LIBERTY, Ohio – Khalid Rifat discussed the grand opening of the new Dude’s Chicken location and the restaurant’’s plans to streamline its menu while building on the items that helped make it a local success.
Rifat said the move follows the unexpected loss of the restaurant’s previous Belmont Avenue location, prompting a quick relocation to a new takeout- and delivery-focused operation.
The new space allows the business to continue serving customers while preparing for future growth. Dude’s Chicken is best known for its crispy chicken shawarma, oversized rice bowls and jumbo chicken tenders, menu items that gained popularity through social media and strong customer word-of-mouth.
Rifat credited TikTok with helping transform the business, saying customer traffic increased significantly after he began creating videos and sharing the story behind the restaurant. He said the exposure introduced new customers to the brand, while the food quality kept them coming back.
Looking ahead, Rifat plans to focus the menu on the restaurant’s most popular offerings while improving speed and efficiency. His goal is to create a fast-casual concept centered on quality food made from scratch, with the potential for additional locations in the future.