1567 N Cooper Road, Gilbert, AZ 85233
Review Highlights
Dave’s Hot Chicken Review
Originally heard about Dave’s Hot Chicken through the media. The restaurant specializes in tenders and sliders. Imagine Raising Canes but with the ability to make the tenders hot: Nashville hot. Oddly, Dave’s website makes no mention of their chicken being “Nashville hot.” I think I know why (these dudes are from California).
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Restaurant interior and color scheme reminded me of In-N-Out Burger. They have a minimalist menu that is trending these days. The main menu entrees appeared to be presented as meals. However, drinks are not included in the price.
Dave’s Hot Chicken might appear overcooked and maybe dry. But don’t be fooled. This style of chicken gets its dark hue from brown sugar, fried chicken grease, and various peppers/spices (especially paprika). There is also a slight sweetness to the chicken, which makes it unique.
The sliders are not the typical size you might see at a restaurant. They are closer to a regular chicken sandwich in size. Each slider consist of a single tender. The tender will probably stick out as much as 2.5 inches on either side of the bun. The bun is sweet like a Kings Hawaiian roll.
They offer 6 levels of heat: from no heat all the way to reaper. So far, I have tried the “hot” and the “extra hot.” The heat levels tend to run hotter than most. For weaklings, I do not recommend starting with the “hot.” Instead, “medium” is probably a better choice.
Both the chicken and the fries were crispier than most. If you purchase tenders, it will include 2 slices of plain white bread, sliced pickles, and Dave’s sauce (basically fry sauce or a variation of thousand island). For drinks they went with Coke products. They also have bottled beer and milkshakes.
Overall, Dave’s Hot Chicken seems like a place that borrowed a bunch of ideas from popular food spots and repackaged them into a highly successful restaurant concept. One thing that stood out: Despite the best of ideas, these modern restaurants are still yelling out order numbers when the food is ready. I don’t get it. But Dave’s is definitely one to try. #JustinLeonardApproved
