3 minute read
FOOD & DRINK
Hot Chicken
By Haley Beyer
The hot chicken trend was just beginning to spread when Shawn Lahlehzarian introduced Los Angeles to The Red Chickz in 2018. “I saw the opportunity with a new concept and wanted to bring something different to the area,” Lalehzarian said. “There were restaurants around, but hot chicken wasn’t as big an industry as it is now.” Lalehzarian lives in Downtown Los Angeles, but his family has been on the Westside for the past 20 years. With his knowledge of the area, he created a business plan around giving people a quality experience and product with a unique twist. To recreate the most authentic food possible, Lalehzarian and his partner flew to Nashville to do research for two weeks. “We tried all kinds of different flavors and seasonings,” Lalehzarian said. “We got recipes from everyone we met including Uber drivers and the bellman at the hotel and were even lucky enough to be invited into people’s homes. We experienced the culture of hot chicken there and brought that knowledge back for authentic spices and dipping sauces and those recipes remain unchanged to this day.” Their experience with the welcoming folks of Tennessee was then paired with fried chicken that was experimented on by eight chefs to make sure it remained the perfect amount of crunchy with the least amount of grease. This led to the success of the first location and, ultimately, led to opening their second in Culver City. “It was the perfect place to move into because it has become the food hub for the Westside and we loved the idea of penetrating the market in an area with a cool environment,” Lalehzarian said. To further the success of the brand, The Red Chickz has expanded its menu to better fit the needs and taste buds of guests who prefer more than just chicken or support a vegetarian lifestyle. The menu is innovative because it offers more than just chicken sandwiches and tenders, serving dishes such as tacos, chicken paired with French toast, and cauliflower options. The French toast sandwich and plate is Lalehzarian’s favorite because of his sweet tooth. One of his friends knew a woman in France who was kind enough to share her recipe with the restaurant. The vegetarian options were specially requested by customers who wanted to be part of The Red Chickz community but didn’t have something on the menu to enjoy. “This was something that was in the works for four to five months,” Lalehzarian said. “It took a while because we wanted to make sure we created a quality product with the right seasoning and sauce with the same crunch as the chicken.” The Red Chickz is one of the few franchises that offer a vegetarian option in the hot chicken market. The main focus of the menu will always be chicken, but The Red Chickz wants to guarantee inclusivity and forward thinking. “My mindset is to always be ahead of the curve and the best way to do that was add a category differentiator to our menu approach,” Lalehzarian said. “It was a direct market to a target audience. It has exceeded my expectations and the customers are great.” Lalehzarian has been in the restaurant business since moving to the United States from Iran in 1998. The Red Chickz is already working on expansion with plans for more stores in Southern California and future hopes of adding Texas, Nevada and Arizona. “We want to grow quickly, but we also want to grow smart so we will pick new locations and expand into other states when it is a good move financially and will have a positive impact on the brand,” Lalehzarian said. But expanding is not their sole focus. “I have a passion for this industry—the creativity, the service, the authenticity,” Lalehzarian said. “I want to create atmospheres and experiences that people love.”
The Red Chickz
10100 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles (213) 800-1835 theredchickz.com Nashville Hot Chicken concept, The Red Chickz, recently opened a second location in Culver City.
