Dave's Hot Chicken Menu Guide

Dave's Hot Chicken keeps its menu deliberately short and focused: hand-breaded chicken tenders, sliders on toasted buns, crinkle-cut fries, kale slaw, mac and cheese, and thick milkshakes. What turned a small Los Angeles food stand into a national name is the heat ladder — seven levels that run from No Heat and Lite Mild through Medium and Hot, up to Extra Hot and the Reaper, dusted with Carolina Reaper pepper and strictly for the brave.

What to order first

A two-tender combo at Medium is the order regulars recommend to newcomers: real Nashville-style warmth without ending the meal early. Sliders come with kale slaw, pickles and Dave's sauce in a soft bun, and every combo pairs well with the crinkle-cut fries. If you plan to climb past Hot, keep a vanilla shake within reach — it genuinely helps.

Prices, calories and locations

Menu prices and calories vary by location, and new restaurants open regularly. For the complete, kept-updated breakdown — every item, the full heat scale, nutrition notes and the location list — use the running reference:

Daves Hot Chicken Menu - complete price & calorie guide

The seven heat levels

• No Heat — all flavour, no burn.
• Lite Mild — a gentle warmth.
• Mild — noticeable but friendly.
• Medium — the classic Nashville balance.
• Hot — a proper sweat starts here.
• Extra Hot — for experienced spice eaters.
• Reaper — Carolina Reaper heat; some locations ask you to sign a waiver.

Start one level below where you think you belong, and climb on the next visit. The full menu with current prices and calories is tracked on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu guide.