Rohan K.
Yelp
After volunteering at the nearby PetSmart adoption event, I finally gave Dave's Hot Chicken a try -- glad to see they opened in Olathe!
I went with Dave's #2 (two sliders + fries) and picked the Hot spice level (two below Reaper). The heat was perfect -- enough to make my mouth tingle without punishing me. Tempted to try "Extra Hot," but maybe those days were for my younger, non-acid reflux self. The sliders came stacked with juicy pickles, crunchy slaw, and Dave's sauce on a soft potato bun. The chicken strips themselves were big -- not the measly ones you sometimes see -- and definitely worthy of being turned into a juicy, satisfying slider. By the time I got home they were a little soggy, but not enough to ruin things. The flavor balance between spice, tang, and crunch really hit the mark.
The fries surprised me -- I'm usually not a crinkle fry fan, but these were seasoned crispy, zesty, and honestly second only to Joe's BBQ fries in KC. Big win.
Service-wise, the woman at the counter was amazing, handling the rush like a pro while cooks worked the back. My tip for management: add another front staffer and maybe a mic system, since the loud music made it hard for seated guests to hear order calls. That said, she didn't miss a beat, and I appreciated the extra sauces she threw in. I also loved that Dave's doesn't nickel-and-dime you for condiments -- the extra packets made both the fries and sliders better, and it kept everything from getting soggy. In today's world, it's refreshing to see a place that doesn't skimp or charge extra.
The space itself has bold artistic vibes and limited seating -- feels more geared toward quick bites or takeout. Orders took a little time, but that's a sign of fresh cooking, not fast-food shortcuts.
Verdict? Dave's officially dethroned Chick-fil-A as my spicy chicken go-to. Between the generous portions, customizable heat levels, standout fries, fair value, and strong staff effort, I'll definitely be back. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 as a kudos to value and just attentive, hardworking staff. Rounded my 4.5 up to 5 as a nod to the value and the hardworking staff who made it a great first visit.