American chain Dave's Hot Chicken to open 180 restaurants in Europe: what they offer.

Expansion of Dave's Hot Chicken in the UK

According to The Sun: The popular American fast-food chain Dave's Hot Chicken plans to increase the number of its establishments in the UK after the success of its first three restaurants.

The company has partnered with Azzurri Group, which also serves the ASK, Zizzi, and Boojum restaurants. Together they aim to open 180 restaurants in Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and Germany.

Azzurri, which manages the franchise in the UK and Ireland, plans to open 57 more Dave's restaurants in the UK. The first establishment on Shaftesbury Avenue in London is hugely popular and serves over 1,000 customers daily since its opening in December 2024.

The chain has also expanded to Manchester and Birmingham, with new establishments planned for the future.

“Dave's is a brand that comes once in a generation and is ready for global success,” said Azzurri CEO Steve Holmes.

Dave's Hot Chicken is renowned in the US for its large sandwiches featuring spicy chicken, nuggets, and chicken pieces. Side dishes include homemade coleslaw, creamy macaroni and cheese, and crispy seasoned fries.

The chicken is available at seven levels of spice — from zero to extremely hot. The first level requires a signature due to its intense spiciness.

The brand began its journey in 2017 as a nighttime pop-up in a parking lot created by three childhood friends — chef Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan, who raised $900 to start the project. Quickly gaining popularity, Dave's Hot Chicken opened its first permanent restaurant in East Hollywood.

Current Trends of American Fast Food Chains in the UK

Dave's Hot Chicken is just one of many American fast food chains opening their establishments in the UK. For example, the burger chain Wendy's, which has over 6,000 restaurants in the US, plans to open 400 new locations. Wendy's resumed its operations in the UK in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus.

Also, the Chick-fil-A chain is opening new establishments in the UK this year, while Popeyes, which entered the British market in 2021, has already opened over 38 restaurants and plans to reach 60 by 2024.

Shake Shack, which started as a food truck, recently opened its first restaurant at a station in the UK, where Brits can enjoy their favorite burgers before boarding their train.

Thus, American fast food continues to expand successfully in the UK, attracting new customers and offering a variety of delicious dishes.