Cardiff’s fast food scene is about to get a serious heat boost as Dave’s Hot Chicken prepares to open its first ever Welsh restaurant. The cult fried chicken brand is taking over the former PMT music shop at the bottom of Caroline Street, right by Wyndham Arcade.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has built a huge following thanks to its bold flavours, simple menu and properly spicy Nashville style chicken. The brand has attracted high profile backers over the years, including Drake, Usher and Samuel L Jackson, helping turn what started as a small idea into a global name.
The chain began back in 2017 when childhood friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan set up a pop up in an East Hollywood car park. What followed was rapid growth, viral social media buzz and queues around the block wherever they opened.
Dave’s made its UK debut in December 2024 with a first site in London, before quickly expanding to Birmingham, Manchester, Stevenage and Leicester. A second London location followed at Westfield White City, and there are now plans in place to open close to sixty sites across the UK.
The UK rollout is being led by Azzurri, the group behind Zizzi, ASK Italian, Coco di Mama and Boojum. Their involvement has helped fast track the expansion, bringing the American favourite to major cities across the country.
The Cardiff site sits at the bottom of Windsor Arcade on Caroline Street, an area already known for late night food stops and long standing local businesses. The building has recently seen changes, with PMT closing and neighbouring beauty salon Body Basix also moving on, making way for something completely new.
While an opening date has not yet been confirmed, expect juicy fried chicken, signature spice levels ranging from mild to seriously hot when the doors finally open.
