As it turns out, long lines outside of the North Spokane Chick-fil-A upon its opening in December 2020 were signs of things to come in the Inland Northwest.

Since the Atlanta-based eatery premiered at 9304 N. Newport Highway, at least eight chicken-oriented restaurants have opened or been proposed in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area.

“Because we are a growing city, and we didn’t really ever have a lot of chicken restaurants like that, I think that people are just looking to expand to this area,” Spokane chef and restaurateur Adam Hegsted says.

Two additional Chick-fil-A establishments are being planned in Spokane. One has been proposed near Gonzaga University at the southeast corner of Ruby Street and Mission Avenue, and the other has been proposed on Spokane’s South Hill, at the southwest corner of Regal Street and 29th Avenue, records on file with the city of Spokane show.

Last year, a third Wingstop restaurant opened in the Inland Northwest, at 2503 W. Wellesley, in the Shadle Shopping Center. The existing Addison, Texas-based chicken wing restaurants in the area are located in North Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

Another Wingstop location has since been proposed at 9926 W. U.S. 2, on the West Plains, records show.

Last November, a franchisee company brought a Houston TX Hot Chicken restaurant to Spokane. The Las Vegas-based franchise, known for its Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and tenders, opened the eatery at 1839 N. Ruby, and had lines out the door for weeks after opening.

Houston TX Hot Chicken founder Edmond Barseghian told the Journal in August that the rising popularity of chicken restaurants may be related to more health-conscious eating habits.

“Poultry, just in general, is a healthier option,” Barseghian says. “I think people are incorporating it more into their diets.”

In Coeur d’Alene, The Chicken Shanty, a Medford, Oregon-based chicken restaurant chain, opened a store earlier this year, at 1423 W. Appleway.

In North Spokane, construction is expected to begin later this year on a Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurant in the parking lot of the former Babies R Us store, at 6104 N. Division, near the Tomato Street restaurant. The Pasadena, California-based eatery, also known for its Nashville hot chicken, is expected to open in late 2024 or early 2025.

Kevin Eggen, who co-owns RSM Hold Co. LLC, the franchisee company that’s opening the Dave’s restaurant, says the North Spokane location will be the first of two Dave’s restaurants that his company has agreed to bring to Spokane.

“The chicken segment has been on the rise,” Eggen says. “It’s comfortable for everybody—everybody enjoys chicken sandwiches.”

There are also rumors of a Raising Cane’s restaurant coming to North Spokane, although the Journal hasn’t been able to confirm that yet.

Popeye's Louisiana Chicken, which already has a restaurant in Post Falls, also has been rumored to be opening locations in North Spokane and the West Plains, but those plans couldn't be confirmed immediately.

Hegsted, who owns multiple restaurants in the region through Eat Good Group LLC, including Baba, The Yards Bruncheon, Francaise, and Honey Eatery & Social Club, says the growing trend is a combination of numerous factors, including the growth of Spokane, the lack of quick-service chicken restaurants aside from KFC, and heightened awareness of food culture and trends happening in larger cities.

Chicken sandwiches, Nashville hot chicken, and Korean fried chicken have become more popular across the country at all types of restaurants, not just quick-service establishments, Hegsted says.

“They’ve been gaining popularity for a while,” says Hegsted.

Some of Hegsted’s restaurants have been part of the trend, he says.

“Although fast food chains are not exactly part of what we do, we still have a fried chicken sandwich at pretty much all of our restaurants too, because people like them,” he says.

Honey Eatery & Social Club, for example, serves a Southern fried chicken sandwich, crispy fried chicken wings, and a honey fried chicken platter. The Yards Bruncheon menu boasts a Chick’n n’ Waffles dish that uses “Spokantucky" fried chicken.

Hegsted says that as Spokane’s food scene continues to develop, more people are open to trying dishes that haven’t always been staples of the region.

“I think our developing food scene has helped open up people’s horizon,” Hegsted says. “I think people’s growth for trying new things as a community here has been a lot more positive than it has been, maybe in the last 10 years.”

Social media may also play a part in the growth of chicken restaurants' popularity as influencers and food reviewers shine more light on food trends across the country, Hegsted adds.

“When people are seeing it on social media or other platforms, they get excited about it and want to go try it out,” Hegsted says.