Love this place. Always tasty & service is fast. Being a MN guy, and after witnessing someone turn very uncomfortable after eating the top heat, my max heat stops at medium. Which I get with the sandwich because of yummy super soft bun. And then I will get a mild stripe. So satisfying. read more

Love their chicken sandwiches. Fast and friendly service every time. Convenient location right off the highway.

My husband has been been reading about this newer restaurant that has hit the Madison area. We happened to be close by around the lunch hour so took the opportunity to try it out. I didn't know what to expect as I didn't take the time to check it out. When we walked into the restaurant I reality is a fast food chain. This particular restaurant is in what use to be a Hardies. It had a cool decor and we were welcomed upon entry. As we were looking o er the order board the cashier asked us if this was our first time and replied yes. He explained the spice levels and what we could substitute for sides etc. We both ordered the #3 with cheesy fries and a drink. Our meal included a chicken slider that had coleslaw and a sauce. It was more of a sandwich than slider, and another large piece of chicken that was like a half of a breast that laid on top of a piece of white bread. Dill pickle slices, a side of sauce and the cheesy fries rounded out the meal. The sandwich was delicious with the combo of coleslaw and sauce. The larger piece of chicken was surprisingly very tender and moist. The French fries were ok. If I were to go back I would skip the cheese topping. We both jumped in the ice tea as they had unsweetened, sweet, raspberry and peach. We got the sweet tea and it was pretty weak. We head south every winter and usually if I get sweet tea I will mix a little unsweetened tea into it. This sweet tea was ok with the sweetness for me but it seemed really watered down. I'm not one for fast food but I would stop back here for a piece of chicken or take out a bucket. I'm not sure how they make their chicken but it had a dry rub over a light texture, thinking the chicken may be deep fried and then Tossed in the dry rub. Our rub was medium heat. It was borderline spicy enough but next time we may try the next step in the hot spice. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Sweet tea - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

chicken done right! tenders were excellent amazing sauces and you can get spicy sauces affordable read more

Daves is very awesome. I ordered online and went to pick up my food and it was waiting upon my arrival. I was greeted by young man that seemed genuine to help. I ordered the tenders with two milkshakes. Everything was fresh and hot very pleased with the service and quality of the food. read more

Take a tums and enjoy the best chicken sandwich of your life! This meal was amazing. The strawberry oreo shake was to die for. I scarfed almost all of it down before I remembered to get a pic of it! Yum!! read more

See all

Dave's Hot Chicken is a good fast food. My kids like to go there once a year. I usually don't like to go places that fry their food but once inn blue moon is okay to goIt's clean and fun place. read more

Easily the best fast food fried chicken! I've had KFC, Popeye's, and Chick-fil-A, and I think Dave's Hot Chicken is way better than any of them simply for the quality of the fried chicken (which is what it's all about, after all!). Dave's has a small menu - you basically choose between combinations of chicken tenders and sliders, with 7 levels of spiciness (HOT was just right for me). There's a bit more variety in the sides (fries, cheese fries, mac & cheese, and kale slaw). The fried chicken is exquisite! It comes out hot, juicy, and very crispy. The breading is very crunchy without being too thick and greasy. The fries were also wonderfully crispy and nicely seasoned. You get a side of Dave's Sauce, which is great for dipping both tenders and fries. They may have a small menu, but that have absolutely mastered their offerings. Can not recommend enough! Dave's is my new go-to place for fried chicken. read more

See all

Spicy, crispy, juicy, seasoned chicken. I made the mistake the first time at Dave's of ordering extra hot-while delicious, it was too hot for me to fully enjoy. This time I went with medium and it was perfect for a nice zingy spice. I prefer this chicken over another famous chicken fingers place but I do wish Daves had garlic toast instead of plain white bread. Go with the sliders instead of just tenders-the addition of toasted bun and coleslaw takes it to another level. The service was great-helpful and quick. read more

I visit the restaurant on Monday. Hey man, let me tell you service was great. I was happy when I walked in the door and had a very smile face greedy me . It's a Manager there, by the name of Michael. He he gave me some great options on the menu, which I love that diping sauce it goes with everthing. I'll tell you what my new favorite milkshake is that cinnamon crunch firer? Thanks Mike. read more

Crinkle fries - ok soft pillowy good seasoning. Mediocre but works. Pickles Cisco. Bored. Dave's sauce is a less sour version of thousand island Chicken juicy. Breading crunchy but not overwhelming. It's like a chicken finger that was in the frier longer. Not Nashville hot chicken. Missing that chicken fat. Bun average. Slaw holds it all together. Extra hot got my attention but wasn't so spicy i needed water Staff energetic and nice. read more

My husband and I dined at Dave's not knowing what to expect and we were very pleasantly surprised!! We ordered the 2 mild sliders with fries. The sliders had their special sauce, pickles, kaleslaw and we added cheese. The chicken was so flavorful and extremely crispy without being overly greasy. The pickles, slaw, and sauce really complimented the flavor of the mild chicken. The inside we super cool. There was graffiti on some accent walls, colorful, hanging lights, and some Madison decor. I noticed the inside was clean and workers were frequently going around sanitizing tables. Unless you're super hungry, you could definitely split the slider meal with another person, the portions are huge! I will definitely be back for some more delicious sliders! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

YAM - I am about this place. The 2 slider combo can absolutely serve 2 people. The sandwich is not what you could consider a slider, but it definitely packs a punch both with flavor and heat! I loved it and will definitely be back whenever I'm on the east side. the Mac and cheese was very meh, so pass on that, but the bread and fries were *chef's kisses*. Enjoy inside or take it to go at a park and you won't be disappointed. read more

Not sure why this place has so many stars. I swear. Worst chicken place ever. Been siting on my stomach for the entire day.

I went here with the family last night. It was alright. It's not life-changing, but it's solid. The chicken was good. The kale slaw served on the sliders was really good. The fries were pretty great, too. The place was packed, but the line moved quickly and the food was served in a decent amount of time. All in all, this place would normally be a four-star review-- --except for one thing... The tips. I walked up to the counter and placed my order. It wasn't a strenuous order. It was a normal order. And when I went to pay, I was assaulted with a large TIP menu on the payment screen that asked if I wanted to add a 15%, 20%, or 25% tip...or No Tip. What the hell am I adding a tip for? The guy at the counter is literally doing the bare minimum of his job. The food came, and I had to go up to the counter to pick up the food. There was literally NO SERVICE worth tipping, so I'm forced to assume that the business wants me to help subsidize their employees' pay. I hate the fact that we have to tip in this country. I hate that restaurants don't pay their employees better. But I really hate when places that aren't providing a tippable service like waiting tables start begging for tips. Hey, Chicken People--drop the tip menu. Stop being that way. I would have given this place four stars, but the tip menu for literally doing the barest minimum of their job is a travesty. Stop it, Dave's Hot Chicken. Be better than that. read more

Went to Dave's hot chicken, it's in the former Hardee's building and next to Hooters and the now closed KFC. Got the # 2 slider order to go, 1 medium and 1 hot. I think the spice level runs true, they had a nice slaw on them. Service was fast and friendly, smooth operation! read more

Wow, I am speechless with how tender, juicy, and crispy Dave's tenders are! I went there on opening day and waited a good 20 minutes before getting my food. The next day, crowd died down a little and about a month later, service has gotten pretty quick! Where do I even start with the food? Menu is simple and small, tenders is what they specialize in and that is just amazing and flavorful. The slaw and Dave sauce are great additions to the sliders. We tried their strawberry milkshake once and wouldn't recommend.... We weren't able to taste chunks of strawberries or the hints of ice cream, just kind of bland. I personally love getting the #2 (2 sliders with fries) with 1 hot and 1 medium spice level. If you're looking for a quick bite, you can't go wrong with Dave's! read more

Wasn't like the best thing ever but we enjoyed ourselves. The normal chicken is spicy. The spicy chicken was too spicy. The lobby was not super inviting. I kind of wanted to leave right as soon as I got in there the employees were great though high energy. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Andy drinking his soda because the chicken so spicy at Dave's hot chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I've been meaning to go to Dave's since they came to town and I finally got there. The staff was very friendly and helpful in choosing what to order. They explained the level of heat and we chose medium, which was very good. The sandwich and fries were excellent and the dining room was clean and well-bussed. Try Dave's, I think you'll like it. read more

Wow!!! They really know what they're doing in the chicken strip department!! Our family loves medium and hot!

It's good but it is pricy. I like it there chicken is nice and crispy, and not all dried out

Food is great, way better than Chick-fil-A! Place was very clean and new looking. Staff was very friendly and food came out quick. I like the spicy options. I tolerate spice pretty well and that Hot level was just right for me. Any more it would have been a challenge to get through. read more

Not a fan though the restaurant was busy. Overpriced, chicken somewhat dried out. Ordered the mild, but hate the sriracha flavor. Took quite a while to get the food. Ice machine was broken. Can't believe how popular this spot is. read more

First time at Dave's. I had a "2 Slider and Fries" meal with a chocolate shake. The chocolate shake was -ok- but the chicken and fries were fantastic. Dave's sauce and the slaw on the sliders was very good. I love hot chicken aside from the stereotypical additional of pickles.... So needless to say I ordered with pickles. I ordered the "hot" heat level - perfect for me, could maybe go up to extra-hot. Was not as hot as anticipated. The chicken itself was definitely more of a traditional hot chicken style sandwich like you could find down south compared to your standard "spicy chicken" you will find most other places around here... (This is a good thing!) I ordered for pickup and the food was ready and warm at the scheduled pick up time. read more

some of the friendliest and best staff ive ever encountered. they were amazing and so was the food!

Didn't get what I ordered, cashier didn't double check to make sure order was correct before finalizing my order. Other than that food was good as expected. Tables could have been cleaner, definitely needed to be wiped down. read more

Well, since I wasn't overly disappointed the first time, I decided to give the place a second try a while back. And just as I thought, ordering extra hot was a good step up from the spice level labeled as hot. Wasn't spicy enough to give me heartburn, which would've been desirable for something labeled "extra hot," however, it was at least spicy enough to have a better balance between the heat and other seasonings. And I will give Dave's Hot Chicken credit for at least turning out a pretty juicy and overall flavorful piece of chicken whatever the spice level you choose. And it still ranks as some of the best fast food/fast casual chicken I've ever had. So, the extra hot level was much more in line with what I was expecting regarding heat level. And I'd choose this place over the overrated Chick-fil-A on any day of the week, especially Sunday. read more

Stopped in for the 1st time the other day to try this place out. We have been hearing the buzz about their chicken. AND we love HOT CHICKEN! We arrived at a goofy time (3:45 pm ish) between lunch and dinner. The place was not very busy when we arrived and that changed rather quickly. Staff were all extremely friendly, smiling, laughing, and very helpful to us in suggestions of the menu. Always enjoy when employees are knowledgeable about their products. We ordered several different heat levels to try out. Hot was the best flavor by far we all agreed on. Easy menu with not a ton of choices, which I like to see businesses do, especially when they first open up and are new, in my opinion. Be good at what you do, then expand! We will be back. We all agreed and will be telling our friends. Here are my only two critiques and reasons why I didn't rate 5 stars for anyone reading my review. Our food was not piping hot when we got it, and that could be because of coming at a slower time of day. They might have used up what they previously cooked kind of thing. Flavors were a 5 star, however. After we ate our original food order and the place got busy. I went up to counter and reordered another chicken, and it was fresh out of the fryer hot & it was delicious. Way better than the first food we got. I mean, it was so hot I had to wait a moment to eat it. 2nd comment is a simple fix. The place could have been much more tidy and clean. A ton of staff working behind the counter having fun chatting and working. However, the trashes were all full, bathrooms a bit of a mess, tables all needed to be wiped, chairs pushed in, and so forth. Someone should be in charge of just that as a role. They very well may have been extremely busy prior to us arriving. I have no idea??? This critique does affect the food or its flavor, which was dynamite in any way. Just an opinion of how to make the place 5 star and stand out. Especially being new to the area. Families these days want clean and sanitary. Cheers and good luck going forward! Sincerely, New customers read more

I ordered 2 chicken tenders with fries. The chicken was dry, the fries were tasteless. Very expensive for what you get. Definitely won't be going back. read more

Solid, third time here. New Dave bites this time-good. Tried a different spicy level. Very hot was the right spicy for me on my tenders. Great fries. Basic interior takes abit longer than other fast food but worth it. Cole slaw was good too. read more

Wow, Wow, Wow. This was hands down the best chicken sandwich I have ever had, and I could set a Guinness record for the most chicken sandwiches eaten. After the chicken is fried to perfection, it's dusted in spices for an extra flavor explosion in your mouth. I got mine mild, which had a subtle, tangy heat although not too spicy. The service was fast: I got my order in about 4 minutes. The staff was super friendly. The decor looks sort of like a Zumiez store mixed with a motorcycle club but it actually looks good. Definitely a must try. I went to the Madison location but they have several dotted around. read more

See all

Happened to arrive on opening day! It was very busy had a lot of extra staff, but I'm sure that will calm down as time goes by. I had the chicken finger / slider combo. It was great! I like hot chicken and this does not disappoint! It not like a Nashville hot but more of a dry rub hot. Great flavor nice and moist chicken. I had the MAC cheese side it was good and helped put out the fire. Fries looked great too. They have about 6 levels of heat to choose from. The greeter recommended I go down a notch from the heat I do at other places, but I didn't and it was exactly what I wanted. 15 minutes later and my lips are still tingling and my head is sweating a bit. So it's most definitely hot. But really good at the same time. Service was fast staff was very nice. The housemaid dipping sauce that came with it was fabulous but the portion was a little small. I would've liked about twice as much. place was clean and sharp looking. I can't say I have been to any place like this in Wisconsin. I recommend you head in here fast! It's worth it! read more

Great quality chicken, large servings and friendly staff. We will be back. Great add to Madison.

Place was busy at lunch which to me was a good sign. Small wait in line and a small wait for food which was faster than I figured due to the amount of people there. Staff was friendly and food was fantastic....a new must stop when it Madison. read more

Delicious, delicious, delicious! And very enthusiastic service too! Beware that if you order it spicy, your mouth will be on fire;) Took one star off because sadly they did forget one chicken sandwich. read more

First time at Dave's. I wondered if the food would be as good as the marketing & pics. Well, I wasn't disappointed. Staff helpful and friendly. Food hot and fantastic. We came over the lunchtime on Monday so it was a steady flow of customer traffic. Food came in about 5 min. We split a slider/tenders with Medium heat sauce. Highly recommend. I'll be back for sure. read more

Food never disappoints! Always hot and fresh with super friendly workers. There's always a clean spot to sit.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting what I got. I was literally blown away. I had heard a few friends talk about this place today and have been looking to spoil myself a little, so after work, I ordered while in my car and drove over right away. 7 minutes. That's all it took. 7 minutes and I don't think I'll ever get chicken from another place again. Absolutely amazing! I ordered 2 strips(mild), fries, and a slider(hot). I know... way too much for one person. The light crispy breading with dry rub and the Dave's sauce . Like I said I'll never get hot chicken from another place. I wish I had pics but I ate it too fast plus I have left overs. Well worth the time to visit. read more

The chicken sandwich wars are over and the victor is Dave's Hot Chicken! The flavor and tenderness of their slider puts all of their competitors to shame. I started with the mild but plan on working my way up the spice offerings. The place exceptionally clean and the staff is very friendly. read more

We ordered 10 of their chicken sandwiches. I really didn't know what to expect because I have never eaten there before after getting the sandwiches I was definitely impressed!! The chicken they use are huge. I was surprised. I got the hot and middle both were amazing. read more