Dave’s Hot Chicken, a Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant, is getting ready to open in Solana Beach at 905 Lomas Santa Fe Drive.
The company’s new location is set to move into the former Einstein’s Bagels at Loma Santa Fe Plaza, according to permit filings submitted to the San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality. While an exact opening date has not been announced, the restaurant will be operated by franchise owners Lawrence Kourie, Deryl Pangelinan, and Loralin Acoba. Customers can expect the brand’s signature spicy fried chicken sandwiches, tenders, and sides, served in a casual, fast-casual environment.
The Solana Beach Dave’s Hot Chicken will be run by franchise partners Kourie, Pangelinan, and Acoba, who already operate locations in Pacific Beach, El Cajon, Escondido, and more. Their expansion in San Diego emphasizes consistent food quality, community engagement, and the brand’s signature menu of customizable spice levels, classic sides, seasonal specials, and quick-service options for dine-in and takeout.
Founded in 2017 as a Los Angeles pop-up, Dave’s Hot Chicken has grown into a global brand and was acquired in 2025 by Roark Capital, which also owns Subway and other major franchise groups. Kourie confirmed that the Solana Beach site is one of its franchise locations, reflecting the brand’s continued regional growth and strong local demand following the Roark acquisition.
Dave’s Hot Chicken will join a handful of other food-forward tenants at Lomas Santa Fe Plaza, including Habit Burger Grill, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Primos Mexican Food, Samurai Restaurant, Starbucks, and soon-to-open Colosseo, an Italian-inspired restaurant taking over the former Pizza Nova space.
Among these is Our Green Affair Cafe, a vibrant, health-forward eatery that is open and continuing business as usual. The cafe is beloved for sourcing high-quality, seasonal ingredients and crafting dishes that deliver both exceptional flavor and wellness value. With easy online ordering and a full catering program for special events, Our Green Affair brings freshness, creativity, and community-minded dining to Solana Beach.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated that Dave’s Hot Chicken would replace Our Green Affair Cafe, which was incorrect. Our Green Affair Cafe is still open and in business.
