Chicken concepts have been flocking to Valley – here are 5 of the latest

🐓 Pardon the pun, but chicken is hot, especially in the Valley. And while the ubiquitous Memphis hot variety has propelled the trend, other new options – from Southern-style to Korean fried – also seem to pop up weekly. Here are just a few of the chicken concepts that have opened in the Valley in the last 90 days:

• Not counting its concession stand at ASU’s hockey arena, Shaquille O’Neal-owned Big Chicken made its much-anticipated Arizona debut in downtown Gilbert, where diners waited in long lines for one of its seven specialty sandwiches. The local franchisees plan to open another 10-12 locations.

• K-Monster Chicken, a fast-casual Korean chicken concept that just opened inside the 99 Ranch Market in Chandler, lets you customize wings, breasts, and thigh with a variety of sauces and toppings, including nuts and cheese.

• Valley entrepreneur Dave Liniger, founder of RE/MAX, was so impressed by Daddy’s Chicken Shack (which had one location in California and another in Houston) that he bought the concept and opened a third location on Shea in Scottsdale. He plans to launch 160 franchise locations by next year.

• Panko-crusted chicken sandwiches accompanied by house-made lychee lemonade are all the rage at Thai-style fast-casual concept Chickii at Arrowhead Ranch Center in Glendale.

• Iconic Memphis-based chain Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, named by Forbes as America’s best fried chicken, opened its third Valley location on 16th Street in uptown Phoenix and is preparing for the imminent launch of its next location in Ahwatukee.