Dave’s Hot Chicken is a Californian street-food commotion that is taking social media by storm. Created by Armenian Americans Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy and Gary Rubenyan in 2017, the once-pop-up shop quickly became a fast-food chain after racking in positive reviews and praise from food enthusiasts and gaining the attention of star celebrities. One notable celebrity is the “Rich Flex” rapper Drake, who signed as a major stakeholder for the chicken joint after catering from them for his “Billboard Artist of the Decade” party.
The franchise opened its 80th location in San José near Berryessa on Nov. 4, 2022. Their logo is a simple screaming rubber chicken, and their menu is even simpler: fries, milkshakes, mac and cheese, coleslaw, and chicken tender sandwiches with seven spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “The Reaper.”
While walking into the restaurant, I immediately noticed its “out-of-this-world” aesthetic. The industrial-piped high ceiling and vibrant decor on the walls were completely graffitied with graphic images of irregular shapes, portals, and sharks, paying homage to space and all of its oddities.
When it came time to order, I decided on a side of mac n’ cheese and an order of “Dave’s #2,” which consisted of a small trayful of fries and two sliders. Since I have a low spice tolerance, I selected the “Mild” spice level. The total bill came out to be $19.49, which is definitely on the expensive side of the fast food industry. The line to order was not as long as I thought it would be and the servers were well-trained and respectful. After a quick seven or so minutes, my order was ready.
I first grabbed a single fry, which was sprinkled with Cajun red spice. Much to my heavy disappointment, it was stale and cold, making me suspect that it was fresh from the freezer. The fries also came with “Dave’s Sauce,” which to boil things down — an unoriginal concoction of basic mayonnaise mixed with ketchup sauce. Then I tried the small bowl of mac n’ cheese, which was smooth and not super cheesy, but again, nothing really special; I would equate it to the quality of Kraft’s mac and cheese.
However, the famous chicken sandwiches lived up to all their glory. Although I expected them to be bigger (the sliders were about the size of my fist), they glistened like how they looked on social media and smelled both buttery and peppery. In between the brioche buns was a layer of melted American cheddar cheese on top of the giant chicken tender, which was topped off with some coleslaw and pickles. I drizzled everything with a few honey packets as per the server’s recommendation.
As I bit into the sandwich, a flavorful explosion of chicken juice and joy combated in my mouth. I could taste the quality of the meat which was complemented by the sweetness of the honey. I found the spice level bearable enough and the coleslaw and the pickles offered some much-needed acidity to each bite as, at times, it could be overwhelmingly rich.
But the one thing that pushed Dave’s Hot Chicken to the top of my fast-food tier list was its ability to keep the chicken crispy. Some restaurants, like Chick fil’ A, fail to prevent their sandwiches from becoming soggy. Others, like Popeyes, sacrifice flavor complexity to maintain a well-rounded texture. Dave’s Hot Chicken was able to find the equilibrium between flavor and crunchiness.
Although it is on the pricier side of the market, I would definitely recommend Dave’s Hot Chicken to those who are displeased with what is readily available. I, for one, will certainly be returning to this planetary experience.