Dave's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Toronto

My experience with DHC is through an Uber Eats delivery. Poor packaging ruined my first order and the reorder took a long time. When my second order arrived the fries were warm and the sliders, room temp. My order was for a chocolate milkshake and the 2 slider meal with fries. Ultimately, this meal was nothing special.

Pros: • Despite what others said, I think the price is fair for the meal with two sliders and fries. The portion is adequate. • The fries are nice and crispy. Even barely warm and sitting in a box for a while, they held up well. • The chicken is nicely done. Not super greasy and the perfect crunch.

Cons: • IMO, the spice is milder than expected. I ordered "medium" spice and found this less spicy than Sriracha or Frank's. • The milkshake is horrible. It is quite sweet and tastes like frothy Cool Whip. This tastes like an edible oil product worse than soft serve "ice cream." I don't recommend it and $8.00 for about 14 ounces of a poor-quality drink is not worth it. •Hopefully they will move to a paper version of the milkshake cup. In 2023 they are still using SUP and plastic straws. • Appreciate they don't want delivery drivers to open the bags but they use thick sticker to seal them. You have to tear the bag open which makes it unsuitable for reuse.

UPDATE: Gave Dave's a second dry through Door Dash. The experience was no better. This time I tried the mac and cheese which was HORRIBLE. Like super gross: The macaroni was way over-cooked and mushy and the cheese tasted like they made it from a powdered package from Old El Paso. Plus, no salt. It was bland and chemical tasting. I'll stick with my mom's.

The chicken was again cooked well but I changed to "hot" which I found quite spicy (like a West Indian scotch bonnet sauce in terms of heat).

And, delivery again was poor. Packing meals is not does carefully. Dave's needs to use paper bags with flat bottoms to help drivers carry the items properly. Mine was a plastic bag with a knot that was delivered with the box tilted fully vertically so everything fell into one side. Plus, the 2km deliver too half an hour and the meal was barely warm. A paper bag would help retain the heat.

Won't be...

Dave's Hot Chicken has rapidly become a popular destination for those craving Nashville-style hot chicken, and it's easy to see why. The chain, which started as a humble pop-up in a Hollywood parking lot in 2017, has expanded significantly, now boasting numerous locations across North America and beyond.

Here's a detailed review of Dave's Hot Chicken:

The Food: A Fiery Focus on Flavor

The core of Dave's Hot Chicken's appeal lies in its straightforward, yet impactful menu, centered around chicken tenders and sliders.

Chicken Tenders and Sliders: The chicken itself is consistently praised for being juicy and tender on the inside, with a satisfyingly crispy exterior. The tenders are generously sized, and the "sliders" are more akin to substantial chicken sandwiches, featuring a large tender on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and Dave's signature sauce. The chicken is Halal-certified, which is a significant plus for many diners. The Spice Levels: This is where Dave's truly shines and differentiates itself. They offer seven levels of heat, ranging from "No Spice" to the infamous "Reaper." "No Spice" is for those who prefer classic fried chicken. "Lite Mild" and "Mild" offer a gentle introduction to heat. "Medium" provides a noticeable kick, often compared to what other fast-food chains might call "hot." "Hot" is where the heat truly begins to build, delivering a robust flavor and a significant burn that spicy food enthusiasts will appreciate. Many reviewers suggest "Hot" as a good starting point for first-timers who enjoy spice. "Extra Hot" and "Reaper" are for the serious heat seekers. The "Reaper" level even comes with a waiver at some locations, indicating its extreme intensity. While some find the "Reaper" to be intensely hot, others note that the consistency can vary, with some experiences being face-melting and others more manageable. The spice is primarily delivered through a flavorful dry rub, which clings well to the chicken without...

I had a very disappointing experience at this MIDTOWN location. When I walked in, there was no one in line, so I began placing my order. However, as other customers arrived, the cashier (named Nenir) completely ignored my order and turned her attention to them.

It took about 20 minutes for my food to arrive, and when it finally did, the chicken was undercooked, soggy, and cut into tiny bite-sized pieces—not at all like what I have received at other Dave’s Hot Chicken locations. Just two weeks ago, I visited the Pickering location, ordered the same Hot Tender Box, and the difference was night and day: large, juicy chicken pieces, perfectly cooked, flavorful sauce, and plenty of bread (5–6 pieces). We enjoyed it so much that we even had leftovers for the next day.

Unfortunately, this MIDTOWN location fell far below expectations. The sauce was watery and bland, the chicken was poorly prepared, and the value was simply not worth the $50 I spent. To make matters worse, the phone number listed on Google doesn’t even work. I tried reaching out through another location to get the correct number, but the response was unhelpful. I also filed a complaint with management and left my contact details, but after waiting an entire day, I still received no reply.

I would honestly ask for a refund and gladly return this order. The food had no taste, no quality, and the service was careless. I will never return to this location, and I strongly advise others not to waste...