Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fast-growing, SoCal-based chain renowned for its mild to mouth-numbing, heat-level chicken is owned by Raj Rajalingam, a Rossmoor resident with many years of experience in the franchise restaurant field.  His other concept, Blaze Pizza, is located next door. Dave’s specializes in chicken tenders and sliders, with a sliding scale of seven “heat” options, ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper” — the over-the-top level that requires a signed waiver, for those who dare. Ice cream milkshakes also are on the menu, along with such sides as house-made kale slaw, mac n’ cheese and crinkle-cut fries. The fast-casual chain began in 2017 as a Hollywood parking lot, pop-up by best friends Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy and Gary Rubenyan.  Dave had trained as a chef at Bouchon, a restaurant owned by by Thomas Keller of Napa’s French Laundry fame, and with his friends set out to create the perfect Hot Chicken by searching, tasting, and frying.  Equipped with a portable fryer and picnic tables, the four put a tiny stand in an East Hollywood parking lot, and quickly became known for their chicken offerings, sourced and prepared to be the juiciest and most tender imaginable with each piece topped with Dave’s own mix of spices ranging from No Spice to “The Reaper.” Arman created Instagram buzz and the lines began to grow. A few days later, the headline in Eater/LA read “East Hollywood’s Late Night Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind.” Now, five years later, the founders operate close to 60 restaurants — approximately 25 throughout Southern Californiana — and have sold the rights to almost 500 franchise locations.   Company investors include rap artist Drake, former California First Lady Maria Shriver, Red Sox owner Tom Werner, actor Samuel L. Jackson and Good Morning America anchor and retired NFL player Michael Strahan. The Seal Beach location, 12380 Seal Beach Blvd., is open Sundays through Thursdays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Follow this link for Dave’s Hot Chicken menu details.

Pick Up Stix is a counter-serve chain for Americanized Asian dishes. The restaurant has an open kitchen, where customers can watch their food being prepared right in front of them as they wait to pick it up at the register.