Las Vegas restaurant chain debuts overseas — in strip mall with other American imports

A fried chicken chain from Las Vegas has made its overseas debut.

Houston TX Hot Chicken — which, despite its name, is based in Southern Nevada — announced that the brand recently opened its first location outside the U.S., in the United Kingdom.

The restaurant, in Stevenage, England, about 30 miles north of London, opened Oct. 31 and serves fried chicken sandwiches, tenders and nuggets.

Its menu also includes a Caesar salad topped with chunks of fried chicken and fries topped with chopped pieces of crispy poultry, along with slaw, pickles and so-called Houston sauce.

Overall, the new eatery marks the first of 50 planned for the UK over the next three years as part of a franchise agreement with London-based PizzaExpress, the chicken chain said.

HHC, as the company calls itself, is a fast-casual restaurant brand that boasts award-winning Nashville hot-chicken sandwiches.

It has eateries in nine states, with several locations in the Las Vegas Valley, and its spice-meter ranges from no spice to an option that’s so hot it requires a waiver.

Across the U.S., its restaurants are a mix of corporate-owned and franchised outlets, and its headquarters in Las Vegas is in a business park on Ponderosa Way at Rainbow Boulevard, in the southwest valley.

The sandwich slinger unveiled its international expansion plans in June, saying three HHC locations in the UK were slated to open this year.

Its first outpost there is in a strip mall that seems like it would have a very familiar feel to American visitors.

Stevenage Leisure Park, as the property is called, boasts Five Guys burgers, Starbucks, McDonald’s, a movie theater and a bowling alley.

Plus, Houston Hot Chicken isn’t the only American import cooking up deep-fried poultry at the plaza.

Its other eateries include Dave’s Hot Chicken, whose spice-meter spans from none to “reaper,” and KFC.

Contact Eli Segall at [email protected] or 702-383-0342.