Already popular in the US, Dave’s Hot Chicken has announced the official opening date for its first London restaurant.
The chain is expanding to the UK with a new location at 40 Shaftesbury Avenue, and the new branch will open on Saturday, December 7 at 12pm. Delivery will be available from January 2025.
Customers will be given six different spice levels to choose from, though Dave’s is yet to decide if its infamous Reaper slider will be available in the UK. Although the slider has been tested on five Brits – leaving one person in tears – it’s yet to be confirmed whether the item will be on the London menu.
“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,” said Jim Attwood, Managing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK.
He added: “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…”
The spice levels Londoners will be able to chose from are No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, and Extra Hot.
Dave’s Shaftesbury Avenue branch will open at 11am daily and close at 10pm on Sundays, 11pm Monday to Wednesday, and at midnight from Thursday to Saturday.
Hailing from an East Hollywood carpark, Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded by three childhood friends, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan, back in 2017.
It’s gained some celebrity fans over the years, including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson and Usher, and has opened 200 locations across the US.
Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, said: “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.
He continued: “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.
“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.”
