Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu Prices 2026
Dave’s Hot Chicken menu prices start at $0.49 for a side sauce and go up to $85 for the Cauli Slider Hot Box. Most single meals cost between $10 and $18. This guide covers every item on the menu, plus a few pricing gaps worth knowing before you order.
A single meal, like Dave’s #1 with two tenders and fries, runs $10.49 to $14.49 depending on the combo. Boxes built to feed a group start at $12 for a box of fries and go up to $85 for the largest Cauli option. Sliders and tenders sold on their own cost $4.99 to $8.99. Shakes and slushers run $3.69 to $10.49.
Dave’s Hot Chicken started as a $900 parking lot pop-up in 2017. It’s now worth around $1 billion. The full story is below.
Feed a Crowd
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cauli Slider Hot Box | $85 |
| Hot Box, Sliders | $65 |
| Hot Box Roulette, Sliders | $65 |
| Hot Box of Minis | $40.00 |
| Hot Box, Tenders | $45 |
| Hot Box Roulette, Tenders | $45 |
| Cauli Bites Hot Box | $30 |
| Box of Fries | $12 |
Hot Box Roulette costs the same as the regular Hot Box. The only difference is a random mix of spice levels instead of picking your own, so it’s a fun option at no extra cost.
Meals
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Dave’s #1, 2 Tenders with Fries | $12.49 |
| Dave’s #2, 2 Sliders with Fries | $14.49 |
| Dave’s #3, 1 Tender & 1 Slider with Fries | $13.49 |
| Dave’s #4, 1 Slider with Fries | $10.49 |
Dave’s NOT Chicken (Cauliflower)
| Item | Price | Chicken Equivalent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cauli Dave’s #1, 2 Cauli Tenders with Fries | $16.49 | $12.49 | +$4.00 |
| Cauli Dave’s #2, 2 Cauli Sliders with Fries | $18.49 | $14.49 | +$4.00 |
| Cauli Dave’s #3, 1 Cauli Tender & 1 Cauli Slider with Fries | $17.49 | $13.49 | +$4.00 |
| Cauli Dave’s #4, 1 Cauli Slider with Fries | $12.49 | $10.49 | +$2.00 |
| Single Cauli Tender | $6.99 | $4.99 | +$2.00 |
| Single Cauli Slider | $8.99 | $6.99 | +$2.00 |
| 10 pc. Cauliflower Tender Bites | $6.99 | $7.99 | -$1.00 |
| 10 pc. Cauliflower Tender Bites with Fries | $9.99 | $10.49 | -$0.50 |
The cauliflower premium isn’t consistent, worth knowing before you order. Full meals and single pieces cost $2 to $4 more than their chicken counterparts.
But the 10 piece Cauliflower Tender Bites actually cost less than the chicken version of the same item. There’s no single rule for whether Cauli costs more or less, so check both prices if the cost difference matters to you.
Dave’s Bites and Top Loaded Fries
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Large Top Loaded Fries (chicken or Cauliflower) | $15.99 |
| Regular Top Loaded Fries (chicken or Cauliflower) | $10.99 |
| 10 pc. Dave’s Bites with Fries | $10.49 |
| Small Top Loaded Fries (chicken or Cauliflower) | $6.99 |
| 10pc. Dave’s Bites | $7.99 |
Top Loaded Fries cost the same whether you choose the chicken or Cauliflower version, unlike the rest of the Cauli lineup.
Spice Levels
Every tender, slider, and Cauli item comes in seven heat levels, at no extra charge.
| Level | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| No Spice | Pure chicken flavor, no heat |
| Lite Mild | A light touch of seasoning |
| Mild | Noticeable flavor, mild heat |
| Medium | The most popular order |
| Hot | Real heat, for regular spice eaters |
| Extra Hot | Strong, lingering burn |
| Reaper | Made with Carolina Reaper pepper, roughly 1.4 to 2.2 million Scoville. Requires a signed waiver. |
Medium is the standard starting point for most first-time customers. The Reaper is a genuine outlier on the list, not just a spicier version of Extra Hot.
Boneless Wings
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Boneless Wings with Fries | $11.99 |
| Boneless Wings | $8.99 |
Side sauces (Ranch, Hot Hot Honey, Spicy BBQ, Hot Honey Teriyaki, Buffalo) are $0.50 each.
Mini Sliders
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Hot Box of Minis | $40.00 |
| Dave’s Mini Sliders with Fries | $10.49 |
| Dave’s Mini Sliders | $7.49 |
Sides
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Cheese Fries | $5.29 |
| Mac & Cheese | $3.99 |
| Fries | $3.79 |
| Kale Slaw | $3.79 |
| Large Side of Ranch | $2.99 |
| Large Dave’s Sauce | $2.99 |
| Single Slider | $6.99 |
| Single Tender | $4.99 |
| Cup of Pickles | $1.99 |
| Side of Dave’s Sauce | $0.50 |
| Side of Cheese Sauce | $0.49 |
The Side of Cheese Sauce is priced one cent below every other small sauce on the menu, which sits at a flat $0.50. That single cent doesn’t matter much at checkout, but it’s likely a rounding slip rather than an intentional price point.
Top-Loaded Shakes
| Item | Small | Regular | Large |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oreo Top Loaded Shake | $6.99 | $6.99 | $10.49 |
| M&M Top Loaded Shake | $6.99 | $6.99 | $10.49 |
| Lucky Charms Top-Loaded Shake | $5.99* | $6.99 | $10.49 |
*Small Lucky Charms is priced a dollar below the Small Oreo and Small M&M shakes, even though the Regular and Large sizes all match across flavors. This looks like a pricing gap rather than an intentional discount. Confirm the Small price in store before assuming it’s a dollar cheaper.
Slushers
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Rocket Creme Slusher | $5.69 |
| Orange Creme Slusher | $5.69 |
| Strawberries and Creme Slusher | $5.69 |
| Frozen Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade | $3.69 |
| Frozen Hi-C Orange LavaBurst | $3.69 |
| Frozen Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch | $3.69 |
| Frozen Powerade Mountain Berry Blast | $3.69 |
Drinks
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Large Soft Drink | $2.99 |
| Regular Soft Drink | $2.49 |
| Small Soft Drink | $2.19 |
| Bottled Water | $2.29 |
| 20 oz. Coke, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Sprite, Dr Pepper, or Dr Pepper Zero | $2.99 |
A 20 oz bottled soda costs the same as a fountain Large. Fountain cups typically hold more than 20 oz, so the fountain Large is usually the better value if you’re choosing on volume alone.
The Real Dave’s Hot Chicken Story
Dave’s Hot Chicken started in 2017 with $900 and a portable fryer in an East Hollywood parking lot. Four childhood friends built it: Dave Kopushyan, trained under Thomas Keller, plus Arman Oganesyan and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan. Instagram buzz and a food blog feature drew lines around the block.
Celebrity investors Drake and Samuel L. Jackson followed. The chain grew to hundreds of locations. Roark Capital, owner of Dunkin’ and Arby’s, acquired it in 2025 for $1 billion. Founders kept a stake.
How to Save Money at Dave’s Hot Chicken menu
- Order a Meal combo instead of buying a tender or slider separately with fries added on. The combo pricing is built in.
- Split a Hot Box if you’re feeding three or more people. The per-person cost drops compared to individual meals.
- Stick to chicken over Cauliflower for the full meals and single pieces, where Cauli runs $2 to $4 more. The Cauliflower Bites are the one place where the plant-based option actually costs less.
- Check the app before ordering. Dave’s runs point bonuses and limited-time offers through its rewards program.
- Choose a fountain Large soft drink over a 20 oz bottle for more volume at the same price.
Why Prices Vary by Location
Dave’s Hot Chicken is a franchise-run chain. Local owners set final pricing within brand guidelines, so the same meal can cost more or less depending on where you are. This is standard across the fast casual and menu price guide space, not unique to Dave’s.
Opening Hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Sunday | 10:30 AM to 12 AM |
Hours can vary by location. Confirm with your local restaurant before a late visit.
Most locations offer dine-in, drive-through, takeout, and delivery. Some locations also serve beer, which is unusual for a fast casual chicken chain. Availability depends on the specific restaurant.
FAQs
How much is a meal at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Meal combos run $10.49 to $14.49, depending on whether you choose tenders, sliders, or a mix of both.
Is the Cauliflower option cheaper than chicken at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Not usually. Cauli meals and single pieces cost $2 to $4 more than their chicken counterparts. The one exception is the 10 piece Cauliflower Tender Bites, which cost less than the chicken version.
Who started Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Four childhood friends, Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan, started it in 2017 with $900 in an East Hollywood parking lot.
How much do Dave’s Hot Chicken shakes cost?
Top-Loaded Shakes run $5.99 to $6.99 for Small or Regular and $10.49 for Large, depending on the flavor.
Does Dave’s Hot Chicken have a spicy option?
Yes, seven of them. Levels run from No Spice to Reaper, the top level made with Carolina Reaper pepper and requiring a signed waiver. See the Spice Levels section above for the full breakdown.
Who owns Dave’s Hot Chicken now?
Roark Capital, the company behind Dunkin’ and Arby’s, acquired Dave’s Hot Chicken in 2025 for around $1 billion. The four founders kept a stake in the brand.
Conclusion
Dave’s Hot Chicken prices for 2026 run from a $0.49 sauce to an $85 party box, with most single meals landing between $10 and $18. A few numbers are worth double-checking before you order, especially the Small Lucky Charms shake and the inconsistent Cauliflower pricing. Since Dave’s runs on a franchise model, always confirm exact pricing with your local restaurant or the app.
Official Dave’s Hot Chicken Sources
- Website: daveshotchicken.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/ToLiveandFryInLA
- Instagram: instagram.com/daveshotchicken
