Today we’d like to introduce you to Zak Hamadeh.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Our story began during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which was one of the most uncertain and challenging times to start a restaurant business. At the time, Nashville-style hot chicken was still relatively new to our area, and we were among the first businesses in San Jose to introduce a complete Nashville hot chicken concept with different spice levels, oversized sandwiches, crispy tenders, and bold flavors.
We started with a single food truck in San Jose and a vision to build something much bigger. In the beginning, we had limited resources, but we believed strongly in our food and our brand. We worked long hours, stayed connected with our customers, and used social media to build awareness. The support from the local community helped Chikin Drip quickly develop a loyal following.
We have grown from one food truck into three permanent Chikin Drip locations. Two of our restaurants are in San Jose, California, and our third is in Union City. Our Union City location is especially meaningful to us because it is the first Nashville hot chicken restaurant in the Bay Area to feature a drive-through.
Today, Chikin Drip has grown into a recognizable local brand supported by approximately 80 staff members. One of our most visible marketing pieces is a Lamborghini fully wrapped in the Chikin Drip brand. It attracts attention wherever it goes, but it also represents how far we have come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, First food truck was hit by a drink driver, second food truck caught on Fire. But everything bad that happens always happens for a reason. They were both big learning experiences. Once the second food truck caught Fire it was the bug push I needed to get a store because I didn’t wanna deal with the food truck problems anymore.
We’ve been impressed with Chikin Drip , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Chikin Drip is a halal Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant known for our oversized chicken sandwiches, crispy tenders, loaded fries, bowls, house-made flavors, and signature spice levels. Customers can choose anything from No Spice to our hottest level, Holy Chick, so there is something for everyone.
What sets us apart is the overall value and experience we provide. We focus on generous portions, bold flavor, quality chicken, late-night hours, and making every customer feel welcome. We’ve built a menu that appeals to hot chicken lovers while still offering options for families, children, and customers who don’t enjoy spicy food. Our Union City restaurant also features a drive-through, making us one of the first halal hot chicken concepts in the Bay Area to offer that convenience.
We currently have three locations in the Bay Area: two in San Jose and one in Union City. Each location serves the same core menu, but our brand is about more than food. Chikin Drip represents resilience, hard work, and refusing to give up. We started with a food truck, overcame major setbacks, and grew into a recognizable local brand with a loyal following and around 80 employees.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the community we’ve built. People recognize the Chikin Drip name, bring their families and friends, share us on social media, and continue supporting us as we grow.
I want readers to know that Chikin Drip is still growing and evolving. Our goal is to continue improving our food and customer experience, create more jobs, open additional locations, and eventually grow the brand beyond the Bay Area. We’ve come a long way, but we believe this is only the beginning
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is seeing the people around me succeed. Knowing that Chikin Drip provides jobs for around 80 people and helps them support themselves and their families gives me a real sense of purpose.
I’m also happy when I see customers enjoying something I helped create. Watching families eat together, hearing positive feedback, and seeing people recommend our food reminds me why I kept going through all the difficult moments. More than anything, happiness for me comes from growth; personally, spiritually, and professionally. I enjoy setting ambitious goals, overcoming challenges, and being able to look back and see how far we’ve come. Building something meaningful from the ground up and creating opportunities for others makes all the hard work worth it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chikindrip.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chikindrip/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chikindrip/
