Traditional wisdom suggests that people should invest in companies and businesses whose products they understand and love – coupled with doing some research into other important variables such as financials, valuation, location, etc.

And that’s exactly how and why Byrd’s Hot Chicken ended up in Canton and Novi.
Zahid, one of the partners, discovered Byrd’s while traveling with his family in 2023. Byrd’s Hot Chicken sounded like a better option than traditional fast food, after a single glance at their menu. Even though it was a good six miles off the highway, the trip to Byrd’s Hot Chicken in Schererville, Indiana, turned out to be worth it in more ways than just feeding the kids in the back.

“I immediately fell in love with how fresh the chicken was,” Zahid said.

The secret lies in fresh – never frozen – organic halal chicken, which is marinated for up to 48 hours and is freshly hand-battered only after customers place their order. There are also five different spice options to suit everyone’s taste.

Knowing all this, Zahid reached out to two of his friends, Chandan and Srinivas, and the three were all in – opening Byrd’s Hot Chicken in Novi in January 2024, and a second location in Canton in October 2025.

Byrd’s Hot Chicken started with a simple mission: deliver real-deal, fresh, hot chicken that’s crispy, juicy, spicy and halal. “Halal” is an Arabic word that means “permissible”. For meat, this means it must come from a healthy animal, be processed humanely and be free of contaminants or unnatural ingredients.

Meat served at Byrd’s is free of any kind of hormones, steroids or antibiotics and is procured fresh. Whether you’re going for plain no-spice, mild heat or the insane Supahot, every bite brings the heat and flavor you’ll never forget.

“Food was always something very passionate for all three of us,” Zahid said.

The partners were willing to be patient before opening a second location, but the response to the Novi restaurant has been so positive that they jumped right back in a year later with the Canton location.

“We found an ideal spot on Ford Road that we couldn’t pass up, and we want to focus first on the west side of town before looking at other locations,” Zahid said. “Canton is just a perfect location for us and an excellent community to be part of.”

From their hot chicken sandwich stacked with tangy slaw and pickles, to their tender chicken tenders and loaded Byrd’s fries, coupled with the milkshakes, everything on the menu is crafted with care, spice and authenticity.

“We truly believe everyone deserves access to good food that is made fresh with care, without compromising on flavor,” said all three partners.

“Byrd’s is built on that foundation: crispy, spicy, unforgettable hot chicken that’s halal.” Byrd’s Hot Chicken is located at 42919 Ford Road, Canton. For more information or to order online, visit getbyrds.com