Dave’s Hot Chicken to open 180 restaurants across Europe

Dave’s Hot Chicken has agreed a deal with Azzurri Group to roll out 180 restaurants in 10 countries across Europe.

Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in Los Angeles in 2017 by Arman Oganesyan, chef Dave Kopushyan and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. It began as a parking lot pop-up before expanding across the United States.

As part of the deal, Azzuri, the UK-based hospitality operator, has secured exclusive development rights for the Los Angeles brand, which specialises in Nashville-style fried chicken. 

Expansion will follow a joint venture model with local operators in markets including France, Spain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Turkey.

The agreement follows Dave’s Hot Chicken’s UK debut in late 2024 with a flagship site on Shaftesbury Avenue in London’s West End. 

The chain has since opened branches in Birmingham and Manchester.

Azzurri operates more than 225 restaurants and stores in the UK under brands including ASK Italian, Zizzi, Coco di Mama and Boojum.

Steve Holmes, chief executive of Azzurri Group, said: “Dave’s Hot Chicken has all the ingredients for international success – unforgettable food, massive cultural resonance, and an incredibly scalable model.”

Bill Phelps, chief executive of Dave’s Hot Chicken, added: “This agreement represents a major milestone in our global development strategy. Azzurri has proven itself as a best-in-class operator with deep expertise in brand building and market execution. Their commitment to working alongside local partners gives us the scale, agility, and cultural insight needed to expand in new territories.”