Brandwave

How popular isDave's Hot Chicken?

In September 2026, people searched for Dave's Hot Chicken by name about 3.4 million times in the United States, an 18.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 7.5% of all United States fried chicken chain searches, placing Dave's Hot Chicken fourth out of ten chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about fried chicken chains, Dave's Hot Chicken appeared in two of the three answers and was the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Dave's Hot Chicken is the fourth most searched of 10 competitors and the fifth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Chick-fil-AShare of searches 45.4%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
  2. WingstopShare of searches 16.6%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
  3. KFCShare of searches 11.1%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  4. Dave's Hot ChickenShare of searches 7.5%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  5. PopeyesShare of searches 6.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st

+5 more

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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. Dave's Hot Chicken is the fifth most recommended of the ten.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Popeyes1st
  2. Chick-fil-A2nd
  3. Raising Cane’s3rd
  4. KFC4th
  5. Dave's Hot Chicken5th
  6. Zaxby's6th
  7. Wingstop7th
  8. Jollibee8th
  9. Bojangles9th
  10. Church's Texas Chicken–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Chick-fil-A3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Popeyes3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Raising Cane’s3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Wingstop2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • KFC2 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
  • Zaxby's2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Bojangles1 of 3Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answers
  • Church's Texas Chicken0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers

See every answer about fried chicken chains

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.

Which fried chicken chains compete with Dave's Hot Chicken?

Dave's Hot Chicken against fried chicken chains in the United States, by month

Share of searches by month for Chick-fil-A, Wingstop, KFC, Dave's Hot Chicken, Popeyes, Bojangles, Raising Cane’s, Jollibee, Zaxby's. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthChick-fil-AWingstopKFCDave's Hot ChickenPopeyesBojanglesRaising Cane’sJollibeeZaxby'sChurch's Texas Chicken
Oct 202542.4%15.6%10.4%8.5%8.5%3.8%3.1%3.1%3.1%1.4%
Nov 202541.7%15.3%10.2%8.4%10.2%3.7%3.1%3.1%3.1%1.4%
Dec 202541.9%15.4%10.3%8.4%8.4%3.8%3.8%3.1%3.8%1.4%
Jan 202642.4%15.5%10.4%8.5%8.5%3.8%3.8%2.5%3.1%1.4%
Feb 202644.9%16.5%9%7.4%7.4%3.3%4%2.7%3.3%1.5%
Mar 202642.3%15.5%10.4%10.4%6.9%3.8%3.8%2.5%3.1%1.4%
Apr 202643.1%15.8%10.6%8.6%7.1%3.9%3.2%3.2%3.2%1.4%
May 202642.8%15.7%10.5%8.6%7%3.8%3.8%3.1%3.1%1.4%
Jun 202643.4%15.9%10.6%8.7%7.1%3.9%3.2%2.6%3.2%1.4%
Jul 202648%14.4%9.6%7.9%6.5%3.5%2.9%2.9%2.9%1.3%
Aug 202648.1%14.5%9.7%7.9%6.5%3.5%3.5%2.9%2.4%1.1%
Sep 202645.4%16.6%11.1%7.5%6.1%3.3%3.3%2.7%2.7%1.2%

  1. 1.Chick-fil-A

    45.4%

    Held 1st. 20.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -2.7 points.

  2. 2.Wingstop

    16.6%

    Held 2nd. 7.5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.2 points.

  3. 3.KFC

    11.1%

    Held 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.5 points.

  4. 4.Dave's Hot Chicken

    7.5%

    Held 4th. 3.4M estimated branded searches, -18.1% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  5. 5.Popeyes

    6.1%

    Held 5th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.

  6. 6.Bojangles

    3.3%

    Held 6th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  7. 7.Raising Cane’s

    3.3%

    Held 7th. 1.5M estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  8. 8.Jollibee

    2.7%

    Held 8th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, -18.7% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.

  9. 9.Zaxby's

    2.7%

    Held 9th. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  10. 10.Church's Texas Chicken

    1.2%

    Held 10th. 550K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

Compare popularity between Dave's Hot Chicken and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Dave's Hot Chicken

9 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Dave's Hot Chicken changed in the United States over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Dave's Hot Chicken in the United States fell from 4.1M to 3.4M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States decreased from 8.5% to 7.5%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dave's Hot Chicken’s share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States peaked at 10.4% in March 2026 and was lowest at 7.4% in February 2026.

How did search popularity change for United States fried chicken chains in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Wingstop gained share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 14.5% to 16.6%.

  2. In September 2026, KFC gained share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 9.7% to 11.1%.

  3. In September 2026, Chick-fil-A lost share of searches among fried chicken chains in the United States, from 48.1% to 45.4%.

  4. Estimated monthly branded searches for Popeyes in the United States fell 33% over 12 measured months, from 4.1M to 2.7M in September 2026.

  5. Estimated monthly branded searches for Jollibee in the United States fell 18.7% over 12 measured months, from 1.5M to 1.2M in September 2026.

  6. Estimated monthly branded searches for Zaxby's in the United States fell 18.7% over 12 measured months, from 1.5M to 1.2M in September 2026.

How are Dave's Hot Chicken’s branded searches counted?

1 search term

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dave's Hot Chicken’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • dave's hot chicken

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