Dave’s Hot Chicken, a chicken-based restaurant out of East Hollywood, has opened its doors on Thursday, Nov. 8 on Town Center Boulevard in Jeffersonville, IN.
This short, 15-minute drive north of Louisville is worth the drive, consisting of some of the best hot chicken one could ask for. Dave’s Hot Chicken has more than 230 locations across the country, including a hot chicken spot in the heart of Kentucky in Lexington.
There are set to be eight more locations across Louisville over the next few years, but the first is just across the river for Dave’s, which served up a delicious meal we got a chance to try over the weekend. Here’s what we thought:
Going into Dave’s on Sunday, Nov. 10, I figured the wait would have died down a little since the grand opening two days ago. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
There were folks scattered all over the open floor waiting for their orders being rang out from one man over a microphone as Dave’s prompter showing in-progress orders was not working. I listened intently for my order to be called, and salivated evermore in anticipation.
I snagged the Number 2, consisting of two medium hot chicken tenders with a side of macaroni and cheese. I got it to go as there were no tables available to go sit down. Think of Chick-Fil-A just a few minutes down Veteran’s Parkway in Clarksville, then double the foot traffic.
While I waited on my food, I saw some gorgeous interior design that really made me feel like Dave’s truly knew the culture of the area. I can appreciate a spot that gives more than a moment’s thought to its customers. The callback to the Belle of Louisville was also a tasteful touch in a packed waiting area for takeout orders. Taking in that interior helped with the dreadful wait. I’m sure these longs waits will die down as more spots open up around Louisville, but man it was painful this time around.
I drove back hope to open up my delicious box of goodness, and boy was I in for a treat. See, I’ve had Dave’s before in Oklahoma City, so I know the reputation of this company is staked entirely on its unique and bold flavor. I really thought since it was a new link in the chain of over 200 restaurants, maybe the quality would suffer.
I couldn’t be more wrong.
Each bite was a gentle reminder of why these owners beat the breaks off their competition with no sweat. The gooey macaroni and cheese blends so easily with the hot chicken that it makes everyone else look amateur in their futile attempts to make hot chicken in the first place.
Overall, I think it only took me seven, maybe eight minutes to scarf it down, since I knew I could always just go back there tomorrow since it’s so close to my house, and not seven hours away in the middle of the southwestern United States.
There’s no real score we could use, because Dave’s Hot Chicken is in its own stratosphere in terms of quality hot chicken.
This article appears in Nov 4-19, 2024.
