Chickens have always been hot—around 70 billion are eaten worldwide each year. But the hot chicken craze is heating up demand for the birds even more, with a long list of concepts clucking up all over Dallas-Fort Worth. Now a new one is flying in: L.A.-based The Red Chickz.
Offering “a crave-worthy twist on Nashville Heat,” Red Chickz has been a viral hit, with over 1.2 million followers on TikTok. Now it’s signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with local entrepreneur Nazar Osman to bring the brand to North Texas. After earlier Red Chickz launches in Metro Houston and Beaumont, North Texas is “a top-priority development zone” for the concept, the company said.
The Red Chickz offers seven spice levels and creative menu items like the Honey Butter Sandwich and Nashville Hot Chicken Tacos.
“I discovered The Red Chickz while researching franchise concepts, and their quality food, social media presence, and strong support system stood out immediately,” Osman said in a statement. “After visiting locations in L.A. and San Diego, I knew this was the right fit. Dallas-Fort Worth, especially the fast-growing North Dallas suburbs, is the perfect place to introduce the brand and build lasting success.”
The competition: Dallas-born concepts, a Shaq brand & more
Red Chickz’ competition will be fierce—and fiercely spicy. Dallas-born brands like Lucky’s Hot Chicken and Chirp’s Hot Chicken Shack opened in 2020. Palmer’s Hot Chicken, founded by a Dallas native with Georgia ties, arrived the same year, as did Cowboy Chicken’s SmackBird Hot Chicken, which started as a delivery-only “ghost kitchen” and now operates out of some of its restaurant locations.
In 2021 and 2022, other hot chicken chains heated up the region, including Dave’s Hot Chicken and Nashville-based Hattie B’s, with its “famous” sliding scale of heat. Locals continue to grow the concept, with AJ’s Hot Chicken in Richardson opening in 2023, catching buzz for its halal chicken and items like Hot Cheeto mozzarella sticks.
In 2024, one of the hottest celebrity-backed hot chicken openings was for Big Chicken, a chain co-founded by NBA legend and North Texas homeowner Shaquille O’Neal. When Big Chicken had its debut opening in Fort Worth, fans reportedly lined up for days to meet Shaq.
Red Chickz momentum
With franchise agreements secured in California, North Carolina, New Jersey, and beyond, and more than 35 units in development nationwide, The Red Chickz said it’s executing “a scalable, high-demand model that delivers for both guests and franchisees.”
That means sometime soon, North Texans will have yet another hot chicken brand to bite at its hottest, most tongue-searing level of all.
TikTok better be ready.
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