CULT US chicken chain Dave’s Hot Chicken has announced its SPICY UK menu and official opening date BUT revealed it is still yet to confirm whether its infamous Reaper chicken will make its way to this side of the Atlantic.
The hot Reaper chicken – which is so spicy it requires people to sign a waiver to try it – has been tested on a handful of Brits ahead of the London opening and has left Dave’s unsure whether to unleash it in the UK.
Five lucky – or unlucky – Brits got to try the Carolina Reaper chicken slider last week leaving some in tears and one even running out of the taster after just one bite.
“After conducting taste tests here in the UK, we found the Reaper to be so hot that it left participants crying from the sheer heat of the spice mix. We are still in discussions as to whether the Reaper will make it onto UK plates. Of course, if the nation truly wants to test the hottest chicken in the world, we could be convinced…”
Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK
The first Dave’s Hot Chicken will open at 40 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, on Saturday, 7th December from 12pm, offering six spice levels, and the decision to include the risky Carolina Reaper is yet to be made.
The Nashville-styled hot chicken restaurant was founded by three childhood friends, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan, in an East Hollywood carpark in 2017.
Now backed by the likes of Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Usher, the chain boasts 200 locations across America. Its first UK site will open on the 7th of December at 40 Shaftesbury Avenue, London.
While the Reaper might not be on the UK menu, Brits will be able to enjoy the rest of the menu, available with spice levels ranging from No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot.
“From frying hot chicken in an LA parking lot with nothing but $900 and a dream to set up shop in one of the most iconic cities in the world, we’ve come a long way – and we’re only getting started. We’ve worked tirelessly with our UK team to deliver the bold flavours and tongue-tingling spice that have made us a cult sensation here in the USA. And we’re not just bringing the heat – we’re bringing the full Dave’s experience over for Brits. This opening marks the first in our plan to open up to 60 restaurants across both the UK & Ireland in the coming years.”
Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken
THE NEED TO KNOW INFO:
Location: 40 Shaftesbury Avenue, London
Opening: Saturday 7th December 2024, 12pm
Hours: Monday 11am–11pm
Tuesday 11am–11pm
Wednesday 11 am–11pm
Thursday 1 am–12am
Friday 11am–12 am
Saturday 11am–12 am
Sunday 11am–10 pm
Spice levels: Seven (from No Spice to Extra Hot)
Delivery: Coming January 2025
Socials: Insta: @DavesHotChickenUK / TikTok: @DavesHotChickenUK
Feeling the heat with Dave’s? Cool down with refreshing soft drinks including Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite. Or why not go the whole hen and opt for one of Dave’s indulgent Top-Loaded Shakes priced from £4.49? Choose from a deliciously creamy chocolate, vanilla or strawberry shake base and top it off with Oreo or M&Ms.
In true LA style, Dave’s Hot Chicken is strutting into London with attitude. The two-floor, 90-cover venue will announce its arrival with an eye-popping street art display, paying homage to the humble parking lot where it all began back in 2017.
Designed by Splatterhaus and Dehmq, the LA-based street artists will capture the spirit of Los Angeles with their vibrant artwork, bringing dynamic West Coast vibes to Shaftesbury Avenue.
About Dave’s Hot Chicken:
In a modern-day American dream story, three childhood friends, Chef Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan, scraped together $900 to launch Dave’s Hot Chicken in a parking lot, portable fryers and folding tables in tow, in 2017. Dave’s Hot Chicken quickly took off, opening an East Hollywood brick-and-mortar restaurant shortly after, with support from Tommy’s brother, Gary. In 2019, the team struck a deal with Wetzel’s Pretzels co-founder and former CEO, Bill Phelps, to begin franchising the Dave’s Hot Chicken concept, with Billboard’s Artist of the Decade, Drake, investing in the brand as well. The company has sold the rights to more than 1,000 franchise locations in the U.S., Middle East and Canada and will open 80-plus locations this year. Harkening back to an Eater LA blog that helped propel early interest in the brand, the company’s mission is to “blow their minds.”
