California Sensation Dave’s Hot Chicken Expands to Las Vegas

From its East Hollywood origins in a dimly lit parking lot, to a growing national brand with famous name backers, chef Dave Kopushyan is headed to Las Vegas with a cult hit tribute to Nashville hot chicken.

CREConfidential is reporting Dave’s Hot Chicken will be making its first out-of-state expansion to the westside, taking over a former Carl’s Jr. at the Canyon Lakes Plaza retail center.

Larger than its California predecessors, the 3,200-square-foot standalone space at the intersection for Sahara Avenue and Fort Apache Road is equipped with a drive-thru, another first for the fast-casual restaurant.

Kopushyan co-founded the company in 2007, serving a short menu highlighted by chicken prepared “in a proprietary brine,” deep fried and then served with choice of spices, ranging from the eye-watering “reaper,” extra hot and hot, to medium, mild, “lite mild,” or no spices added.

A veteran of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon restaurant, Kopushyan limits the dining choices to hot chicken tenders, or sliders, plus sides of mac and cheese, fries, kale slaw, and cheese fries.

Now expanded to three locations in Los Angeles and one in San Diego, with guidance from former Wetzels’ Pretzels CEO Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken has rapidly lined up 100 future franchises around the country, and the financial backing of “actor Samuel L. Jackson, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, and Good Morning America anchor/retired NFL player Michael Strahan.”

Still to be officially announced, work has not yet begun on remodeling the vacant Las Vegas site and an estimated debut date has not been revealed.

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