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    Dave's Hot Chicken

    3.7 (152 reviews)
    Closed • 10:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Dave's Hot Chicken Takeout or Delivery

    Dave's Hot Chicken Photos

    DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Dave's Hot Chicken

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    Fries that are amazing... crinkled cut and seasoned perfection. I'm
    Marsha W.

    I'm a pescatarian so I did not try any of the chicken sandwiches but I did get some fries here and they were amazing like top three best fries in Oakland. They were crinkled cut and seasoned to perfection. I got some orange sauce to go with it which tasted like thousand island. I truly did not need any sauce for these fries because they were amazing by themselves. I wouldn't even put ketchup on them. The customer service was great as well and the ambience is pretty cool... graffiti spray paint vibes. I would definitely come back again to treat myself some tasty fries.

    Daves Big Trio
    Loralyn N.

    This after a long day really hit the spot. My fiance and I were really craving Dave's and hadn't had it in the almost year we've been in the Bay. We put in an online order for the trio and the not chicken sandwich. We both ordered it hot. Everything was ready as soon as we got there, so it was a quick turn around. I was really curious about the cauliflower sandwich, and I was not disappointed. It was so much better than I thought it would be. Hot, juicy, great texture. It was a really nice surprise, but man, I forgot how hot their hot is. I'm definitely doing medium next time. And I'm definitely getting this again.

    HUGE cauliflower sliders and fries
    David S.

    I hadn't been to the Oakland location of Dave's Hot Chicken in a while. I remembered a super long and pretty disorganized line on free slider day, and I had mostly visited the El Cerrito location since then. I moved back to Oakland about a week ago, and I knew it wouldn't take long before I returned to Dave's. This afternoon, there was only one person behind the counter, both taking orders and calling numbers/serving orders once they were ready. I ordered two cauliflower sliders with fries. The cauliflower sliders were huge! (See photo.) They're not quite on par with the taste of the chicken, but they're undoubtedly healthier and have some of the same flavors. Since Dave't was a bit understaffed, I wanted to leave a tip, but I did not see a tip jar. I asked if there was a tip jar somewhere and was told that the business does not accept cash. I understand now wanting cash as payment, but I hope they will consider adding a tip jar!

    Hot Chicken Tenders
    Michelle T.

    Had a decent meal at Dave's. It was incredibly warm inside, however, so we had to eat quicker than we thought. But the service was fast. Chicken was good, large portions - but would recommend the tenders over the sliders.

    David H.

    Tried Dave's Hot Chicken for the first time and I'm hooked. The chicken was super crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and the spice levels are no joke. The sliders are huge and come with pickles and their special sauce, which ties it all together. Fries were crispy and well-seasoned too. Definitely recommend getting the combo. Place was clean, staff was friendly, and the food came out fast. A little pricier than typical fast food, but you get what you pay for -- totally worth it.

    Wow this was a lot of food!
    Neelab S.

    Well well well! This place never disappoints us. Staff are friendly . Food is always aweeeessssoooommme! We just love it! Please keep up the great job you do up!! I love how the inside looks! So local and so welcoming!

    Montage of images from Dave's Hot Chicken
    Ed U.

    You don't have to sell me on hot chicken. I first tried it at Hattie B.'s in Nashville where hot chicken started and liked it a lot (review: https://yelp.to/C7-LPOnXAh). There are at least three spots in Downtown Oakland - Hotbird and World Famous Hotboys are the others we've tried - though this is the only one that's part of a local chain. Jamie W and I had been wanting to try it for a while, so we stopped by after a walk around Lake Merritt. It was fairly busy, but we managed to snag a table once we ordered. Jamie didn't hold back and went with Dave's #3, one Tender and one Slider with Fries for $13.49 (photo: https://yelp.to/VvAmgV1gHz). It was quite a portion of food as the tender was a hefty piece of breast with sliced white bread drizzled with their house sauce, while the slider was the same size only with a bun and kale slaw. There were plenty of krinkle fries and pickle chips, so he didn't go home starving. Going with the mild heat level, he liked it and got full pretty quickly. I was no less modest with my order. I went with Dave's #1, two Tenders with Fries for $12.49 (photo: https://yelp.to/3rr4LRpH3H), which seemed just as hefty an order though I had the audacity to try the hot spicy level which numbed me a bit during my meal. I also liked it though honestly I would've gone with a half-portion in hindsight as it was a lot. I also would've liked a dark meat option which is why I like Hotboys a bit more. At least they were friendlier here than at Hotbird where they maintained a more surly attitude. Jamie and I will probably split an order on our next visit. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of satisfying hot chicken, more variety and smaller meal combos would be nice AMBIANCE - 3 stars...typical fast food vibe SERVICE - 3.5 stars...more attentive than we expected TOTAL - 4 stars...good to have hot chicken choices RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

    sliders and Mac and cheese
    Blu M.

    To get straight to the point, Dave's is alright. Nothing great, but nothing awful. I love Nashville Hot Chicken with a passion, and this spot just did not hit the way I hoped. Especially with how popular of a chain this spot is, I was just disappointed! I got their sliders with Mac and cheese and fries to go. The order was made pretty quick which was a plus! I took it back to my place to eat and was pleased when I opened the box! It looked great. However, taking my bite, it was just... meh. The chicken was not that spicy (and I got it hot!!) but at least it had favor. I would amp up the salt levels a bit more if I am being honest (salt enhanced flavor so maybe that's all it lacked?) The size of the sliders was great and I liked the slaw. The chicken was just again, meh. The sauce the food comes with really saves it. The Mac and cheese was decent! It was definitely cheesy, but I wish it had more to it. The noodles were a bit overcooked, but that is honestly expected when I get Mac as a restaurant. Overall not bad. This spot is ok, I would go if I am really hungry and don't have many options. But being in the Bay Area, I would prefer to go somewhere else.

    Wild and crazy graffiti vibe?
    Ted R.

    Dave's is all right. Not exactly earthshaking. But pretty OK fast food for the price. I wanted to check it out for myself since this seems to be a growing national chain. There's not even much to tell. It's a funky/wild and crazy brand they're looking to project even though the layout is straight fast food/dining hall. I walked in on a weekday afternoon. No line. The person at the counter was polite and nice enough. I ordered the #4, a slider plus fries for $10.99. Five minutes later, I had my chicken sandwich. I did not go hot, because that's not my bag. The sandwich was pretty good though. Maybe four stars for the price/value. The fries were very weak. Two stars. Split the difference and call it three stars total. Lots of room to sit indoors. Just a couple tables outside. Grand Avenue is a very busy street so it's not exactly, a contemplative outdoor dining experience. Would I go back? Maybe if I was in the neighborhood. But you can get a good pizza slice, a great sandwich or really good Ethiopian food within a one-block radius - so I'm not sure.

    The hot spicy chicken tender slider was probably the best thing I've eaten all week
    Zeneta B.

    Stopped by Dave's Hot Chicken for their free slider event celebrating Drake's birthday. This was my first time trying their chicken because I always thought it was a little pricy for chicken strips but I was seriously impressed. I appreciated how well the staff handled the busy crowd--quick, friendly, and efficient. I ordered the slider with the chicken hot. It was juicy and crispy with just the right kick of spice, and I loved the pickles and slaw for extra crunch. It was a full-sized portion that felt like a real treat, not just a small freebie. The festive vibe and generous service made this event a highlight, and I'll definitely be back for more!

    Jashe D.

    Came here after a long night the food was tasty . If it's chicken and if it's spicy I'm all in !

    AWFUL ENCRUSTED SPICY CHICKEN!
    Noelle C.

    The moment I stepped into this establishment, I gagged ! The aroma of the spice was unbearable! I was craving naked tenders, and I was served ENCRUSTED heat! I am appalled by the service! My server was incredibly rude and made comments about my wig! The ambience was spicy, and I didn't appreciate it! I wish I could had given it a 0, although that isn't possible. Do not go here!

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    16 days ago

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    Brett G.

    We appreciate those 5 stars, thank you for your review!!!!

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    Boom! Glad you loved it! Thanks for the awesome review!

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    4 months ago

    Brian & Irving where the nicest worker's & hospitality was 10/10 . I would definitely come back just to support them

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    5 months ago

    Food was good but bread was stale. The chicken, mac & cheese and fries were all good, but the bread was almost hard.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Dave's Hot Chicken Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Dave's Hot Chicken

    Is it halal?

    Yes it is. There's a certificate on the wall by the menu

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    Brothers Deli

    4.6(165 reviews)
    1.5 mi•East Oakland
    •$$

    Yelp actually led me to this sandwich shop. I searched for sandwiches in my area, and this was one…read moreof the few places that popped up. I'm forever grateful for that recommendation because they make some of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I've tried a few items on the menu, but the one I always recommend is the Hot Italian. Everything about this sandwich is incredible. It's packed with flavor, and you can honestly tell it was made with care. I usually pair it with a bag of chips, and the total comes to around $18. It's absolutely worth every penny and always leaves me full and satisfied. The shop is consistently clean, and the customer service is always friendly and welcoming. I find myself going back over and over again, then telling myself I need to take a break--only to end up back there a few weeks later. That's how good it is. A couple of things to keep in mind before you visit: there's only limited street parking, so you may have to circle the block to find a spot. There's also not much room to wait inside, although they do have a bench or two where you can sit while your sandwich is being prepared. In my experience, the wait is usually around 15 minutes. I've honestly never been here when it wasn't busy, so expect a crowd. But once you take that first bite, you'll understand why. Great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service. I highly recommend checking this place out!

    Sandwich wasn't the worst I've ever had but it wasn't the best as the reviews are claiming…read more I ordered via a delivery service and also received a "snickers bar" as the "rocky road desert" I don't eat snicker bars lol , no where does the $3.99 rocky road desert would be a snickers bar lol , I tried calling the restaurant to get an answer or help and no one answered the phone. I don't think I'll be coming back for a sandwich here

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    Arizmendi - 10/23/2022 pizza

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    This is a true staple of my childhood, and of the Bay Area. Anyone who knows good food and good…read morepizza in the East Bay knows Arizmendi. It's a surprise every day, which pizza they'll make, but it's guaranteed to always be good. The quality of the ingredients is top notch, the kind you can just taste. Even their salads, soups, and baked goods are delicious, it tastes like a quality bakery, for a place that's known for great pizza. This is definitely an if you know, you know spot, the kind you'll come back to for years on end for its consistency, its flavor, its heart. It's a staple of the East Bay for a reason, and even if you're not a vegetarian, you will adore it.

    Great spot for a quick dinner at an affordable price!…read more My partner and I stopped by Arizmendi to check it out and get a daily special on a Sunday. In total, we paid $7.50, which was not bad at all! The space is spacious inside with an ample parking lot, but I would say this is more of a grab-and-go place; there is some outdoor seating. We got a pizza with tomato, olive oil, feta, and olives. The service was quick, straightforward, and we were able to get our slices within 5 minutes and it came out hot which was great! The pizza itself is on the thinner side and has a good ratio of dough to cheese. The crust/base was chewy and light and did in fact, taste healthy (in a good way)! Do I think this place is somewhere you must go to try out? Honestly, no, it is a good value pizza that tastes delicious, but I would say to only stop in if you are around the area.

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    Crave Subs - Pikachu ($15.99)

    Crave Subs

    4.3(288 reviews)
    4.1 mi•Downtown Berkeley
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    San Francisco has lots of places to grab a sandwich. It's seems I ate at the majority of delis in…read moreSF. Sometimes it's good to try something different and a place with some interesting character and characters. I usually get deli sandwiches which have deli meats but this place has fried chicken sandwiches . So I was craving a sandwich so I headed to Crave Subs in Downtown Berkeley next to BART station. They have lots of sandwiches available on the menu. On a Summer stroll getting some sun in Downtown Berkeley I landed at Crave Subs. Inside it's like you stepped into an ice cream parlor with a comic book shop and arcade and a deli all at the same time. You will see sandwiches on the menu called the Pikachu, Ned Flanders, and Bart Simpson. You will see Chewbacca fries along with the Spider-Man fries and the vegan Sailormoon fries. I got the Captain Boom Halal Fried Chicken, Boom Boom Sauce, Cheddar Cheese and Crave Sauce on a roll. It was tasty and a bit crunchy and had lots of flavor. It's one of the best Halal chicken sandwiches I had. If you crave a fried chicken sandwich then Crave Subs is the spot. It will "cost "you an extra 50 cents if you want to "floss" with extra drip "sauce" to show off on social media and during OSL my social media feed was stuck in the" Land of OZ" If you want great fried chicken sandwich you don't need to visit KFC or meet the chicken"commanders" like the late "Colonel Sanders" just get a Captain Boom with "Halal chicken standards" or grab a Pikachu sandwich or a turkey sandwich called the "Ned Flanders "

    I don't really enjoy writing negative reviews of restaurants, especially smaller businesses but…read moretoday's visit to Crave really left a bad taste in my mouth. One of my biggest pet peeves is when restaurants reduce the guality or quantity of their meal to cut costs while charging premium prices. I will say I didn't mind paying a few dollars more for their subs in the past. I went there today for the first time in a couple of years, ordered a regular size basic ruben sandwich (no add-ons) and was ok paying nearly $18 dollars for just the sandwich until they handed it to me. what I got was a small 6" sub. When did their subs shrink?? in this economy we are all struggling. I get it, things cost more but Craves' owner is not doing his patrons a service by charging them premiums while cutting back on the meals. If you're ok paying that much for a shrunken sub, more power to you. I l, however, will not be going back there.

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    Clove and Hoof

    Clove and Hoof

    4.1(944 reviews)
    1.3 mi•North Oakland
    •$$

    My only question is....WHY haven't I been here sooner?! I…read morewas craving pastrami, so I looked on yelp for pastrami in the area. My mom and I came in around 2pm on Monday (8/11). It's a cute delicatessen/restaurant. You order at the counter and they bring your food to you. Immediately the staff was so friendly and welcoming. The woman at the register was very nice and asked if we had any questions. My mom and I shared a pastrami sandwich, Brussels sprouts, fries, and slaw. It was reasonably priced for the Bay Area. When they brought the food to the table I was shocked. Everything looked amazing and very appetizing, and the portions were much bigger than expected. Before she brought the sandwich over, she asked if we were sharing it and was so nice to split it into 2 plates for us. That was very kind for her to do. Let's start with the French fries. Omg they were perfectly crisp but still fluffy on the inside. They had so much flavor probably because of the beef tallow and had just the right amount of salt on them. There was a side of mayonnaise with the fries, and it tasted homemade. I meant to ask them if it was. It was very good lol I couldn't get enough. The poppyseed slaw was very refreshing and it was tangy and sweet. We loved that the cabbage remained crispy and it was great for a warm day. The fried Brussels sprouts were full of flavor. They were a nice balance of sweet and salty. I loved the bacon on them. The hot pastrami sandwich definitely satisfied my pastrami craving! There was just the right ratio of meat-cheese-sauerkraut-mustard-dressing. The bread tasted freshly baked as well. It was full of flavor. And the side salad that came with the sandwich was excellent. We loved the tanginess of the dressing. We were shocked that there wasn't more people inside, but also for 2pm on a Monday, it probably was just an off hour. We had so many leftovers as we both don't eat very much, but lol as soon as I got home I started eating some more of the slaw and salad. Can't wait to eat the rest for lunch tomorrow. We are already planning on coming back to try the meatballs next time and definitely trying their Indian cuisine! I'll have to bring my husband here next. Thank you guys for an amazing lunch!

    I'm sure there are other good things here but I keep just getting the cheese steak. The picture…read moredoesn't do it justice. It's a warm, crunchy roll, the chopped steak and cheese are perfect, and there's a salad next to it so you can take a bite of that while you're waiting for the next bit of your sandwich to cool down. Do yourself a favor and order this in instead of carrying it out. The roll is warm and crunchy and I think too much time in a bag would make everything less delicious. (I'm sure it's still good, it's just *better* if you can eat it when it's fresh.) I swear one of these days I'll try something else on the menu.

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    Krispy Joe's - The OG

    Krispy Joe's

    4.6(87 reviews)
    2.1 mi•North Oakland

    Went here for the pastrami I've heard so much about and it did not disappoint! Is it pricey? Yes…read more But if you know the process that goes into making those amazing, unctuous slabs of meat, and the quality of said meat, it's not surprising. I had the OG, as big as it comes. It was perfect. Crispy bread, tasty slaw, and the pastrami was perfectly seasoned and just the right amount of fatty. The owner gave us free soup of the day. I think it was vegetable beef? I'm not a vegetable soup fan, but this was stellar. I ate every last bit. That pastrami sandwich though? The other half is definitely dinner. Would love to have had some fries with this (or some pastrami fries!) but the shop is small and I don't think it's setup for fryers. My partner had a turkey pesto wrap which was also delicious. Both the cook and owner were friendly and helpful. We will definitely be back!

    Krispy Joe's is in on the Emeryville/Oakland border on busy San Pablo Ave. I first found out about…read moreit because I saw the listing on DoorDash and it hasn't disappointed to far. There are many things on the menu, but what stands out for me is the Pastrami. I've been a couple times in the past a couple months and have tried their OG Sandwich (Pyro's Pastrami, vinaigrette coleslaw, swiss , 1000 island, mustard on rye) and their Pastrami Hash Breakfast Burrito (Pastrami bacon, eggs, potatoes, mozzarella, pico, Baja sauce). Both were good, and not greasier than you'd expect, the Pastrami was lean but not too lean. Good place to get a hot pastrami sandwich or burrito.

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    Heroic Italian

    Heroic Italian

    4.4(165 reviews)
    3.9 mi•Downtown Berkeley
    •$$

    Heroic Italian is a fantastic downtown Berkeley spot for a relaxed Italian meal. The food is…read moredelicious, from the elevated sandwiches and fresh pasta to the pizzas, salads, and a great Italian wine selection. The garden patio large and and dog friendly. Service is attentive and kind. We live in Oakland and this is one of favorite sport in Berkeley. My partner doesn't want me to post this review because she's afraid it will get too crowded, ha. Cheers

    We ordered via DoorDash, and I wouldn't call our experience "heroic."…read more The pinsa was very good. We got the Calabrian shrimp. We found it very tasty, but paying over $25 for this on DoorDash--certainly not worth the price even though we really enjoyed it. The spicy chicken parm sandwiches were not good. The chicken breast was flabby, and came across like it was one of those frozen cooked Tyson jobs. I would be very surprised if they actually breaded chicken breast, fried it, and made the sandwich with that. It was mushy, and the breading was like paste on the chicken. Pretty awful. They charge extra for sauce, which is a little much, given that we paid $21 for each sandwich. But we figured out pretty quickly why they do this: there was hardly any sauce on the sandwiches. And precious little cheese. We each ate half of our sandwich and figured we doctor the leftovers up the next day with a jar of Rao's and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. That helped, but nothing could save that chicken. The meatballs. We paid $15 for four, and we had high hopes, but they were so mushy that they fell apart in the sauce, and I couldn't tell what was sauce and what was meatballs. The only flavor that came across was fennel. Why any meatball should be so fennel-forward strikes me as bizarre. We got what we thought were pretty basic things, and they were fails. If an Italian place can't make a decent chicken parm sandwich nor a decent meatball, that says something. If you go, try the pinsa.

    Photos
    Heroic Italian - Inside counter

    Inside counter

    Heroic Italian - Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

    Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

    Heroic Italian - Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

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    Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

    Dave's Hot Chicken - chickenshop - Updated October 2026

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