Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN), the premier publication serving the entire foodservice industry, announced five winners in its annual Hot Concepts awards.
This year’s Hot Concepts, powered by The Coca-Cola Company, recognize emerging chains from around the U.S. that have impressive growth momentum and the potential to become household names. The winners will be recognized during a session at CREATE: The Event for Emerging Restaurateurs, held in Nashville this Oct. 15-17.
“Hot Concepts is one of my favorite programs that we run every year because it’s a chance to dive deep into the creativity and trend-setting nature of the restaurant industry,” said Sam Oches, editor in chief of NRN. “There are countless brands across the country that are bringing a fresh and fun perspective to the multiunit restaurant game, and our editorial team digs through hundreds of them to identify the best of the best. It’s an arduous process, but we’re confident that our five picks have what it takes to become major success stories.”
This year’s Hot Concept honorees are:
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Houston TX Hot Chicken, a fast-casual hot chicken franchise with 28 locations that is based in Las Vegas and founded by influencer Edmond Barseghian
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Waldo’s Chicken & Beer, a chicken joint based in Nashville with 26 locations that offer fried and rotisserie chicken plus scratch-made sides and cold beer
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Tacotarian, a Las Vegas-based brand with six locations dishing plant-based versions of Mexican favorites like tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas
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Brassica, a six-unit Mediterranean fast casual based in Columbus, Ohio, that received a minority investment from Chipotle in 2024
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Joyland, a four-unit burger shop launched by renowned chef Sean Brock that’s part of the Birmingham, Ala.-based Pihakis Restaurant Group
Executives from each concept will be on hand at CREATE to share their unique story and how they’ve navigated challenges along the way.
“Cheers to the 2025 Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concept winners!” said Barb Poremba, Vice President of Industry Leadership at The Coca-Cola Company. “These extraordinary brands and their visionary leaders embody the creativity and resilience that drive our industry forward. Their innovative spirit is a beacon for the next generation of restaurateurs, inspiring them to chase their entrepreneurial dreams. We are proud to stand alongside them and celebrate their achievements at CREATE in Nashville this year.”
Past Hot Concepts winners have included major chains such as Panda Express, Raising Cane’s, The Cheesecake Factory, Jamba, and CAVA. Last year’s cohort featured Toastique, Tacombi, Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog BBQ, Puttshack, Angry Chickz, and Mecha Noodle Bar.
“The restaurant industry has an amazing diversity of brands, menus, and leaders that are emerging around the country and finding a national audience,” Oches said. “Our Hot Concepts winners are a perfect example of that diversity, and we’re excited to welcome this next generation of restaurant leadership to our CREATE event in October.”CREATE will be hosted at the Omni Nashville hotel this Oct. 15-17. Restaurant leaders can register for CREATE for free by clicking here.
