Dave's Hot Chicken

Chicken restaurant · Melrose Park

Dave's Hot Chicken

Chicken restaurant · Melrose Park

2

2615 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160

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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

Nashville hot chicken tenders, sliders & sandwiches with multiple spice levels  

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2615 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160 Get directions

daveshotchicken.com
@daveshotchicken

$10–20 · Menu

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2615 W North Ave, Melrose Park, IL 60160 Get directions

+1 708 540 2700
daveshotchicken.com
@daveshotchicken

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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@eater

The Best LA Restaurant Food Bites From Coachella Weekend One 2023 - Eater LA

"Options here include the classic hot chicken sandwich from Dave’s Hot Chicken, which leaves a pleasant lingering after-burn, cut with refreshing bites of pickles and slaw." - Lynn Q. Yu

https://la.eater.com/2023/4/17/23687103/coachella-music-arts-festival-food-restaurants-vendors-best-2023
View Postcard for Dave's Hot Chicken
@eater

A Burger and Brunch Bar Expands to Old Town and Four More Openings to Know - Eater Chicago

"Dave’s Hot Chicken, the LA-based chain whose celebrity investors include Drake and Samuel L. Jackson, opens its third Chicago-area location today in suburban Melrose Park. It serves halal-certified chicken tenders at seven levels of hotness (the hottest requires a signed waiver), plus fries, coleslaw, and mac and cheese." - Naomi Waxman

https://chicago.eater.com/2022/1/14/22868419/chicago-restaurant-openings-reopenings-winter-2022
View Postcard for Dave's Hot Chicken

J. GFri

Google
We’ve been wanting to go to Dave’s Hot Chicken for a hot minute ;-) While it was a bit off a drive it was totally worth it. The chicken honey teriyaki bites were so good. And Juan was so nice and helpful taking our order. There’s 7 levels of spice so there’s a level for everyone. The combos are also a great deal.

Corina Gallegos

Google
First time at Melrose Location, actually first time at Dave’s Hot Chicken! Juan CC made such a welcoming and great experience. I ordered Dave’s Bites Hot. So flavorful and juicy with a nice crunch! Juan CC made sure we had the famous dipping sauce to go with! Thank you Juan! We shall be back! And even recommended to download the app to get points! We sure did!

Trail Blazer

Google
Um excuse me Mr. Dave.... like what in the jolly green giant is youuuuu doing here??? My first time visit: You're selling these super greasy, low-grade fries for way too much than what they're worth..... (Portillos has the better crinkled fries for even less.) Then you got these super greasy, MUSHY, cauliflower bites, with NOTHING special going on with them at all. Again, not at all worth the price being charged for them. That spinkle of cole slaw, with pickles, and that DRIZZLE of cheese puts the fries no where near a "loaded" category. Neither is that .10 cents drizzle of cheese worth the .50 cents you charge it for. Lastly this nearly $20 box of sliders🤦‍♀️ come on man. I find this same great spicy chicken patty at Chick-fil-a. Just the patty, because the bread you used for the sandwiches is of a cheap grade too.....my sandwich was beginning to sog by the time we got home less than 10mins away....😫 Sorry about this low review. But the only thing I'm glad about is now I know that I won't be back hun.....

April Stewart

Google
We ordered the #4 in mild and medium along with a Lucky Charms shake. Next time, we'll try the Top-loaded fries and slushie. Everything was top-notch for fast food! Flavorful and Fun!

Ryan Choi

Google
We just had a great experience in Dave hot chicken reaper challenge. Beat Juan in melrose park and get you meal for free! We couldn’t beat him today but we’ll try next time

Dan Heinz

Google
Service: Counter staff kept stopping to help delivery drivers while with customers. Granted those people already paid and ordered ahead of us, but they should have called for extra help because it was taking a while to get through each transaction. They made a mistake on our order, but fixed it right away and were friendly. Food: I had seen other reviews and wanted to try because the tenders were huge and looked like a decent value. The tenders I got looked like the tenders were split into thirds or halves. They were really small and curled up, that's why I think they split full size tenders. Similar to Popeyes underwhelming tenders. The flavor was kind of muted, but the chicken tasted dipped in fat and reminiscent of authentic Nashville Hot chicken. I tried the medium and the hot. I wish I would have tried the next level up, This wasn't spicy enough for me. Atmosphere: the layout is annoying because people line up right next to your table and are standing over you while waiting in line. The line should wrap around the exterior wall and adjust the tables to give people a little more space to enjoy their meals.

yumna

Google
Wow. Just WOW. I’ve been a long time loyal customer of Daves, and there’s a reason I keep coming back. The food is INCREDIBLE every time, no matter how long it’s been since I last came. Every time I walk in I’m greeted by one of the wonderful staff, and they always make sure I have a great experience. Juan especially goes above and beyond to build a personal relationship with every customer and is one of the reasons I keep coming back! We love you Juan. Viva la Juan🙂

Natalia Oryl

Google
I had an amazing experience at Dave’s Hot Chicken thanks to Juan! From the moment I walked in, he greeted me with a big smile and such positive energy—it honestly made my day. He was super helpful in explaining the menu and gave great recommendations based on what spice level I was looking for. Juan made sure our food came out fresh and fast, and he even checked in to see how everything tasted. You can tell he genuinely cares about the customer experience. The food was fire 🔥 but Juan’s service made it unforgettable. Give this man a raise!! Highly recommend stopping by—and if Juan is working, you’re in for top-tier service.
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Sami U.

Yelp
I have known about Dave's Hot Chicken for many years but never ever tried the food before. I saw on Instagram that Drake collaborated with them this year for his Birthday which is actually today and they were giving out one free slider for each person that downloaded the Dave's App and scanned the code in person so I had to stop by to get a freebie! It was extremely busy by the time I get my free sandwich it took almost 1.5 hours! Considering how many people were there I would say the customer service was really fast! The restaurant has a standard fast food ambiance. The Chicken Slider tasted amazing! 5/5 :)
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Myskeshia L.

Yelp
My friend and I went to Dave's Hot on Valentine's Day during the worst snowy day. It was a cute, fun, casual restaurant. The staff were extra helpful and cheerful. They gave us great recommendations and even though the price was a little high it was worth it. The food was tasty, we loved the fries and we will definitely be back.
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Dan M.

Yelp
Had to try Dave's Hot Chicken after seeing many food influencers on social media raving about Dave's Hot Chicken. It was very tasty! Tried the chicken tender, chicken bites, chicken slider, loaded fries, mac and cheese, Oreo vanilla milkshake, Cole slaw, and Dave's Sauce. I would definitely go back. I got the medium heat. It was not overly hot. Very tasty. It is Nashville hot style chicken. The Dave's sauce reminds me of Raising Cane's sauce. I was happy after my meal.
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A P.

Yelp
Came here because the kids saw an ad, they were begging me to take them here. Looks good, smells good, food is better then wing stop. Place is busy, wait time is about 15min
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Lorenzo H.

Yelp
I love this place. Always plenty of sauce, napkins, pickles, and food in my order. Please open more locations.
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Alisha H.

Yelp
Even though mild looks spicy it actually isn't, it's nice to have options as someone who doesn't want too much though!! Chicken was super juicy, service was fine, milkshake machine almost broke but she never gave up! The inside had cute artwork too. Definitely get two sliders
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Juan T.

Yelp
great place if your looking for some hot hot chicken service is also great. Clean and always attentive
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Kelly L.

Yelp
My boyfriend and I love this place!! We really appreciate how consistent this food spot is where the food and service is always the same good quality which makes us want to come back. The portion is really filling especially if you opt for the slider instead of the tender. The chicken is always super juicy and thick and a big size. The fries are a perfect crinkle cut with some slight seasoning they add. We love how generous they are with the Dave's sauce, honey, and ketchup!! They do give a good amount pickles! One downside is we wish for more slaw in the slider, but this place still deserves 5 stars. I always get the one slider and fries combo which fills me up very nicely while my boyfriend gets the two slider and fries combo. Service is always very nice here which is always a plus
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Chris P.

Yelp
I was runnin through the 6 with my woes! U know how that shit goes! I see why drake invested in this place they are BUSSING. I stg they put pussyjuice in that daves sauce. This is what i imagine dumbasses think canes is like. Canes sucks dick. This rocks. Daves has never let me down ive had it like 5+ times- different locations, delivered, in person, etc. so BUSSING
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Jay D.

Yelp
Delicious fried (only lightly breaded) chicken with a tasty rub. Simple, relatively inexpensive, no-frills counter service in a pretty clean lobby. I've only been here for lunch, but it's usually fairly quiet except the dusties playing through the PA. Fries are great, especially with their amazing sauce! Many heat levels. I find Medium is enough to feel without losing sensitivity on my tastebuds.
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Stephen M.

Yelp
Great quality food. Had the hot chicken, loved it.. should have taken a picture but I was hungry LOL
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Olivia R.

Yelp
So far in my experience, this is the only place that serves true juicy, tender, deep fried chicken. Friendly service and very clean overall.
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Titan Z.

Yelp
Greetings my Foodzies, tonight I had a taste for something spicy. We decided to try a place in Melrose Park called Dave's Hot Chicken at 2615 W. North Avenue. Nice place with white tables and red medal chairs. The girl that served us was very nice, she greeted us with a smile before we even made it to the counter. The menu was nice and small which is nice. They had southern jazz music playing which we enjoyed. They have 5 different spice levels from mild to Reaper. Glenda and the mild spice slider and I went for the medium spice slider with cheese and a tender. The portions were good sized. The sliders had kale slaw and pickles along with some Dave's sauce (basically mayo, mustard and seasoning) it was tasty with a little kick. The chicken was tender and juicy my medium spice level was right on the edge, made my nose run a little. The fries were seasoned and flavorful. This was a great choice, we'll be back. I give this restaurant a 4 1/2. Give it a try and let me know what you think. Ciao Ciao for now.
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Balil I.

Yelp
Back again (this time didn't forget the pic) Naperville location didn't disappoint and Melrose today was awesome!!! Clean place friendly staff kept it up!!!
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Logan L.

Yelp
Ordered the #4 the fries were hot, crisp, and had great seasoning. The Chicken slider (Hot) was perfectly seasoned with a little bit of kick and super juicy. The cashier was very kind and the dining area had a great vibe! Definitely would come back!
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Maronda H.

Yelp
It was just an Ok for me. It wasn't giving me that Nashville Hot Chicken Flavor. Overly priced. I really don't have much to say about this place. The service was good. Nice colorful wall art decor. Clean eating area. I ordered the 2 tenders (one with no spice and one lite mild) with fries. Nice size portion of the chicken. But, not worth the money.

John P.

Yelp
Awful service don't go here it will be closed soon. Waited over 30 minutes for awful overpriced food
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Nicole B.

Yelp
Service is good. The tender are delicious! I was on the hunt to get good chicken tenders in the area and this place exceeded my expectations. Also the portions are big and I couldn't finish it at once but I will definitely come back. Good price, portions and service.

Karen C.

Yelp
decent service it could have been better but the worker kept on calling me sir ( i am a female) ,my Coca Cola wasn't even Coca Cola color, got visibly upset when i asked him if i could switch my drink because it tasted uncarbonated, i asked for extra honey and he only gave me two and with those two honey he rolled his eyes when i asked for them, the food was good but not the customer service. Sincerely no complaints on the food but i was very excited to try it for the first time i really wished the customer service was better.
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Janis H.

Yelp
So...HOT! I had the slider/ tender combo. It was sooo good, but I didn't realize I ordered hot until I was halfway done. It was bearable with great flavor, if u really want to enjoy it, I recommend at least going medium. I had it about 3 hours ago, and my lips are still tingling. Either way, ....really good and crispy! I'll most certainly be back
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Brad H.

Yelp
I stopped by Dave's exclusively to try the "Dave's Not Chicken" slider, which features breaded cauliflower instead of chicken. It was my first ever trip to Dave's...I was lured in by an ad I saw while my daughter was watching YouTube videos, and the crunch in the ad was so audible it seemed fake. Anyhow, I have to say the "Not Chicken" slider is a fine addition to meatless options in the fast food space. It was indeed impressively crunchy, and flavorful for that matter, served with pickles, slaw and Dave's sauce on a soft and fresh potato bun. I splurged the extra $0.49 for the cheese slice but didn't really notice it. It being my first trip to Dave's I opted for medium heat but would probably go with hot if I visit again. Service pace was leisurely, and the cashier missed my drink when ordering, but not a horrible experience. At least the next guy in line told me "I heard you order a drink." :) On the bright side, she saved me a couple bucks so thanks I guess? Despite its deliciousness, I'm not sure the sandwich is worth $9 but I might consider Dave's again in the future if the craving strikes.
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Nour A.

Yelp
5 stars does not justify this place. Where do I begin... I have never in my 19 years of life tried a chicken sandwich THIS GOOD. Dave's hot chicken is a halal chicken spot that serves the most delicious dry rub sandwiches. I have visited 3 different Dave's Hot Chicken locations but NONE OF THEM exceeded my expectations like this one. From the food itself to the staff.. everything was efficient, hot and fresh. The worker was so beyond kind. I had asked for her name and she said it was Monce! She truly made my experience memorable and is one of the leading reasons I keep visiting this location. Thank you so much Monce for giving top grade service! Such an amazing worker!

Eris87 N.

Yelp
Chicken nuggets- medium flavor, were unappetizing and greasy. They had no taste at all, no spice either and reminded me of balls of grease. Although the cole slaw was good and fresh, I won't be returning as the chicken was not good.
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Cassie T.

Yelp
Been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint! We ordered two sliders and fries (one medium, one spicy) and one reaper tender. The fries were YUMMYYYY!! Crispy and seasoned to perfection. I usually don't think places put enough salt/seasoning on their fries but they definitely did here haha. The sliders were a little smaller than expected but delicious. The chicken was nicely breaded, seasoned and juicy. Medium leveled spice wasn't too bad and spicy had a nice kick to it, but nothing super crazy. The reaper tender was unbearably spicy, as expected lol, but it was one of those straight up powder spice and not much flavor IMO. One of the best and overlooked components of a chicken sandwich is the slaw, and I reallyyyy really liked theirs! The kale slaw compliments the sandwich perfectly and gives a nice bite, as opposed to other chicken sandwiches that use thin piece of lettuce or nothing at all. We ordered with pickles but didn't receive any... but that's alright. Other than that, everything was fantastic even though we ordered to go, so I can't wait to try it again when it's fresh and even better. Def worth giving a try!
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Anam A.

Yelp
Friends, family, and I come here when craving a yummy chicken sandwich and cheese fries! We usually get the "medium" level of spice and I think it's the perfect hint of kick. They also have more spicy and milder. We order from DoorDash (for pickup) and pickup from drive-thru. Super convenient. Have never had an issue, everyone's nice, and they're quick! Please bring back the mac & cheese!
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Derek H.

Yelp
I am addicted to this place. We've ordered at least 5 times and the biggest problem we had was two weeks ago em when we got no Daves Sauce. This week, the Daves Sauce is in new sealed packs, not a cup with a lid, so maybe it was just a period of transition. I get the slider and a tender: one mild one hot. Throw a little honey on the hot one and you are in heaven. The Mac & cheese is decent and so are the fries. All of that makes for a meal that'll put you into a food coma. One wish is that they had in house lemonade or sweet tea.

David M.

Yelp
I was ecstatic to try Dave hot chicken but to be frank I was deeply disappointed. First the chicken was a bit sweet and I was surprised to taste that there was no spice on the chicken, hardly felt a tingle on my tongue(I ordered the medium heat) by the look of the chicken with the dark red color and red seasoning all over the chicken, this chicken looked like it was flesh ripped off the devil but tasted like sunshine and rainbows. I was expecting to be thrown of my chair looking for the nearest bottle of water but no it was so disappointing I now will no longer be buying from here. Not to mention the fries tasted like they had a little lime to them not my forte to be honest, I ordered online so much much to say about service or the overall ambience of the inside of the restaurant. Overall 2 out of 5, would give 1.5 but I still ate the sandwich, the chicken by itself was unappetizing couldn't finish it still didn't want to give it a 1 star because at that point I wouldn't touch the food in conclusion a very disappointing meal. Do better Dave's hot chicken!
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Ana V.

Yelp
Second time getting the chicken sliders, I really can't get enough, spicy and juicy. The cheese fries are delicious also.
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Tiana M.

Yelp
Wow! I have been craving hot chicken and when I heard there was a Dave's near me, I had to check it out. First of all, the indoor decor is so cool! Second, if you like heat, order at least a spice level of medium and above. I can handle a bit of heat and I got medium and it was barely spicy. I would get hot next time! The food was delicious. Very seasoned and the Mac n cheese was amazing. I will definitely be returning!
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Jada W.

Yelp
Seen this place on tiktok , and wanted to try of course. It was decent ; not bad at all.

Mariel S.

Yelp
The food here is bomb. The person who attended us was david and he was super patient with us. The chicken is no joke and the fries are greatly seasoned. They have this sauce as well that comes with the meal and it's so good with fries. Overall the service here was great!!!

Jay T.

Yelp
Kasha is such a good employee as I walked through the door she's greeted me and was very helpful on the best kind of heat to choose fr may you please give her a raise because she deserve it thank you Kasha for everything
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Darion H.

Yelp
Made to order Fresh chicken tenders and fries. My son demolished it, Service was good.
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Joe L.

Yelp
Take this review very seriously food is excellant however this is the type of place where hot means HOT !! . If it goes in hot and spicey be prepared for the end results make sure your toilet has a seat belt and a CO2 extinguisher near by!
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chris m.

Yelp
This place is worth a first look, second and just keep coming back. I had the fries with two sliders in the medium sauce. I was expecting two small sliders , they actually were pretty big . I only ate one and saved the other till breakfast. The fries were great as well , the sauce that add to the item is great. I also like the fact the put honey packets as well. The sauce range is really very accommodating, from light to scorching. The chicken on the sandwich was so juicy and tender I will definitely be back.
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Bradley B.

Yelp
Chicken was proper Nashville style. And in typical Nashville style, the heal ratings are in a different category. Fries were crispy and seasoned well. Mac n cheese was decent. But overall great meal. Highly recommend trying.
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Frank S.

Yelp
I really love to try out new places. I especially love to try out new places that serve food that I absolutely love like Nashville Hot Chicken. This leads me to the next place where I was eager to try out: Daves Hot Chicken in Melrose Park. This franchise has been on my radar for quite some time. I first heard about this place a year or so ago when it was only located on the west coast. The pictures of Dave's Hot Chicken that I had seen on social media made their chicken look phenomenal. I then heard that Dave's Hot Chicken was starting to branch out all over the country in multiple locations. I was driving down North Ave in Melrose Park and noticed they had a drive-through. I did a quick Yelp look-up and noticed this location did not have very good reviews. I did not really care because I wanted to check this place out for myself and give an honest review. This review by the way is solely of my experience via the drive-through. The line of the drive-through was busy. The staff working the windows seemed pleasant. I ordered two orders of Chicken tenders and fries and a small mac and cheese. I ordered an extra tender order so my wife could also try it when I got home. I also want to add that the tender order consists of two large chicken tenders and fries. The order without drinks and just four large tenders and fries and a small mac and cheese is a whopping $30!! Talk about chicken price inflation!! My first reaction was I ordered the hot spice level for myself and my wife had the mild. The spice was a dry rub and had a very nauseating heat to it. I love spice, but this was a spice that was not overwhelming, it just made me feel very nauseous. The chicken strips were very thick and with a fist bite, it felt like they were seconds away from being undercooked. The mac and cheese tasted as if it came straight from a kraft box. It was extremely generic tasting. The food did not taste good. I would dare say the Nashville Hot Chicken from KFC was much better. This chicken also comes at a high price. I cannot say I would ever recommend going here for Nashville Hot Chicken

Francisco G.

Yelp
The women in the front evelyn was really great, took my order fast and the food was great, the place was clean and the environment was great and staff was very friendly. 10/10 definitely coming back.
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Surdeep C.

Yelp
Nothing special about this chicken. Strips are crispy but dry on the outside. The ghost pepper seasoning is a joke it's not even spicy. Just not worth the price and servings. Would recommend other chicken places before Dave's

Michelle A.

Yelp
Was my first time here and the wait time was short, food was delicious, and the girl who served us was super nice! I would definitely recommend coming here!
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Jamil Q.

Yelp
Simple menu. Sauces are tasty and the prices are reasonable. Recommend for a quick lunch or dinner.
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Fernando M.

Yelp
Hot and fresh which was good. It was ok. I had the sandwiches. I think the coating good but maybe a bit too much. I would have rather had the tenders only.
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Dan D.

Yelp
Food was AWSOME!!! And the manager Garrett was great!!! Good food, better service!!! What more can you ask for. Great job!!!
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Anthony V.

Yelp
Been seeing this place pop on my Facebook feed for a while and have had a lot of friends go here recently and talk about how good this place is. So I decided to give it a shot today because my whole family loves good chicken. I'm just gonna review mine. I ordered the Dave's #2 two sliders and fries. First the pictures online make it look amazing but when I looked inside my take out box, the chicken doesn't look as good. And then first bite, ok. After that it was all down hill. I had the extra hot but it was just too over seasoned. I just thought it was very basic as far as the chicken tasted. I expected the inside temperature to be warmer like steaming inside. The fries were basic and more seasoned and the Mac and cheese... Kraft is better. Sorry to leave such a shitty review but it's way over priced and even more overhyped.
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Shahad R.

Yelp
i been wanting to try this place for a while and do not recommend it. no one will be missing out coming here. first off their was so much seasoning that me and my friend both could not taste the chicken itself; usually i like a good amount of flavor but this was over the top, about 4 layers of marinations with seasoning & spices. then the woman who took our order was rude af, she seemed angry she had to take our order & was in a rush with no one else in line. than when you walk in the place smells like body oder misting in your nostrils, so far this is one of my worst food spot experiences yet.

Splash 2.

Yelp
Great food and great service! My family came in early and was greeted by the server Kasha she was so polite and helpful with navigating the menu the food was delicious we will definitely be back!
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Isaac J.

Yelp
I love Dave's Hot Chicken especially in the LA area, but this one here near Chicago has the best service. Friendly & precise... definitely coming back soon!
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Jenny G.

Yelp
Delicious Chicken, Great Service! We were greeted immediately when we walked in even though the place was full! we did not wait long for our food, and it was Hot and tasty. The girl who worked there came by the busy tables and asked if we needed anything like sauce or napkins or cups for water, super friendly and super delicious. 10/10 will return to bravely try a level hotter!

Justin S.

Yelp
The best food!! And dude in the back does a great job all around everybody need to try this spot u will love it