In a decade, your video on them will say something like "And the number one reason for Dave's Hot Chicken's bankruptcy was too much growth, too fast. Most of that growth was leveraged with debt. The company's liabilities exploded while at the same time they encountered the Great Recession of 2031 and 2032. Sales stagnated and it spelled their eventual end."
@@duuet5614facts. I think its delicious but the price point is borderline ridiculous. In the burger world, you could compare it to 5 guys but the freaking overfilled bag of fries and quality of the burger makes up for it (im fat 😂) .
The simplicity of their menu greatly alleviates a lot of the woes of fast growth. Much easier to keep workers happy and trained when they don't have to learn a new gimmick item every month and a simplified supply chain.
He literally made the point on the video that the franchising conditions seem to be relatively stable because they have strict requirements for franchisees. This isn't a case of Quiznos where they just get anyone to open up a location.
@@CyrusChennault the closest Dave's and KFC to me are literally across street to each other and Dave's cost double, is it something related to regional pricing? I'm in north FL
When one came to my town, the hype and line was insane. I went there once not because it was necessarily bad, but it was overpriced as all get-out. It seems that I wasn't the only one because the place is mostly empty when I pass by while other drive-thru lines are wrapped around the building.
@@netoisthebest I don't know where you live or how often you eat fast food, but $18/person is, based on where I live, kind of on the high side but not insanely out of line these days. Besides, I wouldn't compare Dave's to KFC or Popeye's any more than I would equate McDonald's to Five Guys or Baja Fresh or Rubio's to Taco Bell. There's fast food, and then there's fast food.
The 3 I’ve seen in my city are mostly empty. Chick fil a has a better spicy chicken than this place. Not saying their chicken isn’t good, but not great for the price. Everyone talked about it because of the long lines and TikTok videos, but once that was done, just your typical lonely restaurant
Our Blaze Pizza store closed down and very quickly, Dave’s Chicken took its place. Funny, I followed this channel for awhile now, and I wasn’t aware of their presence nation wide.
@@NeeNee_B. I don't think we have a Blaze nearby. Do you know how (in your opinion) they compare to MOD? We've got a MOD in town and I think they're pretty good.
I only tried Blaze's once and I actually thought they were pretty good but the location did not last long either.. this was back in 2019 maybe?? Ironically that location was replaced by a Dave's in 2024 LOL.
@@josecastro2332our local blaze just closed about 6 months ago, and it was open for almost 10 years i’d say. It is now a cava, another chain that is growing fast
2000's we had the Smoothie Wars, 2010's we had the Froyo Wars and now most of those companies have failed. Now we have the 2020's chicken wars, I see a similar fate for a lot of these hot chicken places. I've been to Dave's Chicken, Angry Chicks, and some other place that I already forgot the name, the food is pretty similar and nothing really special. Ultimately only a few players will survive.
We have a Dave's here in San Antonio, and before this video I never realized how popular it was. I thought it was just some random chicken place. I've never been. But I guess I'll have to try it someday😁.
That was exactly my thought. The one in my home town looks so lowkey I just assumed in was a local restaurant, I wouldn't have assumed it was a fast growing chain.
I Have 2 Nearby Me In Houston & Im Almost Certain They Won’t Be Around For Long The Chicken Is Decent But There Is A Oversaturation Of Chicken Spots Right Now. The 2 By Me Arent Even Busy & Before Watching This I Thought They Were A Older Local Texas Chain Tbh Lol.
I work at a place that makes their seasoning, people love taking some home. We also just had one open up near us lol. We make about 5 different seasonings for them.
Had one open up couple of miles from my place. Appreciate that they have so many heat levels, Mild spice and Medium spice are great starting out points. Then their actual hot chicken is face smashingly hot.
Their reaper spice level will kick your ass even if you have a high tolerance, but the worst part is the stomach aches and cramps that come in the following hours
@Demagora The second hottest level is my favorite and FAR less spicy than Reaper. I have to warn you with Reaper you will genuinely suffer, thus why they make you sign a literal waiver.
It's... just okay. I've got a place near me with "Blue" heat level that's easily 50% hotter. Dave's didn't even have me reaching for the milk! Reaper level was pleasant, but not overwhelming.
Same here in York, however I tried it and I'm not impressed and all I eat is chicken. It's like they were trying to compete with Chick-fil-A, Failed, and instead decided to do a hot sauce challenge and lost their way.
I've seen a few Hot Chicken joints popping up in Atlanta, Ga recently and Dave's Hot Chicken open up in Conyers, Ga thanks to Usher supporting the franchise.
Idk if chicken tenders and sliders will be deemed a fad or not. All I know is that ever since one has opened in my city, I’ve always want to go there when I crave chicken sliders.
I live in Burbank very close to the first location, and I remember in high school when they first opened that first location after going to their original stand, then there was a second location. Maybe a year later a third and then it became a global icon, I am so proud of them for becoming what they have. I totally remember waiting for an hour at the original location. It was like waiting for a supreme drop. I know I live in la and a lot of cool famous stuff comes out of here, but as a young guy it was actually cool to personally see that growth, still one of my favorite places to eat and they have great quality control across all their locations. I highly recommend anyone to try it!
09:05 funny thing is I actually went to those San Jose locations when I was going to college there. That was my first experience with Dave's hot chicken. Although I ordered mild to non spicy stuff.
Kwik Star has opened 7 new locations in the last month alone, including a giant new truck stop, and has no intention of slowing down in 2025. They definitely deserve a spot on "Expanding Near You."
My city got a Dave's back in early 2023, being the second one to open in my region. I've only eaten there twice, with both experiences being opposites of each other in some aspects, while consistent in others. The biggest consistency is that their food is actually pretty good. Little pricy, but worth it.
They opened a Dave's not far from me maybe a year or two ago and I really like going there whenever I venture out in the area. I usually go with Mild chicken, which honestly is still fairly spicy, and I've never wanted to venture into anything stronger :)
First time I ever had chicken from Dave's it was a the reaper chicken. I have a hard time finding places that make food spicy enough for me, so when I saw you had to sign a waiver for that chicken, I had to get it. And yes, it was more than spicy enough and absolutely I see why they make people sign a waiver.
I didn't like it, not because it was too hot, it just lacked flavor. Not sure where to find these mythical waivers to buy Reaper, they've never said I needed one...
There's a Dave's hot chicken about 20 mins away from me. I'm definitely going to try them today. I love seeing those kind of stories from a parking lot to a franchise.
I travel across the US and few months ago. When I visited Oklahoma City, I came across a Dave's hot chicken restaurant. It was neat bricktown by the cinema. I was sure it was a local restaurant, because it felt this way, it was packed and local themed, it was one of the best fast food places i have eaten at. Great video man!
I live in Louisville, KY, and have never even heard of Dave's Hot Chicken. The closest one is 11 miles away, across the Ohio River in Indiana. Maybe I'll have to cross the bridge this weekend to check it out.
From what's presented here, it really sounds like they have their act together. Strong vetting process for the franchisees, clear vision of what their company is, and leadership dedicated to their success. Always good to see examples of how a company should be run.
@@wanfu5634 That tells me that they want people who think that they will make passive income. That doesn’t seem like a good idea. Plus watch the video. They believe that vibes are a reason to give a franchise
I’ve been seeing ads for them for the past couple of years and have been meaning to try them. They aren’t really near me, but Asad’s Hot Chicken has been expanding near me and they are really good!!
The market is over-saturated with spicy-focused foods. It has been for a while. There is a spicy food crash coming, and it's wild that so many companies are still over-investing in spicy food development.
There is a location that is a few towns over from me that I went to when I was out that way, after hearing from peers that the food was good, and I've learned to trust their judgement on food before. It had only opened earlier that week so was really busy, but the simplicity and streamlining did make it relatively painless. The only real issue I had was the cleaning, as the floor (especially around the drink machine, for obvious reason) was sticky and the tables had some trash on them still. I would also gripe about them not seeming to trust their customers, by making you ask for sauce that is kept behind the counter, and needing to get a code to use the bathroom, but regrettably those are normal in that area, I guess because of crime and whatever else.
As a Nashvillian, I never trusted Dave's because they don't have locations here. Stop selling our chicken if you are afraid to compete against the real deal.
I've been wanting to try this place. There's one about an hour away from me. I never realized how humble the beginnings of this chain were. It's really impressive how much they've done in less than a decade.
In Los Angeles, Howlin Rays was the first to popularize Nashville hot chicken in the area. There's also Bangin Buns that also started in a parking lot in North Hollywood.
One just opened and it caused so much traffic they had to close a road. I think the chicken is good but it’s definitely not worth the hype. I like Chick-fil-A and Cane’s chicken more.
I use to see their parking lot set up during my late night outings. I gave them a try once I saw they opened up their dine-in spot which was across the street from the parking lot. Medium is my go-to. Another reason for their success was during the popeyes chicken sandwich craze. There's no popeyes nearby but Dave's is and the lines would be out the door. During their time with the one shop, ppl were already lined up before opening time and could take 30+ minutes to place an order. As Dave's has grown, their fry portions became smaller. They used to pack the tray full of fries but now serve in a small tray similar to in-n-out fries yet kept the price the same. I reduced my visits afterwards.
We had one open up at the edge of town recently. Hadn't heard of it prior, but I knew it had good reviews so I tried it out. Nice flavor in their seasoning and real generous portion sizes for the price of admission.
I tried them for the first time about a month ago! It wasn't good, unfortunately. The mac and cheese was bland and worse than box brand. The dry rub on the chicken tender was salty, and the fries were generic, frozen fries with no taste. The Dave's sauce was okay, but it was basically just mayo, mustard, and ketchup mixed together. The coleslaw was disgusting, and I love coleslaw! How do you mess up cabbage and mayo?? It was a disappointing experience, and I ended up throwing most of it away. The only reason I was even excited to try them is because I mistook them for "Big Dave's Cheesesteaks," which I in turn only heard of because the founder married the founder of Slutty Vegan, and I thought that was interesting lol
A year ago, I was living in York, PA, and they opened a Dave's Hot Chicken just before I moved away. I didn't know what it was at the time, so I didn't try it. Now I wish I would've given it a shot.
They have a great pricepoint too. In an era where other popular fast casual chains are having to raise prices they come in at a very competitive price to get full on, I like the medium heat. Lots of flavor but you won’t induce a medical emergency
Here’s my Dave’s Hot Chicken order: Dave’s #2 Hot (2 sliders and fries), add cheese to the sliders, and extra pickles. Also, ask for honey and put that on the slider… TOO GOOD!
I got into Nashville Hot Chicken at Hattie B.'s in Nashville (one of the originals, if not THE original) many years ago. The reason I loved it was because the chicken was so good, moist, and hearty, not just because of the "hot". Any other "Nashville Hot Chicken" I have eaten since then has missed that crucial point. I'll have to check these guys out, but I live in the ghetto in Vegas, so I'll need to drive a bit to get to one. Thanks for the heads up!
I went to Hollywood over five years ago and I was shown Dave's. Thought it was really good. I'm happy but not surprised that it's expanded to the East Coast now where I live
There is a Dave's that opened about 2 miles from my house about 2 years ago. I went into once a few months ago. Looked around and didn't know what to get and left to get a sandwich at Jersey Mike's. Will probably give it another try after this video to see how the food is.
I lived down the street from the parking lot they started at in 2017. There was always a huge line, so I’d order food then head to Harvard & Stone for a drink while I waited. I’m a fan and I was stoked when they opened their first restaurant on Western. I’ve had the chicken since at one of their franchise locations and was surprised it was still solid. It’s been cool to see their growth, and I can’t believe they’re going to be in the UK soon. Kudos to Dave’s 👏
Dave was my roommate, and they came up with these recipes while we were all living together in Hollywood. It's always great to see them thriving! respect to my DHC brothers!
Happy new year everyone!🥂🎍🐍🥳 Having a new Company Man video on the first of January isn't something that happens every day I think it's the first time I've heard about this chain of fried chicken, but I doubt they will expand to my country, yet. Friend chicken isn't very common in the country where I live, KFC didn't arrive here until just less than 10 years ago, but it actually got kind of popular, and there's been a couple of local fried chicken restaurants that have popped up since KFC entered, obviously trying to capture some of its success
Absolutely love Dave’s, the spiciest options are actually spicy even for me. Hope they continue the quality through expansion and shit even add more heat options for the fun of it.
One of the big things about dave's hot chicken that's important to mention is that they are mostly halal, which is rare in America, so if you are a zabiha Muslim you always got Daves as a good option to eat out.
Around me there's a copy cat restaurant expanding in the philly, reading, pottstown area. It's called Asad's Hot chicken. They are opening locations so quickly. The food is so good.
I go to college in FoCo and a Daves Hot Chicken opened up in 2023, I've been there and I found it amazing. I have came back to it time and time again, but i have only gotten up to the 'Hot' level, as I'm probably a bit too CHICKEN, to go higher.
The cauliflower sandwiches are AMAZING! as someone who gave up meat because it starting making me feel sick afterwards I am grateful for a spot that has figure out a good cauliflower sandwich.
I am form outside the US, tried DHC in South Bend and the food is good, okay price, fast and clean. What caught my attention was the amount of "in town" references all over the restaurant, it felt like being inside of a tourist guide but more in deep.
Hey! The Greenville SC location made the video! Opened a few months ago and we go about once a month when we’re in the area. I’m a big fan of Dave’s. They’re the only place I’ve gone to that actually does crinkle cut fries right and their sliders are awesome. It’s a bit pricey but the quality is there. I typically get the medium heat. The heat level isn’t exactly where I’d prefer it as I’d like it just a tad spicier but the hot one is just a bit too hot for my liking so medium works best.
A Dave's Hot Chicken opened up in Sait Paul recently and kicked out the former Dairy Queen, and that building has never been more popular. Daves is pretty great and deserves it in my opinion.
Hell yea! One of them opened up down in Fort Collins I went there and I thought it was a local Colorado chain for some reason. I had no idea there was this many locations they are amazing. Hopefully they start opening up in small towns as well!
Used to go to the one in Portland Oregon and now that I live in Syracuse New York there's a Dave's Hot Chicken here so I'll probably try it out someday just to see any improvements from 3 years ago
I’ve tried the Reaper once. While not the hottest thing I’ve eaten-that flower goes to a Thai salad I asked for full spice on, which proceeded to take a tour through my body with a megaphone set to 11 which I was acutely aware of every inch of from the moment it went in to the moment it came out-it is still pain on a sandwich, and I will likely just eat medium to hot going forward depending on how I feel. But it’s a solid product and I hope the rapid expansion isn’t prelude to a dramatic fall.
I’m in the Bay Area and there is a Dave’s hot chicken right next to the movie theater I usually go to. So over the years, I had dinner there many times after watching a movie. Food is good. I always thought it was just a niche restaurant chain with several restaurants on the California coast but I’m surprised to see it quickly grew to an international chain over the years.
I know a Dave’s opened next to a theater here in the Bay Area too and it’s rather bland if you go regular. Same with Raising Canes that opened up nearby Cal State Hayward. Bland and greasy. My personal thoughts, that is.
I used to live around the corner from that original East Hollywood tent location and I remember when they set up there! I never went there though but word spread quick when it was there!
Wish I would have seen this video sooner. I looked up near by locations to me and it turned out that I was only a couple of minutes away from one yesterday. Next time I'm in that area I'm going to give it a try.
Here in LA I used to drive past one but never bothered to go inside. Always figured it was just some random chicken spot. Can’t remember seeing it busy either so who knows if it’s good. I’ll have to try it out.
Happy New Year! Suggestions for future videos: Zaxby's Restaurants. Zaxby's vs. Raising Cane's. Marshall's vs. Ross Dress for Less. God Bless Be with and Keep You.
Happy New Year everyone! Looking forward to 2025.
He company man
Do a video on Slim Chickens please!!!
Happy new year
I’m not
Bro please make a siers were you tell us the history and future of famous companies from different countries
In a decade, your video on them will say something like "And the number one reason for Dave's Hot Chicken's bankruptcy was too much growth, too fast. Most of that growth was leveraged with debt. The company's liabilities exploded while at the same time they encountered the Great Recession of 2031 and 2032. Sales stagnated and it spelled their eventual end."
This! Everything he mentioned as a positive should be seen as a red flag
Yep 😅
@@blackamerican40 Lisan-al-gaib?
Yeah, unless their deals game is on point, I don’t think they’re gonna make it
@@duuet5614facts. I think its delicious but the price point is borderline ridiculous. In the burger world, you could compare it to 5 guys but the freaking overfilled bag of fries and quality of the burger makes up for it (im fat 😂) .
First "expanding near you" that legit opened down the street from me recently. Pretty good tbh
Same
Same haha
It's super good, especially for the money.... My intestines re-work after eating Dave's though.
Their consistency every time I get them is always spot on💯💯
Hoping it comes to florida soon
Not going to lie, their future growth sounds like the reason why so many restaurants fail. Growing too fast, too quick.
I hope they fail they're armo owned
Everything he listed as an advantage is going to be why they fail
The simplicity of their menu greatly alleviates a lot of the woes of fast growth. Much easier to keep workers happy and trained when they don't have to learn a new gimmick item every month and a simplified supply chain.
He literally made the point on the video that the franchising conditions seem to be relatively stable because they have strict requirements for franchisees. This isn't a case of Quiznos where they just get anyone to open up a location.
@@jeffslote9671 Has In and Out failed?
Looking forward to watching the "Rise and Fall of Dave's Hot Chicken" video in a few years.
I hope not. I actually like their food
The one here I notice quality fell just A LIL bit...Hope it doesn't get too big.
Yup, another chain expanding too fast..
I expect not to enjoy it just based on experiences with places like Cane's that are just extreme hype
Pretty obvious when they expand that fast. Just matter of time before they downsize after over expanding.
We’ve had one open by my work a few months before I started there and my coworkers recommended it to me. I love it haha
Absolutely. KFC cuts costs and raises prices, Daves blows them out the water for the same price.
@@CyrusChennault the closest Dave's and KFC to me are literally across street to each other and Dave's cost double, is it something related to regional pricing? I'm in north FL
@@veezhang6988 My nearest Daves Hot Chicken is a whole hour away😔
@@veezhang6988 Dave's costs a lot more, but it feels more worth it due to the higher-quality ingredients.
@@restless5996 agreed, I'm just a little bit wondering about the "same price" part. KFC is definitely more budget friendly
Ironically an old KFC that was closed two years ago became one of these in my city
Upgrade tbh
A lot of dave hot chicken are replacing the old reastrunt
Found a Dave's hot chicken was originally was a Arby's
Ours was a former Long John Silvers
@@jonsaircond8520 Dude they got the best seafood, that's so unfortunate
@@jonsaircond8520thank god, im suprised long john silvers is still around
When one came to my town, the hype and line was insane. I went there once not because it was necessarily bad, but it was overpriced as all get-out. It seems that I wasn't the only one because the place is mostly empty when I pass by while other drive-thru lines are wrapped around the building.
Sounds like bad judgment by the franchisee. The ones in my area are reasonably priced compared to similar restaurants.
For real, my family and I only went once because of that. The food was decent, but almost $90 for 5 people is crazy for fast food
@@netoisthebest I don't know where you live or how often you eat fast food, but $18/person is, based on where I live, kind of on the high side but not insanely out of line these days. Besides, I wouldn't compare Dave's to KFC or Popeye's any more than I would equate McDonald's to Five Guys or Baja Fresh or Rubio's to Taco Bell. There's fast food, and then there's fast food.
The 3 I’ve seen in my city are mostly empty. Chick fil a has a better spicy chicken than this place. Not saying their chicken isn’t good, but not great for the price. Everyone talked about it because of the long lines and TikTok videos, but once that was done, just your typical lonely restaurant
Our Blaze Pizza store closed down and very quickly, Dave’s Chicken took its place. Funny, I followed this channel for awhile now, and I wasn’t aware of their presence nation wide.
I love the Blaze pizza near us, I would hate if they closed. They're the best franchise pizza, after Artichoke Basille's
@@NeeNee_B. I don't think we have a Blaze nearby. Do you know how (in your opinion) they compare to MOD? We've got a MOD in town and I think they're pretty good.
I only tried Blaze's once and I actually thought they were pretty good but the location did not last long either.. this was back in 2019 maybe?? Ironically that location was replaced by a Dave's in 2024 LOL.
@@josecastro2332our local blaze just closed about 6 months ago, and it was open for almost 10 years i’d say. It is now a cava, another chain that is growing fast
Exactly what happened near where I live in New York.
2000's we had the Smoothie Wars, 2010's we had the Froyo Wars and now most of those companies have failed. Now we have the 2020's chicken wars, I see a similar fate for a lot of these hot chicken places. I've been to Dave's Chicken, Angry Chicks, and some other place that I already forgot the name, the food is pretty similar and nothing really special. Ultimately only a few players will survive.
Raising Canes?
Next up is Boba Wars lol
Get rich quick then bounce. The American way. On to the next project.
We have a Dave's here in San Antonio, and before this video I never realized how popular it was. I thought it was just some random chicken place. I've never been. But I guess I'll have to try it someday😁.
It’s amazing my favorite chicken place and it’s not particularly close to anything else
That was exactly my thought. The one in my home town looks so lowkey I just assumed in was a local restaurant, I wouldn't have assumed it was a fast growing chain.
151 or 35?
Omg I loved to San Antonio just for Dave’s hot chicken lol
I Have 2 Nearby Me In Houston & Im Almost Certain They Won’t Be Around For Long The Chicken Is Decent But There Is A Oversaturation Of Chicken Spots Right Now. The 2 By Me Arent Even Busy & Before Watching This I Thought They Were A Older Local Texas Chain Tbh Lol.
I work at a place that makes their seasoning, people love taking some home. We also just had one open up near us lol. We make about 5 different seasonings for them.
sell us some lol
@Trinity_RS I really should, it's made in 5 pound bags and stays good for awhile lol
I'm curious why they don't make it themselves?
Coming to a grocery store near you? 😂
@@uvwxyzero the wait time for their chicken is long enough lol
Had one open up couple of miles from my place. Appreciate that they have so many heat levels, Mild spice and Medium spice are great starting out points. Then their actual hot chicken is face smashingly hot.
Their reaper spice level will kick your ass even if you have a high tolerance, but the worst part is the stomach aches and cramps that come in the following hours
When I went I got the second highest one and it was ok, now I'll have to get the hottest for sure
@Demagora The second hottest level is my favorite and FAR less spicy than Reaper. I have to warn you with Reaper you will genuinely suffer, thus why they make you sign a literal waiver.
@@aaronicicle1867 Yeah if i were to rate it out of ten the 2nd spiciest (extra hot) would probably be a 6 and the reaper a 10 or 12 depends.
Reaper is terrible. If it had any flavor, other than Coronal Mass Ejection, it wouldn't be bad, but you can't even taste the chicken.
It's... just okay. I've got a place near me with "Blue" heat level that's easily 50% hotter. Dave's didn't even have me reaching for the milk! Reaper level was pleasant, but not overwhelming.
Happy New Year, Company Man! 🎉
One just opened near me in Wake Forest, North Carolina (near Raleigh). Guess I'll have to check it out. Thanks Company Man and Happy New Year!
One just opened near me in Harrisburg a little under a year ago. It’s great!
Aye from Hershey so hell yeah brother!!
Same here in York, however I tried it and I'm not impressed and all I eat is chicken. It's like they were trying to compete with Chick-fil-A, Failed, and instead decided to do a hot sauce challenge and lost their way.
They opened on here in Mechanicsburg this summer. I haven't tried it yet but the reviews are either great or meh.
The chicken may be the star of the show, but that fry sauce deserves some love, too!
I've seen a few Hot Chicken joints popping up in Atlanta, Ga recently and Dave's Hot Chicken open up in Conyers, Ga thanks to Usher supporting the franchise.
YEAH-UH!
That mock-up map at 1:02 really got my hopes up. Made it seemed like my area had a few. Sadly the nearest is nearly 3 hours away.
Idk if chicken tenders and sliders will be deemed a fad or not. All I know is that ever since one has opened in my city, I’ve always want to go there when I crave chicken sliders.
I live in Burbank very close to the first location, and I remember in high school when they first opened that first location after going to their original stand, then there was a second location. Maybe a year later a third and then it became a global icon, I am so proud of them for becoming what they have. I totally remember waiting for an hour at the original location. It was like waiting for a supreme drop. I know I live in la and a lot of cool famous stuff comes out of here, but as a young guy it was actually cool to personally see that growth, still one of my favorite places to eat and they have great quality control across all their locations. I highly recommend anyone to try it!
09:05 funny thing is I actually went to those San Jose locations when I was going to college there. That was my first experience with Dave's hot chicken. Although I ordered mild to non spicy stuff.
Kwik Star has opened 7 new locations in the last month alone, including a giant new truck stop, and has no intention of slowing down in 2025. They definitely deserve a spot on "Expanding Near You."
My city got a Dave's back in early 2023, being the second one to open in my region. I've only eaten there twice, with both experiences being opposites of each other in some aspects, while consistent in others. The biggest consistency is that their food is actually pretty good. Little pricy, but worth it.
They opened a Dave's not far from me maybe a year or two ago and I really like going there whenever I venture out in the area. I usually go with Mild chicken, which honestly is still fairly spicy, and I've never wanted to venture into anything stronger :)
First time I ever had chicken from Dave's it was a the reaper chicken.
I have a hard time finding places that make food spicy enough for me, so when I saw you had to sign a waiver for that chicken, I had to get it. And yes, it was more than spicy enough and absolutely I see why they make people sign a waiver.
I didn't like it, not because it was too hot, it just lacked flavor. Not sure where to find these mythical waivers to buy Reaper, they've never said I needed one...
It tastes like chilli powder
Happy New Year, Company Man! I have never heard of this hot chicken chain.
Chesapeake, VA just had one pop up a few months ago. Lines around the building for weeks. Hoping to try it myself soon.
I just had them while in town it was pretty decent
There's a Dave's hot chicken about 20 mins away from me. I'm definitely going to try them today. I love seeing those kind of stories from a parking lot to a franchise.
I have been following the growth of dave’s hot chicken for 3 years and they still haven’t come to my state, it’s insane
Apparently there's one an hour and 45 minutes from me. I love chicken samwhichs so I might be thereq
Same
@@Pr0toPoTaT0 i’m about the same difference from my closest but it’s not worth a frequent drive
I travel across the US and few months ago. When I visited Oklahoma City, I came across a Dave's hot chicken restaurant. It was neat bricktown by the cinema. I was sure it was a local restaurant, because it felt this way, it was packed and local themed, it was one of the best fast food places i have eaten at. Great video man!
Dave's mentioned! Just had some yesterday; sometimes the chicken quality can be a little iffy but it's good stuff mostly!
I’ve been to 3 different ones and they’ve all been mediocre.
@@TerryWhisk aw
hey man love the vids as always, can you do your next video on the beauty companies like Shiseido and Loreal next?
I live in Louisville, KY, and have never even heard of Dave's Hot Chicken. The closest one is 11 miles away, across the Ohio River in Indiana. Maybe I'll have to cross the bridge this weekend to check it out.
Just saw that there's one in Lexington too. Gonna have to stop in the next time I'm in town.
11 miles isn’t that far when you’re out in the sticks bro
Literally got this video in my recommended as I'm getting this exact restaurant delivered to me for dinner. Watching now in anticipation for my meal
Ah yes the famous tubber chicken. This is who it mascots for.
Happy New Year
Can "mascots" be a verb?
I call it the rubber sex doll chicken. Lol
I hadn't watch you in years and I finally rediscovered you, I'm glad and ready to watch all the vids I missed.
Growing big enough to bring in 400 million a year: 🗿
Growing big enough to have a Company Man video made about you: 🥳🎉
Just had one open near me, but didn't know anything about it and wasn't in a hurry to find out. Now I'll actually go give it a try. Thanks!
A Dave's is opening up in north Spokane, WA soon. Definitely gonna try it out - I drive by it at least once a week on the way to visit family.
I live in south florida and have noticed a lot of them starting to pop up near me. their food is great and im happy about them expanding
From what's presented here, it really sounds like they have their act together. Strong vetting process for the franchisees, clear vision of what their company is, and leadership dedicated to their success. Always good to see examples of how a company should be run.
I mean unfortunately you can only do one. Mass international expansion or hyper locked in quality standards. Can't do both
How many times have we heard that story and then 4,000 stores later when quality falls they go the way of Blimpies
What video did you watch? Thier vetting process is based on vibes and feelings according to the video
@@jeffslote9671 They said you have to have multiple years in the industry and personal assets of over five million dollars.
@@wanfu5634 That tells me that they want people who think that they will make passive income. That doesn’t seem like a good idea. Plus watch the video. They believe that vibes are a reason to give a franchise
I’ve been seeing ads for them for the past couple of years and have been meaning to try them. They aren’t really near me, but Asad’s Hot Chicken has been expanding near me and they are really good!!
I've watched enough The Company Man to know that if they ever go public and get bought by Private Equity it's time to short sell the company.
The market is over-saturated with spicy-focused foods. It has been for a while. There is a spicy food crash coming, and it's wild that so many companies are still over-investing in spicy food development.
There is a location that is a few towns over from me that I went to when I was out that way, after hearing from peers that the food was good, and I've learned to trust their judgement on food before. It had only opened earlier that week so was really busy, but the simplicity and streamlining did make it relatively painless. The only real issue I had was the cleaning, as the floor (especially around the drink machine, for obvious reason) was sticky and the tables had some trash on them still. I would also gripe about them not seeming to trust their customers, by making you ask for sauce that is kept behind the counter, and needing to get a code to use the bathroom, but regrettably those are normal in that area, I guess because of crime and whatever else.
As a Nashvillian, I never trusted Dave's because they don't have locations here. Stop selling our chicken if you are afraid to compete against the real deal.
i’m from nashville, and i’ve had dave’s. I can tell you it’s better than hattie b’s, princes, etc. I don’t know why they don’t have one here
@@PringleBarry precisely because of OP's reaction.
I've been wanting to try this place. There's one about an hour away from me. I never realized how humble the beginnings of this chain were. It's really impressive how much they've done in less than a decade.
Dave was my roommate, and the came up with these recipes on a train. It's always great to see them thriving!
how many roomates did dave have??
In Los Angeles, Howlin Rays was the first to popularize Nashville hot chicken in the area. There's also Bangin Buns that also started in a parking lot in North Hollywood.
One just opened and it caused so much traffic they had to close a road. I think the chicken is good but it’s definitely not worth the hype. I like Chick-fil-A and Cane’s chicken more.
True. I went once. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't blown away either.
Definitely not $5 a tender worth it.
I use to see their parking lot set up during my late night outings. I gave them a try once I saw they opened up their dine-in spot which was across the street from the parking lot. Medium is my go-to.
Another reason for their success was during the popeyes chicken sandwich craze. There's no popeyes nearby but Dave's is and the lines would be out the door. During their time with the one shop, ppl were already lined up before opening time and could take 30+ minutes to place an order.
As Dave's has grown, their fry portions became smaller. They used to pack the tray full of fries but now serve in a small tray similar to in-n-out fries yet kept the price the same. I reduced my visits afterwards.
Dam chicken is just as competitive as burgers or pizza now there's also all these local chains in each state like Bojangles or Raising Cane's!
We had one open up at the edge of town recently. Hadn't heard of it prior, but I knew it had good reviews so I tried it out. Nice flavor in their seasoning and real generous portion sizes for the price of admission.
I tried them for the first time about a month ago! It wasn't good, unfortunately. The mac and cheese was bland and worse than box brand. The dry rub on the chicken tender was salty, and the fries were generic, frozen fries with no taste. The Dave's sauce was okay, but it was basically just mayo, mustard, and ketchup mixed together. The coleslaw was disgusting, and I love coleslaw! How do you mess up cabbage and mayo?? It was a disappointing experience, and I ended up throwing most of it away. The only reason I was even excited to try them is because I mistook them for "Big Dave's Cheesesteaks," which I in turn only heard of because the founder married the founder of Slutty Vegan, and I thought that was interesting lol
Exactly! your review is spot on
A year ago, I was living in York, PA, and they opened a Dave's Hot Chicken just before I moved away. I didn't know what it was at the time, so I didn't try it. Now I wish I would've given it a shot.
One of these just opened near me in Tampa within the past few weeks. I'm looking forward to checking it out!
When are we getting a US Steel video?
They have a great pricepoint too. In an era where other popular fast casual chains are having to raise prices they come in at a very competitive price to get full on, I like the medium heat. Lots of flavor but you won’t induce a medical emergency
Here’s my Dave’s Hot Chicken order: Dave’s #2 Hot (2 sliders and fries), add cheese to the sliders, and extra pickles. Also, ask for honey and put that on the slider… TOO GOOD!
I got into Nashville Hot Chicken at Hattie B.'s in Nashville (one of the originals, if not THE original) many years ago. The reason I loved it was because the chicken was so good, moist, and hearty, not just because of the "hot". Any other "Nashville Hot Chicken" I have eaten since then has missed that crucial point. I'll have to check these guys out, but I live in the ghetto in Vegas, so I'll need to drive a bit to get to one. Thanks for the heads up!
Try the Nashville Hot tenders at Albertsons deli. They're amazing.
Prince's is the original. Hattie B's is good, but they arrived on the scene many years after Prince's.
@@GLHS592 Ah, RIGHT! Thank you!!!
@@zackied596 Thanks, I'll give 'em a go! What (if any) sauce do you recommend?
I went to Hollywood over five years ago and I was shown Dave's. Thought it was really good. I'm happy but not surprised that it's expanded to the East Coast now where I live
I tried to give them plenty of chances, but Dave's hot chicken is just not good imo. I don't get the hype.
Exactly after 1 sandwich i dont even want to eat the other.
Yall are wild 😂
There is a Dave's that opened about 2 miles from my house about 2 years ago. I went into once a few months ago. Looked around and didn't know what to get and left to get a sandwich at Jersey Mike's. Will probably give it another try after this video to see how the food is.
Haven’t seen a chicken place get this popular since Cane’s
Chic Fla A??
@ Welll as of recently anyway
I lived down the street from the parking lot they started at in 2017. There was always a huge line, so I’d order food then head to Harvard & Stone for a drink while I waited. I’m a fan and I was stoked when they opened their first restaurant on Western. I’ve had the chicken since at one of their franchise locations and was surprised it was still solid. It’s been cool to see their growth, and I can’t believe they’re going to be in the UK soon. Kudos to Dave’s 👏
One opened next to my work. It is EXPENSIVE for chicken. I can get Rubios fish tacos especial plate for less.
Yes I’m going to stick to my Popeyes meals. You could at least eat twice off of one meal, even kfc $10 box is a better value.
Hmm a Dave's next to a Rubios... Sounds like mission valley.
@@lpnp9477 not quite take another guess ha ha
Ok, you got me. Where I am, a Dave's opened up where a Rubio's used to be. I'll be checking them out soon.
We have a bunch of these here in DFW. They have delicious chicken. Definitely not surprised they’re growing fast.
Go to Dallas and try Lucky’s Hot Chicken, it’s much better.
Dave was my roommate, and they came up with these recipes while we were all living together in Hollywood. It's always great to see them thriving! respect to my DHC brothers!
Happy new year everyone!🥂🎍🐍🥳
Having a new Company Man video on the first of January isn't something that happens every day
I think it's the first time I've heard about this chain of fried chicken, but I doubt they will expand to my country, yet. Friend chicken isn't very common in the country where I live, KFC didn't arrive here until just less than 10 years ago, but it actually got kind of popular, and there's been a couple of local fried chicken restaurants that have popped up since KFC entered, obviously trying to capture some of its success
Absolutely love Dave’s, the spiciest options are actually spicy even for me. Hope they continue the quality through expansion and shit even add more heat options for the fun of it.
Great video! Happy New Year Company Man!
One of the big things about dave's hot chicken that's important to mention is that they are mostly halal, which is rare in America, so if you are a zabiha Muslim you always got Daves as a good option to eat out.
he totally forgot to mention that which is a huge reason they expanded in my opinion
That's interesting.
There's a reason to never go there.
whats halal chicken compared to normal?
.
@ohiopigeon really dude?
Around me there's a copy cat restaurant expanding in the philly, reading, pottstown area. It's called Asad's Hot chicken. They are opening locations so quickly. The food is so good.
Number 6, Halal chicken. Most Muslims only eat halal and there is no major franchise in the US that serves only halal chicken.
im shocked he didnt mention it its pretty big in the muslim community
Not an option in Los Angeles. And I work 30 yards from it
@ the first time I had it was in LA, they had halal certification and everything
I go to college in FoCo and a Daves Hot Chicken opened up in 2023, I've been there and I found it amazing. I have came back to it time and time again, but i have only gotten up to the 'Hot' level, as I'm probably a bit too CHICKEN, to go higher.
The cauliflower sandwiches are AMAZING! as someone who gave up meat because it starting making me feel sick afterwards I am grateful for a spot that has figure out a good cauliflower sandwich.
😂 weak.
No one wants a freaking cauliflower sandwich.
Grow up and eat meat.
I am form outside the US, tried DHC in South Bend and the food is good, okay price, fast and clean. What caught my attention was the amount of "in town" references all over the restaurant, it felt like being inside of a tourist guide but more in deep.
Nice, I thought Dave’s Hot Chicken was just a Tampa thing
Hey! The Greenville SC location made the video! Opened a few months ago and we go about once a month when we’re in the area. I’m a big fan of Dave’s. They’re the only place I’ve gone to that actually does crinkle cut fries right and their sliders are awesome. It’s a bit pricey but the quality is there. I typically get the medium heat. The heat level isn’t exactly where I’d prefer it as I’d like it just a tad spicier but the hot one is just a bit too hot for my liking so medium works best.
A Dave's Hot Chicken opened up in Sait Paul recently and kicked out the former Dairy Queen, and that building has never been more popular. Daves is pretty great and deserves it in my opinion.
Hell yea! One of them opened up down in Fort Collins I went there and I thought it was a local Colorado chain for some reason. I had no idea there was this many locations they are amazing. Hopefully they start opening up in small towns as well!
Usher opened one up here in my town here in GA. It’s always busy and the food is good! I have had the hot and that is the max for me, I enjoy the mild
Used to go to the one in Portland Oregon and now that I live in Syracuse New York there's a Dave's Hot Chicken here so I'll probably try it out someday just to see any improvements from 3 years ago
Never had it, but I really like the logo's homemade look, and the 90s grunge aesthetic of the font.
I’ve tried the Reaper once. While not the hottest thing I’ve eaten-that flower goes to a Thai salad I asked for full spice on, which proceeded to take a tour through my body with a megaphone set to 11 which I was acutely aware of every inch of from the moment it went in to the moment it came out-it is still pain on a sandwich, and I will likely just eat medium to hot going forward depending on how I feel. But it’s a solid product and I hope the rapid expansion isn’t prelude to a dramatic fall.
I’m in the Bay Area and there is a Dave’s hot chicken right next to the movie theater I usually go to. So over the years, I had dinner there many times after watching a movie. Food is good. I always thought it was just a niche restaurant chain with several restaurants on the California coast but I’m surprised to see it quickly grew to an international chain over the years.
I know a Dave’s opened next to a theater here in the Bay Area too and it’s rather bland if you go regular. Same with Raising Canes that opened up nearby Cal State Hayward. Bland and greasy. My personal thoughts, that is.
I used to live around the corner from that original East Hollywood tent location and I remember when they set up there! I never went there though but word spread quick when it was there!
Honestly Dave's is good as shit, it's very similar to another place I went that was Korean but this one has a nice sauce and better fries
One of them just opened here in the suburbs of Richmond, VA! Definitely have to try it out one of these days.
Happy New Year
Wish I would have seen this video sooner. I looked up near by locations to me and it turned out that I was only a couple of minutes away from one yesterday. Next time I'm in that area I'm going to give it a try.
Here in LA I used to drive past one but never bothered to go inside. Always figured it was just some random chicken spot. Can’t remember seeing it busy either so who knows if it’s good. I’ll have to try it out.
Good vid, happy new year company man
Happy New Year 2025 Company Man!
Patiently waiting for the Columbus ga location to open! I’m excited to try it.
New Year, New Company Man vidz!! 🎉
Happy New Year! Suggestions for future videos: Zaxby's Restaurants. Zaxby's vs. Raising Cane's. Marshall's vs. Ross Dress for Less. God Bless Be with and Keep You.