This was my first time trying Dave's Hot Chicken and it did not disappoint. I got a meal that came with 2 sandwiches. I ate on while driving down country roads easily and the other was STILL CRISPY when my husband ate it an hour later. We both liked it enough to add it to our - When in Waco, list, as it is the closest at an hour away. read more

The food is very good. Warning .... It's more on the hot scale. I enjoy hot seasoning, but can only handle medium. Clean and open space. Easy freeway access even during construction. It might be a little more expensive, but worth it. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Logo - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

Finally tried Dave's Hot Chicken and it was a highly satisfactory experience. The mini chicken sliders paired with fries were a great combination. The bread was soft, the chicken was perfectly seasoned and juicy, and the fries were cooked to a precise crisp while being nicely seasoned. Moreover, the Dave's sauce made a strong impression, possibly even outdoing Raising Cane's sauce. Regrettably, my selection of the lite mild flavor led to an absence of the spice I wanted. On my next visit, I will level up to mild or medium flavor in order to attain a more desirable balance of heat. Additionally, the restaurant looked nice and clean. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Placing an order was smooth. Highly recommend trying them out. read more

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My Muslim friends rave about how Dave's is halal, and I think this is so great as it is rare for a fast food chain to be halal in the US. I read another review that said the logo is "incredibly ugly," and I am offended on Dave's behalf. I think the logo is so funny and cute. My friend from Waco brought me here, and I kept commenting that I loved the logo. I got the #4 combo, which includes one slider with fries for a total of $11. Their special Dave's sauce was really good. I thoroughly enjoyed the slider with chicken and kale slaw. The fries were alright. I felt like the whole portion wasn't as large as I would expect for the price, especially the slider. I ate half of my friend's fries too because I felt that I was not full from my meal, and he was going to throw them away. This is their smallest meal though, so I might get a larger and pricier one next time. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Single Slider and Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

We've driven past Dave's Hot Chicken dozens of times while traveling north on I-35 through Waco and last time we made a planned stop on a little casino road trip. The exterior is eye-catching with some unique artwork and murals. It definitely stands out in a city like Waco. I wasn't there to enjoy the artwork, however. I was on a mission to try the Reaper tender. My wife and I chose to eat inside. It's not a very large restaurant so it was crowded and rather loud. At least it was somewhat clean in the dining area. We ordered and I dutifully signed the waiver to be able to try the Reaper. I got a meal with a tender slider, one tender, and fries. I'm a registered French Fry Expert (FFE) and these crinkle cut fries (usually one of the worst) just barely passed muster. The 'slider' was what most restaurants would consider a whole sandwich. It was pretty good but I've had better. Their pickles are fantastic and the kale slaw is a good topping to compliment the spicy tenders. I went for medium spice on the tender in my slider. My wife enjoyed a mild tender slider and some of the hot hot honey flavored boneless wings/nugs. She gave her overall rating of a 7 out of 10. I was excited and a little nervous to move on to the main event of the afternoon - the infamous Reaper tender. It came in a separate box. As soon as I opened it and laid eyes on the abomination I was about to ingest, my buttonhole tightened and my liver quivered. The tender was COATED in seasoning, as if they had used their hands to smash as much of the Carolina Reaper dust onto the surface of the tender as possible. The color was off-putting. It was almost brown while the regular tenders have an appetizing red-orange color. In fact, I did my homework and watched several youtube videos of others trying the Reaper and their tenders did not look like this one. I love spicy food. I'm not one of those crazy people that seeks to punish myself with the hottest foods or hot sauces on a regular basis, but every now and then I get a craving for something intensely spicy. This Reaper tender was no joke. It was easily the spiciest thing I've ever eaten. I was hopeful that it would be tasty as well as spicy, but it honestly tastes like wood or dirt. As soon as I put the first bite in my mouth it was simply pure pain. I could only handle a couple of bites before throwing in the towel. My wife said my face looked like it was breaking out in hives. I could feel the pain all the was down my throat and then in my stomach for hours afterward. You know when you burn your skin and have to hold it under the cool water from the faucet and as soon as you take it out the pain comes rushing back? That was how my mouth and stomach felt. Ice cubes, cold soda, water, and even a McDonald's milkshake a few miles down the road couldn't squelch the heat and pain. I had even brought pepto bismol thinking I probably wouldn't need it, but it ended up being a life saver. The pain of the Reaper stayed with me for the rest of the drive and by dinner time I could still barely eat anything. I'm still glad I tried it and no longer have to wonder if it's good or not. My rating of 3 stars isn't because of the hotness of the tender and the discomfort it caused but rather the terrible taste of the Reaper spice and the hectic atmosphere inside the restaurant. Aside from the Reaper tender experience, Dave's Hot Chicken is just another chicken joint like a Tumble 22, cane's or Bojangles. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Tender slider and fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

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I love Dave's. Food is great. Ambiance is family ish I guess. Service is great everyone's happy. Dave's makes me happy read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

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One of the best Hot Chicken places around! This is refreshing to have such a master blend of spices to bring some life back to your tastebuds. Service was excellent, the line to the door was handled promptly. The style and atmosphere was really cool and the cool designs done were sick! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave's #2 2 Sliders w/ Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

We got the sliders with fries and it is honestly so filling that it becomes two meals! The chicken was perfectly cooked and came out hot. The fries are also consistently crispy at this particular location which I appreciate alot! The staff was friendly and service was pretty fast even during the lunch rush! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave's #2 2 Sliders w/ Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

I really hate that I liked this place so much, but it's good chicken. I heard the story on a podcast and happened to drive by one, so we stopped in. The sliders are the size of a regular chicken sandwich, the tenders are the size of a breast fillet and the flavor slaps. Chicken was moist and crispy with the prefect spice level. (I got the second to hottest) Spice was perfectly spicy, my kids got the medium which was still tasty. The pickles are perfectly crispy/sour as they compliment the chicken bite!! Fries are dusted with some of the spice powder and every bite was crispy with flavor. The slaw was a classic slaw, just your ordinary slaw; slap it in a sandwich and the perfect compliment!!! 9/10 would recommend! Try it on for size if you like fried chicken tenders all ways! I would love some bone in chicken but this was good! read more

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food is alright but their service is horrendous. i kid you not i waited in the drive thru for a half hour to get one sandwich. There were only 3 cars from me to the window. DO NOT GO HERE if you value your time. read more

I'm not big on dry rub chicken. Food was good. I don't have a taste for dry rub chicken. But that's me. Heh read more

Went on vacation, decided I would spend a little extra. The price of the food itself was $15, which is very expensive and isn't worth it. The shake was the real problem, it had the consistency of water and the $2 extra I paid for m and ms was about half a bag poured ontop. All the m and ms just sunk to the bottom and for this terrible experience I had to pay $10.50. Staff was rude when I asked to get it fixed. I would steer clear, nothing makes it unique enough to charge these outrageous prices for poor quality products. read more

Gave me two crumbs and told me it was chicken. I even tore it apart and showed him. There was no chicken inside of it and they still said sorry but that's the way we serve it..... shitty service shitty food shitty people.... I won't be coming back to this establishment ever. read more

First time, went with a "hot" heat level sauce on a sandwich, fries and a Coke Zero. Damn those fries were good. Sandwich was good too, but I messed up and only asked no pickles and I didn't realize they put coleslaw on them too, even after scraping coleslaw off it was still pretty damn good. Most places around central Texas when they say Hot they mean Taco Bell hot not actual hot, this hot has some kick to it thankfully. I will come back again! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

I was lucky to spy a Dave's Hit Chicken as I traveled through Waco Tx. I hadn't seen one of their restaurants since I was in Oklahoma City in October. Their food is fantastic. I ordered the Dave's #1 which is 2 chicken tenders (Hot), fries, white bread, dill pickles, and Dave's sauce. Service was quick. The tenders are huge, lightly breaded, and perfectly cooked. They had a great flavor and spice level... Shout out to Stacey and Isaah B. who we're working the front counter and getting the customers through the line quickly. Dave's Hot Chicken is definitely on 'My Keepers List'! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Cool art - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Super beautiful service!!! Very fast and customizable spice! The meals was pretty pricy though especially because it came without a drink and or a reasonable size side :/ read more

I love trying new franchises on road trips and this is one we don't have where I live so I couldn't pass it up. It looks like a relatively new construction and everything was clean and fresh looking. The employee at the counter was extremely friendly and helpful since this was our first time, so she went over all the details. We ended up doing sandwiches that came with a decent sized piece of fried chicken with coleslaw underneath and some pickles on top, all held together on a bun. We picked the mild which was moist and tasted nice enough, though not spectacular. They also offered honey packets which made for a nice change as suggested. And of course the sandwiches were served with crinkle cut fries which were tolerable, and some "special sauce" that was roughly ketchup/mayonnaise mixed. The interior is completely covered with graffiti which is a very off-putting design idea. Their incredibly ugly logo is also off-putting and looks like it was finger-painted by a small child. The chairs are rather uncomfortable too. But the bathroom was clean and everything was well lit. I'd say just go for the drive-through and bypass the terrible decor if you can. Overall, the service was great, the food was solid, and it's a decent place to visit again and maybe try some other menu items. read more

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The service was great. We went for our first time and when we were reviewing the menu, the employee taking our order recommended different options and was so friendly. The food was good. My friends love it. My husband and I thought it was pretty good. We may or may not return but it was a good first experience. read more

We've been dying to try this place and finally got the chance today. The guy taking orders was super friendly and making jokes. The food came out hot and fresh and everything was great. Their sauce was good but a little mayo-y for me. I'm a canes sauce fan. Lol. The main issue i had was the price. We had two meals with small drinks and tipped 5% since they always ask for it and it was nearly $50! For that price I would rather go to a sit down restaurant. read more

This could quite literally be one of the most uncomfortable dining experiences we've ever had. We were one of three dine in customers, and two to go orders. Every single one of the employees were awkward and didn't present the best hygiene. The interior of the restaurant didn't look dirty until you tried to sit down at the tables. We ordered the Dave's Bites and a combo with a tender and sandwich. The Dave's bites tasted like burnt flour, and had a horrible flavor. The tender and sandwich tasted fine, but was definitely lackluster. But the atmosphere was by far the worst and most bizarre experience. While ordering two employees came in, one without a shirt. Another kept making frequent trips to the bathroom with a backpack. And another kept shuffling back and forth in and out of the restaurant. The managers were present, but not? They seemed just as spaced out as the employees. Overall this is definitely the experience we needed to know that we will never be back to a Dave's Hot Chicken. Waco offers plenty of other chicken restaurants that don't offer this bizarre ambiance. read more

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Lotta hype and it delivers. It's quite a vibe inside but it's super efficient, yet fresh food. They definitely cook to order so it's not quite as fast as fast food, but definitely fast enough. You have basically just two options on the menu: tenders or sliders and then your heat level. The sliders are basically chicken sandwiches for all purposes as the tenders are huge and the bun is substantial. The tenders save you a few calories but it's all the same chicken, which is to say great. They're super juicy and very flavorful. We got medium and hot and neither were mind meltingly spicy, but just hot enough. The potato buns are nice and squishy, Dave's sauce is killer good and the slaw adds some freshness. Fries are also great. That said, this is definitely amongst the heaviest of meals I've had in a long time as food coma will for sure come for you after. If you need just one meal a day, this would definitely be it but if you're planning on driving after, definitely consider just 1 slider + fries. read more

Marketing is good enough to make you want to try it, but the food isn't good enough to make you come back ‍ Service is great :) read more

great place with great food! Team is very friendly! they go out of their way to make sure you are taken care of. They definitely know their spices. read more

We stopped by at 8pm. The person who took our order was super friendly and helpful. He asked if we've been and we shook our heads. He gave us an intensive overview of their menu and how it worked. He gave his 2 cents on all the sauces available. This guy is incredible! Too bad I forgot his name otherwise I would have included this review. I got the Hot sandwich and my husband got Reaper. Mine was too spicy for me. I was expecting it to be spicy like how every other hot chicken that I've had was just "black pepper spicy." I was wrong. I can't tolerate spicy foods. It was a delicious piece of chicken tender and I don't even care for chicken breast. I'm a dark meat girl. This sandwich was flavorful, juicy meat, and fantastic sauce that didn't drip but hugged the chicken. My husband enjoyed his Reaper sandwich so much that his eyes rolled back into the socket. This guy purposefully eats a few million Scoville units of hot sauce every day so to see beads of sweat appearing from his sideburns, I was surprised. This sandwich satisfied his every wish for what a hot chicken sandwich should be. Yes, he preferred this to Popeye's for sure. The establishment was clean. They have their own parking. Service as excellent and we only waited for a short time for our food. I wish we have this closer to home for my husband. It would be really difficult for him to find a place that will satisfy his craving for hot chicken. read more

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I wanted to try Dave's now for sometime as I make a lot of trips back-and-forth from Dallas to Austin. I finally decided to give it a try today and I was not disappointed everything is made fresh and the fries and chicken tenders are made to order so it does take a little bit of time to get your order, but it was definitely worth it. I had the number 1 with 2 tenders hot, fries, and I also added on a side of macaroni and cheese. The chicken tenders were large, hot, and spicy. The hot level definitely had a nice kick. The fries were extra crispy and seasoned and the macaroni and cheese was really awesome. The Dave sauce is a mayonnaise/aïoli type sauce. They also had really good dill pickle slices. Definitely recommend it would go back! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - #1 with a side of Mac n cheese. Hot spice level. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

Taking a trip from Austin back to Dallas stopped here for a quick lunch and it was delicious. It reminds me of how canes used to be with real pieces of big chicken but Dave's hot chicken is even better. I would go here over canes any day I got the strips my son got the sandwich and the sandwich had two huge strips on it more than enough for one person. I got three strips and could only eat two fries crinkle cut seasoned amazing we will be back read more

I heard Dave's went downhill after they franchised, but if this is downhill, then I can't imagine what the original LA location must taste like. Because it was everything I was looking for in a hot chicken sandwich. Came here for a Saturday lunch and there was no line. It looked clean and plenty of tables to sit at. Food came out at a reasonable speed. I got the chicken sliders #3 combo with cheese. These weren't no sliders. Basically full on sandwich size and the portions will definitely fill you up. I got the Hot spicy level which I thought was the perfect level to get as someone with a decent spice tolerance when you're trying to get a nice kick without torturing yourself. The chicken was so much juicier than I expected it to be. Not a dry bit in sight. The seasoning had a slight sweetness to it too which kept me coming back for more. Pretty much right off of I-35 so I might have found my go to spot for a nice and quick meal when driving between Austin and DFW. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

Y'all when I say this was still good after my sister picked it up at 3:30 pm ish and drove it 2 hours home, then put it in the fridge and I warmed it up in the toaster oven and ate it 10 pm. You better believe it. If Dave's has a #1 fan it's me. Get the sliders. Get it y'all! My sister said the service was really nice. And with her online order it was quick. I literally stop here every time I go to temple tx or leave temple. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - I couldn't let the camera eat first. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Waco, Texas

Service was good but not too friendly. Wait was short and the price was good. The hot chicken is HOT! Glad I did not order the extra-hot or reaper! Good was very flavorful and large portions. read more

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I absolutely love the chicken at this place. It is fresh and comes in. Whatever level of hot you would like. You also can get it with no hot. It's also pretty quick for how fresh it is. We will be back soon Dave. read more

First time peepin' DHC, chix sandwiches are !!! Tried the medium and it was flavorful AF, next time going for the Hot because I like dem hot ! But trying a medium for a beginner be the safest move because in leads to out! read more

Stopped in at 9:15pm. Always receive hot fresh food no matter when I go or if I pick up or order online. The flavor and heat is really on point and very good.. read more

Our first time to stop in. Love that this place is open late while almost everything around closes at 9 PM. Great location, right off the freeway for hungry travelers. My 9 year old loved her no-spice slider. She doesn't like any sauces so I was a little concerned that there would be something for her. She gave it two thumbs up. My sliders and my husband's tenders were delicious. We both got medium spice - and we were surprised that they were still fairly spicy. We will move down to mild next time. We like spice, but by the end we were fanning our mouths with our lips burning. The pickles were delicious and we tried the sauce/honey added on top - MUST. Such a good bite! The slaw, pickle, sauce, and honey combo on the soft bun was perfect!! Yumm. The cashiers were so sweet; very friendly. Unfortunately we arrived at 9 PM and every table was dirty. Every one. We had to get napkins, wet them, and wipe down our table. Also, $52 is a lot for 3 people to eat fast food. I understand that the chicken is cooked to order, but the dining room, walk-up counter, and ambiance all screens fast food. They need to figure out their supply chain and bring down their prices as they are more established. I like the concept. I liked the food. I liked the staff. Just the prices are too high and tables need to be cleaned more often. We'll be back. read more

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Good food. Horrible service. Took nearly 20 min in drive through. They literally charge for a cup of water. The same price as a fountain drink. That's not ok. I will not be going there again. Overpriced. read more

First time here and the hot chicken did not disappoint. One slider was enough for a meal. Food is a bit pricey for a chicken sandwich..but it's an experience of a different chicken flavor. Where do they get those long chicken breast??? Staff was friendly but be prepared to wait for that fresh hot chicken... read more

Great place our first time made me try a second time and then a third time. We prefer the mild it's just the right amount of heat for us.

Stopped by here on the way home from my Oklahoma trip. Food was decent. Wanted my chicken to be spicy. Couldn't really taste the heat. Very well seasoned buns and chicken. Fries was okay. I feel like it's a bit pricy for the amount of food and amount of selection on the menu. This location isn't as busy as the ones I've encountered. read more

Over 15 minutes in the drive through line for two orders. One slider and one two piece tender along with two drinks. $30? 1) The chicken is not that good. 2) Reaper is over the top hot. 3) service in the drive through sucks. 4) once in line you're stuck, no exit. 4) Too expensive for what you get. We won't be pulling off in Waco again for this stop for sure. Adios Dave. read more

This place sucks. Guy couldn't look at me in the eyes. Places food was worse than my grilled chicken with no seasoning at the house.

Great place! Stopped in with the family, service was fast and friendly. Chicken was spot on with flavor, and the portion sizes are great. Place was extremely clean, and well taken care of. Definitely will be back. read more