While North Fresno, River Park and Fig Garden are the hot spots for fine dining, the former Burger King by Fashion Fair Mall has the young people’s vote.

Los Angeles-based Dave’s Hot Chicken first came to the Central Valley in 2023 as part of a 20-restaurant franchise deal with ownership group Damm Fine Chicken, LLC, which also operates more than a dozen Blaze Pizza franchises in California.

They are debuting a Fresno restaurant — their eighth — backed by a brand with the largest social media reach of any of their competitors. Dave’s Hot Chicken has 2.1 million Instagram followers and more than 4 million on TikTok, adding about a million since the beginning of the year.

That’s why kids (mine included) are clamoring to give Dave’s Hot Chicken a try, to get in on the viral fun.

It’s been a meteoric rise for the fast-casual restaurant that began as a pop-up in 2017. It now has more than 345 locations, including in Canada, the Middle East and U.K.

So, while North Fresno can keep its white tablecloths and River Park keeps its crowds, the hottest ticket in town might just be a chicken slider with pickles and sauce — served out of a former Burger King.