Zankou Chicken
Zankou Chicken is a family-owned fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain operating 14 Southern California locations, serving Armenian and Lebanese-inspired rotisserie chicken, shawarma, kabobs, and falafel to individual consumers, corporate caterers (via ezCater), and non-profit fundraisers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1962
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Zankou Chicken does
Zankou Chicken is a family-owned fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in Armenian and Lebanese Mediterranean cuisine, operating 14 company-owned locations across Southern California (Anaheim, Burbank, multiple Los Angeles submarkets, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Long Beach, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Lawndale, Valencia, and West Hollywood). The concept was founded by Vartkes Iskenderian in Beirut in 1962 and brought to Hollywood in 1984 by his son Mardiros, who added shawerma and falafel and coined the trademarked signature dish "Chicken Tarna®" in 1991. The menu is built around spit-roasted rotisserie chicken, the hand-sliced Chicken Tarna®, USDA Choice tri-tip shawerma, flame-grilled kabobs (chicken, lule, shish), and vegan falafel, accompanied by house-made hummus, mutabbal, tahini, and the proprietary garlic sauce (toum) made daily from California garlic sourced from Christopher Ranch.
The business operates a multi-channel ordering stack: in-store counter service, online ordering via zankouchicken.com, native iOS and Android apps powered by the Incentivio platform, DoorDash for third-party delivery, and the ezCater marketplace for catering that serves groups of 25 to 10,000 within a 10-mile radius. Catering is sold through packaged SKUs — Mediterranean BBQ Special® ($70/serves 6), Wrap Variety Pack® ($110/serves 10-12), and Mediterranean Feast® ($379/serves 25-30) — supplemented by custom quotes for larger events. Zankou Rewards, a points-based loyalty program (10 points per dollar, redemption starting at 250 points), drives repeat purchases across both in-store and digital channels. Revenue is generated entirely through transactional per-meal and per-catering-order pricing; menu prices are not publicly listed. A non-profit fundraising program (20% donation-back to schools, churches, sports teams, and 501(c)(3)s) functions as both a community channel and a soft-customer-acquisition mechanism. Halal certification covers core chicken items at all locations and the full menu at Anaheim.
The company is privately held by the Iskenderian family (currently Mardiros' wife and their four sons), with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or M&A activity, and a single California corporate entity (Zankou Enterprises Inc.). Geographic operations are entirely domestic, restricted to California. The company has received third-party validation including Food & Wine's "Best Regional Fast Food in California," features in The Infatuation and LA Times, and a Downtown LA News "Best Chicken" reader award. Some locations are separately owned and operated and are excluded from the corporate website.
Zankou Chicken firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zankou Chicken
- Legal name
- Zankou Enterprises Inc.
- Website
- https://zankouchicken.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1962
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Zankou Chicken is a family-owned fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain operating 14 Southern California locations, serving Armenian and Lebanese-inspired rotisserie chicken, shawarma, kabobs, and falafel to individual consumers, corporate caterers (via ezCater), and non-profit fundraisers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zankou Chicken industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast-Casual Mediterranean Restaurants
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (722320)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fast Casual (THAFABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken) (THAFABAI)
Keywords
Where Zankou Chicken is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices13 records
Markets served
Zankou Chicken business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Dine-in and Takeout Food Sales: Revenue from individual customers ordering rotisserie chicken, kabobs, wraps, plates, bowls, and sides at 14 California restaurant locations
- Catering Services: Corporate and event catering orders delivered within 10 miles of any location, serving 25-10,000 people with pre-set packages and custom quotes
- Loyalty Program Revenue: Points-based rewards program earning 10 points per dollar spent, driving repeat purchases and customer retention
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mediterranean BBQ Special - serves 6 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wrap Variety Pack - serves 10-12 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mediterranean Feast - serves 25-30 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Fundraiser Donation Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Zankou Chicken product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zankou Chicken operates a 14-location fast-casual restaurant chain across Southern California that prepares and sells Armenian and Mediterranean food from scratch daily, including spit-roasted rotisserie chicken, signature Chicken Tarna®, tri-tip shawerma, kabobs, falafel, wraps, salads, and house-made sides. The chain supplements dine-in and takeout with online ordering, a mobile app, a points-based loyalty program, and a catering service through ezCater delivering pre-set packages for groups of 6 to 10,000.
Product overview
Zankou Chicken is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain operating 14 locations across Southern California. The core product portfolio centers on spit-roasted rotisserie chicken and signature Chicken Tarna® (hand-sliced, marinated chicken), complemented by USDA Choice beef tri-tip shawerma, flame-grilled kabobs (chicken, lule, shish), and vegan falafel. Menu items are offered across multiple formats: plates, bowls, wraps, and à la carte. The company provides catering services through ezcater.com with packages like the Mediterranean BBQ Special®, Wrap Variety Pack®, and Mediterranean Feast® serving groups from 6 to 10,000 people. A loyalty program (Zankou Rewards) enables customers to earn points for free food. The Zankou Garlic Sauce, made fresh daily from California garlic, is a signature offering. The restaurant also operates a mobile app for iOS and Android with online ordering and loyalty features, and offers a fundraising program for non-profit organizations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chicken Tarna® Bowl Signature bowl featuring spit-roasted chicken marinated in authentic spices and hand-sliced to order, served over a choice of base with toppings and house-made sauces. Served to individual diners at all 14 locations.
- Kabob Combo Plate Flame-grilled, marinated kabobs made from family recipes and served fresh to order. Available in three crave-worthy combos with juicy chicken or USDA Choice meat, served to individual diners at all 14 locations.
- Falafel Salad Crisp, golden falafel over romaine, Persian cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives, and feta, finished with lemon-tahini dressing. Vegan-friendly option for individual diners at all 14 locations.
- Rotisserie Chicken (Whole / Half / Family Meal) Whole and half rotisserie chickens served with fresh pita bread and house-made sauces. Available as Family Meal (serves 2-4) and Big Family Meal (serves 4-8).
- Tri-Tip Shawerma USDA Choice beef authentically marinated, spit-roasted, and hand-sliced. Served with fresh pita bread and choice of house-made sides, salads, and sauces. Halal at Anaheim and for flagship chicken items at all locations.
- Mediterranean Wraps (Various) Fresh pita wraps filled with proteins including pulled rotisserie chicken, Chicken Tarna, tri-tip shawerma, falafel, chicken kabob, lule kabob, and shish kabob, with various house-made sauces.
- House-Made Sides and Sauces (Hummus, Mutabbal, Tzatziki, Tahini, Rice, Baklava) House-made Mediterranean sides including hummus, mutabbal, tzatziki, tahini sauce, basmati rice, and baklava. The signature garlic sauce (Toum) is made fresh daily from California garlic sourced from Christopher Ranch.
- Mediterranean BBQ Special® Catering Package Catering package at $70 serving 6 people, including 1 whole chicken, 3 kabob skewers, 3 large sides, roasted tomatoes with onions, 2 pita packs, sauces, and pickled turnips and chilies. Ordered via ezCater with delivery within 10 miles of any Zankou location.
- Wrap Variety Pack® Catering Package Catering package at $110 serving 10-12 people, including 12 wraps with rotisserie chicken, Chicken Tarna®, tri-tip shawerma, falafel, and various kabob options with pickled turnips and chilies. Ordered via ezCater.
- Mediterranean Feast® Catering Package Large catering package at $379 serving 25-30 people, including 2 whole chickens, tray of Chicken Tarna® or tri-tip shawerma, 12 kabob skewers, 20 falafels, large sides, rice, 8 pita packs, and multiple sauces. Ordered via ezCater.
- Zankou Rewards Loyalty Program Points-based loyalty program where members earn 10 points per dollar spent and can redeem points for free food items including fountain drinks, sides, wraps, bowls, plates, and family meals. Accessible via the Zankou Chicken iOS/Android app; new sign-ups receive a free small side with a $10+ purchase.
- Zankou Chicken Mobile App (iOS and Android) Native mobile application for iOS and Android enabling online ordering, loyalty rewards program access, and in-restaurant loyalty code scanning. Integrated with the Zankou Rewards loyalty program.
- Non-Profit Fundraising Program Non-profit fundraising partnership where schools, churches, sports teams, and 501(c)(3) organizations receive 20% of sales generated by their supporters during a one-day Zankou event. Designed for community fundraising with minimal organizational effort.
Companies that use Zankou Chicken
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Zankou Chicken technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature2 records
Zankou Chicken partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Yerord MasminorZankou Chicken publicly supported Glendale restaurant Yerord Mas during a viral cultural controversy where an influencer made disparaging comments about Armenian cuisine. Zankou joined other restaurants in expressing solidarity.
- ezCatercoreThird-party catering marketplace used for processing and fulfilling catering orders across all 14 locations with delivery within 10 miles
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zankou Chicken competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Pollo Campero: Latin American flame-grilled chicken chain with a strong California/US presence, family-meal formats, and catering. Comparable to Zankou on flame-grilled chicken-centric menu, family-style platters, and multi-format service model.
- CAVA: Public Mediterranean fast-casual chain operating hundreds of units nationwide with bowls, pitas, and dips. Directly comparable to Zankou in category, menu structure (Mediterranean proteins, sides, sauces), and target customer; CAVA represents both the standard and the well-capitalized competitor Zankou faces.
- Zoës Kitchen: Mediterranean fast-casual chain (now operating under CAVA) historically focused on Greek/Mediterranean bowls, pitas, and kabobs. Direct comparable to Zankou on menu format, Mediterranean positioning, and dine-in-plus-catering model.
- El Pollo Loco: Costa Mesa-headquartered flame-grilled chicken QSR with deep Southern California roots. Comparable to Zankou on LA-based heritage, flame-grilled chicken focus, family-style meals, and catering/party-pack offerings.
- Roti Modern Mediterranean: Mediterranean fast-casual chain serving bowls, pitas, salads, and kabobs. Direct comparable to Zankou on Mediterranean menu architecture, fast-casual service model, and mix of dine-in, takeout, and catering revenue.
- The Halal Guys: Famous New York-origin Middle Eastern/Mediterranean street-food concept (chicken and gyro over rice, falafel, white and hot sauces). Directly comparable to Zankou on Mediterranean/Middle Eastern core menu, chicken focus, and counter-service/fast-casual positioning.
- Daphne's California Greek: California-based Mediterranean/Greek fast-casual chain serving pitas, salads, bowls, and kabobs. Direct regional peer to Zankou on geography (Southern California presence) and on Greek/Mediterranean fast-casual positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Chick-fil-A: Largest US chicken-focused QSR with national scale and category-defining chicken sandwich and nugget platforms. Comparable to Zankou on chicken-centric menu, catering strength, and counter-service/fast-casual ordering format, though broader in scope and far more scaled.
- Raising Cane's: Chicken-tenders-only fast-casual chain with rapidly expanding national footprint. Comparable to Zankou on chicken-focused menu architecture, fast-casual service model, and emphasis on a few signature items rather than a sprawling menu.
Emerging players
- Tatte Bakery & Café: Fast-growing Mediterranean-leaning bakery/café concept with bowls, pitas, and pastries. Comparable to Zankou on Mediterranean menu positioning, scratch-made identity, and dine-in-plus-catering model, though more bakery/skewed younger than Zankou's rotisserie-led format.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Zankou Chicken social profiles
Digital presenceZankou Chicken compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Zankou Chicken financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zankou Chicken leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Zankou Chicken funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zankou Chicken 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 Zankou Chicken
What does Zankou Chicken do?
Zankou Chicken operates a 14-location fast-casual restaurant chain across Southern California that prepares and sells Armenian and Mediterranean food from scratch daily, including spit-roasted rotisserie chicken, signature Chicken Tarna®, tri-tip shawerma, kabobs, falafel, wraps, salads, and house-made sides. The chain supplements dine-in and takeout with online ordering, a mobile app, a points-based loyalty program, and a catering service through ezCater delivering pre-set packages for groups of 6 to 10,000.
Is Zankou Chicken a public or private company?
Zankou Chicken is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Zankou Chicken founded?
Zankou Chicken was founded in 1962.
Where is Zankou Chicken based?
Zankou Chicken is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zankou Chicken make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dine-in and Takeout Food Sales are the primary driver. The others are catering Services and loyalty Program Revenue.
Who are Zankou Chicken's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Pollo Campero, CAVA, Zoës Kitchen, El Pollo Loco, Roti Modern Mediterranean, The Halal Guys and Daphne's California Greek. Broad incumbents are Chick-fil-A and Raising Cane's. Tatte Bakery & Café is listed as an emerging player.
Does Zankou Chicken have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zankou Chicken.
What industry is Zankou Chicken in?
Zankou Chicken's product category is Fast-Casual Mediterranean Restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAD, Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fast Casual, with a secondary code of THAFABAI, Chicken Concepts (Fried/Grilled/Hot Chicken). Its NAICS code is 722513 and its SIC code is 5812.