Dave's Hot Chicken

Chicken restaurant · Historic Core

Dave's Hot Chicken

Chicken restaurant · Historic Core

3

131 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null
Dave's Hot Chicken by null

Highlights

Dave's Hot Chicken delivers perfectly juicy, spice-ranged Nashville-style chicken with killer sauce and crispy fries in a vibrant, fast-paced setting.  

Featured in Eater
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131 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Get directions

daveshotchicken.com

$10–20 · Menu

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131 S Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Get directions

+1 323 507 3077
daveshotchicken.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@eater

Does Seattle Have Enough Fried Chicken Restaurants? - Eater Seattle

"On Tuesday, in the middle of the “atmospheric river of rain” that drenched the entire Northwest, passersby on Capitol Hill were treated to a grim sight: a line of people huddled under hoodies and umbrellas waiting for chicken. In fairness, this wasn’t just any chicken, it was Dave’s Hot Chicken, the Nashville-style Los Angeles–based chain that got a vital bit of early publicity from Eater LA back in 2017 and has since spread all over the U.S., plus Canada and the Persian Gulf. The Dave’s on 12th Avenue and Pike Street, which opened on Saturday, December 2, is the first of 10 locations planned for the Seattle area, reports Capitol Hill Seattle Blog." - Harry Cheadle

https://seattle.eater.com/2023/12/8/23993601/daves-hot-chicken-mt-joy-open-capitol-hill
View Postcard for Dave's Hot Chicken
@eater

Here’s Coachella’s 2023 Food Lineup, From Hot Chicken to Fine Dining - Eater LA

"including Roy Choi and rapidly expanding Dave’s Hot Chicken" - Farley Elliott

https://la.eater.com/2023/4/4/23668839/coachella-food-vendor-bars-lineup-music-festival-indio-2023
View Postcard for Dave's Hot Chicken
@eater

Why Can’t Hotville Chicken Break Through in Los Angeles?  - Eater LA

"But her family’s connections are still strong in Nashville, Tennessee, and selling out to a franchise generator like the Wetzel’s Pretzels family (as Dave’s Hot Chicken did) would remove her money worries overnight." - Farley Elliott

https://la.eater.com/23172221/nashville-hot-chicken-los-angeles-hotville-prince-struggle
View Postcard for Dave's Hot Chicken

Mak BH

Google
Tried their sliders and tenders. Very tasty! The place offers 7 different levels of heat too for the chicken. Also, the service was awesome!

abhishek kottur

Google
The best fast food I’ve had is Dave’s Hot ChickenI love it a lot! Whenever I’m in a rush, hungry, or getting takeout, this is my go-to spot. I also take all my friends here. They’re open late at night, and I absolutely love the taste. Recently, I visited a location where a guy named Josue was at the register. He was warm, welcoming, and took great care of me, making sure I had everything I needed. He even tried recommending items to me, but I let him know that I’m a regular at Dave’s Hot Chicken, just not at this particular location. However, the hospitality was excellent, and the taste was just as amazing as at every other Dave’s Hot Chicken I’ve been to. Overall, this place serves the best of the best food! The service is incredibly fast—just wow!

Mert Sahin

Google
I recently had the chance to eat at Dave’s Hot Chicken, and I can confidently say it's definitely worth a visit. The chicken is perfectly seasoned, and the Dave’s sauce adds a delicious kick that enhances the flavor. The bonus of free refills on drinks is a nice touch too. The only downside is that there's just one bathroom, which often leads to long lines. Other than that, it's a fantastic experience, and I’ll definitely be coming back.

Rodrigo “funning”

Google
I’ve been to other Dave’s Hot chicken spots and this is the same taste, spice, flavor. I ordered two tenders and fries. The tenders were very juicy and flavorful. I got the medium was just the right amount of spice. I’d definitely come back again and try their other menu items. Parking can be very difficult because of the busy area, so walking there is recommended. The interior was very elaborate and very artful.

Mari Meneses

Google
Daves hot chicken is sooo good. For one, their range of spice is great as it can truly be for anyone. For another, their not chicken slider is delicious, and my vegetarian friends can also enjoy the meal with me. The staff here was really kind and helpful as I debated on what to get. The food was incredible as always.

Gabriel L

Google
Slider with medium level heat: I didn't feel any heat at this level, just tasted well seasoned and the meat was juicy and tender. The bun has a good bite and tasted buttery and premium. Pickles were good, slaw was seasoned well. The extra Dave's sauce was delicious. Fries well done: perfect amount of crispy for me! Love a properly done crinkle cut fry and this hit the spot. Went well with Dave's sauce and ketchup. Staff were nice and they paced the line well. Food came out relatively fast for the size of the crowd.

Jenna Ragan

Google
Ooooh my word! This place is so delicious. My First time trying it after hearing about it for so long. I just had to sample both the Tender and Slider. Good taste/flavor, and the fries were seasoned great, and with that sauce.. Amazing. I will definitely be ordering from here again, and next time I'ma try their Mac n cheese. Thank you, Dave

Anna

Google
It was my first time going to Dave’s Hot Chicken, and it was an overall amazing experience. The staff in particular were really kind but I would like to highlight the general manager, Hugo, because his customer service was superb! The food was delicious and tasty, 10/10!! I would highly recommend this place!! :)
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Abhishek K.

Yelp
The best fast food I've had is Dave's Hot ChickenI love it a lot! Whenever I'm in a rush, hungry, or getting takeout, this is my go-to spot. I also take all my friends here. They're open late at night, and I absolutely love the taste. Recently, I visited a location where a guy named Josue was at the register. He was warm, welcoming, and took great care of me, making sure I had everything I needed. He even tried recommending items to me, but I let him know that I'm a regular at Dave's Hot Chicken, just not at this particular location. However, the hospitality was excellent, and the taste was just as amazing as at every other Dave's Hot Chicken I've been to. Overall, this place serves the best of the best food! The service is incredibly fast--just wow!
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Janet K.

Yelp
Dave's is delicious for fast food. 3 star is for this location. The parking situation, the bathroom situation, and customer service not being the greatest. They forgot my cheese and both my orders which I had paid extra of (75cents each). And though it was only $1.50 I lost out on, I called back in hopes that can give me credit on my cheese the next time I order(I live near and order often). But nope, the m"manage
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Ongo G.

Yelp
Food was top notch, although my partner got considerable larger tenders than I did. Maybe because he ordered mild and I ordered medium? Anyway, my negative review is mainly due to there being no available bathroom. I understand that they have a location that is notorious for people trying to bum a free bathroom, which is why I understand why the need for a secuirty code (I saw like 10 people aim directly for the restrooms without even ordering anything). I worked at restaurants before and also know that Out of Service signs are commonly used as deterrents from these bathroom freeloaders. What I find crummy though is that paying customers like me have to suffer for this. Meanwhile the "employee" restroom is 100% working (you can tell by the vacant sign that they actually let themselves use it). Either this location doesn't want to bother with sharing the restroom code with patrons or really would rather hurt their customers to spite the freeloaders. Either way, this tells me this location lacks integrity. The food, which I devoured, was amazing though.
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Dee T.

Yelp
Tasty chicken sandwiches! I get the spiciest flavor because I like the challenge and it doesn't ruin the taste. This specific location was clean and the cashiers were nice. I for sure recom
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Francis V.

Yelp
This is one of my fav hot chicken spots. It's a bummer they no longer have the cauliflower. I usually find parking at one if the meters, there's always an open spot or I will catch someone leaving. If you come during the week around lunchtime it's likely to be a line. There's either 1 or 2 people working the counter and the line goes pretty fast. There's tables inside and outside, it's comfortable with plenty of space.
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Gabe L.

Yelp
Slider with medium level heat: I didn't feel any heat at this level, just tasted well seasoned and the meat was juicy and tender. The bun has a good bite and tasted buttery and premium. Pickles were good, slaw was seasoned well. The extra Dave's sauce was delicious. Fries well done: perfect amount of crispy for me! Love a properly done crinkle cut fry and this hit the spot. Went well with Dave's sauce and ketchup. Staff were nice and they paced the line well. Food came out relatively fast for the size of the crowd.
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Joseline S.

Yelp
I have gone to Dave's twice. The first time I went I ordered online through the website and then I picked up 30 minutes later. It took me some time to get my order once I got there because it was busy and the girl behind the counter was busy. That time I got the 1 slider, 1 tender meal with mild spice. It was delicious. The second time I went I ordered in the store with the screens they have. From the time I ordered to the time I got my food I waited about 40 minutes. It was so busy. I got the loaded fries and they were delicious. Overall the food is amazing I would just like the wait time to be shorter and for them to have more staff behind the counter taking orders. Props to the worker yahaira. She was on it taking orders, packing them up and she always had a smile even though it was busy. Parking: there's street parking available depending on the time you go.
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Joyce L.

Yelp
I got the Dave's #1 which is 2 tender ( chicken strips) and fries. The chicken was juicy and taste was so good. I've ordered to go and enjoy the meal at home. The service is great and fast. Place is clean and well organized. Highly recommend trying if you're in town.

Dylan S.

Yelp
The food service was amazing and the staff was very kind and assisting to what I wanted to order jahaira is very sweet and helpful
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Maleerat P.

Yelp
It is so colorful in this location . Fun atmosphere and the service is friendly. I got #1 set - chicken strip and fries. It is so delicious. The chicken is juicy and good portion size. It tastes good but it's a bit buttery for my lactose intolerant stomach. I feel like it's not as spicy as some others. My set comes with fries , 2 pieces strips, 2 bread under the strips and a couple pieces of cucumber pickles. If you're in the area it's a good choice.
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Griselda S.

Yelp
I've been hearing about Dave's for a while and everyone always raves about it. I had to try it. Dave's definitely didn't disappoint. I ordered the French fries with Cole slaw and Dave's hot chicken. It was so delicious that I am already thinking about going back. The service was also amazing. I went on a day they were having a fun raiser so it was packed but even as busy as it was, the staff all kept their cool and provided excellent service. I was also tempted to get a shake but I didn't order it this time. Will be going back for a shake and the fries again because they were delicious.
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Elise B.

Yelp
I ordered on the kiosk inside and the order didn't take long to be ready. They have indoor & outdoor seating. I ordered the 2 tenders with fries. The chicken is moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. I like that you can change the spice level to your liking. The fries were fresh & hot.
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Katherine L.

Yelp
I love Dave's. I gotta say, I am a die hard howling fan. It took me some time to give Dave's a chance but it is a pretty good substitute when you are in the mood for some bomb fried hot chicken without the wait. I personally don't like their hot seasoning as much as the mild since I feel that it takes away from the punch of flavor you get from the mild. My go to order - mild hot chicken(9/10) sandwiches with fries and a Mac and cheese. Dave's sauce is soo good on everything. Ask for more on the side. The Mac and cheese (10/10) here is my favorite! The cheese sauce is so gooey and rich it feels like a treat. I like this location. Food always comes out good and fast. It feels like a modern fast food restaurant. There is plenty of seating but parking can be a challenge given it's in the heart of little Tokyo.
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Connor I.

Yelp
This place is famous and successful for a reason. I've always been impressed by the flavors here. Chicken is always cooked perfect, The dry rub is simply delectable. There's a heat level for everybody, (Start with medium or hot, then try leveling up next time if you dare...) The sliders are perfectly portioned, The sauce is to die for. What else can I say? If you haven't tried Dave's, you're missing out.
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Mabel C.

Yelp
Dave's Hot Chicken is where it's at for spicy sandwiches!!! My husband and I stopped by because we were feeling peckish. Yajaira was our cashier and she was so sweet. Shout out to her! She recommended us to get cheese on our slider and that was a game changer! We got the hot slider with cheese and everything in it. The Dave's sauce is amazing! My mouth is watering just thinking about the slider we just had.
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Magan C.

Yelp
The inside of this location has nice wallpaper designs and is clean. I usually come here from the office and we typically have a large group. Their tables and chairs are moveable making it good for both small and large parties. The workers are always super energetic and eager to help with any questions or needs. I am a huge fan of spicy chicken sandwiches and this place doesn't miss. I love that if you order one of the combos like slider and tender they allow you to choose different spice levels on each one ! I got the spicy and extra spicy. The spice here is more of a dry spice so the heat comes with a little time lag. Their fries are spiced and crunchy but I am guilty of never finishing them because I am too full I would definitely recommend this place if you want to skip the long lines at howling rays
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Hussain S.

Yelp
Their spicy chicken is on fire. They got a lot of great options for their food. You can catch me Visiting this place again. The service was on point and the vibes are always good.
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Marius H.

Yelp
Hugo was amazing....Great Service And The food was fresh this Dave location definitely a 5 out 5.

Marlon P.

Yelp
this place has good service and jahira was a good employee of the place. the food was good and the area had good people in it
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Mark L.

Yelp
Kids were hungry as they explored Little Tokyo. We chose to eat at Dave's Hot Chicken because the little one was requesting fried chicken. We had a really short wait and got our meals rather quickly. We got 2 tenders with fries (Served with sliced bread, pickles and Dave's sauce), 1 tender + 1 slider with fries ( Tender served with sliced bread, pickles and Dave's sauce, slider served with kale slaw, pickles and Dave's sauce) . Kids enjoy the food very much!
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Cary S.

Yelp
Best chicken, great service! Ambience is nice. We got a couple of sandwiches and a few drinks.
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Puja D.

Yelp
I have to say, I'm surprised this location only has a 3.5. I was visiting LA recently and Dave's was on my list of places to try. I've heard a lot about this chain so I had very high expectations, all of which were met! I ordered the single slider and single tender meal (both mild) with a side of Mac and a big old cup of Dave's sauce. Everything was still nice and crispy despite being delivered. The chicken was so absolutely delicious and juicy. The mild didn't really have much spice so I'm thinking I'd go up to medium next time. I tend to go conservative when I'm trying new places since I'm not great with spice, so that was on me. Will def try medium next time. The fries were so nicely seasoned and in my opinion, probably the best fast food fries out there. The Mac and cheese was good, but nothing extraordinary. I'm a big sauce girl, so having a giant cup of the Dave's sauce was exactly what I needed. Will definitely be getting more Dave's whenever I'm in the vicinity of a Dave's again.

Shariq S.

Yelp
Very Small tenders for the price paid. Not worth it. Such quantity is only going to push customers away who don't care about this small issue.
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Crystal K.

Yelp
A quick fast-food hot chicken joint. I know hot chicken is the du jour for LA eateries but I personally never had a bad experience with Dave's Hot Chicken. They do specialize in hot chicken (I mean it says it in the name!), but you have options on how spicy you want your chicken. I chose mild, though I probably should've gone up to medium. My chicken slider was pretty amazing and the fries were crisp. Service was quick and the restaurant was very clean for how busy it was on a Saturday afternoon. The restrooms were also very clean as well. No complaints here. I might have been lucky or they might have made some substantial changes.
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Humberto M.

Yelp
Nice staff, made sure we were taken care of. Food hit, warm and ready to get devoured. Good late night snack. Tasty and filling food.

Isaiah G.

Yelp
Great customer service very polite and welcoming, the line went by quick, and the food came out very quickly!
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David W.

Yelp
I'm writing this review to call out the work of Aileen (I think I got her name right) who was the only employee behind counter yesterday around lunch time. She was everywhere doing the work of what clearly should have been two employees. Taking orders, bagging orders, placing them out for customers who've order in store or online, reaching up on her tip toes to reach the computer screens near the food in the kitchen and more, all in a whirlwind of activity. The kitchen was clearly slammed; it was taking about 15 minutes of wait time but any delay was never due to her; she just kept keeping up all with a great attitude. I've was a retail and customer service for 40 years and she was as good as anyone I ever saw during those years. Now the food: OK. I got the sandwich. The crinkle cut fries were good but lukewarm (again not from sitting already to go but from the kitchen.) I got the HOT level--though I like spicy, not mouth burning, food I was a little surprised how mild it was. I would say a 5 out of 10. I would have expected more of a 6 or even 7 so I guess next time I'll go up one level. It was good and the bun very nice and they are generous with their pickles and sauce though as a sandwich I didn't really need, or use, the sauce. Ratings: 5 star counter employee 2 star employer who appears not to want to spend the money to staff this location properly. This includes an obviously understaffed kitchen. This was my first time at this chain so I don't know if it's true about their other locations.
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Michelle D.

Yelp
I tried to call for an hour straight and no one answers. Horrible customer service. Wrong order
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Selene S.

Yelp
Ordered online for pickup. Website was easy to use and navigate. Pick up at the restaurant was simple and straightforward. The employee knew what she was doing and got it for me right away. There's indoor and outdoor seating. I got the chicken sandwich, no spice. Taste-wise, it was great. Crispy and tender. However, the portion was disappointing. It just isn't worth $6.25 in my opinion. I didn't feel full after finishing it. Other places have equally tasty chicken sandwiches at a lower price.

Mark J.

Yelp
Such great chicken and workers! Spice was optimal. One of the best experiences I've had
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Alex D.

Yelp
You should come to Dave's, the chicken never disappoints. The inside is very clean. It's not a long wait either
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Jeremy S.

Yelp
I ordered online through the Dave's Hot Chicken website. When I approached the pickup window, I saw another customer waiting there. However, both of us didn't see any staff attending to it, so we went inside. While I waited, several customers got their food as they saw their names listed on the TV. However, I didn't see my name listed even though I ordered via the main website. After everyone except for me picked up their food, the cashier gave me my food which had been there all along. I didn't have to let other people order and pick up their food before me. I now feel more comfortable ordering here again, but for the initial wait of several minutes, I'll subtract two stars. In an ideal experience, I'd want to pick up my food at the window and eat my food outside as I'd prefer the quiet ambience there. I ordered the chicken slider with fries ($9.99), which exceeded my expectations in terms of how much they season the meat. The chicken patty seemed large to me, and I felt full after the meal after eating it back at work. The fries tasted adequate, and I liked dipping them in the sauce they give you. Travel note: Not affecting this review's rating, but I made a rookie mistake of taking the E-line going to East Los Angeles rather than back to Union Station. The A-line to Azusa stops at Union Station.

kiana n.

Yelp
The cashier was so nice and helpful and I love how clean the establishment is. It gets so busy here but the workers are super fast! I will say there are a couple unhoused regulars around this location at night , but they are harmless.
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Natalie F.

Yelp
This location specifically is not it. I recently purchased a milkshake through DoorDash pickup at 12:32am and the order was accepted and even sent me a notification that it was ready to pick up at 12:41am and when we got there the lady at the window said they closed down their machine and I asked if it was broken and she said no that it was time to start closing and they close at 2am...‍I would understand if it was an hour before closing but the order was ready at 12:41am... for ONE milkshake keep in mind‍. that's insane of a pre closing shift. It's lazy and inconvenient because I had to go out my way to pick up the non existent order because of their incorporation to make the order but ATLEAST communicate to let me know the order would be fulfilled or to let DoorDash know they wouldn't fulfill the order. And I hate to complain but I hate when a business is inconvenient and unprofessional. at least call DoorDash support for your customers if you can't fulfill any order out of your lack of communication. L Dave's hot chicken.

Remigio O.

Yelp
It is very rare, especially in Los Angeles to receive amazing customer service. A friend and I stopped by Dave's hot chicken and waffles today because the original place we were gonna go to was closed for a private event. As soon as we walked in, James & Jahaira were friendly, professional, and extremely helpful. Highly recommend this location!

Mohamed S.

Yelp
Can never go wrong with some Dave's hot chicken, especially this location. Great service and great food

Alfredo G.

Yelp
Just goes to show how bad the quality of food has gone down with Dave's hot chicken. I have little to no coleslaw and the flavor is not there anymore. Need to turn things around before it's too late.

Adrian L.

Yelp
I had a very filling, satisfying visit tonight at Dave's at little Tokyo. I was already a fan of the bites and chose to order the 10pc with the fries. I ordered with no spice and let me tell you, beats chick fil a!!! For $10! That's a steal. Staff was very nice and courteous. Will be back!!!!

Mahadi N.

Yelp
Very good service and lovely dining area. I definitely recommend driving here and go through little Tokyo. Food is really tasty.
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Alexander ..

Yelp
Watched this store get robbed for chicken, and they still had my order ready in less than ten minutes. Shout out to Ms Heidi I believe her name was for her excellent service and smile.
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Jason N.

Yelp
Tried this Dave's location for the second time and was very impressed. The service was amazing, shout-out to the cashier!! Ordered takeout but my food was still fire (no pun intended) by the time I got home. Can't wait to be back!!

Russell C.

Yelp
Excellent food and service I would define recommend people who want chicken sandwiches to come here
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Crystal G.

Yelp
French Fries done in less than 3 mins! Wow! After I paid, I walked to my car that's parked right outside of the door and he brought the fries out! That quick! This location's customer service is AWESOME ! I am glad you guys opened here! I have been waiting for Dave's Hot Chicken to open! But sorry I barely came in! :D Thanks for this quick service and GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!
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Lorraine I.

Yelp
This is a very local famous fried chicken in LA Been heard them a thousand times Love it sooo much The staff are super friendly cuz they r new store? The design is really fast food and hipped It is really lovely the space is clean and organized
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Christina S.

Yelp
The location is cute, I really liked their interior design. The only downside is the parking. I did appreciate that the wait was not very long. I ordered the sliders (medium) with fries. I wish I went a little hotter. The cashier said medium was pretty hot so I went with his word. If you love spicy, definitely go hotter. That was a little disappointing. Overall, the flavor was there. I would definitely come back for a hotter chicken. Also, The price was reasonable for what you get.
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Kay Y.

Yelp
I got Extra Hot and it was NOT hot at all. You are better going to Red Chickz in DTLA should you have a need for Burn or like to tear up as you munch Lol. The mac & cheese they packed for us less than half too, so that was weird.
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Innas I.

Yelp
Crazy to see Dave's Hot Chicken at every corner of LA now. I'm glad this location opened up in Little Tokyo side of downtown. Downtown needed more affordable food options. This location offers free drink or milkshake with a Yelp Checkin. This review is mainly for the customer service. The cashier today during lunch was hustling all by himself and was able to hold down the restaurant by himself in an efficient manner. Really appreciated his great customer service.
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Danielle N.

Yelp
I ordered pickup and I gotta say the electronic board our front was amazing! It said your name and if the order was ready or not. It made pick up so much easier. As far as the food, their chicken is really good and well spiced! My only qualm is the sandwich didn't stay together well... the bun wasn't great. Would eat again!
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Joseph C.

Yelp
I've ordered them via Uber eats and picked up a few times. Every time, they've surprised me with how hot and fresh they manage to keep the food. Also - it's just pretty freakin good stuff. I'd highly recommend them. They're also really friendly and helpful, even with how busy they always are.