Jake Harper
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, by Armenian-American friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The chain has expanded to over 100 locations worldwide, serving Nashville-style hot chicken with a simple menu of chicken tenders and sliders. All locations serve halal chicken, certified by Halal Transactions of Omaha, making it suitable for Muslim customers following a halal diet. However, Muslims should be cautious of alcoholic beverages on the menu to ensure strict adherence to a halal diet. While the ownership of the chain has changed over time, with private equity firm Roark Capital acquiring it in 2025, the founders' commitment to serving halal chicken has remained a key aspect of Dave's Hot Chicken's brand and values.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of founders | 4 |
| Names of the founders | Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan |
| Owner's religion | Not mentioned |
| Halal certification | Yes |
| Halal certification provider | Halal Transactions of Omaha |
| Alcoholic beverages on the menu | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Dave's Hot Chicken is halal-certified
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The chain has since expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, including Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
The restaurant serves Nashville-style hot chicken, with a simple menu consisting of only four choices: chicken tenders, sliders, or both, with a side of french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, or "kale slaw."
One of the founders of Dave's Hot Chicken, Arman Oganesyan, has expressed the company's commitment to serving halal-certified chicken and respecting the beliefs of all its customers. In an interview with the LA Times, Oganesyan stated, "We realized the lack of halal places offering flavors like ours. It’s not just about the chicken being halal-certified, it’s about recognizing and respecting the beliefs of all our customers.” This sentiment was echoed by the owner of the restaurant on Good Morning America.
Dave's Hot Chicken has obtained halal certification, including certification from Halal Transactions of Omaha. The company serves only halal meat, in line with Islamic dietary laws. These laws, anchored in the principles of the Quran and Hadith, have stringent requirements. For meat to be deemed halal, the animal’s blood should be fully drained from its veins, and the person doing the slaughter must invoke Allah’s name during the process, using a sharp knife.
While Dave's Hot Chicken's chicken tenders and crinkle-cut fries are halal-certified, Muslims are advised to be cautious of any alcoholic beverages on the menu to ensure they adhere to a halal diet.
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The chain serves Nashville-style hot chicken
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that serves Nashville-style hot chicken. The chain was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, by Armenian-American childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. Inspired by the no-frills approach of In-N-Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles, the four friends scraped together $900 to set up a small shop in a parking lot. The original location was a small street food stand with a portable fryer and a few picnic tables. The stand initially sold only one item: a hot chicken combo plate.
Following a feature on the food blog Eater Los Angeles, the stand's popularity grew, with lines that reportedly stretched an entire block. Kopushyan, a professional chef trained by restaurateur Thomas Keller, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe. By late 2018, the stand was closed, and a restaurant was opened in a nearby strip mall on Western Avenue. The restaurant's walls were decorated with street art by local artists, a style that has become a recognizable feature of the chain.
Dave's Hot Chicken serves Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, with a choice of seven different spice levels ranging from "no spice" to "reaper", which requires a waiver to be signed. The tenders are served on white bread, while the sliders are served on buns with pickles, house-made "kale slaw", and a chipotle mayo sauce known as Dave's Sauce. Sides include french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and "kale slaw."
The chain has expanded rapidly, with over 100 locations in four countries by mid-2022, including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. In 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group in a deal valued at $1 billion. The chain has also signed agreements to open additional restaurants in the United Kingdom and Canada.
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It was founded by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan and Gary Rubenyan
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that serves Nashville-style hot chicken. It was founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The four founders were Armenian-American childhood friends who were inspired by the no-frills approach of In-N-Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles. With a small amount of $900, they set up a street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood with a portable fryer, a few picnic tables, and a limited menu. Kopushyan, a professional chef trained by renowned restaurateur Thomas Keller, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe.
Oganesyan played a significant role in the early days of Dave's Hot Chicken. He recognized the trend of Nashville-style chicken and persuaded Kopushyan, a vegetarian at the time, to create a Nashville-style chicken recipe. Oganesyan's commitment to an increasing Muslim population also influenced the chain's halal certification. In an interview with the LA Times, he expressed their respect for the beliefs of all their customers, stating, "It’s not just about the chicken being halal-certified, it’s about recognizing and respecting the beliefs of all our customers."
Tommy Rubenyan was another key contributor to the founding of Dave's Hot Chicken. He believed in the potential of the business and found the initial location in a parking lot near his home. Rubenyan's brother, Gary Rubenyan, joined the team later and helped them open their first physical store. Together, the four founders grew Dave's Hot Chicken from a single restaurant in Los Angeles to over 100 locations in four countries by mid-2022. The chain's menu remains simple, with choices of chicken tenders, sliders, or both, served at seven different spice levels.
In June 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion. The acquisition is expected to fuel the company's expansion plans, with agreements already in place to open new restaurants in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East.
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The company has expanded to over 100 locations in four countries
Dave's Hot Chicken has experienced rapid expansion since its founding in 2017. The chain, which began as a single restaurant in Los Angeles, California, has seen tremendous success and now boasts a presence in multiple countries. By mid-2022, Dave's Hot Chicken had expanded to over 100 locations across the United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, solidifying its position as a prominent player in the fast-casual restaurant industry.
The founders of Dave's Hot Chicken, Armenian-American childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan, played a pivotal role in the company's rapid expansion. With a modest investment of \$900, they established the first Dave's Hot Chicken as a street food stand in East Hollywood, serving Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders. The concept resonated with customers, and the chain quickly gained a loyal following, attracting celebrity investors such as Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Tom Werner.
The menu at Dave's Hot Chicken is deliberately simple, featuring only four choices: hot chicken tenders, sliders, or a combination of both. Customers can select from seven spice levels for their chicken, ranging from mild to intensely spicy "reaper" levels. The chain's commitment to serving halal meat, certified by organizations like Halal Transactions of Omaha, has also been a significant factor in its expansion, catering to the dietary needs and beliefs of the Muslim community.
The success of Dave's Hot Chicken has led to ambitious expansion plans. In 2025, the company was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group, fueling its growth trajectory. Dave's Hot Chicken signed agreements to open 25 restaurants in Canada and 60 locations in the United Kingdom, with the first UK restaurant planned for launch in early 2025. The chain has already established a presence in Toronto, Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh, and shows no signs of slowing down, continuously bringing its unique brand of hot chicken to new markets and satisfying the cravings of customers worldwide.
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The original location was a street food stand in a parking lot
Dave's Hot Chicken began in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, with humble street food roots. The original location was a street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood, just off Alexandria Street in Thai Town. The founders, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan, scraped together $900 to set up their small shop. They started with a portable fryer, a few picnic tables, and a limited menu.
The founders of Dave's Hot Chicken were inspired by the no-frills approach of In-N-Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles. Kopushyan, a professional chef, trained by renowned restaurateur Thomas Keller, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe. Oganesyan, in an interview with the LA Times, expressed their commitment to serving the growing Muslim population in the area. He stated, "We realized the lack of halal places offering flavors like ours. It’s not just about the chicken being halal-certified, it’s about recognizing and respecting the beliefs of all our customers."
The original location's menu was simple, featuring chicken tenders, chicken sliders, and kale slaw. The chicken tenders were served with crinkle-cut fries, and the sliders included a white bread bun, pickles, Dave's special sauce, and a tender chicken patty. The founders' commitment to high-quality food and respect for diverse beliefs helped them stand out in the culinary world. Their intense and focused "craving"-fueled social media strategy also played a significant role in their success.
The stand in the parking lot attracted long lines of customers, with people waiting for hours to taste the famous chicken. The popularity of Dave's Hot Chicken quickly spread, and soon they opened their first brick-and-mortar store. The chain expanded rapidly, and by mid-2022, it had over 100 locations in four countries. Dave's Hot Chicken has since become a billion-dollar brand, with celebrity investors and plans for further expansion.
Today, all locations of Dave's Hot Chicken serve halal chicken, adhering to Islamic dietary laws. The company has obtained halal certification, including certification from Halal Transactions of Omaha. The certification and commitment to halal practices have been well-received by the Muslim community, ensuring that Dave's Hot Chicken is a suitable dining option for those following a halal diet.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Dave's Hot Chicken was founded by Armenian-American Dave Kopushyan, and Armenian-Americans Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The founders have expressed their commitment to serving the Muslim community by offering halal-certified food.
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that serves Nashville-style hot chicken.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, by four childhood friends. The original location was a small street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood.
Yes, Dave's Hot Chicken serves halal meat according to Islamic dietary laws and has obtained halal certification. However, Muslims should be cautious of alcoholic beverages on the menu to ensure they adhere to a halal diet.
Dave's Hot Chicken has expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, including the United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
