Can't believe how hooked I've gotten on their sliders . As a lover of spicy food, the chicken and cauliflower options are delicious! ... And so are the Mac & cheese and fries sides - and probably everything else on their menu! While I haven't dined in, the place is usually busy and take-out service has always been great. Definitely one of my go-to pick up places in SD. Tip: join their great rewards program! read more

I have only been to the location once and continue to get delivery as a late-night craving every once in a while -- and it always hits! Delicious flavor, crunch, and cook on the chicken. This spot is indeed worth the hype. Often times it will be incredibly busy at peak hours, but you can tell they do their best to keep it going! Some seating inside but I'll always do take-out or delivery :) read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken strips - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

This place opens at 11 and we got there at 11:30. The wait was already insane! Lunch time madness is for real. We ordered on the tablet and got 2 Dave's #3 which comes with one slider, toast, one tender and fries. We got fries for one and Mac n cheese for the other. You could also get kale slaw. I had Dave's no so chicken which was plant based made out of cauliflower with one tender and one slider. The outer crust mimic fried chicken. The spices were there. Not bad. Medium spice and hot spice was not spicy at all. For a Nashville type hot chicken, I think they are lacking flavors and spice. We had better at other places. read more

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I've been wanting to try this for so long and the food did not disappoint! Service was fast and the interior was really cool! 10/10 read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Spicy Chicken Sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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Dave's Hot Chicken is the reigning champion of the new heat era. The tenders are enormous, almost theatrical in size, yet still juicy with a clean Nashville crunch. Extra Hot is the sweet spot, the second to the top, where the spice hits hard but the flavor still shines through. Two tenders à la carte with their slaw is the perfect order. It keeps the focus on the chicken, the heat, and the texture without any unnecessary filler. Their sauce lives in that comeback sauce neighborhood with a creamy sweet tang that plays well with the spice. I still bring my own bleu because hot chicken and bleu is a pairing that deserves more respect, and Dave's heat makes that contrast sing. We watched the chicken sandwich wars heat up about ten years ago. Now the battle has moved to hot chicken, and Dave's is the king. Long live the king. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Love me Tender - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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I kept hearing how good Dave's hot chicken is so I was really looking forward to it. I got a hot tender and mild slides for my wife just to get a taste and see what it was really hitting for. We didn't like it the flavor profile didn't really hit I'm a wings and things type of guy so I was expecting bigg flavor and I didn't really get that. I'm not saying it's bad the chicken was juicy and it was big but it wasn't for me but you should try and see what you think. Fries were on point. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Hot tender - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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LOVE this location. The quality and service is always amazing. They are quick with the food even with a ton of DoorDash orders on top of their own take out orders. The decor inside is colorful and kinda graffiti style! They have kiosks where you can place your order, but I recommend ordering in the app! read more

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I had been talking about making chicken tenders at home to my friends and family and turning them into a sandwich because I was really craving one. While shopping in Mission Valley, I happened to spot Dave's Hot Chicken, and I knew right away this was the day to finally try it. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted with a friendly smile. I ordered the chicken sandwich and let them know I didn't want it too hot, but not too mild either. The counter girl kindly explained the different heat levels, which I really appreciated. My order came out quickly, and the sandwich was perfect. The spice level was just right, and the chicken was perfectly seasoned, juicy, and crispy, absolutely delicious. Now I completely understand why Dave's Hot Chicken is so popular! It is really that good! A special shout out to the cooks! I don't usually eat deep-fried chicken, but this was totally worth making an exception. Food coma for sure. I appreciated the counter girl and manager as they were professional, kind, and welcoming, and the upbeat music playing in the background, even some fun '50s tunes" made the atmosphere enjoyable. They also offer a fountain drink selection as well as top-loaded shakes, along with sides like French fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese, and kale slaw. I didn't order any sides this time, but I'm sure they're just as tasty as the chicken. If you're craving a delicious chicken sandwich, I highly recommend Dave's Hot Chicken in Mission Valley. You guys are the best! 5+ stars! read more

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Delicious hot chicken that will be sure to satisfy your cravings! The chicken is flavorful, moist, and meaty! Our combo meal came out piping hot and fresh! We got the extra spicy and it had the perfect amount of spice and heat! Their fries are perfectly crispy and crinkly with a lovely seasoning that is addicting! They serve their chicken with fresh pickles and a delicious creamy sauce as well as with packets of honey! They have chicken tenders, sliders, slaw, Mac n cheese, fries, etc. Service was friendly and efficient and plenty of parking in their lot that's shared with other businesses. Can't wait to try their Carolina reaper spice level next! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Tender and slider combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

First time at Dave's. Exceeded expectations. Smiling and welcoming staff. Order was ready within 15 minutes. Portions accurate as advertised. Bold and flavorful chicken. Martin's buns soft. Fries were hot. The only item that was mediocre was the Mac n cheese. Plenty of outside seating. Thank you for the great service Haley! read more

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The food was really good. I'm not much of a chicken sandwich kind of guy. I usually eat chick-fil-a but this place is definitely a step up from that. It does take a bit to cook and put together so be prepared to wait a little bit. The tables weren't all that sanitary with other people's food droppings. The air conditioning inside of the restaurant was on full force and really made my wife and really cold. Other than that I would definitely recommend this place! read more

My cousin and I order this new meal from Dave's hot chicken yesterday and I was disappointed because it didn't look like how it supposed to look in the picture. Instead we were given this which does not look like how it supposed to false advertisement. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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Dave's Hot Chicken was amazing and definitely a recommended ! The chicken was crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. I loved that you can choose your spice level, and the fries were perfectly seasoned. Just AMAZING! The staff was friendly, the restaurant was clean, and the food came out quickly. Kennedy was super sweet and helpful! It was my first time here and will definitely be coming back! read more

I've been to this location a few times. It's typically pretty busy. I order online and pickup vs waiting in the long lines. There's a free parking lot. Staff is friendly. I always come here when I'm craving a naughty meal. The tenders are usually my favorite, but today I just tried the saucy bites and fries combo and it was so yummy! You get a good amount of chicken bites and they're perfectly crisp! I drizzled honey on them and they were yummy! read more

This place is so dysfunctional when it comes to ordering and getting your food appropriately. I had ordered my food on the app to pick up at a certain time. I ordered it 45 mins prior to me picking it up. When I got there I was told 10 more mins. After standing there for almost 15 mins the employee saw me and stated another 15mins. I understand it's busy but what is the point of ordering earlier. On top of that there was nothing in return to do apologize for the situation. I like Dave's but this is ridiculous because it's happened on more than one occasion. There is no order to the system and I hope you guys correct this. read more

DAVES HOT CHICKEN @ MISSION VALLEY First ever time at this location, and wow this places was packed on a Tuesday! I really enjoyed the colors and the small art details of this place, it was different and such a great look for the brand. The place was TINY, and I mean two tables that are right by eachother. We luckily secured a spot, that was heavily full of sticky honey, and even had trash in the seats (someone's empty eaten food), the staff didn't bare to clean a table or anything. We ordered two combos & a strawberry lemonade slushie. Slushie came immediately, more on the watery side but it was good for what it was. The food took FOREVER. I mean atleast 30 minutes passed by. There was ONE WORKER, dealing with to-go orders, in-person orders, AND helping out people who needed those small things (honey, etc). I was shocked of how tragic this management was leaving one guy working a HEAVY shift. I attached a photo of the place, it was PACKED. My boyfriend were furious, we felt so bad for the worker, he looked like he was just done. We started guessing which one our food was, since at this point, the worker was moving SO SLOWLY. We saw our food, and the receipt of it that we knew was ours. The worker started bagging it, and then a customer came to order on the tablet, lo and behold, he put out food on the side. Guess what? More people starting ordering in person to him, so our food was just COLD, sitting in the side half put into a bag. At this point, my boyfriend and I wanted to just grab it ourselves. Everyone else in the place was furious, seeing their orders be half packaged then stopped. After 30 minutes, we finally got our food that was cold. Pretty depressing of an interaction. I wish the place was larger, there were people against our tables while we were eating. Couldn't blame them, there was no space in here. Parking was free and out front. Overall, I would not recommend this location or this place. I hope the management hires more people to help workers during the week, it gets busy! read more

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My first time to eat, enjoy and appreciate Dave's Hot Chicken. I got the spicy one, but it is so goooood with Dave's special sauce! Gotta go back for more! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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Horrible service, someone was unkind when I asked to substitute the side sauce for ranch because I couldn't handle the spice of the sauce that she gave me and she rudely declined. All I wanted was a side of ranch. I could not handle the spice of the food. I spent $17 and I have a very low spice tolerance and I asked for mild but I really couldn't handle it and I really really just wanted the ranch. She then promptly told me that it was two dollars for a small side of ranch and there was nothing that she could do. So disappointing the food also isn't good but I will say they're frozen lemonade is fire. read more

I was disappointed with my experience at Dave's Hot Chicken. The chicken did not seem fully cooked and lacked the texture and quality I expected. The fries were also moist and soggy instead of being crispy and fresh. Overall, the food quality was below expectations, and I hope they improve their food preparation and consistency. read more

This place is super tiny inside,. Its not really a Daves a we know it's more like an airport express kinda version. Even without a lot of humans here when I got her, It did not end that way this place was out the door line. Not a great location for the brand but hey. they are doing something right. The staff here is A+ and the are super great. They move like bees. Whats also cool is the customer base really knows what they want to order. it took 52 minutes to get a side of fries standing inside ordering. this is a great opportunity to study efficiency. split the kitchen 1 person do in house orders the others do all the call in. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Pick it up - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

Dave's hot chicken has real good food and and drinks. My chicken tenders and my girlfriend's mini sliders were real tasty and the added cheese was a good touch in our fries and chicken. Definitely ask for Dave's sauce as it's free! We also had their strawberry lemonade slushie which was real good. However, the inside was very small and tight. There was a big rush of people coming in and it made things crowded and chaotic. No real place to stand and if you want to sit and eat, seating inside is limited to 3 areas (2 tables and a couple seats at a bar style high top table facing the wall. There was outdoor seating but is only good during warmer months. Parking is free and available and they have one gender neutral one person bathroom which was clean. Although there was a rush, the workers were real kind and attentive to people coming in and asking questions. They even had kiosks to order your food without needing to go to the register. Overall good but would rather order ahead and do take out. read more

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My second time trying Dave's. We ordered a slider and a tender with fries - all mild. The chicken was really moist and well seasoned; the fries crispy! Tbh the food is good, but idk if it's worth the hype ? Personal preference but I got bored of the flavor bc the same seasoning that's on the chicken, is on the fries. And the sauce on the slider is the same sauce they give you for dipping. I went during lunch time so I understand why the service took a while to get food. We dined in and all the tables were nasty and sticky so we wiped it down first. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Slider and Dave's #3 1 Tender & 1 Slider w/ Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

Good food...good music...classics...service is chill the menu was easy to navigate thru...and they have outside seating! Thug life....maybach music! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

This place was pretty great. I got the two sliders with fries and a Dr Pepper and it was tasty. I got hot as my spice level because I'm really good with spice and this was really good. Wasn't as spicy as I thought it'd be but had a decent kick and amazing flavor. Chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and the Dave's sauce tasted great on it. Fries were honestly mid, nothing too special but they tasted great with the sauce. Restaurant was pretty clean too and the service was good. Overall, this place was worth it! read more

The food is good here at Dave's Hot Chicken. I will never be coming back to this location. It takes way to long for the good to be ready. At least half an hour. You can come here full and you'll be hungry again by the time you get your food. Ambiance is bad too. People just standing waiting for their food inside. Just packed. The food is not worth the wait. It's good don't get me wrong, the experience is just terrible though. read more

This location never misses. It's usually pretty crowded but that doesn't affect the quality of the food Ive eaten here, always great portions for your money and super crunchy yassss. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken has been on my list for a min so glad I finally tried it. I don't eat meat so thought it was cool they had a cauliflower option. The crispiness and flavor were there but I got mild and should've gone for medium so the extra spice would've made it better. The sandwich size was pretty small for the price so I recommend getting their 2 sliders deal if you're super hungry or getting tenders on the side. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

I used to get 5 star plates from this place but from what i understand private equity is involved. Portions are getting smaller, prices going up, but the chicken itself is still delicious and solid every time. read more

We order fries with cheese and there was barely any cheese on the fries. Same with the sandwiches no cheese. PB location is much better! read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on a weekday evening. It was busy, but the staff was working hard and quick. We also placed our order online while on this way to the location, and it was ready about 5 minutes after we arrived. The family prefers this restaurant when it comes to chicken tender spots. The ability to choose a spice level really gives the chicken that kick of flavor. Light mild is really not spicy at all, but adds flavor. I definitely recommend adding honey to the Dave's Sauce. It is *chefs kiss* the sliders are a hefty size that can satisfy a big appetite. And the fries are well seasoned and crispy. The new Dave's Bites make a good choice for kids too. The downside with this location, parking can be a tight as it's a private lot but shared with multiple businesses. Also, space is very limited with only a couple tables/small counter inside, and a few tables outside. read more

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I had a couple of very good chicken sliders from this Dave's location. Funny story, I order two tenders a la carte, but they gave me two sliders instead. I didn't want the buns, just the tender. At at any rate, I at the sliders potato buns and all. The sliders were tasty indeed. I asked for then mildest they had but they were spicier than expected. Maybe they gave me the wrong order? I liked that the sliders come with pickles and slaw, which go well with the crunchy fried chicken. The chicken was well breaded fried and remained tender on the inside. I really liked that they toast the buns, too. That makes a huge difference with a good fried chicken sandwich. The service was friendly enough. This location offers limited seating inside but more on the side outside patio. read more

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Tried Dave's hot chicken for the first time and I will say In my own personal opinion. I prefer the chicken from here than anywheres else, only because I love the spiciness and flavor the chicken has and with the honey.... SO GOOD. They are sweet people too they knew it was first time and they helped out. Love it and the customer service read more

My boy Angel who served us gave me and my friends free shakes so shoutout to the G Showed lots of hospitality read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Dave's #4: 1 Slider with Fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California

Oh wow! Oh wow! Ohhh wow! Blew my mind how amazing Dave's chicken was! I had it Uber Eats it (from Mission Valley to Little Italy) and the food was still fresh, hot, crunchy and juicy. This is just a norm of a "good" rating, I know. But Dave's chicken has the prefect seasonings, juicy and big piece of chicken breast (for a tender) with stacked pickles. Crinkle fries on the side is also seasoned to perfection and nothing could go wrong but perfection! For the sliders, they are no shy with the chicken (like XL ckn breast tender!) with the softest moist buns that made the whole bite so enjoyable. Dave is most definitely WAY better than Cane's (which to me was just ordinary) and next best chicken than Popeyes. I really feel Dave's should have more investors to open up more locations! read more

Amazing food! Workers were nice and the restaurant itself is just so cool with all the decorations that literally blew my mind.

I don't eat fried food but the chicken was very good and it doesn't even taste to fried tbh, was good

I stopped by Dave's Hot Chicken to pick up a takeout order and got the Dave's #2 for this particular visit. Everything about the food, the location, and even the friendliness of the staff was perfectly fine, this review isn't about that. My issue came after I retuned back to my hotel room and accidentally dropped one of my sandwiches on the ground. Obviously, that was on me, so I made the drive back to have it remade. When I explained what happened to the front-of-house employee, I even showed them the completely intact sandwich, still warm, with no bites taken out. Despite that, I was told they could only remake it if I had my receipt. While I understand the need for proof of purchase, I thought the sandwich itself was reasonable evidence, but she insisted. So, I went back to my car to see if I still had the receipt. After about ten minutes of searching, I couldn't find it, so I went back inside and asked if I could pull up my bank app to show the transaction. That's when she told me she didn't recognize taking my order and would have to check with a manager to see if they could pull up my order in their system. At that point, the whole interaction just frustrated me so I just left, knowing that I can sometimes have a temper. I wasn't asking them to remake the sandwich with no proof whatsoever, and I even offered to throw out the original one in front of them. I get that restaurants need to follow policies to prevent being taken advantage of, but there's also room for judgment in customer service. I have carpal tunnel, which causes hand tremors, and sometimes I just drop things. I didn't feel the need to explain my medical condition, nor do I think I should have to, for them to show a little understanding. Having worked in the restaurant industry myself, I know the customer isn't always right, but part of conflict resolution is knowing when to be flexible. If a customer comes back with an untouched sandwich and an honest explanation, I'd simply remake it and have them discard the old one, especially since employees can't take it back due to food safety regulations. It's a small gesture that would've gone a long way, and it wouldn't have cost the restaurant much to make it right. Instead, the lack of flexibility and understanding made the whole experience frustrating enough to lose my appetite for Dave's altogether. That said, the Dave's #2 meal comes with two sliders and a side, so it wasn't like I was left without food. But it was the principle of the situation that left me pretty disappointed more than anything else. I'm not going to be petty and give a low rating because my dropped sandwich wasn't their fault, and my order was prepared correctly from the start. However, the way the situation was handled is why I'm leaving a neutral three stars, out of fairness since they technically did nothing wrong in fulfilling my order, but their lack of flexibility was disappointing. I did end up finding the receipt back in my hotel room after digging it out of the trash bin, so I plan to contact customer service at their corporate office to see if they can make it right for me at a different location. I don't want to make this a bigger deal as it is, and have to drive back to the restaurant over one sandwich, but that said, I'll personally be avoiding this particular location. Not out of a grudge, but simply because I'd rather not let my frustration with this experience affect how I view the staff and restaurant as a whole. read more

Cloe is very sweet and listened to my concerns, will be returning, thanks everyone for accommodating and good customer service.

Emiliano was very helpful and attentive! Great vibes and service! And of course, the chicken is delicious as always.

About 1 week ago my roommate got me Dave hot chicken sandwich n French fries it was goooood. So 2day I went to the location in Mission Valley n order 2 chickens n fries for $ 16 plus $$$ N its suck both Sandwich had hardly any coleslaw just some pickled n almost no sauces. I waited 25 minutes for my order hoping to have a gr8 sandwich very disappointed. read more

Dave's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - San Diego, California