Fresh Chicken Express

Address: 3440 State Street

Telephone: 801-487-7373

Website: freshchickenexpress.com

District: South Salt Lake

 

“I came to this country with nothing - zero dollars in my pocket, no English - but I came with hope. I knew I could build something if someone just gave me a chance.” When Amir Adabkha arrived in Salt Lake City in 1994, he had left behind not only his home country of Iran but also a life full of responsibility. Years later, through relentless work and an unwavering belief in opportunity, Amir would go on to open Zaferan Café (7835 S Highland Dr.), serving Persian and Mediterranean cuisine in Cottonwood Heights, and then Fresh Chicken Express, a revival of a South Salt Lake favorite.

Amir had served as an officer in the Navy and worked in social enforcement and anti-drug efforts. He also ran a real estate agency. But after a series of events, he made the difficult decision to leave. He came alone, to the U.S. starting from scratch. Without language skills or resources, he took on hard physical labor - any job that would allow him to survive and send money home. Eventually, Amir found work as a taxi driver, and in 2004, launched his own private transportation business. Over time, that led to owning Yellow Cab City. “I was never afraid of hard work,” he said. “I just needed a way forward.” That same drive - to build, to provide, and to serve - would later shape his path as a restaurateur.

Six years after arriving, Amir was able to bring his wife Mitra and their two young daughters to Utah. Mitra, who had gone to high school with Amir in Iran - they married when she was just seventeen and he was eighteen - found work at Nordstrom Rack. But Amir saw something more. “She didn’t love that job,” he said. “And I thought, maybe we can do something better. Something of our own.” That idea became Zaferan Cafe, which they opened together in 2016.

Mitra quickly became the heart of the restaurant. She created the marinades, selected the spices, and oversaw the kitchen. Amir is quick to credit her with everything. “Zaferan is because of her. Not because of me. She knows what the Persian community wants. She cooks from the heart. I just helped build the space.”

In 2025, Amir was driving through South Salt Lake when he spotted a small restaurant he remembered, Chicken Express. It had closed after the original owner passed away, and the building sat quiet. He considered opening another Zaferan there. But as he watched customers pull into the lot, hoping for their favorite chicken, and as former employees stopped him to ask for their jobs back, he changed his mind. “I saw how much people missed this place,” he said. “And I knew I couldn’t let it go. I wanted to give the community what they already loved.” So, he brought the place back under a slightly new name: Fresh Chicken Express.

The setup remains modest: about a dozen tables, informal counter service, no fuss. Scrumptious chickens turn on a spit in the front window, and the plates come with a choice of sides including pita bread, salad, rice, and fries. The quality is unmistakable. Amir incorporated some of Zaferan’s beloved marinades - lemon juice, saffron juice, and olive oil - to elevate the flavor. It is a technique deeply rooted in Persian cooking, and the result is tender, golden chicken that keeps customers coming back. “It’s not fast food,” he said. “It’s better food.” 

Today, Fresh Chicken Express is bustling again, especially during the lunch hour. Loyal customers have returned, and Amir’s team, many of whom worked at the original Chicken Express, are back behind the counter. The space feels familiar, comforting, and grounded in community.

For Amir, though, it is about more than just running restaurants. He takes pride in providing jobs, in giving back, in helping others get their start, just as he was once helped. “I know what it means to be new here,” he said. “I know what it means to have nothing. Now I have the chance to give others an opportunity. That is what makes me proud.”

Amir hopes his restaurants help keep Persian culture alive, especially for younger generations. He never hesitates to share the beauty and richness of Iran - its food, its history, its hospitality. And when he speaks about his journey, he always returns to the same idea: the power of starting over and lifting others as you go. “I do not believe in looking back and comparing. I believe in moving forward. That is how I have lived - and how I hope others will see me. Not just as a business owner, but as someone who gave others a chance.”