Zankou Chicken is opening its first Lawndale location today. The new location brings Zankou’s Mediterranean offerings to the South Bay community. The opening adds new jobs and expands dining options for the Lawndale community.
Zankou Chicken Opens Its First South Bay Location
According to GlobeNewswire, the brand’s first South Bay restaurant is opening at 17100 Hawthorne Boulevard in Lawndale. It marks a key milestone in its continued growth, as it spreads Armenian and Lebanese cooking to consumers. The restaurant is designed for dine-in, takeout, and catering, and will introduce the brand’s first-ever drive-up service in April.
The brand uses traditional recipes to cook fresh food and serve it hot all day long. It does not rely on freezers or artificial ingredients and focuses on continuous preparation during service. This opening will serve the new community and will also bring exciting new opportunities to the people.
Opening Driven by Guest Demand
Founded in 1962, Zankou Chicken opened its first U.S. location in Los Angeles in 1984. However, it currently operates only 13 non-franchise locations across Southern California. This steady growth reflects the company’s focus on maintaining quality over quantity.
Despite the limited number of locations, the brand’s demand has grown over the years. Now, it is opening its first South Bay location, driven by years of community guest demand.
The new restaurant will feature a retro interior design that reflects its heritage. It will operate daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Catering services will also be available for families, offices, schools, and neighborhood events throughout the South Bay.
Grand Opening Celebration
The new restaurant will open on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. To celebrate the opening, the first 100 guests who place an in-person order will automatically be entered into a raffle. The raffle gives customers a chance to win one free entrée per week for a full year.
Zankou Chicken’s new opening marks its steady expansion while it stays rooted in tradition, quality, and community demand. The Lawndale debut also helps bring its Mediterranean flavors closer to local diners. It also further extends its long-standing legacy across Southern California.
