We ate at Dave’s Hot Chicken. Here’s our review of the restaurant’s new Columbus location
Dave’s Hot Chicken has come to Columbus, bringing some more spice into the lives of Chattahoochee Valley residents. The restaurant is an explosion of color and flavor that’s pleasing to the eyes and taste buds.
With the name “hot” in the title, I decided to get the Hot Number 2 Combo, which has two chicken sliders and fries. The sandwich comes with Dave’s sauce and kale slaw — not coleslaw, but kale slaw. However, if you’re not a big fan of slaw, you can get it on the side like I did.
As I walked into the restaurant, the smell of spices hit me, and I couldn’t help but say, “This smells good.” The line was out the door, but it moved fast.
After ordering and receiving my pager, I found a table and admired the graffiti-like artwork on the walls.
One painting on the wall shows a paratrooper parachuting down with the Dave’s Hot Chicken logo on the soldier’s face.
Then the food came out looking just as artful as the decor on the walls. As I took my first bite of one of the chicken sliders, the blend of herbs and spices created an explosion of flavor that sent a shock down my spine.
The slider packed a kick. By the time I finished the second sandwich, I needed to take a drink of my Coke Zero to help deal with the heat. Though, I can be proud in saying I didn’t break a sweat.
Maybe someday I’ll work my way up to trying the Reaper sandwich. That day was not this day.
The fries were perfectly crispy on the outside with a soft and warm inside and a saltiness from the seasoning.
It’s worth mentioning how good the dill pickle slices are for the sandwich. They’re super crispy and give just the right amount of vinegary bitterness to the spice on the sandwich.
While not a fan of coleslaw, I did try the kale slaw and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was pretty good.
The Dave’s sauce was sweet and creamy. It tasted very similar to a burger sauce I’ve had.
Whether you’re a lover of spicy food or just a big fan of good fried chicken, I’d definitely recommend a trip to Dave’s location on Whittlesey Boulevard in Columbus.
This story was originally published January 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM.