Angry Chickz Sets Its Sights on Aurora With First Midwest Location Opening Sept. 4
A new destination for spice seekers is about to make its mark in the Fox Valley
LOS ANGELES (Sept. 1, 2026) – Angry Chickz is making its Illinois debut this September, bringing its signature Nashville hot chicken, customizable heat levels and high-energy approach to dining to Aurora. The fast-growing brand will open its first Illinois location at 1167 N. Eola Rd., Ste. 101 on Sept. 4.
To mark the grand opening, Angry Chickz is kicking off the celebration with special giveaways for guests beginning at 11 a.m. on Sept. 4. The first 100 guests will receive a limited-edition Angry Chickz jersey, while the first 500 guests to register on-site will be entered for a chance to win Angry Chickz for a Year and additional food prizes throughout the celebration.
The Aurora opening will be Angry Chickz’s 46th location nationwide. Built around made-to-order chicken, the menu features crowd-favorite tenders, sliders and bowls that let guests choose heat levels from no heat “Country” to sign a waiver “Angry” .
“Illinois has been a market we’ve wanted to enter, and Aurora is a strong place to start,” said Mike LaRue, vice president of franchise development at Angry Chickz. “This opening marks an important step in our Midwest expansion, and we’re excited about the opportunity to grow the brand across the region. Aurora gives us a strong foundation as we look to bring Angry Chickz to more communities throughout the Midwest.”
The Aurora opening is part of Angry Chickz’s continued expansion through a combination of corporate and franchise locations. It follows the brand’s recent entry into the East Coast with an opening in Kingston, Pa., and brings Angry Chickz into another new region as it continues to build its national footprint. Through that growth, the brand remains focused on creating neighborhood restaurants where bold food and genuine hospitality go hand in hand.
To learn more about Angry Chickz, visit AngryChickz.com.
About Angry Chickz
Angry Chickz is one of the fastest-growing Nashville hot chicken brands in the United States, known for its bold flavors, customizable heat levels, and high-energy, guest-first experience. Founded by David Mkhitaryan in 2018, the brand has rapidly scaled from a 900-square-foot storefront in Los Angeles’ East Hollywood neighborhood into a multi-state franchise system with a loyal and growing fan base.
Built on a simple, highly executable menu of hand-breaded tenders, sliders, bowls, and craveable sides, Angry Chickz delivers a consistent, high-quality experience designed to drive repeat visits and strong unit-level performance. The brand’s operating model is purpose-built for scalability, with a focus on operational discipline, off-premise efficiency, and premium product execution.
Driven by a passion for flavor, hospitality, and disciplined growth, Angry Chickz continues to expand nationwide through a mix of corporate and franchise development, bringing its signature take on Nashville hot chicken to new markets across the country.
The brand has been recognized as a rising leader in the fast-casual space, earning accolades including QSR’s “Ones to Watch,” Fast Casual’s “2026 Top 100” and “20 Brands to Watch,” Nation’s Restaurant News’ Hot Concepts Award, and Fast Casual’s Top Movers & Shakers. Most recently, Angry Chickz ranked #44 on QSR’s Top 50 Contenders, #410 on Franchise Times’ Top 400, and was named one of QSR’s “Nine Franchisors to Watch.”
To learn more and see where Angry Chickz is headed next, visit AngryChickz.com.
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