[Photo courtesy: Dave’s Hot Chicken]
Described on the order menu as “Cauliflower Tenders,” Dave’s NOT Chicken is offered in at least seven different options, starting with “6-piece Cauliflower Tender Bites” at $5.19, up to “Cauli Dave’s #2: 2 Cauli Sliders w/ Fries,” which are Cauliflower Sliders served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave’s sauce, priced at $21.09.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has been able to maintain NOT Chicken’s quality by focusing on tenders only and cooking them as they are ordered.
The fast-casual restaurant chain, now known for its mouthwatering Nashville-style hot chicken, started as a tiny stand in an East Hollywood parking lot after best friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy and Gary Rubenyan scrounged up $900 to start frying chicken and serve them to passersby with Kopushyan’s (he’s the chef) signature mix of spices. It has been on a roll lately, signing various new franchise groups in 2023 as it aims to end the year with a total of 170 stores.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has also expanded its social media presence, with almost a million followers on Instagram and over 1.1 million followers on TikTok, leveraging user-generated content from satisfied fans.
The chain has also invested in its executive team with the additions of Brad Haley as Chief Marketing Officer and Leon Davoyan as Chief Technology Officer.
“The past six months have put Dave’s Hot Chicken in a position for growth that exceeds others in the fast casual segment,” Shannon Swenson, VP of Franchise Development at Dave’s Hot Chicken, said. “As we’ve entered new markets, we remain focused on delivering exceptional dining experiences to more communities across the nation.”
The brand also launched a new app with a loyalty program that allows fans to earn points for eating at Dave’s Hot Chicken.
For more fun, the brand announced another new partnership in June with A-list celebrity-investor, Drake, and his “It’s All a Blur” concert tour. Combining the massive appeal of Dave’s and Drake, the collaboration is giving away hundreds of tickets to guests to attend concert stops around the country. The tour started in July and ends in October, a total of 56 dates across the U.S. and Canada.
The chain has also garnered a string of awards for its innovative approach to dining. It was named No. 1 in the coveted Nation’s Restaurant News Top 500 franchise award, and earned Fast Casual’s Top Movers and Shakers award, acknowledging its unique spin on Nashville-style hot chicken and its rapid rise in popularity.
CEO Bill Phelps, who co-founded Wetzel’s Pretzels in Pasadena and was its CEO until 2019, also made Fast Casual’s Top 25 Executives list, preceding his initiation into the Fast Casual Hall of Fame later this year.
Dave’s Hot Chicken said it’s opening up more outlets in the U.S., Canadana and the Middle East in the year ahead. On its website, the chain indicates at least three grand openings in the U.S. in September alone.
For more information and to access the menu, visit www.daveshotchicken.com/location/pasadena-ca-madison-ave.
