Menu
There are 4 combo meals on the Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu. These consist of a variety of chicken sliders, chicken tenders, and french fries. The combos range from the cheapest being $11 to the most expensive being $18. However, you can also order just a slider or tenders without the combo of fries. Dave’s also has re-released a “not chicken” option which is made of cauliflower. Each combo comes with an optional small coleslaw and pickles which are free of charge. Dave’s has recently released two brand new menu items: Loaded french fries and also “dave’s bites”,which are really just chicken nuggets.
There are a total of 4 sides you can order: Mac and cheese, French fries, Cheese Fries, and coleslaw. Each side ranges from $4 to $5.50. Dave’s combos do not drink so, unfortunately, you must order a soft fountain drink on the side for an additional fee. On the menu there are also loaded shakes. These are essentially just ice cream with extra toppings blended inside and added on top made into a milkshake. The 4 options are Oreo, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms, and M&M. You can order these with a strawberry, vanilla and or chocolate base. A small is $7.49 and a regular is $8.49. Disregarding the size, these drinks are not small so I would say the price is worth it.
Dave’s is very famous for their sauce. Every combo meal comes with a side of their “Dave’s Famous Sauce”, but many people order additional sides because of how much they love the sauce. On the menu there is an option to order a large cup of sauce for $3 which is unsurprisingly, a very big seller.
Spice
There are a total of 7 spice levels to choose from: No spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper. All of those intending to eat the Reaper chicken must sign a waiver and release of liability. A single strip of reaper chicken is a total of 2,000,000 Scovillie units. The reaper chicken is so hot that it is said to cause sweating, fainting, and in extreme cases, even strokes or heart attacks. Luckily this does not happen often because the customers who dare to order the reaper chicken can usually handle it.
My personal favorite flavor is medium, granted I have not tried every flavor. I have tried no spice up until medium. In my opinion, Medium gives the perfect amount of heat where you can feel the spice but it is still enjoyable to eat. Many chicken spots make their chicken either way too hot or not hot enough but I think Dave’s does an amazing job at this.
Taste
I think the taste of the food is immaculate. The chicken has a strong cajun spice which really enhances the flavor. The chicken has a very crispy coating that gives an amazing crunch once you bite into it. Dave’s fries have a cajun-based seasoning which also has a small bit of heat, so they perfectly fit with the chicken. Dave’s Famous Sauce has an incredible flavor. The ingredients are said to be “Mayo, Chipotle Sauce, Honey, Ketchup and a number of spices”. Many people have Dave’s Sauce held to a high standard, even compared to the likes of Chick-Fil-a Sauce.
Environment/Atmosphere/Location
There are a total of 8 Daves’s Hot Chicken in New Jersey, I will speak of the one located in Union. Dave’s Hot Chicken is located in a very busy area on Route 22. Despite being such a busy area there is always parking, Dave’s has a nice big parking lot that can hold a lot of cars. The exterior is very simplistic but it does look good. The interior is beautiful, there is a good blend of nice vibrant patterns and simplistic walls. The interior design just complements everything so perfectly. The cleanliness of the shop is top tier as well. I would say the staff and care at the register could be better but overall, this establishment is amazing.
