blog content, PR-driven national television placements, and a franchisee network targeting multi-unit operators and area developers. Strategic expansion is concentrated in New York and New Jersey (11 planned 2026 openings), Texas (Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin), and the Midwest (South Dakota, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois), supported by named area developers in the Texas Triangle (Jalal Kapadia), Indiana (Michael Harmon), and Missouri/Eastern Kansas (Michael Domico). Atomic Wings is privately held with no disclosed institutional venture or private equity backing.
Atomic Wings firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Atomic Wings
- Legal name
- Atomic Wings
- Website
- https://atomicwings.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Atomic Wings is a New York-born fast-casual chicken wing franchise founded in 1989, operating 24 U.S. locations with plans to expand to 44+ in 2026. It sells halal, fresh never-frozen wings across 14 signature sauces, generating revenue via franchise fees, 5% royalties, and direct sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Atomic Wings industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast Casual Chicken Wing Restaurants
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chicken & Wings QSR (THAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pizza, Wings & Oven-Baked Prepared Foods (In-Store Concepts) (CRAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where Atomic Wings is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maryland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Atomic Wings business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fee of $30,000 per unit for new franchisees.
- Royalty Fees: 5% royalty on gross sales collected from franchisees on an ongoing basis.
- Food and Beverage Sales (Company-Owned Locations): Direct sales from company-owned restaurant locations through dine-in, takeout, delivery, and drive-thru channels.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $7.99 Slap Box Value Meal |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Franchise Fee (1 Unit) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Royalty Fee |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Minimum Liquid Capital |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Total Initial Investment (1 Unit) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Atomic Wings product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Atomic Wings operates a fast-casual restaurant chain serving fresh, never-frozen, halal, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken wings paired with 14 signature sauce flavors and 6 dry rubs. The menu also includes boneless wings, chicken tenders, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, sides, and desserts, distributed through company-owned and franchise-operated locations across the United States. The brand earns revenue through consumer food sales, franchise fees, and ongoing royalties.
Product overview
Atomic Wings is a New York-born chicken wing restaurant chain founded in 1989, operating a fast-casual dining concept centered on fresh, never-frozen, halal, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken wings. The core product offering consists of traditional wings, boneless wings, and chicken tenders paired with 14 signature sauce flavors and 6 dry rubs. The menu also includes chicken sandwiches (AW Chicken Sandwich, BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Buffalo Ranch Sandwich), flatbreads, salads, and a variety of sides (Famous Waffle Fries, Onion Rings, Jalapeno Poppers, Mozzarella Sticks). Recent menu innovations include the Meltdown Queso (May 2026), Slap Box value meal (April 2026), and Dirty Soda beverage lineup (May 2026). The company operates with a Build Your Classic ordering system allowing customers to choose protein, size, and flavor, and also offers house-made dipping sauces. The brand differentiates through its commitment to quality ingredients and signature bold flavors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Traditional Wings Fresh, never-frozen, halal, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken wings cooked to order and available with any of the 14 signature sauce flavors or 6 dry rubs; serves general consumers seeking quick-service casual dining.
- Boneless Wings Breaded boneless chicken pieces offering a bone-free alternative to traditional wings, tossed in any of the signature sauces; targets consumers preferring a bone-free wing experience.
- Chicken Tenders Fresh, never-frozen chicken tenders that can be ordered as standalone items or as part of combo meals; targets consumers seeking non-wing chicken options.
- AW Chicken Sandwich Fresh, never-frozen chicken breast on a brioche bun with pickles and signature Awesome Aioli sauce; targets consumers seeking premium chicken sandwich options.
- BBQ Chicken Sandwich Hand-breaded, fresh never-frozen chicken breast on a brioche bun with pickles and signature Honey BBQ sauce; targets consumers preferring barbecue flavor profiles.
- Chicken Buffalo Ranch Sandwich Fresh, never-frozen chicken on a brioche bun with pickles, Medium Buffalo Sauce, and Creamy Ranch Dressing; targets consumers seeking a buffalo-style sandwich.
- Famous Waffle Fries Thick-cut, golden-brown waffle fries served as a side, designed for dipping in signature sauces; targets consumers seeking shareable and dippable sides.
- Onion Rings Perfectly crispy battered onion rings offered as a side item; targets consumers seeking fried appetizer sides.
- Jalapeno Poppers Appetizer stuffed with melted cheddar cheese and jalapenos; targets consumers seeking spicy shareable appetizers.
- Mozzarella Sticks Breaded mozzarella sticks served with marinara sauce, crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside; targets consumers seeking classic Italian-American appetizers.
- Deep Fried Oreos Golden brown, deep fried Oreos offered as a dessert item; targets consumers seeking indulgent novelty desserts.
- Signature Sauce Collection (14 Sauces + 6 Dry Rubs) Proprietary collection of 14 sauce flavors and 6 dry rubs spanning mild to extreme heat levels; sold applied to chicken items or as house-made dipping sauces, targeting consumers seeking flavor variety.
- Slap Box Value Meal $7.99 value meal featuring two crispy chicken tenders served over fresh-cut fries with two signature sauces; targets price-sensitive consumers seeking a bundled meal.
- Meltdown Queso Signature white queso available as a dip for fries, drizzled over crispy chicken sandwiches, or loaded onto the Meltdown Queso Sandwich; targets consumers seeking premium cheese-based add-ons and sandwiches.
- Dirty Soda Lineup New beverage category featuring dirty soda drinks at the Downtown Brooklyn location; targets consumers seeking non-alcoholic specialty beverages as a meal complement.
- Combos Combo meals offering various configurations of wings, tenders, or boneless wings with sides; targets consumers seeking bundled meal value.
- Salads Salad options available on the menu; targets consumers seeking lighter or non-fried menu choices.
- Flatbreads Flatbread menu items including various chicken combinations; targets consumers seeking pizza-style alternatives.
- Atomic Wings Franchise Program Franchise opportunity with a $30,000 one-time unit fee, 5% royalty on gross sales, $100,000 minimum liquid capital requirement, and total initial investment of $153,500-$525,437 per unit; targets entrepreneurs, multi-unit operators, and area developers.
Companies that use Atomic Wings
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Atomic Wings technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Atomic Wings partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Hellmann'sminorHellmann's collaborated with Atomic Wings on the development of the Slap Box value meal, emphasizing quality ingredients. The partnership leverages Hellmann's brand recognition in the condiment space to enhance the product offering. The Slap Box features crispy chicken tenders with sauces inspired by the founder's family food truck roots.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Atomic Wings competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wingstop: Largest U.S. wing-focused QSR chain (~2,700+ locations). Direct competitor with similar core menu (bone-in and boneless wings, signature sauces) and franchise-led growth model; comparable customer occasion but vastly larger scale.
- Wing Zone: Wing-focused franchise concept emphasizing delivery and bold global flavor profiles. Closely comparable in menu depth (multiple sauces), franchise model, and target customer (delivery-forward consumers).
- Bonchon: Korean double-fried chicken concept with locations across the U.S. Overlaps in flavor-forward chicken wings, urban dining demographic, and franchise-led growth; comparable on menu differentiation but Asian-cuisine rooted.
- Roosters Wings: Regional wing-focused chain with strong Midwest presence. Directly comparable wing QSR concept with diverse sauce line and sports-casual positioning; smaller scale and similar multi-unit franchise model.
Broad incumbents
- Smokey Bones: Casual-dining BBQ and wings chain competing for the same sports-casual and family dining occasions; broader menu (BBQ, ribs) versus Atomic Wings' wing-centric fast-casual model.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Iconic national wing chain owned by Inspire Brands. Competes for the same wing consumer and sports-viewing occasions but operates a broader sports-bar format with full dine-in experience versus Atomic Wings' fast-casual positioning.
Emerging players
- PDQ: Chicken-focused fast-casual concept (owned by Driven Brands). Competes for the fresh-chicken, sauce-driven customer with a similar flavor-forward menu and franchise-led growth; broader chicken tenders/sandwiches versus wings.
- Raising Cane's: Single-product (chicken fingers) fast-casual chain with explosive national growth. Competes for the same chicken-focused QSR consumer and franchisee capital; broader chicken-tenders positioning versus Atomic Wings' wing focus.
- Dave's Hot Chicken: Fast-growing Nashville-style hot chicken franchise backed by notable investors. Competes in the spicy chicken category with strong millennial/Gen-Z appeal; comparable menu breadth in heat profiles and franchise expansion pace.
Regional players
- Chester's Chicken: Fried chicken franchise primarily distributed through convenience stores and small-format locations. Adjacent in chicken QSR category but very different format and channel; useful as a reference for value-tier wing competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Atomic Wings social profiles
Digital presenceAtomic Wings compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Atomic Wings financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Atomic Wings leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Atomic Wings funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Atomic Wings M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Atomic Wings
What does Atomic Wings do?
Atomic Wings operates a fast-casual restaurant chain serving fresh, never-frozen, halal, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free chicken wings paired with 14 signature sauce flavors and 6 dry rubs. The menu also includes boneless wings, chicken tenders, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, sides, and desserts, distributed through company-owned and franchise-operated locations across the United States. The brand earns revenue through consumer food sales, franchise fees, and ongoing royalties.
Is Atomic Wings a public or private company?
Atomic Wings is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Atomic Wings founded?
Atomic Wings was founded in 1989. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Atomic Wings based?
Atomic Wings is headquartered in Maryland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Atomic Wings make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Franchise Fees are the primary driver. The others are royalty Fees and food and Beverage Sales (Company-Owned Locations).
Who are Atomic Wings's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wingstop, Wing Zone, Bonchon and Roosters Wings. Broad incumbents are Smokey Bones and Buffalo Wild Wings. Emerging players are PDQ, Raising Cane's and Dave's Hot Chicken. Chester's Chicken is listed as a regional player.
Does Atomic Wings have an API?
No public API is recorded for Atomic Wings.
What industry is Atomic Wings in?
Atomic Wings's product category is Fast Casual Chicken Wing Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFAAAC, Chicken & Wings QSR, with a secondary code of CRAHAKAE, Pizza, Wings & Oven-Baked Prepared Foods (In-Store Concepts). Its NAICS code is 722513.