Nashville-style chicken chain aims to add spice to Framingham restaurant scene

Jesse Collings, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read

FRAMINGHAM — A trendy and fast-growing chain of chicken restaurants is coming to the city later this year.

Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Los Angeles-based chain of fast-casual restaurants, plans to open at 341 Cochituate Road (Route 30), in the Route 30 Mall. The shopping complex is also home to Five Guys, Nzuko, Tennessee’s Real BBQ and Brooklyn Water Bagel.

Glazer Properties, the company that owns the Route 30 Mall, confirmed on its website that Dave’s Hot Chicken will fill a vacant slot beside Nzuko. Rebecca Nau, of the Framingham Licensing Department, said the chicken chain has submitted an application for a common victualler's license and will appear June 12 before the Framingham Board of License Commissioners.

Dave's Hot Chicken currently operates two restaurants in Massachusetts, one in Newton and this one in Woburn. It plans to open another in Framingham.
Dave's Hot Chicken currently operates two restaurants in Massachusetts, one in Newton and this one in Woburn. It plans to open another in Framingham.

It's not known when the restaurant will open.

Humble beginnings in East LA

Dave’s Hot Chicken was started in 2017 by four friends in southern California who, according to the company website, pooled together $900 to run a small cart with a grill in East Los Angeles. Using a signature developed recipe for hot chicken (sometimes referred to as "Nashville-style" chicken), the business was an instant success and the brand quickly began to expand into brick-and-mortar restaurants.

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Less than a decade later, the chain now has more than 100 restaurants in 22 states. The first Massachusetts location opened last year in Newton, with a second following in Woburn. A Boston location is set to open later this year, in addition to Framingham.

For one menu item, sign before you eat

Similar to Raising Canes, another national chicken chain that recently expanded into MetroWest, Dave’s Hot Chicken primarily sells chicken tenders and chicken sandwiches, all carrying the signature Nashville-style recipe. Guests can choose their level of spice from no spice, to mild, to hot, to the incredibly hot “reaper” flavor — so hot that customers are asked to sign a waiver before consuming it.

Inside the Dave's Hot Chicken in Woburn. The popular fried chicken restaurant chain is expanding to Framingham later this year.
Inside the Dave's Hot Chicken in Woburn. The popular fried chicken restaurant chain is expanding to Framingham later this year.

Side options include crinkle-cut fries, macaroni and cheese and kale slaw. The restaurant also carries homemade milkshakes in multiple flavors.

Dave's Hot Chicken is known for its celebrity investors, including actor Samuel L. Jackson, rapper Drake and former NFL player-turned-TV host, Michael Strahan. Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner is also an investor.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Dave's Hot Chicken plans Framingham MA restaurant