Dave's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Chelmsford

If I could give a MILLION five stars, I WOULD! I LOVE DHC!! I love Dave's SOOO MUCH. This place, no matter what time of day, the people you are around, the vibes, no matter what. This place is INCREDIBLE! I mean, I love this place so much. Recommended order: 2 sliders (med & hot) w/ cheese on sliders, replace the fries with Mac n Cheese, and any beverage of choice! It is soooo good. If you are in college (and not used to spice, i reccomend those levels), if not and you are used to spice, please up it to hot and extra hot. THIS PLACE MAKES YOUR STOMACH FEEL AT HOME. I LOVED IT. YOU WILL LOVE IT. You must use Dave's sauce AND HONEY. Key: HONEYYYYY!!! You will only have the full experience with honey. The food itself has INCREDIBLE PRICINGS! They get you with the drink (the most expensive part). The fries and Mac N Cheese have greatly improved in the last few months. The Tenders are good as well! Personally, I have not had Dave's Bites, but I have also heard GREAT THINGS. BE AWARE: ONCE YOU GO TO DAVE'S, YOU WILL ONLY CRAVE DAVE'S!! LIKE WOW. SOOOO GOOD!!! WOW. I can rave about Dave's forever. There is one guy with HIGHHH ENERGY (love his vibes, shout out to you!!!) It is always good. ALSO GET THE DAVE's APP!! You will go so much, you might as well be rewarded!! The milkshakes are good!! They are more like ice cream and THICK. But it is sooo good, you will enjoy it regardless. So this is a place for everyone! They have vegan options that also taste IDENTICAL (stated from those who have tried both, like they could not even tell it was cauliflower). SO PLEASE PLEASE RUN TO DAVE's. AND BUDGET because you will love this place forever! Key takeaways: GO TO DAVE's. PERIOD. And let the experience speak for itself. ORDER DAVE's.

Ordering Dave's: INCREDIBLE. If you are in Lowell, the wait time is usually longer, so I recommend picking up Dave's or ordering in! But it is good ALL AROUND!!

GET DAVE's!!

Edited: To add an amazing...

TLDR version: it's like raising Cane's. good- friendly people, customizable spice level. Bad - cost, flavor, wait time.

I went here on a Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. surprisingly was still quite busy. Don't know if it's because they're new or it's summer time or what. Ordered a single combo and had to wait a little over 20 minutes before it was ready.

Service is extremely friendly and on point, although the time to get your food can be quite a wait. I had some people that ordered before I even arrived, and their orders got missed or messed up and weren't ready before mine was.

They basically have four pre-made combos that are a combination of either chicken tenders sliders and fries in different mixes.

I got the combo which included one tender one slider (which is just a tender on a bun with slaw and a sauce) a slice of white bread on the side with some sauce and pickles and some crinkle cut fries. Cost was $15 without drink, I got the hot level and it was spicy BUT the spice only comes after you finish because the taste is INCREDIBLY salty. It kills all the flavors. The sauce is a slightly spiced mayo but VERY mayo heavy. Fries were meh.

Another negative with the visit was how the store is laid out, there is one entrance which leads to the register, and one counter for service. You can dine in there but pretty much anyone sitting at tables was just waiting for food which led to a lot of people hanging around the pickup counter and doorway causing bottlenecks for people coming and going.

I might give it a try in the future but for the cost and how long you have to wait for oversalted chicken I'm not going to go back anytime soon. Hoping it was because of how new...

Dave's Hot Chicken in Lowell promises a fiery good time, and it delivers. The ambience is pure, unadulterated fun. The walls might be adorned with graffiti murals and splashes of red, reflecting the fiery nature of their chicken. Expect a casual, industrial vibe with upbeat music keeping the energy high.

The real star here, though, is the food. Crispy, juicy fried chicken comes in a range of heat levels, from "no spice" for the faint of heart all the way up to the infamous "Reaper" – a fiery challenge not for the meek. If you're new to the heat game, start with "mild" or "medium." These levels still pack a punch, but they allow the flavor of the perfectly seasoned breading to shine through.

For the adventurous, "hot" definitely lives up to its name. It's a slow burn that builds with each bite, leaving a pleasant tingle on your lips. For those seeking a true test of their heat tolerance, "extra hot" and above are territory best entered with caution. These levels are no joke, but for those who can conquer them, the bragging rights and flavor payoff are real.

No matter your spice preference, the chicken itself is fantastic. The breading is light and shatteringly crisp, giving way to juicy, flavorful chicken underneath. Pair it with their creamy coleslaw or cheesy fries for a perfect balance of heat and coolness.

Be warned, though – a trip to Dave's Hot Chicken might leave you with a happy burn and a serious case of the satisfied sweats. But hey, that's...