"I've watched Red Chickz build a buzzy Los Angeles reputation—founded in 2018 by Nima Christensen and Shawn Lalehzarian and currently operating in downtown LA and Culver City—fueled by a TikTok account with 1.2 million followers and nearly 300 million views. The company hand-breads halal chicken tenders and wings for what it calls “the crunchiest hot chicken,” offered at heat levels from mild and medium to extra hot and “insane.” The menu features Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, chicken and waffles, and baskets of hot wings and fries, and extends to items like hot chicken paired with French toast, hot chicken tacos, and hot cauliflower sandwiches, with sides ranging from cheese curds to slaw. They're expanding into the San Diego area, scheduled to open the first of three planned outposts in Carlsbad at the Shoppes at Carlsbad by late summer." - Candice Woo