Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu USA Prices 2026
If you’re looking for the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu, you just landed in the right place. Here you can explore the full Dave’s Hot Chicken menu with prices, spice levels, calories and all the details you need before you walk in. Everything below is updated for 2026 from official and verified sources. Dave’s Hot Chicken is the Nashville-style hot chicken chain that went from a pop-up in an East Hollywood parking lot to one of America’s fastest-growing restaurant brands — famous for its crispy, red-dusted tenders and sliders, seven spice levels, and that creamy, slightly smoky Dave’s Sauce.
🌶️ Dave’s Hot Chicken Spice Levels — What’s the Heat Like?
Before you order a single thing, you need to understand the spice system — it’s the whole point of Dave’s. There are seven heat levels, and picking one costs nothing extra. The heat goes on as a dry rub plus a spiced oil after frying, so the level changes the outside of the chicken rather than the meat itself. Honestly, that’s good news: even at Reaper the chicken stays juicy underneath.
| Spice Level | Heat | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| No Spice | None | Plain crispy fried chicken with salt and pepper — perfect if you just can’t do heat |
| Lite Mild | Very low | Warm seasoning rather than real heat — the safe first order |
| Mild | Low | Smoky and slightly sweet, closer to a barbecue rub than chili |
| Medium | Moderate | A genuine kick that most people finish comfortably — my pick for first-timers |
| Hot | High | Serious burn. You’ll want a drink nearby. The highest most regulars go |
| Extra Hot | Very high | Sustained heat that builds through the whole meal |
| Reaper | Extreme | Made with Carolina Reaper — requires signing a waiver before you order |
🍱 How Much Are the Dave’s Hot Chicken Combos?
The combos are the heart of the menu — Dave’s numbers them #1 through #4, and regulars just order by number. Every combo comes with crinkle-cut fries, kale slaw, a slice of white bread, pickles and Dave’s Sauce, so the only real decision is how much chicken you want. Here’s the full 2026 lineup:
| Item | Details | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave’s #1 — 2 Tenders + Fries | Two crispy tenders with fries, bread, pickles & Dave’s Sauce | $12.99 | ~1,700 |
| Dave’s #2 — 2 Sliders + Fries | Two sliders with kale slaw, pickles & sauce, plus fries — the #1 bestseller | $14.99 | ~1,980 |
| Dave’s #3 — 1 Tender + 1 Slider + Fries | Best of both worlds for first-timers who can’t decide | $13.99 | ~1,840 |
| Dave’s #4 — 1 Slider + Fries | The cheapest full combo: slider, fries, bread, pickles & sauce | $10.99 | ~1,290 |
| Big Trio | Your choice of 3 items (tenders, sliders, bites, mac & cheese, Hot Mozz or mini slider) + 3 sauces | $17.99 | Varies |
| Mac Loaded Slider | NEW — creamy mac & cheese piled on a chicken slider | $9.99 | Varies |
| Mac Loaded Slider w/ Fries | The loaded slider plus a side of crinkle-cut fries | $12.99 | Varies |
| Hot Mozz | NEW permanent item — crispy mozzarella, any spice level | Varies | Varies |
🍗 Sliders & Tenders A La Carte — Just the Chicken
Not hungry enough for a combo? No problem. You can order tenders and sliders on their own in any of the seven spice levels. Single pieces come with sliced bread, pickles and Dave’s Sauce — so you still get the full experience, just scaled down.
| Item | Details | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Tender | One big crispy tender, any spice level, bread, pickles & sauce | $4.99 | 490–550 |
| Single Slider | Crispy chicken on a soft potato bun with kale slaw, pickles & sauce | $6.99 | 620–680 |
Slider vs. Tender — How They Eat
Sliders are rounder and more balanced: bun, slaw, pickles and sauce all mellow the heat, so Medium feels friendly. Tenders have more breaded surface area, so the same spice level reads louder. My take? Get sliders at Medium and tenders at Hot. That pairing has never let me down.
🍟 Dave’s Bites & Loaded Fries
Want something shareable — or just want to snack instead of sit down to a full meal? Dave’s Bites are bite-size crispy chicken pieces in any spice level, and the Top Loaded Fries are dangerously good. Fair warning: order the loaded fries for the table, because they’ll be gone in four minutes flat.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 10 pc. Dave’s Bites | Bite-size crispy chicken pieces, any spice level | $7.99 |
| 10 pc. Dave’s Bites + Fries | Bites with a side of crinkle-cut fries | $10.49 |
| Small Top Loaded Fries | Crinkle-cut fries loaded with toppings and sauce | $6.99 |
🥗 Dave’s NOT Chicken — The Cauli Menu
Here’s something most hot chicken spots don’t offer: a full plant-based parallel menu. Dave’s NOT Chicken (Cauli) swaps in crispy cauliflower with the same breading, same seven spice levels, same everything else. Vegetarian friends don’t have to sit out anymore — and honestly, the cauli bites slap at Medium.
| Item | Details | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cauli Tender | Plant-based tender, any spice level | $7.99 | 490–550 |
| Single Cauli Slider | Cauliflower patty on a potato bun with slaw, pickles & sauce | $8.99 | 620–680 |
| 2 Cauli Tenders + Fries | Plant-based combo with fries, bread, pickles & sauce | $16.99 | 750–950 |
| 2 Cauli Sliders + Fries | Plant-based combo with fries, bread, pickles & sauce | $18.99 | 1,100–1,350 |
| 1 Cauli Tender + 1 Cauli Slider + Fries | The plant-based mix-and-match combo | $17.99 | 900–1,150 |
| 1 Cauli Slider + Fries | Lighter plant-based combo | $12.49 | 970–1,150 |
| 10 pc. Cauli Bites | Crispy cauliflower bites, any spice level | $7.99 | ~1,040 |
| 10 pc. Cauli Bites + Fries | Cauli bites with crinkle-cut fries | $10.49 | ~1,060 |
🧀 Sides & Extras — What Should You Add?
Yes, combos come with fries and slaw — but the add-on game at Dave’s is strong. The mac & cheese is the most popular side on the menu for a reason: creamy, rich, and the perfect cool-down between bites of Hot-level chicken. And if you know you know — get the big tub of Dave’s Sauce.
| Item | Details | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crinkle-Cut Fries | The classic pairing — salty, crispy, seasoned | $3.49 | 390 |
| Kale Slaw | Cool, crunchy, the healthiest side on the menu | $2.99 | ~270 |
| Mac & Cheese | Creamy comfort — the most popular side at Dave’s | $3.99 | 380 |
| Cheese Fries | Crinkle-cut fries loaded with melted cheese | $4.99 | 650–750 |
| Large Dave’s Sauce | Full 8 oz tub of the creamy, slightly smoky signature sauce | $2.99 | Varies |
🥤 Shakes & Drinks Menu Prices
The drink menu is short and sweet — fountain drinks plus thick milkshakes. And here’s a little-known trick: a vanilla shake is basically a fire extinguisher for Reaper-level regret. Ask anyone who’s tried.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | Coke products, regular size | $2.49 |
| Milkshake | Thick shakes — chocolate, vanilla and rotating flavors | $4.99 |
| Bottled Soft Drink | Grab-and-go bottle | $2.99 |
🎉 Hot Boxes — Feeding a Crowd?
Game day, office lunch, birthday party — the Hot Boxes are how Dave’s feeds groups, and the value is genuinely great per person. The Roulette boxes are the viral ones: 10 pieces where one is a hidden Reaper, and everyone has to sign a digital waiver first. It’s part dinner, part group dare.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Box — Tenders | Party tray of crispy tenders, mixed spice levels available | $40.00 |
| Hot Box — Sliders | Party tray of sliders with slaw, pickles & sauce | $60.00 |
| Hot Box — Dave’s Bites | Party tray of bite-size chicken pieces | $30.00 |
| Hot Box Roulette — Tenders | 10 pieces, one hidden Reaper — waiver required | $40.00 |
| Hot Box Roulette — Sliders | Slider tray with one hidden Reaper | $60.00 |
| Cauli Bites Hot Box | Plant-based party tray | $30.00 |
| Cauli Slider Hot Box | Plant-based slider party tray | $80.00 |
| Box of Fries | Big shareable tray of crinkle-cut fries | $10.00 |
📊 Dave’s Hot Chicken Nutrition Information
Let’s be real — nobody walks into Dave’s for a salad. But it’s still smart to know what you’re eating, especially since the heat is applied as an oil-based rub (so calories barely change between spice levels — the number is the number whether you order No Spice or Reaper).
| Nutrition Highlight | Details |
|---|---|
| Lightest popular order | Single Tender (490–550 cal) + Kale Slaw (~270 cal) ≈ 800 calories |
| Heaviest popular order | Dave’s #2 combo (~1,980 cal with fries, slaw, bread & sauce) |
| Best protein pick | Single Tender — around 490 calories with roughly 25g protein |
| Highest-calorie side | Cheese Fries at 650–750 calories |
| Spice level effect | Barely moves the calorie count — heat is a surface rub, not the chicken itself |
Dave’s publishes full allergen and nutrition documentation on its official website — check there before you go if you have allergies, since the breading, sauces and fryer oil can all be factors.
💰 Deals & Money-Saving Tips
Dave’s doesn’t run a ton of old-school paper coupons — the savings live in the app and the rewards program. Here’s how regulars pay less:
- Join the Frequent Fryer rewards program. You earn 10 points for every $1 you spend, in-store or online. At 300 points you get a free side or drink, at 600 points a free shake, slider or tender, and at 1,200 points a whole combo meal free. Points expire after 90 days, so don’t hoard them.
- Get a free drink just for signing up. Download the app, create an account, and a free regular fountain drink lands in your account right away. On October 13th, 2026, app users also get a free slider — check the Rewards section of the app.
- Skip sketchy coupon sites. Dave’s doesn’t publish promo codes, so codes floating around online usually don’t work. The app is where the real deals are — member-only offers and early access to new items.
- Military discount. Active and retired military (plus immediate family) can get up to 25% off with a valid military ID at participating locations. Can’t combine it with other offers.
- Order combos, not à la carte. The Dave’s #4 at $10.99 is a full meal with fries and sauce — cheaper than piecing together a slider and fries separately. And for groups, a Hot Box costs less per person than individual combos.
🕐 Dave’s Hot Chicken Opening Hours
Most locations open mid-morning and run late — Dave’s is a legit late-night option in a lot of markets. Hours vary by location (some spots stay open until 1 or 2 AM), but here’s the typical pattern:
| Day | Typical Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday – Thursday | 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
| Friday – Saturday | 10:30 AM – 12:00 AM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM – 11:00 PM |
The LA flagship on N Western Ave runs 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM daily, and some locations push to 1 or 2 AM. Always check your local store’s hours in the app before making a special trip.
🏠 About Dave’s Hot Chicken
Founded in 2017 by three friends in East Hollywood, Dave’s Hot Chicken started as a humble parking-lot pop-up serving Nashville-style hot chicken — and blew up. The chain has passed 450 locations worldwide in 2026, including its first stores in the UK and the Middle East. It was acquired by Roark Capital in 2025 in a deal valuing the company at around $1 billion — not bad for a parking lot. Headquarters are in Los Angeles, California, and the mission is still the same as day one: juicy, crispy, fiery chicken at fast-casual prices.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular item at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The Dave’s #2 (2 sliders + fries) at about $14.99 is the most-ordered item on the menu. Two sliders loaded with kale slaw, pickles and Dave’s Sauce on soft potato buns — it’s the complete Dave’s experience in one tray.
What is the cheapest thing on the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu?
The cheapest full combo is Dave’s #4 (1 slider + fries) at about $10.99. The cheapest single item is kale slaw at $2.99. For the best value, though, the #4 combo is the move — a full meal for barely over ten bucks.
Are Dave’s Hot Chicken prices the same at every location?
No — prices vary by state and even by store. A Dave’s #2 runs about $14.99 ordering direct for pickup, but delivery apps can push it to $16.69–$18.59 in big markets. Prices shown here are 2026 national averages.
What are the spice levels at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
There are seven: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper. Reaper is made with Carolina Reaper peppers and requires signing a waiver before you order. Medium is the sweet spot for first-timers.
Does Dave’s Hot Chicken have a secret menu?
Not officially — the menu is already pretty tight. But the “secret” plays are well known: order the Hot Box Roulette for a Reaper dare night, ask for extra Dave’s Sauce (or the $2.99 large tub), and regulars swear by the Mac Loaded Slider even though it’s listed as new. Check our Dave’s Hot Chicken secret menu hacks for the full list.
Does Dave’s Hot Chicken deliver?
Yes — Dave’s is on DoorDash, Uber Eats and other delivery apps, and you can order direct through the Dave’s app or website for pickup. Heads up: delivery-app prices run 20–25% higher than ordering direct for pickup, so grab it yourself if you can.
What are the healthy options at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The healthiest combo is a Single Tender (490–550 cal) with kale slaw (~270 cal) — around 800 calories total. Order No Spice or Lite Mild, skip the cheese fries, and get Dave’s Sauce on the side to keep calories in check. The Cauli options are also a solid lighter pick.
Does Dave’s Hot Chicken have deals or coupons?
The main deal engine is the Frequent Fryer rewards program: 10 points per $1 spent, redeemable for free sides, shakes, sliders and full combos. You also get a free drink for signing up in the app, and app users score a free slider on October 13th, 2026. Military members get up to 25% off with ID at participating locations.
Does Dave’s Hot Chicken cater or have party packs?
Yes — the Hot Boxes are built for groups: tenders ($40), sliders ($60), bites ($30), a box of fries ($10) and plant-based Cauli boxes. The Hot Box Roulette ($40–$60) hides one Reaper piece for a viral group challenge. Way cheaper per person than buying individual combos.
Where can I find Dave’s Hot Chicken nutrition information?
Dave’s publishes full allergen and nutrition documentation on its official website (daveshotchicken.com). The highlights: spice level barely changes calorie counts, the Dave’s #2 combo runs about 1,980 calories with all sides, and a Single Tender is the lightest chicken option at 490–550 calories.
📍 Find Dave’s Hot Chicken Near You
⭐ Dave’s Hot Chicken Google Reviews
Google Rating: 4.7/5
Customers rave about the crispy, juicy tenders and sliders, the flavor-packed spice rub (not just heat — it actually tastes good), and the creamy Dave’s Sauce that ties everything together. The friendly staff and fun, high-energy vibe get plenty of love too. The recurring warning? Respect the Reaper — several reviewers say they were humbled by it.
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