Burger King appears to be overshadowed by viral McDonald’s taste test
After McDonald’s CEO Christopher Kempczinski’s Big Arch taste test went viral, other fast food bosses decided to get in on the fun.
California-based chicken shop Dave’s Hot Chicken is expanding, opening eight locations on Friday, April 17, and opening at least 150 locations throughout the year.
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s newest location will open April 17, Dave’s said in a series of Facebook posts. Restaurants opening this week include restaurants in eight states, including Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Utah.
The company also plans to open stores in cities including Kansas City, Missouri, Oklahoma City and Seattle, Dave’s Hot Chicken CEO Jim Bittics said in an April 16 statement to USA TODAY.
“Essentially, nothing has changed for Dave. It’s very intentional,” Bittics said. “Our entire focus remains on making the best-tasting hot chicken on the planet. That obsession with flavor, quality and ease of eating is what got us here, and continues to guide every decision we make as we grow.” In March, the company added a new product to its menu – hot mozz, or thick-sliced mozzarella cheese breaded, fried and sprinkled with Dave’s seven signature spices of the customer’s choice.
Where will Dave’s Hot Chicken open a new location this week?
Dave’s Hot Chicken typically announces store openings on Fridays on its official Facebook page. Openings in the past few months include the Medford, Oregon, store opening on January 23rd, and most recently the Dallas store opening on April 10th.
According to Dave’s Hot Chicken’s Facebook account, the new locations opening on Friday, April 17 include:
- Connecticut: 13 Clark Lane, Waterford
- Florida: 19151 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 24, Miami
- Illinois: P 115 Rand Road, Suite C, Arlington Heights
- Ohio: 3265 W. Market St., Suite 100B, Fairlawn
- Minnesota: 3301 Hazelton Road, Edina
- New York: 5001 New York State Rt. 23, Oneonta
- North Carolina: 2230 E. Franklin Blvd., Suite 140, Gastonia
- Utah: 119 Crossroads Blvd., Saratoga
What about other stores opening in 2026?
Bitticks says it plans to open more than 150 stores by the end of 2026, including Ireland’s first Dave’s Hot Chicken.
In addition to the eight stores opening on April 17, more stores are scheduled to open in April, May, and June. Below is a tentative list of vacancies by month for the rest of the year.
April availability:
Availability status in May:
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- ontario, canada
- newcastle, england
Business hours in June:
- Kansas City, Missouri
- portland oregon
- dublin, ireland
- london, united kingdom
Business hours in July:
- liverpool, england
Business hours in August:
- phoenix
- salt lake city
- oklahoma city
- seattle
- Los Angeles
Business hours in September:
Business hours in October:
Business hours in November:
Business hours in December:
- charlotte, north carolina
- memphis tennessee
- Sioux City, Iowa
- staten island, new york
Dave says of Spicy Reaper: ‘Eat at your own risk’
Childhood friends chefs Dave Kopcyan, Arman Oganesian and Tommy Rubenian opened Dave’s Hot Chicken in 2017 with a cost of $900, parking, a portable fryer and folding tables, the company said in a news release.
Chicken Spot’s mascot is a rubber chicken, an ode to the rubber chicken that the company’s founders bought at a swap meet, the company told USA TODAY on April 16. The Dave’s Hot Chicken menu consists of new Hot Motts mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, sliders, mac and cheese, fries, chicken bites and cauliflower tenders.
The company’s dishes come in seven different spice levels: No Spicy/Not Spicy, Light Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper.
The spiciest spice level, called Reaper, comes with a disclaimer. Anyone attempting Reaper’s Heat Level must be 18 years of age or older.
“Eat at your own risk,” the company says on its website. “You acknowledge that eating REAPER may cause harm including, but not limited to, personal injury, property damage, emotional distress, and even death.”
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s Trends team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – 757. Please send your email to: sdmartin@usatoday.com.
