Dave's Hot Chicken Menu: Prices, Heat Levels & Best Items 2026

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken chain that serves bone-in-free tenders, sliders, and cauliflower options across seven heat levels, from No Spice to the Carolina Reaper-powered Reaper level. Founded in 2017 as a parking lot pop-up in Los Angeles, the chain has grown into one of the fastest-expanding hot chicken franchises in the country. A single tender starts at $4.99, while group Hot Box orders run $35: $70.

• Dave's Hot Chicken menu offers seven heat levels: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper: the Reaper level requires signing a waiver before ordering.

• Core menu items include tenders, sliders, Dave's Bites, cauliflower options, Top-Loaded Fries, and specialty shakes, with prices ranging from $4.99 (single tender) to $70 (Hot Box Sliders).

• The Frequent Fryer Rewards program awards 10 points per $1 spent; 300 points earns a free drink or side, and 600 points earns a free slider or tender.

• Dave's Not Chicken (cauliflower-based) is a vegetarian alternative available across all heat levels, with a single Cauli Tender at $7.99 and Cauli Sliders starting at $8.99.

• All items are cooked in shared fryers, meaning no menu items are officially certified gluten-free: critical information for guests with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

• Hot Box bundles (Tenders $50, Sliders $70, Dave's Bites $35) are ideal for group orders, making the chain a practical stop for Nashville group trips and large gatherings.

What Is on Dave's Hot Chicken Menu and How Much Does It Cost?

Dave's Hot Chicken menu is organized into five main categories: Meals (tenders and sliders in combo configurations), Dave's Bites (boneless chicken pieces), Cauli (cauliflower-based vegetarian alternatives), Hot Boxes (bulk group orders), and Sides, Shakes, and Drinks. As of 2026, a single tender costs $4.99, a single slider costs $6.99, and combo meals range from $10.49 to $16.99 depending on protein and side choices.

The most popular entry point for first-timers is the 2 Tenders with Fries combo at $12.99, which comes in at 890: 1,050 calories depending on heat level. If you want variety, the 1 Tender and 1 Slider with Fries at $13.99 is the best single-order way to sample both formats. The sliders run bigger than they look on the menu board, so if you are feeding a group that has not eaten since morning, order extra.

Item	Price	Calories
Single Tender	$4.99	490: 550
Single Slider	$6.99	620: 680
2 Tenders with Fries	$12.99	890: 1,050
2 Sliders with Fries	$14.99	1,200: 1,400
1 Tender & 1 Slider with Fries	$13.99	1,370
1 Slider with Fries	$10.49	1,060
10-Piece Dave's Bites	$7.99	250: 300
10-Piece Dave's Bites with Fries	$10.49	see menu
Dave's Mini Sliders	$7.49	490: 550
Dave's Mini Sliders with Fries	$10.49	490: 550
Hot Box of Mini Sliders	$40.00	varies
Hot Box , Tenders	$50.00	490, 550 per piece
Hot Box , Sliders	$70.00	380, 420 per piece
Hot Box , Dave's Bites	$35.00	250, 300 per piece
Box of Fries	$12.00	1,320

For sides, Mac and Cheese costs $4.29 (290 calories), Fries run $3.99 (440 calories), and Cheese Fries are $5.49 (460 calories). Kale Slaw, a lighter option at $3.99 and 270 calories, is worth ordering if you are doing multiple rounds of heat: the cooling effect is real. Dave's Sauce on the side costs just $0.25, but the large format is $2.99 and 1,530 calories, which tells you exactly how much oil goes into that sauce.

What Are the Seven Heat Levels at Dave's Hot Chicken?

Dave's Hot Chicken heat levels refer to the seven spice tiers applied to every protein on the menu, ranging from No Spice (zero heat, just seasoned) to Reaper, which uses Carolina Reaper pepper powder and requires every customer to sign a liability waiver before ordering. Specifically, the seven levels in ascending order are: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper.

For first-timers, Medium is the honest starting point. It registers as noticeably spicy but won't derail your meal. Mild is for guests who want flavor without any real burn. Hot is where serious spice begins, and Extra Hot is genuinely uncomfortable for most people on the first few bites. Reaper is a challenge-level order, not a casual dining choice. Multiple Dave's locations report that even spice-experienced regulars find Reaper difficult to finish.

One practical tip: the heat level applies to the oil rubbed onto the exterior of the chicken, not a sauce added after cooking. That means you cannot wash it off the way you can rinse a wing sauce. Dairy helps more than water. Order the Kale Slaw or a side of cheese sauce alongside anything in the Hot-to-Reaper range. The mac and cheese at $4.29 is also a solid buffer order.

Groups visiting Nashville for a bachelorette weekend or birthday trip often make the heat-level challenge part of the evening. If that is your plan, start at Medium, work up through Hot and Extra Hot, and treat Reaper as the finale. Do not order Reaper on an empty stomach. The waiver is not a formality.

What Rapper Owns Dave's Hot Chicken?

Drake is the most prominent celebrity investor in Dave's Hot Chicken, having joined as a backer and brand ambassador as the chain expanded nationally. Drake's involvement brought significant media attention to the brand and accelerated its growth from a regional California presence into a multi-state franchise operation. Additionally, celebrity investors including Samuel L. Jackson and Boston Red Sox ownership group Fenway Sports Group have been publicly linked to the chain's growth funding.

The brand itself was founded in 2017 by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Lee, and brothers Gary and James Kuoch. The founding story is worth knowing: Kopushyan, a trained chef, developed the spice paste recipe and the four founders launched Dave's Hot Chicken as a parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood with almost no startup capital. Lines formed before the pop-up was officially marketed. A brick-and-mortar location followed within months.

By 2026, the chain has grown to hundreds of locations across the United States and internationally, with active franchising available through the Dave's Hot Chicken Franchising Information page. The founding-story-to-national-franchise arc took under a decade, which is unusually fast even by fast-casual standards. That backstory matters when you understand why the menu stayed deliberately simple: Kopushyan's original vision was to do one thing exceptionally well rather than build a sprawling menu.

What Is the Best Menu Item at Dave's Hot Chicken?

The best item on Dave's Hot Chicken menu is, by most accounts, the Tender at Medium or Hot heat level. The tender format shows off the spice paste better than the slider because there is no brioche bun absorbing the oil. You get the full flavor profile: crispy exterior, juicy interior, and the layered warmth of the cayenne-forward spice blend. Order it with Kale Slaw and a side of Dave's Sauce for the intended experience.

For group settings, the 10-piece Dave's Bites at $7.99 are the highest-value share plate on the menu. At 250: 300 calories per 10-piece serving, they are also the lightest option if you are planning a long night out on Broadway afterward. They work well as a first course while the larger orders arrive.

The 2 Sliders with Fries at $14.99 is the most filling single order, running 1,200: 1,400 calories. That is a full meal. People who order this and then immediately join a honky-tonk crawl through Nashville's Lower Broadway tend to regret the quantity, not the quality.

Currently featured items include Dave's Hot Mozz (a mozzarella-forward addition) and a returning fan favorite: Dave's Not Chicken (cauliflower), which is covered in detail below. The Mint Oreo Top-Loaded Shake is the current limited-time dessert highlight, available in small ($6.79), regular ($7.79), and large ($10.49). Do not skip the shake if you are at Reaper level. It is also just an excellent shake independent of the heat.

What Are the Vegetarian Options on the Dave's Hot Chicken Menu?

Dave's Not Chicken is Dave's Hot Chicken's cauliflower-based vegetarian menu section, featuring all seven heat levels applied to crispy cauliflower pieces using the same spice paste as the chicken options. As of 2026, Dave's Not Chicken has recently returned to the menu after a limited hiatus, making it available at participating locations nationwide. Pricing runs slightly higher than chicken equivalents: a Single Cauli Tender costs $7.99 and a Single Cauli Slider costs $8.99.

Cauli Item	Price	Calories
Single Cauli Tender	$7.99	490: 550
Single Cauli Slider	$8.99	620: 680
2 Cauli Tenders with Fries	$16.99	750: 950
2 Cauli Sliders with Fries	$18.99	1,100: 1,350
10-Piece Cauli Bites	$7.99	1,040
10-Piece Cauli Bites with Fries	$10.49	1,063
Cauli Slider Hot Box	$90.00	5,040: 5,640 total
Cauli Bites Hot Box	$30.00	720: 980

One critical note: the cauliflower items are cooked in the same shared fryers as the chicken. Dave's Hot Chicken does not operate separate fryer lines for vegetarian orders, meaning cross-contact with chicken and other allergens is unavoidable. Guests with strict vegetarian or vegan requirements beyond the heat-level experience should factor this into their decision. The Dave's Hot Chicken UK Allergen Matrix (November 2026 PDF) covers 14 EU-regulated allergens and provides the most detailed official breakdown of cross-contact risks available.

Is Dave's Hot Chicken Healthy or Unhealthy?

Dave's Hot Chicken menu items are high-calorie, high-sodium foods that fall firmly in the indulgent fast-casual category. A single tender runs 490, 550 calories before any sides or drinks. A 2-slider-with-fries combo reaches 1,200, 1,400 calories, which exceeds the typical recommended intake for a single meal. For comparison, the Kale Slaw at $3.99 (270 calories) is the closest thing to a light option on the menu.

Specifically, the calorie counts climb sharply with group formats. The Cauli Slider Hot Box totals 5,040: 5,640 calories across the full order, and the Box of Fries alone contributes 1,320 calories. None of these are particularly surprising for a fried chicken concept, but the numbers are worth reviewing if you are managing a calorie budget on a Nashville trip packed with honky-tonk bar food and Broadway dining.

On the allergen side, all items are cooked in shared fryers. No items on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu are officially certified gluten-free. The allergen matrix confirms the presence of Gluten (from wheat and barley), Eggs, Milk, Soy, and Tree Nuts across various menu items. Guests with celiac disease or serious food allergies should consult the full allergen documentation before ordering. Nashville has several dedicated gluten-free dining options if cross-contact is a concern.

The calorie counts for hot chicken are not unique to Dave's. For context, Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken, Nashville's two most legendary hot chicken institutions, serve similarly caloric plates. Dave's differentiates itself from both with boneless tenders, a more standardized heat scale, and a nationwide footprint that makes the brand accessible far beyond Tennessee.

Are There Any Dave's Hot Chicken Secret Menu Items?

Dave's Hot Chicken does not officially publish a secret menu, but several ordering customizations and limited-time offers function as insider knowledge for regulars. First, the Reaper level is technically listed on the menu board but requires a signed waiver: many first-time visitors do not realize this until they try to order it at the counter. Knowing to ask for the waiver in advance speeds up the process at busy locations.

Second, the Hot Box Roulette Tenders at $50.00 is a bulk order variation where heat levels are randomly distributed across the box. This is ideal for groups who want to turn dinner into a game, which makes it a frequent choice for bachelorette parties and birthday groups visiting Nashville. The box configuration is not always prominently displayed, so ask specifically for it.

Third, Top-Loaded Fries are available in both regular and cauliflower versions at three size tiers: Small ($6.99), Regular ($10.99), and Large ($15.99). The cauliflower version is less advertised and many customers assume Top-Loaded Fries only come with chicken. If you are splitting an order with a vegetarian in your group, the Cauli Top-Loaded Fries are a practical solution.

Additionally, Dave's periodically runs limited-time collaborations. The most notable recent example was the Dave's x Fallout bundle at $12.99, which included bites, fries, sauce, and a collectible toy. These bundles are not advertised far in advance. Following Dave's Hot Chicken on their rewards app or checking the Dave's Hot Chicken Official Website before a visit is the most reliable way to catch current LTOs.

How Does the Frequent Fryer Rewards Program Work?

The Frequent Fryer Rewards program is Dave's Hot Chicken's loyalty program that awards 10 points per $1 spent on qualifying orders placed directly through the brand's app or website. Points accumulate toward free food rewards at three redemption thresholds: 300 points equals a free drink or side, 600 points equals a free shake, cheese fries, slider, or tender, and 1,200 points equals a free combo meal.

New members receive a free drink with their first order through the app. As of 2026, a Frequent Fryer bonus offer awards 300 additional points when you spend $20 or more on a single visit, valid once per account through May 4, 2026 at participating US locations. Check the app for current bonus promotions since these rotate regularly.

Three important limitations to know before relying on rewards. First, points cannot be earned or redeemed through third-party delivery platforms including Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Postmates. You must order through the Dave's app or website directly. Second, only one reward can be redeemed per order. Third, rewards may expire, so check your account balance if you have not visited in several months. The rewards program is genuinely valuable for regular customers but requires using the direct ordering channel consistently to accumulate points at any meaningful pace.

How Does Dave's Hot Chicken Compare to Nashville Hot Chicken Originals?

Dave's Hot Chicken is a Los Angeles-founded chain that draws direct inspiration from Nashville hot chicken tradition but operates with a distinct format, scale, and ownership model compared to Nashville originals like Prince's Hot Chicken and Hattie B's. Understanding the differences helps Nashville visitors decide where to eat on any given night.

Prince's Hot Chicken, founded in Nashville in the 1940s, is widely credited as the originator of the Nashville hot chicken format. Prince's serves bone-in chicken pieces with a cayenne-lard paste on white bread with pickle chips. The heat scale at Prince's is simpler and the experience is closer to a specific Nashville cultural institution. Lines at the original location are long, and the waiting is part of the experience.

Hattie B's, founded in 2012, brought Nashville hot chicken to a wider audience with a more restaurant-friendly format, predictable wait times, and a cleaner spice scale. Hattie B's uses bone-in chicken and serves it alongside serious Southern sides including pimento mac and cheese and black-eyed pea salad. Notably, the Fern A and Fern B properties managed by Stay Nashville are about 5 minutes from Hattie B's, making it an easy detour for groups staying in that area.

Dave's differentiates itself from both originals through three structural choices. First, boneless tenders and sliders rather than bone-in pieces make it faster to eat and more portable. Second, a standardized national heat scale means you get a consistent Medium at a Dave's in Nashville, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Third, the cauliflower option is not available at either Prince's or Hattie B's, giving Dave's a meaningful advantage for mixed groups that include vegetarians. For first-time Nashville visitors who want a quick hot chicken fix before a show at the Ryman Auditorium, Dave's is the most accessible entry point. For those who want the original Nashville hot chicken experience, Prince's and Hattie B's are worth the extra logistics.

What Are the Shake and Drink Options on the Dave's Hot Chicken Menu?

Dave's Hot Chicken menu includes Top-Loaded Shakes, frozen slushers, and standard fountain drinks as the primary beverage and dessert offerings. Top-Loaded Shakes come in Lucky Charms, Oreo, and M&M varieties across Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry bases, priced at $6.79 (Small), $7.79 (Regular), and $10.49 (Large). As of 2026, the featured limited-time shake is a Mint Oreo variation.

Slushers split into two tiers. The premium Burstin' Mango and Burstin' Strawberry, plus Rocket Creme, Orange Creme, and Strawberries and Creme varieties, cost $5.69 each. Frozen versions using Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade, Hi-C Orange LavaBurst, Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch, and Powerade Mountain Berry Blast run $3.69 each.

Standard soft drinks use a straightforward size-based pricing model: Small $2.29, Regular $2.69, Large $2.99. Bottled water and 20-ounce branded bottles of Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Dr Pepper, and Dr Pepper Zero all cost $2.99. The practical recommendation: order the Burstin' Mango Slusher at $5.69 if you are eating at Hot level or above. It is genuinely cooling and works better than a carbonated drink for managing capsaicin heat.

How to Order at Dave's Hot Chicken: A First-Timer's Guide

Ordering at Dave's Hot Chicken works through three channels: in-restaurant at the counter, online pickup through the official website or app, and delivery through Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Postmates. For the fastest in-restaurant experience during a Nashville group trip, decide on heat levels before you arrive. Groups of six or more who each want different heat levels can slow down a busy counter line significantly if the decision happens at the register.

For first-timers, here is a specific ordering sequence that works well. Start with the 2 Tenders with Fries at $12.99 at Medium heat. Add a Kale Slaw ($3.99) as your cooling buffer. Add a side of Dave's Sauce ($0.25) to experiment with dipping versus eating the spice paste straight. If the Medium registers as too easy, come back for Hot on your next visit rather than jumping straight to Extra Hot.

For groups, the Hot Box Tenders at $50 or Hot Box Sliders at $70 are the most efficient bulk orders. You can specify different heat levels per item in the Hot Box when ordering in-restaurant, which solves the mixed-preference problem for Nashville bachelor or bachelorette parties where some people want mild and others want to prove something. Order directly through the Dave's Hot Chicken online ordering page for pickup to skip the in-restaurant wait during peak hours on Broadway-adjacent weekends.

One logistical note: Dave's operates Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to midnight, and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM. The late Friday and Saturday hours make it a practical post-Broadway stop, which is exactly when lines are longest at Nashville locations. If you are planning a group dinner before heading to Lower Broadway, a 5:00 or 6:00 PM arrival avoids the late-night surge. Guests staying at Underwood Manor, about 7 minutes from Broadway, can plan their Dave's stop efficiently between check-in and the evening kickoff.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dave's Hot Chicken Menu

How many heat levels does Dave's Hot Chicken have?

Dave's Hot Chicken offers seven heat levels: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper. The Reaper level uses Carolina Reaper pepper powder and requires customers to sign a liability waiver before ordering. For most first-time visitors, Medium is the recommended starting point.

What is the cheapest item on Dave's Hot Chicken menu?

The least expensive individual item on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu is a side of Dave's Sauce at $0.25. The cheapest protein item is a Single Tender at $4.99 (490: 550 calories). A standard soft drink starts at $2.29 for a small. The most affordable full meal combination is a Single Tender with a small drink, totaling under $8 before tax.

Does Dave's Hot Chicken have gluten-free options?

No items on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu are officially certified gluten-free. All proteins are cooked in shared fryers, meaning cross-contact with gluten-containing items is possible for every order. The official allergen matrix confirms Gluten from wheat and barley as a present allergen across core menu items. Guests with celiac disease should not order from Dave's without reviewing the full allergen documentation.

Can you earn rewards points when ordering through DoorDash or Uber Eats?

No. Frequent Fryer Rewards points can only be earned when ordering directly through the Dave's Hot Chicken app or official website. Orders placed through third-party delivery platforms including DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Postmates do not qualify for points. New app users receive a free drink with their first direct order, so downloading the app before your first visit has immediate value.

What is the best item to order at Dave's Hot Chicken for a large group?

The Hot Box formats are the most practical bulk ordering options for large groups. The Hot Box Tenders costs $50, the Hot Box Sliders costs $70, and the Hot Box Dave's Bites costs $35. The Hot Box Roulette Tenders at $50 randomly distributes different heat levels across the box, which works well for groups who want to make the meal part of the fun. For vegetarian guests, the Cauli Bites Hot Box is $30.

What are the current limited-time offers on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu?

As of 2026, featured limited-time items include Dave's Hot Mozz and a Mint Oreo Top-Loaded Shake. Dave's Not Chicken (cauliflower) has recently returned to the menu after a limited absence. A Frequent Fryer bonus promotion offers 300 additional points for spending $20 or more (valid through May 4, 2026 at participating US locations). Check the official website for current promotions, as LTOs rotate frequently.

How does Dave's Hot Chicken compare to Hattie B's and Prince's in Nashville?

Dave's Hot Chicken uses boneless tenders and sliders, while Nashville originals Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken serve bone-in chicken on white bread. Dave's offers a standardized national heat scale and cauliflower options unavailable at either Nashville original. Prince's, founded in the 1940s, is the original inventor of Nashville hot chicken and represents the most traditional version of the format. Dave's is the most accessible choice for first-timers and groups with mixed dietary preferences.

What are the operating hours for Dave's Hot Chicken?

Dave's Hot Chicken is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to midnight, and Friday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Hours may vary by location, so verifying your specific location's hours through the Dave's Hot Chicken All Locations finder before visiting is recommended, particularly for late-night orders on event weekends in Nashville.

Planning Your Nashville Trip Around Dave's Hot Chicken

Nashville visitors in 2026 are arriving in record numbers. According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp, Davidson County welcomed 16.9 million daily and overnight visitors in 2026, generating $11.2 billion in visitor spending. Dave's Hot Chicken fits naturally into a Nashville itinerary as either a pre-Broadway meal, a late-night post-show stop, or a casual group lunch between activities.

The Friday and Saturday hours extending to 1:00 AM make Dave's a practical bookend to a night on Lower Broadway. But timing matters. Dave's Nashville-area locations see their longest waits between 9:00 PM and midnight on weekends. If your group is eating before heading out, plan for a 5:30 to 6:30 PM arrival. If you are returning after a night at spots like Robert's Western World or the Ryman Auditorium, expect a 20-to-30-minute wait at peak hours.

Groups with eight or more people benefit significantly from calling ahead or using the online ordering system for pickup. Pre-ordering the Hot Box formats eliminates the in-restaurant wait entirely and lets your group move directly from pickup to wherever the night takes you. For larger group trips staying in properties with full kitchens, the Hot Box also travels well for a casual backyard meal before heading downtown.

If you are coordinating a large Nashville group trip and want a rental that puts you close to Nashville's dining corridor while still offering space to decompress, the Ultimate Bach Pad sleeps 24 guests across 8 bedrooms in two side-by-side luxury homes, with dual hot tubs and rooftop decks about 8: 10 minutes from Broadway. It is a practical base for groups who want the full Nashville dining and nightlife experience without coordinating hotel rooms across multiple buildings.

Nashville's food scene rewards groups who plan their eating around the city's natural rhythm. Start with a mid-afternoon visit to Dave's Hot Chicken for a heat-level trial run, work through Lower Broadway in the evening, and close out the night at one of the late-night honky-tonks. For a comprehensive look at the neighborhood dining and entertainment landscape, the Downtown Nashville Official Dining Directory offers a current, authoritative rundown of what is open and where.

If you want help planning a Nashville group trip that balances dining, nightlife, and comfortable accommodations, the Nashville attractions and things to do guide at Stay Nashville covers the full landscape of Music City experiences alongside curated property options for groups of all sizes.