Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Los Angeles-based, celebrity-backed, pop-up turned fast-casual franchise, is opening its first Wisconsin location on Friday, Jan. 28 at 10:30 a.m.
The new location will occupy the former Grate Mac & Cheese at N92 W16125 Falls Pkwy. in Menomonee Falls. It will offer the brand’s signature menu of Halal-certified Nashville style hot chicken tenders and sliders – available at seven spice levels from “No Spice” to “Reaper” (waiver required – plus sides including kale slaw, mac ‘n cheese and fries.
Inside, the restaurant will showcase plentiful indoor seating along with custom artwork which pays homage to the company’s “out of this world” food.
“Dave’s Hot Chicken will blow your mind! Every Tender is hot, juicy and spicy,” said Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s CEO, in an announcement about the opening. “Our founders started Dave’s as a parking lot pop-up restaurant in Hollywood with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards just four short years ago. We are ecstatic to be opening our first restaurant in the state of Wisconsin!”
Arman Oganesyan, former Bouchon chef Dave Kopushyan and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan, launched the wildly popular Dave’s Hot Chicken concept as a pop-up in 2017. Since then, the brand has made a splash through both rapid expansion and celebrity investment from folks including Drake, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan.
The company has sold the rights for nearly 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada and plans to open an additional 25 stores in 2022.
Beginning Jan. 28, Dave’s Hot Chicken in Menomonee Falls will be open seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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