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Fast Casual · Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken Menu Prices 2026: Full List, Meals & Best Value

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual chain born from a $900 street food stand in East Hollywood in 2017. The menu keeps it simple — Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders at seven heat levels — but the heat range runs from No Spice all the way to the Reaper, which requires signing a waiver.

280+ U.S. locations7 heat levelsNashville-style chicken
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Dave's Hot Chicken — representative chicken dish
Photo: delgaudm · CC BY 2.0
Sample · $$

Signature items

Single Tender$5.99
Dave's #1 (2 Tenders + Fries)$15.49
Single Slider$8.39
Mac & Cheese$4.79
Jump to: Quick answers Full menu Cheapest items Most popular Compare prices About FAQ
Quick answers

What to order — at a glance

Cheapest item
Single Tender $5.99
Most popular
Dave's #1 (2 Tenders + Fries) $15.49

The bestselling combo

Best value combo
Dave's #1 — 2 tenders + fries $15.49
Group order
Hot Box (Tenders) $53.59

Feeds a crowd

Combo meals

Dave's Hot Chicken combo and meal deals

Dave's #1$15.49

  • 2 Tenders
  • Fries

Most popular combo; choose your heat level for the tenders

Dave's #2$17.89

  • 2 Sliders
  • Fries

Slider fans' go-to meal combo

Dave's #3$16.69

  • 1 Tender
  • 1 Slider
  • Fries

Try both formats in one meal

Dave's #4$12.49

  • 1 Slider
  • Fries

Lighter, more affordable single-slider combo

10pc Dave's Bites + Fries$12.49

  • 10pc Dave's Bites
  • Fries

Snack-style combo for one

Full menu with prices

Dave's Hot Chicken full menu and current prices

Prices are national averages as of mid-2026. Prices vary by location — confirm at your nearest Dave's Hot Chicken.
Single Items2 itemsMeals4 itemsDave's Bites2 itemsFeed a Crowd5 itemsSides4 itemsDrinks & Shakes3 items
Budget picks

Cheapest items on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu

  1. 1Single Tender$5.99
  2. 2Fries$4.79
  3. 3Mac & Cheese$4.79
  4. 4Kale Slaw$4.79
  5. 5Bottled Water$3.59
  6. 6Fountain Soda$3.59
  7. 7Single Slider$8.39
  8. 810pc Dave's Bites$8.39
  9. 9Cheese Fries$6.59
What's new

New and limited-time items on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu

Hot

Hot Box Roulette

Party box with randomized heat levels across each piece — a fun, spicy challenge for groups.

$53.59+
Calories + price

Dave's Hot Chicken: calories and price for popular items

Calorie counts are approximate and vary by heat level and location. Spicier levels do not add significant calories.

ItemCaloriesPrice
Single Tender~490$5.99
Single Slider~400$8.39
Dave's #1 (2 Tenders + Fries)~1,540$15.49
Dave's #2 (2 Sliders + Fries)~1,540$17.89
10pc Dave's Bites~550$8.39
Fries~400$4.79
Mac & Cheese~350$4.79
Kale Slaw~270$4.79
Price comparison

How Dave's Hot Chicken prices compare to competitors

Like-for-like comparison across hot chicken and fast-casual chicken chains.

CategoryDave's Hot ChickenHattie B'sPopeyesRaising Cane's
Single piece / tender$5.99~$7.00~$1.99 (pc)~$4.49
2-piece meal + side$15.49~$16.00~$8.99~$11.99
Side dish$4.79~$4.50~$2.99~$3.99
Signature slider/sandwich$8.39~$10.00~$5.99N/A
About

About Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken launched in May 2017 as a weekend pop-up in a parking lot in East Hollywood, California. Four friends — Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan — started the venture with just $900 pooled together, selling Nashville-style hot chicken out of a folding table. Word spread quickly, lines formed around the block, and within months the brand had a permanent brick-and-mortar presence.

The concept is deliberately focused: the menu centers on tenders and sliders, each available at seven spice levels ranging from No Spice through Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper+ all the way up to Reaper — the latter so intense it comes with a liability waiver. Sides are minimal but well-crafted, including house-made kale slaw and mac and cheese developed to complement the bold flavors of the chicken. That simplicity has proven to be a competitive strength, enabling rapid franchising and consistent quality.

The brand's growth accelerated sharply after celebrity investors including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Maria Shriver joined the ownership group. By late 2024 the chain operated more than 280 locations across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. In June 2025, private equity firm Roark Capital — which also owns Arby's and Buffalo Wild Wings — acquired Dave's Hot Chicken in a reported $1 billion deal, signaling aggressive plans for continued international expansion.

280+locations worldwide
2017founded
$900startup cost
7heat levels

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the heat levels at Dave's Hot Chicken?

Dave's Hot Chicken offers seven heat levels: No Spice, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, Reaper+, and Reaper. The Reaper level is the hottest and requires customers to sign a waiver before ordering.

What is on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu?

The core menu includes Nashville-style hot chicken tenders and sliders (sold individually or as numbered meal combos), Dave's Bites (bite-sized chicken pieces), and sides including fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese, and kale slaw. Drinks and milkshakes are also available.

How much does Dave's Hot Chicken cost?

Individual items start at $5.99 for a single tender. Meal combos range from $12.49 to $17.89. Sides are $4.79–$6.59. Party Hot Boxes start at $53.59. Milkshakes are the priciest single item at around $10.19.

Is there a Dave's Hot Chicken secret menu?

Dave's Hot Chicken doesn't have an officially documented secret menu, but regulars often mix heat levels across items in a single order or customize the Reaper level challenge. Ask staff at your location about any regional specials or limited-time items.

Does Dave's Hot Chicken have vegetarian options?

The sides at Dave's Hot Chicken are largely vegetarian: mac and cheese, fries, cheese fries, and kale slaw contain no meat. The main proteins (tenders, sliders, bites) are all chicken-based, so the restaurant is not a good choice for vegetarians seeking a main course.

Who owns Dave's Hot Chicken?

Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. In June 2025, private equity firm Roark Capital acquired the chain in a deal reported at approximately $1 billion. Celebrity investors including Drake and Samuel L. Jackson held minority stakes prior to the acquisition.

Where did Dave's Hot Chicken start?

Dave's Hot Chicken started as a street food pop-up in a parking lot in East Hollywood, California, in May 2017. The four founders launched the concept with just $900 combined, and after lines stretched around the block, they opened a permanent brick-and-mortar restaurant in the same neighborhood.

How many Dave's Hot Chicken locations are there?

As of late 2024, Dave's Hot Chicken operated over 280 locations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. With Roark Capital's acquisition in 2025, the chain has targeted expansion beyond 390 locations by 2026.

What is the Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper challenge?

The Reaper is Dave's highest heat level, based on the Carolina Reaper pepper — one of the world's hottest chili peppers. Before ordering Reaper-level items, customers must sign a liability waiver acknowledging the extreme heat. Staff recommend having a milkshake or kale slaw on hand to manage the burn.