HAVEN HOT CHICKEN It’s Not “Fast Food”

WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA DAVANZO

“Crispy, Crunchy, Juicy, Spicy and Delicious” are words repeated over and over on Yelp to describe Haven Hot Chicken, which opened its second location over the summer at 550 Boston Post Road in Orange.

“I’m not saying our food is addictive, although I’m personally addicted to it,” said Jason Sobocinski, one of the brains behind the restaurant. “When you’re here, you’re not just eating to get full. You’re eating because you want to try these flavors, you’re salivating, your heart is racing and you’re excited.”

Jason co-founded Haven Hot Chicken in October 2020 with fellow restaurateurs Rob LaTronica, Craig Sklar and Etkin Tekin. With years of experience as an entrepreneur, Jason has been the driving force behind New Haven staples like Caseus Fromagerie Bistro, the Crispy Melty Cheese Truck, Olmo Kitchen, Ordinary cocktail bar, Black Hog Brewing Company, Mystic Cheese Co. and more.

“I’ve been described as a serial entrepreneur,” Jason said. “When I was a kid, I started a soup and bread club where I’d cook at home and deliver food to neighbors. I started with 12 customers and that number grew to over 50. My mother eventually said, ‘You’re not doing this in my house anymore!’”

NASHVILLE INSPIRED

Haven Hot Chicken, his latest feat, is one of the first fully dedicated Nashville Hot Chicken concepts in New England. The idea to start a business centering around the spicy and flavorful comfort food began in 2018 after some of the founding members visited Nashville and left inspired by the city’s famous hot chicken.

“Before the pandemic, we came up with hundreds of test recipes and did a bunch of pop-ups,” Jason said. “Our presence grew on social media and people seemed to be loving our product, but we had to pivot once the pandemic hit. A location in New Haven became available and instead of a full-service restaurant, we decided to create a quick-service spot with curbside, takeout and Uber Eats delivery options. It was the right time and the right kind of food.”

EXPANDING IN ORANGE

The buzz around Haven Hot Chicken grew, opening the team’s eyes wide to available real estate. When a space opened on the Post Road in Orange, Jason says they jumped at the opportunity.

“We call our Orange store ‘002’ because we have big aspirations,” he said. “The dining room is intentionally small with two tables and four seats. We want guests to have the option to come and eat inside with us, pick up their food off our to-go rack or order from their couch.”

Norwalk General Manager, Novissa Weston (behind counter); Orange General Manager, Alivia Wilson (left); and owner and founding partner, Craig Sklar (right).

Photo: Paula Severino

Haven uses the highest-quality ingredients and 100% certified Halal chicken with no growth hormones or antibiotics. The chicken marinating and drying process is so meticulous and time-consuming, Jason says that by the time a customer orders their meal, they are not getting “fast food.”

“We handle everything from scratch and nothing is processed,” Jason said. “Food is not something we should be skimping on. If people are willing to spend money on their sneakers or car or streaming services, let’s put food up there at the very top of the list. I’m a father of three and know firsthand that it is not cheap to go out to eat or grocery shop. I want people to look at what we do here – the quality, the quantity and the overall care – and say, ‘Haven Hot Chicken is expensive, but worth it.’”

The extensive menu features a wide variety of sandwiches, tendies (chicken tenders), oven-roasted fried cauliflower florets and sides like ‘Fuego Fries,’ creamy vinegar slaw, garlic-dill pickles and mac and cheese. There are five specialty sauces, ranging from spice-less to hotter-than-hot.

A SAUCE FOR EVERYONE

“We’ve got big, bold flavors,” Jason said. “’Country’ has no heat but tons of flavor. My kids are young, and they love this one. ‘Mild’ has a touch of spice hovering in the background. ‘Medium’ is my personal go-to because it’s hot, but it won’t stick with you for a long time. ‘Hot’ is going to make your lips burn and you’ll definitely start to sweat. ‘Haven’ is so spicy that it’ll stick with you for a while. You’ll be in pain after eating it, but the pain almost produces a euphoric feeling.”

For those who are looking to see what their bodies could physically handle, there are two sauces beyond ‘Haven’ called ‘Off-menu’ and ‘Double Off-menu.’

“Honestly, you’d have to be out of your mind to try those flavors,” Jason said. “This is food that college kids like. They come in here and double dog dare each other to eat things with insane heat levels. It’s an experiential way to eat, and they have a blast.”

For dessert, the restaurant has a cooling, creamy ‘Banana Puddin.’ Jason said that ‘pros’ will dip some of their French fries in the Nashville delicacy, which is complete with vanilla pudding, fresh bananas, wafers and whipped cream. Every time a Banana Puddin’ is sold, Haven Hot Chicken donates $1 to Connecticut Foodshare, a unified organization that supports individuals and families by distributing nutritious food to help alleviate hunger. Through Connecticut Foodshare, $1 provides two meals to a hungry resident in the state.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

“Philanthropy is a big part of what we do,” Jason said. “In Connecticut, over 400,000 people are not able to feed themselves completely, and 140,000 of those people are children under 12. It’s 2022 and that is completely unacceptable. Food is not a privilege – it’s a right. Everyone should be fed and fed fully. Could we donate 100,000 meals through this program in the next two years? I hope so.”

On top of being well-known for its food, Jason says that Haven Hot Chicken is successful because of its strong team.

“We have some of the best people working for us right now, and we look for ways to improve what we do every day,” he said. “We don’t have a traditional corporate, topdown approach. We’re starting a program where we’re buying no-slip shoes for everyone who works for us, and we’re putting together a 401k plan. Our goal is to attract really committed, impassioned people who want to make our business the best it can be. Everyone pools tips and makes good money.”

Jason says that the team at Haven Hot Chicken is on the same wavelength when it comes to producing high-quality products, giving back to their communities, and respecting their guests.

“We love the connections that people make through food and drink, and we love watching people have a great time eating our food,” Jason said. “At the end of the day, food brings us all together.”

Photo: Haven Hot Chicken Photo: Haven Hot Chicken

Haven Hot Chicken & Waffles

For more information or to place an order online, go to their website at havenhotchicken.com 