Newly established in 2017, Dave’s Hot Chicken is a chain restaurant that specializes in—you guessed it— hot chicken. More specifically, Dave’s Hot Chicken sells a style of hot chicken called Nashville style, characterized by its dry rub of numerous spices and higher spice levels in comparison to other styles of hot chicken. Additionally, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s humongous social media presence is nothing short of amazing. Popularized from the efforts of several food creators on social media, the official Dave’s Hot Chicken website quotes, “Thanks to Instagram…our world changed.” As a result of their growing social media presence, celebrities like Drake and Samuel L. Jackson invested in the company, boosting Dave’s Hot Chicken’s popularity even more.
Eventually, the onslaught of Dave’s Hot Chicken videos reached my social media feed, fueling my desire to burn cash just so I could burn my mouth with spice. So soon enough, I went to the newly opened Dave’s Hot Chicken located in the heart of the West Westgate plaza. Upon my first bite into one of their hot chicken sliders, I was shocked to experience the juiciness of the chicken, but still felt the dry heat from the rub that coats the chicken. I personally get the hot spice level that Dave’s Hot Chicken offers, however, there are still two spice tiers above that if you are up for the challenge. I also found the french fries from Dave’s Hot Chicken to be surprisingly delicious, as the crinkle-cut shape allows for optimal texture and airiness in the fries. So don’t sleep on their fries.
All in all, if you ever crave some spicy fried chicken that may or may not burn your stomach later in the day, Dave’s Hot Chicken is a delicious and easy go-to spot near the Westgate Mall.