Dave’s Hot Chicken, a popular spicy chicken eatery based in California, has announced a huge expansion into New Jersey. The company said it will open 14 restaurants throughout Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties. The exact locations and opening dates have yet to be announced. “The New Jersey-New York (area) is very important to our growth,” CEO Bill Phelps said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to introduce Dave’s Hot Chicken to more new customers throughout the East Coast.” The fast-casual chicken eatery specializes in the “Nashville hot chicken” concept, in which a mix of seasonings and spices are used to give the food a major spicy flavor. The menu features hot chicken tenders and sliders, with seven spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper”. Fries, cheese fries, kale slaw, and mac and cheese also are on the menu. Dave’s Hot Chicken started as a parking lot pop-up in 2017 before opening a brick-and-mortar spot in East Hollywood. There are currently 212 restaurants in the United States and Canada, most of them in California. The company began franchising in 2019 and plans to open at least 30 more locations, including the 14 in New Jersey. – Source: NJ Advanced Media.