Food & Drink
Expect More Krispy Krunchy’s in Seattle
Fast-growing hot-chicken chain plans 600-plus locations this year
By Rob Smith January 27, 2025
Krispy Krunchy Chicken operates three locations in the Seattle area. Expect many more.
The fast-growing, Atlanta-based chain — which operates out of convenience stores, truck stops, casinos and big-box retailers — plans more than 600 new stores this year after opening 605 last year. The chain competes on price, offering a $4 value meal. Its cajun chicken sandwich earned accolades as one of Convenience Store News’ 2024 Best New Products and was named a winner in CSP’s 2024 Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest.
Krispy Krunchy was also featured in several USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards and picked as one of “Eat This, Not That’s” Fastest Growing Restaurants. Yelp! ranked the brand on its Fastest Growing Brands of 2024 list because of online searches and mentions by consumers.
Seattle has become a lucrative market for hot-chicken chains. California-crispy chicken chain Starbird recently announced that it was planning 15 locations across Seattle and two in Spokane. El Pollo Loco, which specializes in Mexican-style grilled chicken, is planning four restaurants in Pierce County and South King County. Crimson Coward, Jollibee, and Raising Cane’s have also targeted the city for expansion. Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken also recently opened in Climate Pledge Arena.
Krispy Krunchy’s Seattle locations are on Martin Luther King Jr. Way; in the Beacon Hill neighborhood; and in Kirkland.
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