Dave's Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Union City

There was a lot of hype going into this one and I was excited because it's a halal place that's not the generic type of cuisine. This is grand opening weekend so the lines did stretch out and it was about an hr wait just to get in the store. But that's grand opening weekend of anything popular.

I ordered the Dave's #2 which consists of 2 sliders and fries and also had the Mac and cheese.

The sliders aren't sliders that you are thinking of . They are full size burgers. The chicken was done really well as I did have mild ( not a big fan of spicy ). The chicken was cooked and seasoned well. I was surprised that it went really good with the Cole slaw and pickles which I haven't tried on a burger before. The fries were okay, it's up to standards but nothing too mind blowing

The Mac and cheese was decent but it was average . As a big Mac and cheese fan I was expecting really good Mac and cheese but it did fall short . It marks all the right boxes like creamy, tender and the right amount of cheese but it just felt like you can get it anywhere else.

I did however try a piece of the reaper chicken and BOY let me tell you, fans of hot spicy food will love it . It's the right amount spice that does right by it's name. I actually thought despite my cries of agony it was not only spicy but also seasoned and tasted very good. If you aren't good with spice like me , stay away from it because an ambulance ride costs $3k in the U.S

Update: after a year or so being open, Dave's hot chicken is still amazing , however, they have started to skimp on the slider chicken. Like so many times I been there they just throw a chicken the size of a chicken slider which covers less than half of the bun. For comparison their chicken they used to put was pretty much the size of the bun itself or pretty close to it. A far cry from their grand opening which makes the trip here less than ideal now. Have to knock it 2...

Alrighty... So let's start by saying how packed this place was on a Wednesday evening... VERY! So much so that because we caught an appetite while shopping that we decided to check it out.

Clean establishment...

Attentive and helpful service...

Orders slow to come out because of all the orders they had between dine in, take out and 3rd party ordering apps... But I must say, it was worth the wait.

Our order consisted of a #3 (1 tender and 1 slider with fries); 1 tender which was accompanied with a slice of bread; and a coleslaw. My son didn't like the coleslaw which the young lady was happy to accommodate a Mac and cheese (creamy) in it's place. My combo 3 was made up of lite mild and medium spice level which is more well seasoned than actually with any spiciness. However the chicken was moist on the inside and crispy on the outside and not in a hard typa way either... Next time I am going to try the hot spice level and see how that goes 😏

We also noticed they had a cauliflower option... What was down by the registers instead of on the main menu... My recommendation would be to add it to the menu so that people don't miss it because it wasn't mentioned... I would also go as far as to add some sort of chicken tender salad option and some kid-friendly options to the menu! (That would make this place a real hit!)

With that being said, obviously there will be a next time and I recommend people come on out and give it a try...

Review: Dave's Hot Chicken

I recently had the chance to try Dave's Hot Chicken, sampling both the sliders and chicken pieces with Hot and Reaper spice levels. Here's a breakdown of my experience:

Spice Levels: One of the standout features at Dave's Hot Chicken is their Reaper spice level, which is so intense that they require you to sign a waiver acknowledging the risk. However, for someone accustomed to the fiery heat of Andhra cuisine, the Reaper spice didn’t pose much of a challenge. It was certainly hot, but not overwhelmingly so.

Taste and Texture: The chicken tenders were impressively soft and crispy. Each bite offered a delightful crunch, followed by juicy, well-seasoned meat. The sliders were equally enjoyable, with the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

Overall Experience: For newcomers from South India, particularly those familiar with spicy chili foods, Dave's Hot Chicken offers a tasty and enjoyable experience. While the Reaper might not be as intimidating for spice veterans, the quality and taste of the chicken make it worth the visit. The atmosphere is vibrant and fun, adding to the overall dining experience.

Whether you’re a spice lover or just looking for delicious chicken, Dave's Hot Chicken delivers a...