A popular California-based hot chicken eatery is set to open its first New Jersey location.
Dave’s Hot Chicken recently announced plans to open in Wayne later this year.
The company’s debut Garden State restaurant will be located at 57 Route 23 in West Belt Plaza.
Although an exact opening date has yet to be announced, the eatery is expected to open in the winter of 2022.
“This is an ideal site for us to establish our presence and draw customers in,” New Jersey franchise owner Amit Patel said. “Dave’s Hot Chicken is unlike anything else found in the area, and I think this location gives us a great opportunity to introduce our craveable food to the people of New Jersey.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken originally announced plans to expand to New Jersey in 2021 with hopes of opening 14 restaurants throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties.
The fast-casual chicken eatery specializes in the “Nashville hot chicken” concept: A mix of seasonings and spices are used to give the food a major spicy flavor.
Dave’s Hot Chicken offers hot chicken tenders and sliders with seven spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper.” The menu also features fries, cheese fries, kale slaw and mac and cheese.
The company started as a parking lot pop-up in 2017 before opening its first brick-and-mortar spot in East Hollywood. It began franchising in 2019.
There are currently 67 Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants in the United States and Canada, most of them in California.
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