Is Dave’s Hot Chicken Really Good Or Just Hype?

By Harrison Gredick

The new restaurant Dave’s Hot Chicken has risen to fame over the past year. This restaurant chain has lines to the door almost all the time it is open, but now Irvington students are questioning if the new restaurant is really good or just all hype. 

When you walk into the restaurant, you are met with incredible chicken-themed graffiti on all of the walls. All of the food chain’s restaurants have different art setting the tone for when customers walk into the restaurant. 

The chicken comes in all different levels of spice. The hottest level is called the “reaper” because the seasoning consists of Carolina Reaper peppers, some of the hottest peppers in the world. It is so hot that everyone who purchases it needs to fill out a liability form so the restaurant doesn’t get sued for spiciness. But is the reaper really spicy? It all depends on the person and their spice tolerance because reviews rate the spiciness as a six out of 10, while others give it a 10 out of 10 spice rating. 

Irvington has many different opinions on Dave’s chicken. A lot of students complain that the chicken is dry, more than other restaurants like Chick-Fil-A. That is overstating it, but there is definitely better chicken in the Rivertowns. 

So why is Dave’s Hot Chicken still super hyped up?

According to customers, the fries are really good. The crinkle cut french fries make everything, according to one of the restaurant reviewers. Their white bread served with meals is also perfect for making a mini chicken sandwich with their nuggets, if you don’t want to purchase their highly rated chicken sandwiches with their house sauce. 

Overall, Dave’s Hot Chicken is good because of what the meal comes with, but the chicken is not as hype as everyone is saying. Most of the experience is looking at the graffiti walls and listening to the music they play, while you wait for your meal.

To determine whether the food is really good or just hype, try it yourself.