November 2, 2023 | OPINION | By Sam Treat
Colorado Springs has long been a quasi-capital in the American West for fast food. You would be hard pressed to find another city with as many different franchises from as many different geographic areas of the United States. This widely reported phenomenon (see Treat’s Eats: Raising Canes) has not ended – far from it. Each year, new chains come to dot our strip malls and exit ramp destinations. Indeed, Interquest Parkway is home to the newest of these chains: Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken began in a parking lot in Los Angeles, staffed by the original Dave and three of his friends. The pop-up was a smash hit, and within a year the chain had begun. The Dave’s menu of today is remarkably similar to its humble beginnings in that lot. Focused on chicken, the real variety comes in the ways one can order that chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is orderable in one of two platings: either the “slider,” which comes with kale slaw, pickles and Dave’s sauce between a potato bun or the “tender,” accompanied by pickles, sauce and a slice of white bread. For those who are less spice tolerant, the good news for you is that Dave’s Hot Chicken doesn’t necessarily have to be hot.
The spiciness is customizable, with a range of options from “No Spice” (unless you were raised in Utah, there is no reason to order a piece of food this way) all the way to “Reaper” (which I wanted to order until I was informed it required a waiver due to health concerns arising from spice levels).
The restaurant itself seems to be attempting to go for more of a “fast-casual eatery” look than a “fast food restaurant.” Not only did the modernistic decor and reliance on large glass windows reflect this mentality, but the wait times did as well (10 to 15 minutes).
I took no issue with the decor. However, the large glass window seems like a poor option for a restaurant located in a city where, even without high temperatures (which we do get), the sun shines with force. The lack of air conditioning likewise spells problems for a restaurant whose servings are meant to cause heat of its own kind.
I opted for the Dave’s No. 2 combo, which is two sliders with fries for $13.99. I got one of my sandwiches “Hot” and another one “Extra Hot” (a step below Reaper). Trying to give my avid readership (hi, Mom!) an encompassing view, I ordered a side of mac & cheese, as well as a strawberry milkshake.
Upon arrival, the only way to distinguish between my two sandwiches was the hue of the seasoning that coated the outside of each tender. The darker and redder the tender is, the spicier. Feeling bold, I opted for the Extra Hot first. I was greeted with an unprecedented level of spice compared to any fast food chicken sandwich I’d encountered before. I was hiccupping and sweating in a way that must have given anyone near me an immediate ick.
After several more bites, as well as swigs of milkshake, my mouth had recovered from its initial bout of hellfire. Turning to the fries, I found them to be perfectly crispy and well-seasoned. An absolute win in terms of fast food fries, which can be hit or miss. The milkshake was fairly standard fare, but still a welcome reprieve from the onslaught of spice.
The Hot Sandwich came next. This was the perfect sandwich. Not too spicy, but still enough that it will scare the most white-bread customers away from ordering it (sorry, Midwesterners). The seasoning leaves an almost smoky, desert-like spice on the tongue, something robust and flavorful that isn’t overpowering. Paired with Dave’s sauce (which they absolutely skimp on) and pickles (which they do not skimp on) this sandwich is everything a hot chicken sandwich should be.
The final item, the Mac & Cheese, was perhaps the most disappointing. Lacking in flavor, and not sufficiently warm, it offered little counterbalance to the meal. I would recommend sticking with the focus of the business: chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is entering a crowded Colorado Springs chicken market. Between Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes and others like Angry Chicken, it is hard to find a niche. Dave’s, however, may have done just that by providing the masses with unprecedented access to top-tier flavors and spice.
