Awesome food. Awesome service. My kids love this place. Reaper. That's scary. Overall I finally find a place that beats chick filet. Should get rid of that tip screen on the panel. I'm not against tipping because the staff there is awesome. Leave a jar. Tipping before you get your food is insane. Maybe I'm too old school but we get bombarded by it and it's gotten to a point where it's silly. Love this place and love the service and best of all, great food. The new tipping option on a screen should go away. Half the people in USA think it's out of control. Just saying. read more

Disappointed today that my sandwich didn't have coleslaw so sad. It's the best coleslaw read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

I come to Dave's Hot Chicken about 2-4 times a month with my teens, and it never disappoints. The food is always consistent--crispy, flavorful, and exactly what you expect every time. The service is honestly top notch too. The staff is always friendly, quick, and makes the whole experience easy and enjoyable, even when it's busy. It's become one of our go-to spots for a reliable, delicious meal. Highly recommend ! Logan is always patient with me but when I order with him verses the screen ( over. 40 so I like to talk to humans), Monica and Genesis are always helpful as well! We love this location!!! read more

I have been to multiple locations of Dave's Hot Chicken, but this location stands out in terms of customer service and food quality. We are always greeted with a welcoming smile and ensuring we have enough sauces and the food is up to quality. Although, Dave's Hot Chicken should taste the same across all the chains, this location really focuses on food quality. The seasoning on the chicken, fries and mozzarella sticks are perfect each time and always crispy. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

I don't care for the texture of sandwiches like these, but I can see why people like Dave's. The chicken is juicy and the batter is crispy. The flavor is so yummy! There is a delicious spicy kick! The bread is soft and the sauce they put on the chicken is sweet and addicting. HAPPY SPICING!! read more

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We love Dave's Hot Chicken for a treat! Love the cool vibes here. Love the medium spicy tenders. Love the cheese fries. Love the pickles the meals come with. My son eats the tender with honey and the Dave's sauce. Service was good. read more

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Always busy here but very consistent with the orders and I never have a problem. Anytime I'm looking for great hot chicken and crinkle fries. This is my goat to. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Some time ago, Dave's Hot Chicken was hosting a day where they were giving away FREE Chicken Sliders to their Rewards Members! I took this as a chance to try them out for the first time since I've never been before. The parking lot was packed! I was blessed enough to find a spot in the front. The wait time this day was about 30-40 minutes because everybody was excited to get their free food! The indoor design was eye-catching! I really appreciated the colors and designs plastered over the walls that made my waiting much more bearable because I had something beautiful to look at. I forgot her name, but the girl who helped me when I finally got to the front was very nice. She helped me out quickly. I was under the impression that Dave's Hot Chicken ONLY sold hot flavored foo, but she told me that the chicken comes in a variety of different spices depending on which level I prefer. I have to say, I was relieved!!! I like spicy food but not that much, so I was delighted to find out for any future visits, that I can order low-level to mild spice flavored chicken! As I was standing there waiting for my order, I noticed the patrons there were pretty rude. No one said "excuse me" while trying to walk past me. They just gladly invaded my space like "You see me here. YOU better move." That OC entitlement attitude really bothers me out here. As far as the actual sandwich, I give it a 4/5. The taste was good, I wish it had a bit more flavor and seasoning to it. But I can tell that Dave's Hot Chicken has made a recipe they're trying to use to help make it stand out from their competition. I can dig it. Maybe I'll be back to try it again one day! read more

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DoorDash delivery! The order was accurate and ready quickly. The food was good. The chicken was good, no complaints, I could ve used a tiny less seasoning , but that's just me. Fries were nice and crispy! read more

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Awesome Services food is always hot and fresh. The atmosphere is amazing definitely give them a try!!!! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Dave Bites with Fries 10/10- these were so good! I got the medium spice for the chicken and it was the perfect heat level. Dave's specializes in Nashville hot style chicken and they really know what they're doing! The chicken was incredibly tender and crispy with light breading that was absolutely perfect. The seasoning blend of paprika, garlic, and chili gave it that authentic Nashville hot taste. The chicken is also halal which is awesome. I love Dave's special sauce too - it's similar to sriracha mayo but has its own unique twist that makes it so addictive. The crinkle cut fries were also so yummy! They were crispy outside and fluffy inside, and the chip spice seasoning they use was really good and complemented the chicken perfectly. They also give you pickles and a piece of white bread with the meal. I'm not a huge pickle person normally, but the pickles here are so good! They're perfectly tangy and crisp, and they actually help cut through the richness of the chicken. The white bread is classic Nashville style and perfect for making little sandwiches with the chicken. I can totally understand why Drake and Samuel L. Jackson own shares in the company - this chicken is seriously that good! The quality and flavor really speaks for itself. The manager Logan is the best and super helpful! He made the whole experience even better with his friendly service and knowledge about the menu. You can tell he really cares about making sure customers have an amazing experience. Dave's Hot Chicken definitely lives up to the hype! The Nashville hot style is executed perfectly and the halal options make it accessible to everyone. Instagram: @hungrytamale read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave 10 pc. Dave's Bites w/ Fries Instagram: @hungrytamale - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Always so good. Never fails. The chicken is fried to perfection and the seasonings are always so good. The dry rub is the best. Checked in to get a free chocolate shake, can't beat it!! Service is good as usual and the ambiance always has an upbeat good vibe. I love this place! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Dave's #1 2 Tenders w/ Fries Cheese Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

This is a fast casual restaurant and quick service with no table service. Order at the counter. Very casual. Friendly staff taking our order who were helpful about the menu items and level of spice. We had the sliders and tenders. Delicious and the rub was just right on the chicken (I selected the medium spice). It comes with a sauce that is not particularly hot. More like a variation of thousand island that's a little more relishy. Kale Slaw is also on the sliders. My only complaint is that I wish the contents of the slider was a different kind of chicken patty than essentially a large chicken tender. It was quite difficult to eat with the middle component being so long. On that note, knives and forks would be helpful if you are like me and don't like to get your hands so dirty eating. Otherwise great! Would go back. read more

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FINALLY TRIED DAVES HOT CHICKEN! So many chicken places but this NOT just another chicken place. It's delicious. No greasy and 7 levels of heat. I like a little so went medium and it wasn't hot to me. I'll bump it up next time. So yummy, fries are good too. Mac n cheese is like kids favorite Mac n cheese. Sandwich comes with pickles & coleslaw and Dave's sauce. Very clean, fun style and nice owner. Good service! You won't be disappointed! It puts the completion to shame.. my opinion read more

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Delicious still! Despite being purchased by a private equity group. I will keep going until the quality inevitably goes down due to the P.E. group take over. For now - 10/10 and great customer service! No wonder it was packed at 8:30 on a Friday night. Good eats! read more

First time trying the Slider in (mild). Tiniest kick of spice (can hardly pick it up) but I still loved it! The honey complements it perfectly. Service was fast and we got our order in under 5 mins. The interior is clean, cold, and there is plenty of seating,l. I got some pretty good food pics read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Single Slider (mild) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Currently eating here now as I write this. The manager and staff are very kind. Coming back for sure.

They just got $18 of my money for a slider+a tender and fries (and soda). But when I asked for their bbq sauce I was told it was $1.50 for a side. I asked for that spun flavor and it "wasn't available unless I bought bites". Full parking lot but only 2 people eating here. Def not worth the money. read more

I love pickle Dr. Pepper and I bothered the employees here for some pickle juice to put in the Dr. Pepper and the manager there went to the back to get the juice for me per my request which was really nice of him. I understand they drain the pickles so it was hard for him to get so I appreciate his understanding. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dr. Pepper and Pickle Juice - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

First visit to Dave's Hot Chicken. The menu is stripped down to sliders or nuggets and the only real choice is how much heat you can handle. I ordered a medium and a hot with a chocolate shake to keep me safe. The fries hit first. Crinkle cut. Seasoned. Way better than I expected. Then came what I thought was the hot slider. Big piece of chicken. Juicy. A burn that felt almost polite. I figured the hype was overblown. Then I picked up the medium. One bite and the truth landed. I had them backwards. This one lit me up. My face turned red. Sweat pouring. The shake fighting a losing battle. My daughter sat across from me laughing as I stole her Dr Pepper in desperation. When the smoke cleared I had to admit it. The chicken is excellent. Massive portions. Crisp batter. The heat is real. I will be back but I am sticking to the medium. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Never to old for Lucky Charms shake - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

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Solid 3.5 stars. I've eaten here twice now and honestly it was not anything spectacular. It was good, but I was not anything outstanding in my opinion. This last time my chicken was actually a little plain and lacked flavor. The chicken was not crispy at all and the French fries were a little cold. The restaurant is always clean and well kept, the staff always friendly and helpful, just the food was not to my liking. All in all, it's not bad, from the reviews many really love it, it's just not been my experience. read more

I accidentally ordered chicken tenders instead of the cauliflower tenders on the self-order kiosk. Totally my mistake. When Leslie handed us the food, she gave us all the condiments we asked for with a big smile. When we got to the car and realized the mix-up, I went back inside expecting the usual hassle. Instead, Leslie was incredibly kind and didn't make me feel bad at all. She immediately offered to redo the order, asked if I needed more condiments, and handled everything with such a great attitude. The cook was also super chill about it... no annoyed looks, nothing. Just solid customer service all around. Excellent staff at this location. They turned a small mistake into a genuinely great experience. Thank you, Leslie read more

I had been wanting to try, Dave's Hot Chicken, since they opened up a while ago. I finally had a chance to take the family and give them a go. Dave's, is located at the Target parking lot off of Alicia Parkway. There is a lot of parking available. This little corner has multiple places to dine and from what I can recall, there are only two out of four restaurants here that had outdoor seating. Walking into Dave's, you'll immediately notice the colorful artistic décor, and the huge mural above your head to the right that somewhat resembles Napolean Dynamite. There are two kiosks where you can order your food & pay without having to go to the cashier should you opt not to do that. Above the counter, the city of Mission Viejo, is represented in big letters. It's a fun space to look at. The seating is a little limited inside but you can find additional tables at the outdoor patio decorated with a string of lights. The chairs in the restaurant are sturdy but they're not comfortable. What we ordered: Two orders of Dave's Bites - no spice for the kids. One had fries and the other we upgraded to mac n cheese. Two additional orders of mac n cheese. Dave's # 2 - comes with 2 sliders & fries. Spice level medium. Dave's # 3 - comes with 1 slider and 1 tender with fries. Spice level - hot which was mild for me. I can probably go hotter next time. Fountain drink - I'm not a soda drinker but I do love Dr. Pepper & Cherry Coke which they carry. Everyone loved their food. The sliders were stuffed with pickles, kale slaw and Dave's sauce. The chicken was juicy & tender. The kids all wanted mac n cheese after only having one side & tasting it. The staff was great, friendly, patient and polite. We will definitely return to, Dave's. We have gone to many chicken places, but not a lot have been added to our must return list. Dave's is now going to be a part of our rotation of chicken joints with Popeye's & Raising Cane's. read more

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I went there today on Wednesday afternoon June 25th, 2025. The staff today was outstanding. The person taking the order was extremely nice, and the meal was humongous and cooked perfectly. The chicken portion was huge and I asked for mild seasoning. It was a perfect mild. It was like he'd be a delicious spice flavor that was not overly hot. If picking between this place, in the other restaurants nearby, there's no question Dave's hot chicken is the best restaurant in the entire Plaza . to see how awesome my chicken sandwich was today. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Excellent crew cooking amazing food at this Dave's hot chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Exactly the meal I needed after the airport! Thanks for being open and helpful! Respect the Dave's hot chicken crew that keep it professional and courteous when Waffle House rumblers come in yelling at them 5 minutes before closing. Shout out to Genesis and the boys in the back for giving us a good laugh and EXCELLENT chicken. read more

My first time at this eatery. I asked for them to not over cook my fries, that I prefer them a little lighter than the way they look and come out. Michael at the counter was very nice and asked the cook, but he was NOT nice about it and said he couldn't do it. But overall the whole meal was VERY good and the fries were cooked just fine. The reason for only 4 stars is because of the cooks attitude. He didn't say he was sorry that he couldn't cook it to my preference. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

This shop is always clean, presentable and the staff is always super welcoming. My last trip I wasn't sure if I wanted the bites or individual tenders and Giselle was super friendly and helpful with navigating my decision (what's the better deal). I ended up getting a meal with two tenders and saved the sides for later. Giselle made sure my order was prompt, correct and that I had everything I needed. Glad I went up front instead of using the kiosk. Thanks again girls! I'll be back but we will up the spice next time. read more

AMAZING service very quick and easy and such a clean store to eat at. I love it here and the food was perfectly cooked. Kalea was an amazing help and is so sweet read more

Yay love Dave's it's the best place ever yummmmy I like to get the number three with medium read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave's menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

The food is amazing the service is also top tier thanks to Micheal and the walls are well designed and it's very nice to eat I. Here

First and last visit. I ordered the two chicken tenders with fries and a side of slaw - medium spicy. While the spice level was nice and the fries were decent, the chicken was overcooked/dry. I guess this is one way to not make the meal greasy. The slaw also did not have a conventional flavor and I actually wondered if the slaw had gone bad. I'm sad about not liking this place because I had such high hopes. read more

Best service,, Logan is so kind and thoughtful. He pays attention. Logan is a great asset to your business. Sincerely Ohhh and I love the chicken sliders!! Ty read more

I did not offer any stars since I ended up walking out. After ordering my meal I was told that they don't accept cash. I will never support any business that does not accept cash. read more

Food is amazing I love Dave's hot chicken it's more worth it getting a combo than ordering multiple single sandwiches and the portion sizes are more worth it! The staff here is absolutely amazing and kind! I had a mix up with the order and when I was asking some questions about which item was which Paul came in and solved all the issues with zero hesitation clear and considerate responses and is very efficient! He cares about customers and he deserves a special shoutout! Music is A-tier and this place is a must see. This is one of the best experiences I have ever had and I would like to thank all of you for doing everything correctly. read more

JR (maybe JT) Gave me excellence service, super nice Went above and beyond and made sure to explain the spice levels and such, felt like restaurant service at the cashier. read more

i love there food, it's so delicious. there mac and cheese is definitely my favorite!!!

11/10 Experience - Truly Next-Level Hot Chicken! WOW. Just WOW. Dave's Hot Chicken is an absolute flavor explosion and easily one of the BEST dining experiences I've had in a long time. From the moment I walked in, the energy was amazing l, fun vibe, clean space, and super friendly staff who clearly love what they do. Now let's talk about the food... The chicken? Insanely juicy. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and flavorful on the inside. Each spice level is dialed in perfectly -- from "No Spice" for the cautious to "Reaper" for the bold. I went with Medium and Hot, and the balance of heat and flavor was PERFECTION. The tenders are HUGE -- seriously, one tender is the size of two somewhere else. The fries are seasoned beautifully and taste like they were made with love. Don't sleep on the pickles or the Dave's sauce -- they tie it all together like magic. Whether you're a hot chicken fan or just love great food, you owe it to yourself to try Dave's. I've been back multiple times and it's consistently . I've even started bringing friends and family, and now THEY'RE obsessed too! Thank you, Dave's, for raising the bar. I'm officially hooked. read more

3rd time here in a week! Absolutely so delicious! My kids wanted to try it after school and now were addicted. Friendly staff, great music, and absolutely delicious! read more

A good way to start the day is with a spicy chicken. I got my service done fast and got out just as quickly. I was satisfied with the food and the place was clean easy to find your way around. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Mission Viejo, California

Food is so good, my family enjoyed the chicken and the sandwich, staff is amazing and great place