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Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain with headquarters in Pasadena, California. The chain was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, by Armenian-American friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. As of 2022, the chain has expanded to over 100 locations in four countries. However, it is unclear if any of these locations are in South Carolina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Dave's Hot Chicken locations in South Carolina | Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach |
| Headquarters | Downtown Greenville, SC |
| First South Carolina location | Devine St, Columbia, SC |
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What You'll Learn
Dave's Hot Chicken is expanding into South Carolina
Dave's Hot Chicken, a California-based fast-casual restaurant chain, is expanding into South Carolina. The chain, which was founded in Los Angeles in 2017, has seen rapid growth and now boasts over 100 locations across four countries. With a simple menu featuring Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, Dave's Hot Chicken has become a popular destination for fried chicken lovers.
The expansion into South Carolina is part of the chain's continued growth and will see new locations in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. The company has reached a franchising agreement with Kal Gullapalli, who has owned several Marco's Pizza restaurants in the state. Gullapalli expressed his excitement about bringing Dave's Hot Chicken to South Carolina, stating that the brand takes Nashville hot chicken to another level.
The new locations in South Carolina will focus on finding spaces ranging from 2,000 to 2,700 square feet, with or without drive-thru capacity. The chain's vice president of franchise development, Shannon Swenson, emphasized the importance of partnering with the right operator when entering a new state. He believes that Gullapalli is the perfect example of the type of operator they want to work with and is confident that Dave's Hot Chicken will create legions of new fans in South Carolina.
The expansion into South Carolina marks a significant milestone for Dave's Hot Chicken, as it continues to expand its presence across the United States. The chain has already established a strong presence in multiple states, including North Carolina, Texas, and Oregon, and its entry into South Carolina showcases its commitment to reaching new markets and satisfying the demands of chicken lovers across the country. With its unique take on Nashville-style hot chicken, Dave's Hot Chicken is well-positioned to make a successful debut in the Palmetto State.
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Locations include Columbia, Charleston, Greenville and Myrtle Beach
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 2017. The chain has since expanded rapidly, with over 60 locations across the United States and Canada as of 2022. The restaurant specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders, with spice levels ranging from "No Spice" to "Reaper," the latter of which requires a waiver to be signed due to its extreme heat.
In South Carolina, Dave's Hot Chicken has expanded to several locations, including Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. The chain's entrance into South Carolina was first announced in July 2022, with plans to open locations in these four cities. The company reached a franchising agreement with Kal Gullapalli, who owns several Marco's Pizza restaurants in the state, to bring Dave's Hot Chicken to the Palmetto State. Gullapalli expressed his excitement about bringing the unique Nashville hot chicken concept to South Carolina, highlighting the brand's delicious food and impeccable leadership as factors for potential success.
The Columbia location of Dave's Hot Chicken on Devine St has received particular attention for its late-night dining options and proximity to the University of South Carolina and the Five Points neighborhood. Their menu features larger-than-usual chicken tenders that are hand-breaded for a crunchy texture. Customers can choose from seven heat levels, including the signature "Reaper" spice level, and enjoy their tenders with a variety of sides, such as french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and "kale slaw."
The Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach locations of Dave's Hot Chicken are also part of the brand's expansion plans in South Carolina. While exact locations and opening dates for these cities are not immediately clear, the company is seeking 2,000 to 2,700-square-foot spaces for their new locations, preferably with drive-thru capacity. The expansion into these cities demonstrates Dave's Hot Chicken's commitment to bringing their unique chicken concept to different parts of South Carolina, creating a strong presence in the state.
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The chain was founded in California in 2017
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that was founded in California in 2017. The first Dave's Hot Chicken was opened in May 2017 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. The original location was a small street food stand with a portable fryer and a few picnic tables, located in a parking lot in Los Angeles, California. Kopushyan, the chain's namesake, was a professional chef trained by renowned restaurateur Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry. He developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe.
The chain's menu is simple, offering only four choices: hot chicken tenders, sliders, or a combination of both. 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. Customers can choose from seven different spice levels for their chicken, ranging from "no spice" to "reaper," with the hottest option requiring a waiver to be signed due to its extreme spiciness.
Dave's Hot Chicken quickly gained popularity, and by late 2018, the original stand was closed, and a restaurant was opened in a nearby strip mall on Western Avenue in Los Angeles. The restaurant's walls were decorated with street art by local artists, a style that has become synonymous with the chain. In fall 2019, the founders partnered with an investment group, including former Wetzel's Pretzels CEO and co-founder Bill Phelps and movie producer John Davis, to franchise the restaurant. This deal paved the way for the chain's rapid expansion, with plans for over 300 locations across the United States and Canada.
By mid-2022, Dave's Hot Chicken had expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, including Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The chain has also signed deals to open additional restaurants in the United Kingdom. As of 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken has been acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital Group, with plans for further expansion.
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It serves Nashville-style hot chicken
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that serves Nashville-style hot chicken. The chain is headquartered in Pasadena, California, and was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, with a single restaurant. By mid-2022, the chain had expanded to over 100 locations in four countries. The chain's menu is simple, with only four choices: hot chicken tenders, sliders, or both. 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.
Customers can choose from seven different spice levels for their chicken, ranging from "no spice" to "reaper" (which requires the customer to sign a waiver). The chicken is always fresh and made with premium ingredients. The sides include french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and "kale slaw". The sandwiches are also available with chicken and a kale slaw, which is a combination of chicken and healthy vegetables. All locations serve Halal chicken.
Dave's Hot Chicken is expanding rapidly and has opened locations in South Carolina, including in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach. The chain is known for its unique flavour and Nashville-style hot chicken. The chicken tenders are larger than usual strips and are hand-breaded for an irresistible crunch. The Halal-certified chicken can be enjoyed individually or in combo meals, and the Nashville Style Chicken sliders are renowned for their juicy goodness and explosive flavour.
The chain's first location was opened in May 2017 by Armenian-American childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. They were inspired by the no-frills approach of In N Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles. Kopushyan, the chain's namesake, was a professional chef trained by restaurateur Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry. He developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe.
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The menu includes chicken tenders, sliders, fries and mac and cheese
Yes, there are Dave's Hot Chicken locations in South Carolina, with restaurants in Columbia, Greenville, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach. The chain is also planning to open more locations in the state.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in Los Angeles, California, in 2017 by Armenian-American friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The first location was a small street food stand with a limited menu. Today, the chain has expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, including more than 60 locations in the United States and Canada. The South Carolina expansion began in 2022, with the chain's focus on the greater Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, and Myrtle Beach areas.
The menu at Dave's Hot Chicken includes chicken tenders, sliders, fries, and mac and cheese, with a range of spice levels to choose from. The chicken tenders are larger than the usual strips and are hand-breaded for a crunchy texture. Customers can choose from seven heat levels, ranging from "No Spice" to "Reaper", with the option to sign a waiver for the spiciest option. The tenders are served on white bread, while the sliders are served on soft potato buns with pickles, house-made "kale slaw", and Dave's signature chipotle mayo sauce, known as "Dave's Sauce."
In addition to the chicken tenders and sliders, the sides at Dave's Hot Chicken include french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and kale slaw. The sandwiches are also available with chicken and kale slaw, a combination of chicken and healthy vegetables. All locations serve Halal chicken, and customers can choose from individual portions or combo meals. The chain also offers smaller portions called "Dave's Bites" for those with smaller appetites.
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Frequently asked questions
No, as of July 2025, there are no Dave's Hot Chicken locations in South Carolina.
The first Dave's Hot Chicken was opened in May 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded by Armenian-American childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. In June 2025, the chain was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion.
Dave's Hot Chicken serves Nashville-style hot chicken tenders, sliders, or a combination of both. Sides include french fries, cheese fries, macaroni and cheese, and kale slaw.
Dave's Hot Chicken has expanded rapidly since its founding and now has locations in multiple states across the US, including Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma, Arizona, Idaho, New Jersey, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Washington, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Vermont, and South Carolina. The chain has also expanded internationally, with locations in four countries outside of the US.
