"Las Vegas won’t be the first out-of-state expansion site for California's Dave’s Hot Chicken, but the wildly popular fast-casual brand has updated it will be arriving on the westide sooner than expected. Home of brined, fried, and spiced chicken tenders and sliders overseen by former Bouchon chef Dave Kopushyan, Dave’s Hot Chicken is sharing on social media it will only be a “couple more months” before it debuts at the Canyon Lakes Plaza retail center. An exact date has yet to be announced. Easy to spot across Fort Apache Road from Village Square, the restaurant replaces a 3,200-square-foot former Carl’s Jr. on Sahara Avenue and will keep the existing drive-thru lane and window. Construction has been ongoing since July, adding new ceiling and floor finishes, electrical work, altering the interior floor plan, and making back of house improvements. Expanding to Toronto later this month, Dave’s Hot Chicken launched in 2007 and now operates seven Southern California outposts, all serving from lunch until late evening. On the purposely short menu, tenders are served with sliced bread and pickles, with sliders accompanied by kale slaw. Sides include mac and cheese, regular, or cheese fries, plus Dave’s house sauces ranging in spice levels from zero, all the way up to the fiery “reaper.”" - Bradley Martin
