Latest news with #Starbird
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maria Rivera named CEO of Starbird
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. Starbird, a fast casual chicken concept founded in 2016, has named Maria Rivera as chief executive officer, as well as to its board of directors. Founder Aaron Noveshen will transition fully to his role as chairman of the board while remaining an active partner in supporting Starbird's strategic direction. Rivera brings more than two decades of executive experience with globally recognized brands, including Krispy Kreme, Logan's Roadhouse, Darden Restaurants, Caesar's Entertainment, and The Walt Disney Company. Most recently, she served as CEO of Smalls Sliders, spearheading its franchise-driven growth and brand evolution. On her watch, Smalls' sales grew by nearly 90% year-over-year in 2024, while its footprint grew by 118%, according to Technomic. There are now nearly 30 units open, per the company's website, and about 300 locations under agreement or in development. The company also developed its own Pantone color, called "Smorange," which has become synonymous with the brand. 'Maria is a transformative leader with a remarkable track record of building brands with heart, assembling exceptional teams, and driving disciplined growth,' Noveshen said in a statement. 'I'm thrilled to welcome her to the helm and energized by the opportunity to partner with her as we lead Starbird into its next chapter — unlocking new levels of growth, reach, and impact together with our team.' Rivera's hire comes as Starbird accelerates national expansion and franchise growth driven by Noveshen's vision, as well as the investment of longtime partner Dollarhyde Investment Group, and backing from investment firm KarpReilly. The company recently signed new franchise development agreements to expand beyond its home state of California for the first time, including in Salt Lake City and Chicago. 'Starbird represents everything I believe the future of fast food can be — a brand rooted in culinary innovation, operational excellence, and a customer experience powered by technology, hospitality, and heart,' Rivera said in a statement. 'I'm stepping into Starbird with deep respect for the brand Aaron and this team have built — and a clear vision for where we're headed. I'm honored to lead Starbird into its next era — scaling with intention, partnering with best-in-class operators, and delivering craveable food with a conscience to communities nationwide.' Starbird finished 2024 with $47 million in sales, marking a 36.5% year-over-year increase, and over $4 million in average unit volumes, according to Technomic Ignite data, which outpaces most of its fast casual chicken peers. The concept was the winner of Nation's Restaurant News' Chicken Showdown in 2023. Contact Alicia Kelso at
Eater
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
The Best Dishes Eater Editors Ate This Week: May 27
The editors at Eater LA dine out several times a week, if not per day, which means we're always encountering standout dishes that deserve time in the limelight. Here's the very best of everything the team has eaten this week. La District from All'Antico Vinaio in Koreatown When Florence's sandwich shop All'Antico Vinaio first opened in LA, any location was pretty much guaranteed to come with a line and a lengthy wait. Now that there are a few locations across LA, it's much easier (and dare I say much more enjoyable) to swing by for a schiacciata sandwich topped with all manner of Italian meats and cheeses. A recent favorite of mine is the La District with pancetta, pecorino cream, sun-dried tomatoes, and arugula. The thin-sliced pancetta is salty and fatty, which works well against the acidity of the sun-dried tomatoes. The pecorino cream has all the flavors of a more traditional sliced pecorino, but in spreadable form, ensuring that there aren't any naked corners of the sandwich. The arugula is a welcome green with the richness of the other ingredients, and adds a pleasant pepperiness. The La District comes in at $17 right now, but it's easily large enough to feed two, and the staff here are always generous with toppings. 3923 W. Sixth Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest Fried fish sandwich from Little Fish in Echo Park Like clockwork, as soon as the weather warms up, I start craving fried fish sandwiches. One of the best around town right now can be found at Little Fish, set in the front of Echo Park's Dada Market. The pop-up gone permanent is still serving its famous fish sandwich, with a slab of crispy fish on a plush potato bun. The sandwich is simple, topped with just Kewpie mayo, a slice of American cheese, and dill pickles, but it doesn't need anything else. The fish is always hot and crispy, and there's no better place to enjoy the sandwich than one of the benches looking out toward Sunset Boulevard. For a side, try the nori potatoes dunked in garlic aioli. 1606 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90026. — Rebecca Roland, editor, Southern California/Southwest Chicken Parmesan sandwich from Starbird in Redondo Beach I don't typically highlight chain fast-casual restaurants, but a recent visit to Starbird in Hermosa Beach left me delighted by at least one of their many fried chicken dishes. The chain, originally from the Bay Area with a specific focus on antibiotic-free chicken and more health-forward dishes, had a sub-$10 sandwich that really surprised me. With a crispy cutlet as the main character, thick marinara sauce, melty provolone, fresh basil, and a smear of basil pesto brought this magnificent sandwich together. Roasted garlic aioli works as an additional, creamy binder. I would love to see chicken Parm sandwiches placed between burger buns at more restaurants, but the one from Starbird was terrific for the price. Another aspect of Starbird that I really appreciated was that the chain will donate a meal to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank if you post a photo of the meal to social media. That's the kind of sharing we can all get behind. Starbird currently has locations in Hermosa Beach, Beverly Grove, Marina Del Rey, and is coming soon to Torrance. 429 CA-1, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. — Matthew Kang, lead editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest French toast from Laya in Hollywood With a preference for savory and salty, my brunch practice includes ordering French toast for dessert to share with the table. The setup is already perfect, starting with cocktails and coffee, then moving on to the thoroughly satisfying omelets, bacon, and Béchamel. Dessert is rarely on my radar because the weekend daytime meal is incredibly filling, but Laya's kitchen sent out French toast for the table, which made the meal. Chef Charbel Hayek recently launched Sunday brunch, and much of the menu has Lebanese roots, particularly the first course, which features falafel, seared halloumi, crudite, olives with feta, and incredible labneh that his mother actually prepares in Laya's kitchen. Back to the French toast — the dish elevates custard to new heights with an impossibly soft yet firm consistency, featuring brioche, brown butter, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and layers of salted caramel throughout. It's beyond rich and beautiful to look at. It pairs well with the cardamom-spiced Lebanese coffee poured tableside. The entire daytime experience on Laya's gorgeous patio makes for an enjoyable morning or afternoon with a crowd that's especially happy to be there. 1430 N. Cahuenga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90028. — Mona Holmes, editor, Eater Southern California/Southwest Sign up for our newsletter.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A ‘super-premium' chicken concept is expanding into Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY () — A new rapidly growing chicken-based chain of restaurants is expanding into Salt Lake City. Starbird, a 'super-premium' fast food concept, announced on Monday it would be opening five locations in the Salt Lake City area, with the first openings expected in late 2025 and early 2026. The California-based restaurant said Salt Lake City was chosen for its thriving food scene and demand for modern dining options. It is currently unclear where exactly in the Salt Lake Valley the Starbird locations would be. The fast-food chain is known for its , including salads, bowls, wings, and breakfast options. Starbird also boasts its nine house-made dipping sauces and its unique proprietary recipe of gluten-free flours and spices for its chicken. Dutch Bros has a new menu item that's only available in Utah (and one other state) In addition to the five locations in Salt Lake City, Starbird also announced five restaurants in Chicago, Illinois. 'As we continue expanding into new markets, we're looking forward to collaborating with operators who share our passion for unmatched food and operational excellence,' said Starbird Founder and CEO Aaron Noveshen. 'Their experience and dedication will be instrumental in successfully bringing Starbird to these regions.' Noveshen did not say who would be operating the Salt Lake City-based franchises, only saying they bring decades of experience of operating successful restaurant brands. Along with the new Salt Lake City and Chicago locations, Starbird recently announced new locations in Denver, Colorado. The chain said it also has franchise opportunities in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Illinois and Florida. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
