can't stop dave's

Celebrity-backed hot chicken restaurant adds fourth Houston-area location

Dave's Hot Chicken's fourth location opens on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Dave's

California-based hot chicken sensation Dave's Hot Chicken will open its fourth Houston-area location in Rice Village (2525 Rice Blvd.) this Friday, February 25. It shares the former Buffalo Wild Wings space with a Velvet Taco location that opened last year.

Founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan — a classically trained chef and veteran of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon restaurant — Dave’s serves halal chicken tenders and sandwiches at seven difference spice levels. The menu also includes sides such as kale slaw, mac & cheese, crispy fries, and cheese fries. Milkshakes help ease the burn.

Initially opened as a parking lot pop-up by Kopushyan and three friends, Dave’s has grown to multiple brick and mortar locations across Southern California and three Houston locations: west Houston, Midtown, and Missouri City. Local franchisee Dos Niños Enterprises, LLC has plans to bring Dave's to Spring and Webster in the near future.

The company counts a number of celebrities among its investors including Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson, NFL Hall of Famer and broadcaster Michael Strahan, and journalist/former First Lady of California Maria Shriver.

“Dave’s Hot Chicken will blow your mind! Every Tender is hot, juicy, and spicy,” CEO Bill Phelps said in a statement. “Our founders started Dave’s as a parking lot pop-up restaurant in Hollywood with a portable fryer and picnic tables from their backyards just four short years ago. We are ecstatic to be opening our newest restaurant in Houston!”

The Rice Village location will open at 11 am daily. It closes at 11 pm Monday-Thursday and midnight Friday-Sunday.

news-you-can-eat openings

blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

cocktails holidays museum district nightlife

can't stop dave's

Celebrity-backed hot chicken restaurant adds fourth Houston-area location

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New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

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