First time ever hearing about Dave's Hot Chicken. We happened to be in the area and someone in our group raved about it. Got the #2. Comes with 2 chicken sandwiches and fries. Chicken was huge and super crispy. Fries are crinkle cut dusted with seasoning. Found that the fry amount was a bit smaller in portion size compared to the chicken. I mean maybe it's the actually serving size but let's be real. Fries are also a main course. So we ordered a large box of fries. The three of us (who didn't eat the #2 meal) killed the fries quickly. Mixed 2 packets of the Dave's sauce (it's like equivalent to 5 ketchup packets) with 2 ketchup packets . Mmm perfect. Saw a lot of Muslim patrons here. I was curious and looked it up. The chicken at Dave's is halal. KFC and chic fil a aren't. Looking at you KFC and chic fil a. More patrons would come to eat at your establishments if you served halal foods. Clearly from my ONE time eating at Dave's I could see that Muslim people like fried chicken too. DUH! Good job Dave's. I mean it didn't affect me in any way but it made me feel good that Dave's did something right. Will definitely be coming to Dave's Hot Chicken again! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Large Box of Fries. Don't skip on this - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

See all

Went back to Dave's hot chicken for their free slider if you have the app. It's still as great as the first time I had it! Chicken is crispy and juicy but watch out because they bring the heat! Service is always quick and friendly. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Single Slider - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

I have been eating Dave's hot chicken for 4 years, and this is the first time I have ever had a bad experience, significantly due to poor customer service rather than anything food or atmosphere related. I will preface by saying I arrived 30 minutes before closing, which may upset some employees, but the way my food was handled was completely uncalled for. I ordered 4 Dave's hot chicken sliders -- two mild, two hot. I sat in the restaurant for 40 mins waiting for an order that typically takes 10 to prepare. I did not make a fuss or complain until the last 5 minutes of the 40, when I walked over and saw the kitchen staff horsing around with my food. I inquired about the status of my order, and they said, "it'll be out in a moment." At this moment, I saw them chuck the boxes into the plastic bag, and pour the hot oil and seasoning on top of my box, with the cashier saying to the food preparer, "Bruh, that's horrible." I then finally received my meal. It should also be stated I was not the only person here at this time, as there were several other customers patiently waiting for their food. As I was leaving, another customer went up asking, "I've been here half an hour for a single chicken slider, what's the holdup?" I hoped that this story would end here, but when I opened my hot chicken sliders, I found that the chicken had been left cold and unseasoned, at which point I realized the bit with the throwing boxes, chili oil and seasoning on the boxes was a middle finger to me. read more

No shade or tea, but shade and tea, i really don't get the hype of this place. It took over 30 minutes for my meal to come back and there were only 5-6 tables. That wasn't even my problem though - I had ordered a mild slider and many chicken spots offer mild where you get a nice kick. their tender had not an ounce of spice and it was lacking flavor. Maybe I need to go to medium but they also offer a "no spice" tender and I'm confused where that one and mild differ. I also got the loaded fires with mild and they were very underwhelming, even the fries themselves! The strawberry ice cream shake wasn't bad but not worth the $5. The best part of this place was the guy who took my order, super friendly and checked up on everyone! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Strawberries and Creme Slusher - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

My sister asked me. If I will pick her up. Dave's hot chicken. She requested Dave's 10 piece bites. She requested the "reaper". When I paid for the chicken. The cashier said. I need you to sign a waiver. I was like "what". I signed it. My sister touched the chicken bite. She finally took a bite. She said it was juicy. It's a flavor bomb in her mouth. She looked at me. She said this chicken is hot. I tried the pickle. My face immediately began to sweat. The cashiers were very friendly. Great quality customer service. When I walked into Dave's Hot Chicken. The ambiance is very funky and colorful. Please eat this chicken responsibly. When your in the Newington area. Please check out Dave's Hot Chicken. To all my Yelpers let's continue to eat our way through the world.#Foodie4life. read more

See all

Dave's Hot Chicken never disappoints. The chicken is always crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. I love that you can choose your spice level, and the sliders with the seasoned fries are easily my favorite combo. The portions are generous, the food comes out fresh, and the seasoning is on point every time. If you're a fan of spicy chicken, this place is definitely worth trying. One of my go-to spots when I'm craving hot chicken. read more

First time coming here. We got the mild chicken bites with a side order of Cajun fries and Mac and cheese. We also got hot chicken tenders and they were pretty spicy, not like down south spicy, but they still had a kick. The chicken had good flavor and the food came out quick read more

See all

this place is awesome. i love the atmosphere and cant stop coming here. It is just so great.

It was a very colorful place! The menu is chicken tenders and sliders. They have different sides but this time we only got fries. I got mild and my DH got hot. We both think we could go up in spicy level. It wasn't as bad as we thought. The fries were spiced and yummy and crispy! I do love crinkle cut fries! The tenders are HUGE! I could only get through one. Even reheating them in the oven was good. I think we met the manager there he was super nice. It gets busy, so if you don't like crowds got either early or late. We went at 11 on a Sunday and it was busy by the time we left! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Two Dave's #1 2 Tenders w/ Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Amazing. First time going here since I am a huge chicken lover & love raising canes, bird code, haven hot chicken, etc. Everything was so fresh & the fries are seriously the best ones I've had ANYWHERE. The chicken doesn't taste "fake" & everything tastes so homemade & PERFECT. Phil, who I assume was a manager of some sort, was so welcoming & made my first time THE BEST. Continued to check in as well as giving a free fountain drink. This place deserves only great review & even more customers. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave's #4 1 Slider with Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

I've been wanting to try it, and now I have. Having said that, it's not top of my list. I ordered a two strip basket, not realizing that everything, including the fries, would be coated in seasoning. Also not sure why they give you two pieces of plain white bread. Obviously I just don't get it. The chicken was juicy, but I only ate one strip and donated the rest of my meal. It was fine, but I doubt I'll be returning any time soon. read more

See all

Super nice people working here. Nice inside. First time trying, we got 2chicken tenders with fries. One Mild and one Hot. I didn't think either of them was that spicy, I'd opt for extra hot next time. The fries were good ( love a good crinkle fry). Also got a vanilla shake and it was on par with McDonald's vanilla shake. I can say I finally tried Dave's Hot Chicken!! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - 2 Tenders with fries, bread& pickles. And Dave's sauce. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Had a chance to check this place out. We tried the chicken sandwiches and the tenders. Food wise, I don't think is like the best chicken, I would probably put it number 2 or 3, where they shine is on the prices and service. You get a lot of food for the price and I think that matters, the chicken is good dont get me wrong, not my number one. The service was good people super friendly. The place in Newington is bright and colorful. I would definitely get some chicken While in the area. read more

See all

Finally tried the news Dave's Hot Chicken! I was excited to try this spot as this was the first Dave's in Hartford County. Honestly, I think some of the local CT hot chicken spots are better. Good prices for the amount of food. Bummed that they don't have ranch as a dipping option. Their signature sauce it s a bit too sweet for me and more like a thousand island. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

I've had Dave's Hot Chicken in several places, including California and Massachusetts, and this Dave's Hot Chicken location is by far my favorite. The restaurant itself was extremely clean, which immediately stood out when we walked in. The staff behind the counter were incredibly friendly and welcoming, genuinely some of the nicest people I've encountered at any restaurant. The manager and team clearly take pride in the place. While we were eating, the manager even came over to our table to check on us and make sure the food met their standards and that everything was good. That kind of attention to customers really makes a difference and shows how much they care about the experience. The food was excellent as well. I'm a big fan of a good spicy chicken sandwich, and Dave's in general does that really well, but this location feels like the pinnacle of the brand. Everything was fresh and flavorful, exactly what you want from hot chicken. Overall it was an outstanding experience with great food, an extremely clean restaurant, and an amazing staff. I would 100% recommend this location to anyone looking for great hot chicken. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Two Dave's #2 2 Sliders w/ Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Ok, I'll be the first to admit it. There are a million hot chicken places now. So will Dave's stand out in the crowd? Busy but not insane. Standing in the intimidating line it only took about 10 min to place my order then another 10 min or so to get my order - not bad for a fresh opening. Service - friendly. Picture Popeyes but w Chick-fil-A standards. Menu is limited to chicken or cauliflower. Not many variations. "Meals" do not include a drink but prices are steep - they really should include a drink. Flavor - ok these spices are great. I ordered medium heat but it wasn't spicy at all to me. Next time I would order at LEAST Hot if you want some kick. Usually places known for their hot chicken are extreme but that is not the case here. Pickles were fresh and crisp. Sauce is enjoyable. Portion was a good size as well. Left v content. Last fast food chicken place I tried was Canes and I think this trumps it. Would go back for sure! Pro tip: add half a packet of honey and extra Dave's sauce to really make that sammy sing !! read more

See all

Everyone has been so excited to check out the newly open Dave's Hot Chicken location in Newington. They have been open for a few months now, and we finally made it since the hype is dying down and there were spaces in the parking lot. First off, when you walk in it's spacious, felt very open, and the fun textures, graffiti artwork, and decor made this franchise stand out against other chicken fast food chains. Luckily, we arrived at a time where it wasn't so busy. We took our time with the menu and the staff were very friendly when we ordered. They gave us a buzzer to return to the counter once our food was ready. One big critique for the ambiance was the music was way too loud--we were dining in and it makes it difficult to hold a conversation. I ordered the Dave's Not Chicken which was cauliflower as a Slider with Fries with lite mild heat (I wanted to taste our food on our first go around). There is 7 levels of heat. I also got a cup of mac and cheese. My husband got the meal that came with one chicken tender and a slider (lite mild) my mom tried the chicken slider (lite mild) and a cauliflower tender with no spice. Overall, the food was just okay. I've had fried cauliflower chicken imposter meals at other places where the execution was done better. I'm thinking I'm not a fan of the dry spices that were coated on the cauliflower. There was a slaw on the slider that helped the flavor and texture. If you add cheese onto the slider, it costs extra. Also note that the cauliflower options are a limited time. I would love to see a veggie option that is permanent. The mac and cheese was goopy, a fake-cheese taste, and it had a seasoning on it that didn't give it much flavor either. My husband and my mom also thought their meals were okay, and didn't live up to the hype. I did love the pickles that the meals came with and the fries. I'm not a big fan of crinkle cut fries, but the seasoning was delicious. My husband compared it to Old Bay. Anyway, it was a fun food adventure and another option on the Turnpike. I am ready to challenge myself to the different heat levels because your girl enjoys the thrill of spicy food. If you are a fan of chicken or spicy food, check out Dave's Hot Chicken yourself! read more

See all

I have been wanting to get my on and I heard @daveshotchicken is the place. And they sure did not disappoint! I went for the tenders and fries and had to try a slider and their mac and cheese. If you like it hot , these guys are doing it right read more

See all

AHA cluckers, FTR!!! Bock Bock!!! some of the finer points, first, GREAT chicken, like smell you later fast food chicken wantobees, this is where i want my chicken fry from. so, yea, just opened, give it some time, but i was very happy from the go. location is pretty easy right on berlin tpk, looks were pretty cool, way to represent the nutmeg state! right next to townfair and a block from walmart and well everything. chicken was crisp and juicy, can i take the heat? NO, no i cannot (no deductions for my spice aversion), but thats a given if you read most of my yelps in the past. do they have a mild version for weaklings like me? yes! no one says you need to burn off your taste buds to enjoy a tasty chicken meal! the tender as a whole was almost the size of a whole breast, so good value. flaky and generously spiced already, i , for transparency, got mild and that did have me a little 'warm' so if you can take it, go for it! speaking of, those side were also on point. the mac and cheese reminded me of a homemade version, aka, not kraft dinner, very cheesey, not too mustardy (like bears). the fries were maybe one of the best for any chicken joint. i dare not compare to another shop, but they are crinkle cut, not limp, nice and seasoned too. they also dispense coke products, big draw for me. service was fantastic, the counter was so nice and explained the deal, truly service with a smile! I did want to try the cauliflower bites, but i can only consume finite amounts (despite what you read on the internet) so ill be back for them next time. thats my yelp and now its time for my eggs-it... read more

Went today in Newington for the first time! Amazing front end staff!!! Manager/owner walking around &conversing with customers-he too was a sweetheart! Delicious food! The chicken was delicious as well as the Mac &cheese & the loaded fries. Will definitely be going back!! The place was packed & the service was great! read more

The first times I went to Dave's was in Queensbury after the grand opening. This one in Newington has smaller chicken, not as good taste and the place is not so clean. I also think the Dave's in Queensbury has declined. We wonder if the private equity acquisition has anything to do with it?? Regardless Haven Hot Chicken is So Much Better! read more

Had to try it!! With all the chicken spots, I had to compare and I gotta say Dave's hot chicken slider is a good one! Chicken is crispy, juicy and flavorful. The pickles, sauce and coleslaw give it the right touch. Fries were crispy with a light Cajun seasoning and come with a side of Daves sauce to dip in. I got the no heat chicken slider but I brought my daughter and her friend and they were determined to try the "reaper". It's known to be the hottest chicken on the menu and I even had to sign a waiver for them to try it! Even though they only took the littlest bite, they both said it was the hottest chicken they ever tasted and thankfully the manager was around and gave them a vanilla milkshake to share after they experienced the taste. I was panicking for them and definitely appreciated him saving them! It is not for the weak and I would have never done it myself. They were both happy they took on the challenge but also said they'd never do it again, haha! We will be back for the mild chicken sandwiches though! Even with all the chaos, Dave's hot chicken is a chill, low key spit with vibrant colors and indoor seating and next time we'll keep that vibe instead! read more

See all

Dave's Hot Chicken in Newington has officially opened, and I am beyond thrilled that I finally got to try their signature chicken sliders with fries and a Dave's Orange Creamsicle slusher. One of the highlights of my visit was the outstanding customer service--every staff member greeted guests warmly, creating a welcoming atmosphere for those patiently waiting in line. Everything ran smoothly, and I had no complaints. I'm not the best at remembering names, but I truly appreciated how the staff made me feel welcome and even chatted with me for a bit before the line started getting longer. I went with a close friend, and the wait time wasn't too bad--about 45 minutes, which wasn't surprising considering how popular Dave's Hot Chicken is. I first discovered them on Instagram, so I was excited when they finally opened a location closer to home, right off the Berlin Turnpike in Newington. The restaurant itself was adorable, with vibrant colors and fun decorations. I ordered the mild spice level, and for me, it wasn't spicy at all--so next time, I'll have to level up, even though I've heard it can get pretty intense! Overall, I'm really happy I got to experience it, and I can't wait to go back for more. Happy Grand Opening!!! read more

See all

This place always finds some way to mess up your food the cashier was on his phone I tried telling my order but he ignored me and I waited an hour for my food you know why they gave me the wrong buzzer but I asked them 10 minutes before if there was a problem kindly and they said "no, there is no problem hold on a sec" and I did I am not no Karen trust read more

Ohhh my allah albarrr. Best chicken I had since back from my India trip. The flavorfull chicken just busts in my mouth after bite after bite! So juicy, the bread was good and fries had seasoning! I got the tender and slider combo which was like around 12 bucks. Not too long of a wait on Saturday around 3:00pm but once it became 4:00 a lot of people start coming all over the place. Still not bad. Overall very good chicken and sauce! Better then what one of my wife's make. Will definitely be back after my trip to Dubai! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Slider tender combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - Newington, Connecticut

Delicious. Had never been there and my grandsons wanted to check it out. They were brave and got the spicy chicken, I got the mild. All 3 of us loved every bite! read more

After our first bad experience and posting an official review - management reached out. While the process was unorganized and redundant we ended up receiving a gift card to try our business again in hopes for a better experience. The staff today was very polite. We ordered the party size chicken bites (with no spice) and box of fries. Both the chicken and the fries were crispy and up to agreeable standard in temperature, flavor and texture. We skipped ordering drinks this time as we are still weary from the last visit. However all and all, definitely an improvement from our last visit. I can recommend that others give this place a chance :) read more

A little bit of a wait but chicken sandwiches are amazing and Buffalo cauliflower bites are cooked to perfection in my opinion looking for a place to try on Berlin turnpike try Dave's Hot chicken service is excellent read more

My second time here and brought both of my young kids ( 10 and 6). We ordered 2 of the slider and fries meals and one nuggets and fries meal. Hit the spot and then some. Both of my kids ordered a no-spice version and I got a medium heat. Chicken was spectacular, crispy, moist and wonderfully seasoned. Only thing was I do think I'll try a step up on the heat choice next time, and there will definitely be a next time. This place has my favorite chicken and fry seasoning of all of the many hot chicken places I've been to in CT. Also special shouts to the Owner ( or manager?) who was there and who was exceptionally welcoming and happy that we had a good experience. This place just rocks. Go there. now. read more

We've eaten there 3 times. The first two were great; the 3rd... Chicken tenders were supposed to be Mild (2); more like a 5 or 6 (Extra Hot or Reaper). The fries were as though they had been triply salted: crunchy with salt. Can't blame it on being busy; there were only two other small groups in the place. read more

Very flavorful chicken big portions and fries are cooked to protection will take pictures next time

Food 8/10. Atmosphere 2/10 (and that's being generous). Service 5/10. Ok, to start off with, as this is a food establishment, I would say it was quite tasty and the side sauce was pretty good as well. I went for a medium heat and it was what I would expect. The food descriptions on the menu are deceiving as they call the sandwich a "slider," but it's a full on chicken sandwich. I got the combo which includes a "slider" and a tender, but these were both full slabs of chicken. No complaints per se, but when you are looking at the menu and you see what is called a slider, you visually picture the chicken in relation to a smaller slider sized bun. Not bad, but just be aware that I ended up tossing out half of the second slab as it was just a LOT of food. Good tasting food, but man was I full. The atmosphere. Wow, what can I say. The acoustics are the absolute worst of any establishment I have ever been to. There is zero acoustical tiling anywhere, and the design of the building is a big, solid box, so sound just bounces everywhere. And the ceiling has a lifted square in the middle which just added more angles for sound to bounce off of. The decibel level had to be 80db or more. Not even kidding. To add to that noise is a polished concrete floor which adds to the murmuring echo. No tiling, no carpeting, no anything, just polished concrete. And the trifecta is that there are metal diamond plates on most of the walls, so no standard wall absorption there either. It's almost as if they deliberately designed it to be loud. Patrons have to talk louder and louder to be heard even at their own table, which forces the sound even louder. This was bad. It also left many patrons that were ordering unable to even hear the cashiers. As far as service, the person who took my order seemed very pleasant, as did the person whom I later retrieved my food from; although neither could really hear any of the customers orders simply due to the massive amount of background noise. Most people in line had to lean over to communicate. The biggest concern I had, however, was what appeared to be the manager? walking around the restaurant. It was a taller guy with a hair net on so I wasn't 100% sure who he was at first. It's not a big place but he just walked around in a big square and never once went over to a table to ask how things were going. Just kept walking in a square. At one point a couple happened to be standing up as he walked by and they exchanged some words and some smiles, but then he just kept walking. There may have been an inspection or something that he was waiting for as he later walked outside and around the back with a few guys with clipboards taking notes, but man oh man, it was creepy. Overall I would say I'll not go back, at least not unless some changes happen, but if someone was bringing it home or offered take-out I would surely eat the food again. Heck, I'd even pay someone to go get it just so I don't have to walk in again. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken delivers bold flavor and juicy, perfectly cooked tenders every time. The heat levels let you choose your own adventure -- from no spice to "Reaper" fire. The seasoning is crave-worthy, and the sliders with the soft bun, pickles, and Dave's sauce are a must-try. Fries are crispy and well-seasoned, and the service is always friendly and fast. Whether you're into mild heat or full-blown spice, Dave's hits the spot. Definitely one of the best hot chicken spots around! read more

I'm so disappointed, I traveled 40 mins here after my oven broke at my house to get a meal with my bf. Woke up this morning to him puking his brains out, not too much later I was doing the same and had to call off my first day of a new job. Not only did we feel sickness from this food it kept us up all night with pain. When arriving at this spot in Newington the girls behind the counter play dumb and don't do their job. I had orders a big amount of food up to 60$ worth of food. Got a 2 sandwich's with no cheese after requesting cheese. Loaded baked fries came with nothing but fries and chicken. The milkshake has chucks of Oreos at the bottoms barely any ice cream. And the slushee was made poorly by the cashier front host, she did not care what so ever we ended up throwing it out the window on the way home. Nothing but a bunch of children as a grand opening who can't even get an order right. Had me standing at the corner with my man for 30 mins just for her to realize it was next to her the whole time!. After we had given her our name and she said it wasn't ready. I'm more upset that the lack of service and attitudes reflect the feeling you'll get after eating this food. You'll feel shitty just like the majority of workers working there. Absolutely ridiculous and I hope I don't come up with food poisoning heading to the emergency room with my bf to see what's going on. I do not recommend this place to anyone what so Ever! read more

Went there at 8:20 on a Thursday night and waited there for 53 minutes. They took my order within 5 minutes of me getting there as there was a small line of 3 people and it still took them 53 minutes to bring out my food to go. When i asked the manager what's taking so long he blamed the big online orders and was talking down on me. One of the employees behind the register kept rolling eyes at customers and there was staff just filling up drinks instead of cooking. 2/5 just because food was decent. read more

Loaded fries were so good. The top loaded milkshake with Oreos were tremendous. The staff was so pleasant and knowledgeable.

What an amazing new restaurant in Newington! The food was unbelievably delicious. We got sliders, tenders, fries and the cauliflower tenders. Asides from the food being out of this world, the employees were super friendly! Can't wait to go back read more