Pinole is getting a serious spice upgrade on Friday, when Dave’s Hot Chicken unlocks its newest Bay Area outpost at 2714 Pinole Valley Road. The fast-casual chain is sliding into the Pinole Valley shopping strip with its hand-breaded tenders, sliders, sides and milkshakes, plus the seven-level heat ladder that has already drawn crowds at other Bay Area spots. Locals should be ready for the kind of opening-day lines that tend to snake around the block when this place shows up in a new neighborhood.
According to Dave's Hot Chicken's official Pinole page, the restaurant’s grand opening is set for Friday at the 2714 Pinole Valley Road address. The listing keeps the focus squarely on the chain’s core hits: tenders, sliders and classic sides, and steers guests toward the brand’s app for ordering and rewards. Anyone hoping to dodge the longest waits might want to tap in there or plan a visit outside the usual lunch and dinner rush.
What To Expect On The Menu
The Pinole restaurant will pour most of its energy into the chain’s signature tenders and sliders, along with a new “spicy bites” option that can be dressed with sauces like Spicy Buffalo, Spicy BBQ, Mike’s Hot Honey and a Dave’s “Reaper” ranch, as reported by the East Bay Times. Dave’s advertises halal, all-white meat tenders that are “juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside,” backed by a seven-step heat scale that runs from No Spice up to Reaper. That top-tier Reaper level has been intense enough that some locations have required customers to sign a waiver before they get their order, a policy noted in coverage of other openings.
Who’s Running The Pinole Shop
The new Pinole franchise is locally owned by Gregg Fleury. Business filings list Fleury as an officer of Redd Chic DHC, the company that operates Dave’s Hot Chicken locations in California. BizProfile shows Fleury on state corporate records as a company officer.
How This Fits Into Dave’s Expansion
Per the East Bay Times, the Pinole opening pushes Dave’s to about its 387th store nationwide and marks the chain’s 20th Bay Area location. The brand started life as a parking-lot pop-up in East Hollywood and has grown quickly in recent years. It was acquired in 2025 by Roark Capital, according to reporting by The Press Democrat.
Opening Day Notes
Opening weekend is likely to be busy. The Pinole store page is already pushing app orders and listing the new location for pickup and delivery, and parking around the shopping strip can tighten up when a new spot launches. Dave's Hot Chicken directs customers to its app for rewards and contactless ordering, which could help skip at least part of the line. If you are planning to check it out, expect the heaviest crowds in the middle of the day and later in the evening, and look for off-peak pickup windows where you can.
