A fast-casual hot-chicken chain born in Los Angeles has big plans for growth.
And it’s not Dave’s Hot Chicken.
It would be easy to mix them up. Angry Chickz, like Dave’s, is known for its Nashville-hot-style chicken tenders at varying spice levels. Angry Chickz was even founded by a David (Mkhitaryan, who is CEO).
But Angry Chickz is considerably smaller in unit count than Dave’s Hot Chicken (33 units, versus 367).
And Angry Chickz is mostly company owned, though Chief Operating Officer Peter Tremblay said the chain has been growing its franchising partners. Two of its current 33 units are franchised, and more franchised locations are in development by six franchisees that have signed on to date.
After about six years of self-funding growth, this week Angry Chickz announced it has taken on an undisclosed amount of debt capital for the first time, in a deal with business development company Saratoga Investment Corp.
The capital will help support Angry Chickz in the next growth push to reach more than 50 units by the end of next year. That will include about 20 company locations, Tremblay said, and about six to eight franchised locations, including moving into new markets like Chicago, Indiana, Dallas and Pennsylvania.
Currently, Angry Chickz operates in California, Nevada and Arizona, with a franchised unit in Texas.
Over the past year or so, the company has been working on a new prototype design. Most units are about 2,500-square feet, taking second-generation spots. The concept can go into end caps, in-line and drive-thru real estate.
The company has taken on debt now because it was a good time to take advantage of tailwinds, Tremblay said.
“Chicken as a category is very hot right now,” he said. “And Nashville as a sub-category is very hot.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken, which was acquired earlier this year by Roark Capital for $1 billion, is leading that sub-category. It’s a mostly franchised brand.
Dave’s recorded sales of nearly $617 million last year, up nearly 60%, with 245 units at the end of 2024 and an average unit volume of more than $3 million, according to the Top 500 Restaurant Chain list by Technomic.
Angry Chickz, meanwhile, had systemwide sales of $56 million last year—also a nearly 60% increase, according to the Future 50 list by Technomic. Angry Chickz ended 2024 with 28 units and an average unit volume of just over $2 million.
But, while Dave’s is primarily known for its tenders and slider sandwiches, the top seller at Angry Chickz is the Angry Mac, a hugely portioned bowl of mac and cheese topping chopped chicken tenders and fries, with a secret sauce, which is a lot of food for about $15.
It’s a great value, said Tremblay, noting that Angry Chickz has only raised prices once in seven years, when chicken prices went through the roof.
Bowls represent about 70% of sales, said Tremblay, and it’s something Dave’s Hot Chicken doesn’t do.
Angry Chickz is also committed to keeping the menu short and simple.
Mkhitaryan is a fan of concepts like Raising Cane’s and In-N-Out, which have similarly focused menus, said Tremblay. Those brands are also primarily company owned.
As Angry Chickz builds on its franchise development, however, Tremblay said the chain is looking to work with well-capitalized, experienced operators with the right culture match.
Angry Chickz doesn’t have a celebrity fan base like Dave’s, which includes among its investors mega stars like Drake. (Oct. 23 is Drake’s birthday, which he celebrates by giving away free meals at Dave’s Hot Chicken.)
But Tremblay said Dave’s is bringing awareness to the whole category. Angry Chickz units that are within a mile of a Dave’s opening have seen an increase in sales, he said.
“A rising tide raises all boats,” he said.
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