Restaurant sneak peek: Dave’s Hot Chicken opening on Richmond Road
Lexington’s about to get a lot spicier: Dave’s Hot Chicken is opening its first Kentucky location on Aug. 5.
We got a sneak peek (and taste) on Wednesday at the new restaurant at 2630 Richmond Road, where Qdoba used to be.
The building has been revamped, complete with splashy graffiti murals, a signature for California-based Dave’s. In addition to seating inside, there is a covered patio and sidewalk seating.
The grand opening of the Richmond Road location will be Aug. 5. The restaurant will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The menu is simple: You can get sliders, chicken tenders or both. You pick your level of heat, from none to “reaper,” an ultra-hot version that you have to sign a waiver for acknowledging you know you’re about to question your life choices.
For sides, Dave’s Hot Chicken has crinkle-cut fries (plain or with cheese), kale slaw and mac and cheese. The tenders come on a slice of bread with a side of Dave’s sauce. And everything comes with pickles.
Dave’s does not offer a vegetarian option.
Dave’s vs other hot chickens
“Dave’s Hot Chicken is all about the quality of the food and how good it tastes. We’re all about the tenderization of our chicken and the seven different spice levels you’re able to choose from to customize your meal to make it appeal to whatever your tastes are,” said Dylan Bitticks, spokesman for the company.
What distinguishes Dave’s from other hot chicken restaurants?
“We’re all about our atmosphere and our culture here, we want it to feel like the hottest party in L.A. every time you walk into one of our locations,” he said.
Customer favorites? “Our sliders, with ginormous chicken tenders,” he said. There’s no secret menu items but you can throw some mac and cheese on the sliders if you want to get ambitious.
And the restaurant is still hiring, he said.
The company is one of the hottest fast-casual chains in the country and they have big plans for Kentucky. At least three more Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants will be coming to Lexington and four are planned for Louisville.
The chain has drawn a lot of attention from big name investors including rapper/entertainer and basketball fan Drake, actor Samuel L. Jackson and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner.
New Richmond Road restaurants
The Lexington restaurant is part of big changes coming to the Richmond Road dining corridor.
▪ A second location of The Human Bean will be coming to 2644 Richmond Road later this year.
▪ Down the street, Andy’s Frozen Custard is expected to begin building its second Lexington location. The first, on South Broadway, will open later this month.
▪ Across the road, a new Panera with a double-lane drive-thru is going up in front of the existing Lowe’s.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Where: 2630 Richmond Rd.
Open: Grand opening is Aug. 5
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Delivery: No drive-thru but takeout and third-party delivery available
Online: daveshotchicken.com
