Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Nashville-style spicy fried chicken franchise, expands to Oakland this Friday, Jan. 20. The newest location will open at 2228 Broadway at Grand Avenue.

The Los Angeles-based chain specializes in fried chicken sliders and tenders that come in seven different spice levels, from “no spice” to “reaper”—which requires gutsy customers to sign a liability waiver.

The Dave behind the hot chicken is Dave Kopushyan, a French Laundry-trained chef who dreamed up the business with his three best friends, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. With just $900, they opened a fried chicken stand in an East Hollywood parking lot in 2017. Two years later, the team opened its flagship LA restaurant.

Today, there are more than 700 franchises in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. Dave’s has garnered financial backing from Drake, Samuel L. Jackson and other celebrity investors. 

This expansion to Oakland follows other Bay Area openings in San Leandro, Union City, San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Rosa.

The new fried chicken joint takes the place of Le Pho in Uptown Oakland, across the street from now-shuttered neighborhood favorite Luka’s Taproom. It’s the latest in a string of fast-casual restaurant openings in Uptown that includes The Melt and Lovely’s at Two Pitchers Brewing Company.  

Dave’s Hot Chicken 

Uptown Oakland

📍 2228 Broadway, Oakland
🔗 daveshotchicken.com