A California-based chicken chain says salads have overtaken fried menu items as the top-selling category as the company prepares for a multi-state expansion.
“We do serve wings and tenders and sandwiches and all the more traditional [quick service restaurant] or a fast-casual style of chicken products,” Noveshen said. ‘But it’s really the premium ingredients [and] the healthy indulgence you can get at Starbird is what really sets us apart.”
Starbird’s salad offerings include the Elote Chop Salad, Avo Cabo Crunch, Tokyo Sesame Crunch, Thai Chicken and Chicken Chop, according to the chain’s website.
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Aaron Noveshen, a sophisticated chef, founded Starbird in 2016. (Starbird)
Founded in 2016 by Noveshen, a sophisticated chef, Starbird was built on the idea that American fast food can be taken to the next level with higher quality ingredients and a more modern guest experience.
The chain uses fresh chicken that is breaded by hand and cooked in small batches in rice bran oil. A process that, according to Noveshen, results in a lighter, fresher product.
“The product is incredibly fresh, incredibly light and delicious,” he said.
In addition to its food, Starbird has focused heavily on technology.
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Starbird salads and chicken sandwiches are pictured next to the exterior of one of the chain’s brick-and-mortar locations. (Starbird)
According to Noveshen, the majority of orders are placed digitally, via the company’s mobile app, online ordering platform or kiosks in stores.
In addition to traditional streetside restaurants, the company operates in several non-traditional locations.
Starbird has locations at Levi’s Stadium, as well as at San Francisco International Airport and California Memorial Stadium, where the University of California, Berkeley football team plays.
With this year’s Super Bowl being held at Levi’s Stadium, the Bay Area saw an influx of visitors and events leading up to the game.
“Because Starbird is a well-known entity, people can fly to the airport to have Starbird, they can come to the stadium and have Starbird,” Noveshen said. “… It was one of our biggest weeks in company history.”
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Noveshen plans to expand Starbird to five new states in the coming year. (Starbird)
As Starbird celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, the chain plans to expand into five new states, including Washington state, in the coming year, Noveshen said.
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“That’s how we think about things at Starbird,” Noveshen said. “Create a little positivity, put a smile on people’s faces and share something delicious.”
