Fast-growing category defining chicken brand continues national growth with franchise agreement bringing Starbird’s innovative menu and modern restaurant experience to communities across Washington

San Francisco, CA  (RestaurantNews.com)  Starbird Chicken, the award-winning fast casual chicken concept known for its fresh, globally inspired flavors, is expanding its footprint into Washington through a new franchise partnership with Mehta Investment Group.

The agreement includes plans to develop 17 locations across Washington state. The expansion marks a significant step in Starbird’s continued growth as the company brings its signature chicken tenders, salads, and sandwiches to new guests throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The new franchise venture will be led by Vin Mehta and his son Rohit through Mehta Investment Group, a family-owned enterprise with experience across multiple industries and a strong track record of building successful operations. Vin Mehta, president of Mehta Investment Group, will guide the strategic direction of the restaurants, while Rohit Mehta will oversee day-to-day operations and support the brand’s growth throughout Washington.

“Starbird has built something truly special by reimagining what a chicken restaurant can be, from the bold flavors and hospitable, modern restaurant design to the overall guest experience,” said Mehta. “Together, we’ll combine Starbird’s innovative approach with our team’s operational experience and passion for building lasting connections. We’re excited to open in Washington and become part of the communities we serve.”

The Washington expansion builds on the brand’s momentum as the company continues to grow through both company owned and strategic franchise partnerships in new markets. With Mehta Investment Group’s operational expertise and commitment to community-focused restaurants, Starbird will continue bringing its signature approach to chicken to more guests nationwide. To learn more, please visit StarbirdChicken.com.

About Starbird

Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Starbird is a culinary-forward brand serving Positively Delicious Chicken^®, signature housemade sauces, lemonades, iced teas and local craft soda. The brand’s menu features signature crispy chicken across tenders, wings, sandwiches and salads – made with bold flavors, high quality ingredients and a focus on consistency and execution.

Starbird was founded by restaurant entrepreneur Aaron Noveshen through his firm, The Culinary Edge, with a vision to bring higher quality food and thoughtful hospitality to quick-service dining. Built upon pillars of culinary innovation, a frictionless service model and operational excellence, Starbird has established a differentiated position within the $34 billion U.S. chicken category. Today, the brand operates 20 locations and continues to expand into new communities.

Starbird’s fresh, chef-driven approach has earned widespread industry recognition, including being named Nation’s Restaurant News’ Chicken Showdown winner in 2023, appearing on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers for nine consecutive years (ranking #7 in 2025), and landing on Restaurant Business/Technomic’s Future 50 list. Starbird has also been featured in Food & Wine’s “Top 10 Airports for Food and Drink.”

For more information, go to StarbirdChicken.com, or follow the brand on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Contact:
Courtney Sybesma
Champion
csybesma@championmgt.com