Inferno Chicken is now open for dine-in with delivery and pick up service coming soon

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - There’s a new fire-breathing chicken in Citrus Heights.

Inferno Chicken celebrated its grand opening Monday, August 16, replacing the former family owned Armenian Grillhouse at 5925 Birdcage Centre Ln Ste 109, which opened in 2017.

The Monday morning ribbon cutting ceremony included officers of the Citrus Heights Police Department, members of the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce, the Sunrise MarketPlace (SMP) Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) and Meghan Huber, the city’s economic development and communications manager.

“The decision to change the restaurant’s theme and menu was a necessary business choice,” said owner Naz Muradyan. “While the restaurant was very popular, our decision was driven by the rising costs of providing high-quality Mediterranean dishes which we were best known for.”

Dishes had included lamb gyros, kebabs, soups and appetizers like Greek fries and falafel. Grilled lamb, tri-tips, chicken wraps, and a variety of Armenian flavors and salads were among the restaurant’s popular favorites.

“We just couldn’t raise prices any higher to cover our expenses and remain competitive,” Muradyan said.

The restaurant continued to remain open through the pandemic before shuttering this month for renovation.

“We made a decision to open a more American-style restaurant featuring Louisiana style chicken which is also my favorite style. All of our New Orleans-inspired sauces are made fresh daily.”

“It’s our first location in my hometown of Citrus Heights,” he said. “In the future I’m looking to open another Inferno Chicken restaurant in Carmichael.”

Customers are invited to choose their style, their preferred heat level, and a side dish. Heat levels range from a mild Buffalo, a teriyaki-inspired “Asian-Fury”, and ascending steadily in intensity from “Hot Tickle”, “Warming Up”, “Feel the Heat”, “Make Me Cry” to “Inferno”, for which they will need a waiver to sign, Muradyan said.

Inferno Chicken is now open for dine-in with delivery and pick up service coming soon, Muradyan said. Customer traffic from the nearby Target store in Birdcage Centre will remain an important source of daily revenue for the restaurant, he said.

“We’ve kept our menu very family-friendly with choices all can enjoy,” Muradyan said.

The menu offers four primary chicken choices, a sandwich on a soft roll ($4.99), two fresh tacos for $6.99. A basket of six boneless chicken tenders for $5.99 or two large chicken tenders at $5.99 are featured.

French fries, macaroni and cheese or rice served “Inferno Style” at the spice level of customer choice are available at $9.99. Smaller portions of macaroni and cheese, French fries, tater tots, rice, veggies, and coleslaw are $2.99 each.

New outside metal fencing around for patio seating was added with help of the Sunrise Marketplace Property and Business Improvement District. Eight tables are inside. While overall seating capacity is 55, the owner said it will be adjusted as needed to maintain proper social distancing.

Inside, a colorful hand-painted mural depicts a fire-breathing mother chicken trying to rescue her chicks. The painting of the mural was a month-long family effort during the restaurant’s refresh and features scenes of the state capital and the Sacramento River.

Inferno Chicken at 5925 Birdcage Centre Lane, Suite 109 in Citrus Heights is open Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays. Masks are required to be worn for service and proper social distancing is observed. Call 916-967-7320 for more information or visit https://www.infernochicken.com/ to view a sample menu.