Jake Harper
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan and his childhood friends Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The chain, which serves Nashville-style hot chicken, experienced rapid growth and expanded to over 100 locations across four countries by mid-2022. In 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion. The original owners of Dave's Hot Chicken played a significant role in the chain's success, with their innovative recipes, business strategies, and effective branding, contributing to its popularity and expansion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of founders | 4 |
| Names of founders | Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan |
| Origin of founders | Armenian-American |
| Relationship between founders | Childhood friends |
| Occupation of Dave Kopushyan | Chef |
| Training of Dave Kopushyan | Trained by restaurateur Thomas Keller at three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry |
| Year of founding | 2017 |
| Initial capital | $900 |
| Original location | A small street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles |
| Equipment at the original location | A portable fryer and a few picnic tables |
| Initial menu | Limited |
| Current number of locations | Nearly 300 |
| Countries with locations | 4 |
| Celebrity investors | Drake, Usher, Maria Shriver, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Strahan, and Tom Werner |
| Company that acquired Dave's Hot Chicken | Roark Capital |
| Value of the deal with Roark Capital | $1 billion |
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What You'll Learn
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded by Dave Kopushyan and three friends
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that was founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan and his three childhood friends, 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 in East Hollywood, Los Angeles. The original location was a small street food stand with a portable fryer, a few picnic tables, and a limited menu. Kopushyan, a professional chef trained by renowned restaurateur Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe.
Dave's Hot Chicken serves Nashville-style hot chicken with seven spice levels ranging from "No Spice" to "Reaper" (which requires a waiver to be signed due to its extreme spiciness). The chain's menu is simple, offering only four choices: hot chicken tenders, sliders, or both. Tenders are served on white bread, while 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 restaurant chain expanded rapidly, and by mid-2022, it had over 100 locations in four countries. Celebrity endorsements and investors, such as Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver, Michael Strahan, and Tom Werner, further fueled its popularity. In 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken was acquired by the private equity firm Roark Capital in a deal valued at $1 billion. This acquisition is expected to accelerate the company's expansion plans, with recent international openings in Toronto, Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh.
Dave's Hot Chicken's remarkable growth and success can be attributed to several factors, including an exceptional product, effective management, and the "cool factor" amplified by celebrities and influencers on social media. The chain has effectively leveraged celebrity endorsements and viral word-of-mouth marketing to create a strong brand identity and fuel its expansion.
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The chain began as a street food stand in 2017
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by four friends in East Hollywood, Los Angeles. The chain began as a street food stand in a parking lot with a portable fryer, a few picnic tables, and a limited menu. The four friends—Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan—scraped together \$900 to set up this small shop. Kopushyan, an Armenian-American professional chef, developed the chain's signature hot chicken recipe. Inspired by the no-frills approach of In-N-Out Burger and the growing demand for fried chicken in Los Angeles, the founders created a simple yet effective concept.
The chain's menu is straightforward, offering only four choices of hot chicken tenders, sliders, or a combination of both. Tenders are served on white bread, while 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", the hottest level, which requires a waiver to be signed.
Dave's Hot Chicken quickly gained popularity, and just a year after launching, they sold 50% of the company and franchising rights to an investor group. With effective management and the "cool factor" amplified by celebrities and influencers on social media, the chain experienced exponential growth. By mid-2022, Dave's Hot Chicken had expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, with about 70 of those in California alone.
The chain also attracted celebrity investors, including music superstars like Drake, who invested in 2021, and other notable names such as Usher, Maria Shriver, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan. With its unique blend of delicious food, strategic management, and viral marketing, Dave's Hot Chicken became one of the fastest-growing casual food chains in the nation, with a remarkable sales increase of 156% since 2022.
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It has since expanded to nearly 300 locations
Dave's Hot Chicken has experienced rapid expansion since its founding in 2017. The chain, which started as a single restaurant in Los Angeles, California, has grown exponentially, with a focus on franchising and celebrity endorsements contributing to its success. By mid-2022, Dave's Hot Chicken had expanded to over 100 locations in four countries, a remarkable feat for a business that began as a small street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.
The chain's rapid growth can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, its signature product, Nashville-style hot chicken, has gained immense popularity, with its unique blend of spices and crispy, deep-fried exterior attracting a loyal customer base. The menu is simple yet enticing, offering customers a choice of four options: tenders, sliders, or a combination of both, with a range of spice levels to cater to different palates.
Another key factor in the chain's expansion is its franchising strategy. In 2018, just a year after launching, Dave's Hot Chicken sold 50% of the company and franchising rights to an investor group that included Hollywood producer and fast-food financier John Davis. This infusion of capital and expertise accelerated the chain's growth, with a focus on multi-unit and experienced franchisees. The involvement of celebrity investors and influencers, such as Drake, Usher, and Michael Strahan, has also played a significant role in generating buzz and attracting customers through social media and word-of-mouth marketing.
The international expansion of Dave's Hot Chicken further contributes to its impressive growth. The chain opened its first international location in Toronto, Canada, in January 2021, followed by openings in Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh in the subsequent years. These global ventures have solidified the chain's presence outside of the United States, attracting new customers and expanding its reach.
As of 2025, Dave's Hot Chicken has grown to nearly 300 locations, with about 70 of those in California. The chain's rapid expansion and increasing popularity have led to a $1 billion acquisition by the private equity firm Roark Capital, which owns other well-known brands such as Cinnabon, Dunkin', and Subway. This acquisition is expected to further fuel the chain's expansion plans, solidifying its presence in the highly competitive restaurant industry.
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Celebrity investors include Drake, Usher, and Samuel L. Jackson
Dave's Hot Chicken is an American fast-casual restaurant chain that was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. The chain serves Nashville-style hot chicken and has experienced rapid expansion, growing to over 100 locations in four countries by mid-2022. The restaurant's celebrity investors have played a significant role in its success and viral growth.
One notable celebrity investor in Dave's Hot Chicken is the Canadian rapper Drake. Drake invested in the restaurant chain in 2021 and has since used his massive social media platform to promote it. For instance, Drake has an annual tradition of giving away free chicken sandwiches on his birthday, which he announces to his approximately 144 million Instagram followers. This has created a buzz around the brand and fuelled its popularity.
Another celebrity investor in Dave's Hot Chicken is the R&B star Usher. Usher has taken his involvement a step further by launching his own franchises in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. This not only demonstrates Usher's belief in the brand but also his commitment to its success. Usher's franchises allow him to directly contribute to the growth and expansion of the Dave's Hot Chicken brand.
Additionally, the renowned actor Samuel L. Jackson is also a celebrity investor in Dave's Hot Chicken. Jackson's involvement adds to the impressive list of names associated with the restaurant chain. Jackson's investment, along with that of Drake and Usher, has undoubtedly contributed to the viral word-of-mouth marketing that Dave's Hot Chicken has benefited from.
These celebrity endorsements and investments have played a strategic role in the restaurant's success. By leveraging the influence of celebrities and their vast social media reach, Dave's Hot Chicken has been able to generate a lot of interest and excitement around its brand. This has resulted in a form of organic, viral marketing that has helped the chain expand rapidly and attract customers without relying heavily on traditional paid advertising methods.
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Roark Capital acquired the chain for $1 billion in 2025
Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant chain, was acquired by Roark Capital in June 2025 for $1 billion. The chain, with its colourful, artsy, graffiti aesthetic, was founded in 2017 in Los Angeles, California, by Armenian-American chef Dave Kopushyan and his childhood friends Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. The original location was a small street food stand in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, with a limited menu. The chain's signature hot chicken recipe was developed by Kopushyan, a professional chef trained by renowned restaurateur Thomas Keller.
The chain expanded rapidly, growing from a single restaurant in 2017 to over 100 locations in four countries by mid-2022. By 2025, it had nearly 300 locations worldwide, with about 70 in California alone. Dave's Hot Chicken's success can be attributed to several factors, including an exceptional product, effective management, and the "cool factor" amplified by celebrities and influencers on social media. The chain's simple menu features Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders with seven spice levels ranging from "No Spice" to "Reaper."
Roark Capital, a private equity firm, recognised the potential of Dave's Hot Chicken and its rapid growth. With this acquisition, Roark Capital adds Dave's Hot Chicken to its portfolio of iconic food brands, including Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Dunkin', Baskin-Robbins, Arby's, Jimmy John's, Wingstop, and Subway. Roark Capital is known for generally allowing its restaurant holdings to run their own affairs, which aligns with Dave's Hot Chicken co-founder Arman Oganesyan's statement that "brand-wise, nothing should change."
The $1 billion acquisition of Dave's Hot Chicken by Roark Capital demonstrates the popularity and success of the restaurant chain. With Roark Capital's expertise and resources, the chain is expected to continue its expansion and bring its unique brand of Nashville-style hot chicken to even more locations worldwide. The deal highlights the appeal of viral growth and celebrity endorsements in the restaurant industry, as well as the potential for future mergers and acquisitions in the casual dining sector.
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Frequently asked questions
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded by Dave Kopushyan and his childhood friends Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan.
Dave Kopushyan is an Armenian-American chef who trained under restaurateur Thomas Keller at the three-Michelin-star restaurant The French Laundry.
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
Dave's Hot Chicken has experienced rapid expansion since its founding, growing to over 100 locations across four countries by mid-2022, and nearly 300 locations by 2025.
Notable investors in Dave's Hot Chicken include celebrities such as Drake, Usher, Maria Shriver, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan.
