I tried US fast food chain’s iconic menu before it opens restaurants in the UK – it’s better than KFC
HOT on the heels of Popeyes and Chick-fil-A, another US culinary sensation is set to make waves in the UK before Christmas.
Dave’s Hot Chicken, famed in the US for its jumbo hot chicken sliders, tenders, and bites, will open its first UK store on December 7.
However, like just about every other small fast food chain, it faces stiff competition from big names including McDonald’s and KFC.
But what makes Dave’s chicken sandwiches so unique?
On a chilly November evening, I ventured out to a disused carpark in London‘s East End to find out.
Here, we got an exclusive first taste of Dave’s signature dish, set to debut on the menu when the first store opens on Shaftesbury Avenue next month.
Upon arrival at what was once a dingy, disused space, I was welcomed by a vibrant pop-up bearing the Dave’s Hot Chicken logo.
Under a gazebo and hard at work frying the chain’s signature chicken sliders were its founders, Arman Oganesyan and Chef Dave Kopushyan.
The venue was designed to replicate the origins of the fast food chain, which began as a late-night pop-up in a car park in East Hollywood back in 2017.
Since then, it has expanded to operate out of 200 restaurants across the US.
But let’s get down to business. I had purposely skipped breakfast, anticipating a hearty meal.
And that was certainly what I got.
We were treated to an exclusive tasting of Dave’s Hot Chicken Sliders, featuring succulent chicken breast coated in a dry rub, available in seven different spice levels.
Customers will soon be able to pick between No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot and Reaper – the latter requiring a signed waiver.
However, for today, only Medium and Hot spice levels were on offer.
Naturally, as a true foodie, I opted for one of each.
Between the coated chicken breast and the thin hamburger buns was a generous helping of kale coleslaw, all drenched in Dave’s signature sauce.
This made up of a mix of mayo, chipotle pepper, a hint of sugar, honey, and what tasted like mustard.
Alongside the slider, I also received a portion of the chain’s signature crinkle-cut fries.
THE VERDICT
Chicken sandwiches are my go-to order whenever I visit a fast food chain.
I adore Chick-fil-A’s version when I’m in the US, but I can just as happily devour a McChicken Sandwich or a KFC Tower Burger.
However, Dave’s Hot Chicken sliders introduced me to game-changing flavours and tastes.
Upon first glance at the burger, I was astounded by the size of the chicken.
I often feel short-changed at other fast-food chains, but not at Dave’s.
Each slider boasts an entire chicken breast.
To my delight, the UK version of the dish also features only organic and free-range chicken.
I tried the medium spiced slider first and as I took my first bite, the crunch of the golden exterior gave way to incredibly tender, juicy chicken.
The heat from the seasoning started to build with a tantalising dance of spice that awakened certainly woke my taste buds.
However, it wasn’t overpowering and won’t overwhelm those sensitive to spice.
The balance of flavours was simply delicious.
The dry rub delivered a comforting warmth without the greasiness and heaviness often found in the wet battered chicken from big-name fast-food chains.
As well as the delicious chicken, each bite offers a satisfying crunch from the generous helping of kale slaw.
I drenched the crinkle-cut fries in Dave’s signature sauce, and once again, they were absolutely delicious – crispy on the outside but buttery and soft on the inside.
By this point, I was completely sold.
As far as fast food goes, this was the best chicken slider I had ever tasted.
So, I finally took the plunge and readied myself to take a bite of the other slider, which was infused with the chain’s signature hot spice.
I was bracing for the kind of intense heat you get from a Hot Wrap at Nando’s, which, admittedly, I find unbearable.
However, this spice had a slow burn and didn’t immediately overwhelm me with an unbearable level of heat.
In fact, it was just as delicious as the first slider I tried.
For the time being, we’ll have to wait and see what other offerings will feature on Dave’s Hot Chicken’s UK menu when its first restaurant opens in December.
HISTORY OF DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN
Dave's Hot Chicken began as a late-night pop-up in a parking lot in 2017, founded by three childhood friends.
At the time, Chef Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan scraped together $900 to launch the venture.
The brand quickly gained popularity, leading to the opening of a brick-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood.
In 2019, the founders partnered with Wetzel’s Pretzels co-founder Bill Phelps to begin franchising.
The brand has since attracted celebrity investors like Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Usher.
It currently operates out of 200 restaurants across the US.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has now partnered with Azzurri Group to spearhead its UK rollout.
Azzurri Group is already a major player in the UK hospitality sector.
The owns well-known brands Zizzi, ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, and Boojum.
Azzurri employs over 6,000 staff across 230 restaurants and stores, and it serves more than 15 million meals annually.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has plans to open 60 restaurants across the UK and Ireland.
The first restaurant will open on Shaftsbury Avenue on December 7, 2024.
US FAST FOOD EXPANSION INTO THE UK
American fast food giant Chick-fil-A is crossing the pond and bringing its beloved chicken sandwiches to our high streets next year.
The Sun exclusively revealed the exact locations of their first five permanent UK restaurants.
Tex-Mex brand Velvet Taco will also make its UK debut next spring.
Popeyes entered the UK market in 2021 and has proved to be a hit with ravenous customers ever since.
In just 30 months, the brand opened over 38 restaurants across the UK.
It has plans to reach the 60-restaurant milestone by the end of 2024.
US burger chain Wendy’s, which already has 31 sites in the UK, will also cut the ribbon on eight new locations this year.
The chain returned to the UK high street in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus.
Wendy’s is most famous for its square-shaped hamburgers, which are designed to maximise the amount of meat in every bite.
Shake Shack, which started out as a hotdog cart, recently opened its first restaurant inside a UK train station.
Brits commuting in St. Pancras International Station can now grab their favourite burgers before jumping onto their train.
The new spot marks the fast food giant’s 16th location in the UK since it was launched in Covent Garden in 2013.
While most of Shake Shack’s UK sites are based in London, bosses have expanded into other locations in recent years, including Essex, Oxford, and Cardiff.
Shake Shack’s humble beginnings trace back to a New York hot dog cart helmed by Randy Garutti.
Wingstop currently operates 39 sites across the UK and will open 15 more in 2024.
Lemon Pepper Holdings, which runs the fast food chain’s UK portfolio, said the move would create up to 750 jobs.
The US hospitality brand said it is its biggest year of expansion since launching Wingstop in the UK six years ago.
Dunkin’ Donuts, which currently has 30 stores in the UK, hopes to open 30 new branches over the next couple of years as part of a major expansion plan.
Dunkin’ Donuts landed in the UK in St John’s in Liverpool in May 2016.
The chain is huge in the US, with almost 9,500 stores spread across the country.
It sells a range of doughnuts, other sweet treats, and hot and cold drinks.