Dave's Hot Chicken vs Popeyes:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Popeyes had more branded searches than Dave's Hot Chicken among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom. Popeyes had about 246,000 branded searches, while Dave's Hot Chicken had 201,000. Popeyes made up 10.7% of all fried chicken chain searches we track, and Dave's Hot Chicken accounted for 8.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fried chicken chains, Dave's Hot Chicken appeared in two of the three answers and Popeyes in one. Dave's Hot Chicken and Popeyes were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Popeyes, about 22% more searches than Dave's Hot Chicken
Who does AI mention more?
Dave's Hot Chicken, mentioned in 2 of 3 answers, Popeyes in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.
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Top fried chicken chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Dave's Hot Chicken was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Popeyes was mentioned in one out of three: in one of the three ChatGPT answers. Dave's Hot Chicken and Popeyes were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Wingstop1st
KFC2nd
Slim Chickens3rd
Nando's4th- Dave's Hot Chicken5th
- Popeyes6th
Jollibee7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- KFC3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Wingstop3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Slim Chickens3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Nando's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Dave's Hot Chicken2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Jollibee2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Popeyes1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about fried chicken chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best fried chicken chain in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the most popular chicken chains in the UK?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which UK chain has the best chicken wings?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“fried chicken”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“chicken shop”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United Kingdom on October 23, 2026.
Is Dave's Hot Chicken or Popeyes more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Dave's Hot Chicken and Popeyes by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven fried chicken chains we track, month by month, from searches in United Kingdom.
Share of searches by month for Popeyes, Dave's Hot Chicken. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | KFC | Nando's | Popeyes | Wingstop | Dave's Hot Chicken | Slim Chickens | Jollibee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 46.2% | 20.8% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 7.6% | 4.2% | 2.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 44.6% | 20% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 6% | 4.9% | 2.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.1% | 23.1% | 10.3% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 2.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 34.3% | 28.2% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 6.9% | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.8% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 13.2% | 8.8% | 4.8% | 2.6% |
| Mar 2026 | 40.2% | 22.2% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 9.9% | 5.4% | 2.4% |
| Apr 2026 | 37% | 24.9% | 11.1% | 9.1% | 9.1% | 6.1% | 2.7% |
| May 2026 | 37.6% | 25.3% | 11.3% | 9.2% | 7.6% | 6.2% | 2.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 41.4% | 22.8% | 10.2% | 10.2% | 6.8% | 5.6% | 3.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 37.7% | 25.4% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 9.3% | 6.2% | 2.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.8% | 24.1% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 2.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 35.7% | 23.9% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 7.2% | 3.2% |
How has the Dave's Hot Chicken and Popeyes comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Popeyes was ahead of Dave's Hot Chicken in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom moved from 7.6% to 8.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 301K to 201K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Popeyes’ share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United Kingdom moved from 9.3% to 10.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 246K.
How did search popularity change for United Kingdom fried chicken chains in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Dave's Hot Chicken in the United Kingdom fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 301K to 201K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Popeyes in the United Kingdom fell 33.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 246K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dave's Hot Chicken’s and Popeyes’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Dave's Hot Chicken
1 branded search term
- dave's hot chicken
Popeyes
1 branded search term
- popeyes
Other head-to-heads among fried chicken chains
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