Dave Martinez
Founder & Head Chef
The architect of every heat level, Dave has spent over a decade perfecting his Nashville spice paste recipe. His vision: food that makes you feel something.
Our Story
The Fiery Story Behind Dave's hot chicken
Dave's hot chicken was born from a passion for bold, authentic Nashville-style heat. What started as a late-night pop-up in a parking lot grew into a full-scale restaurant bringing daves hot chicken to thousands of fans across the United States — one crispy, fire-kissed piece at a time.
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Heat Levels
Where It All Began
How Daves Hot Chicken Ignited a Movement
It all started with a driveway, a deep fryer, and an obsession with getting the spice blend exactly right. Dave's hot chicken — now known to fans simply as daves hot chicken — was never meant to be ordinary.
Founder Dave had spent years perfecting his Nashville-style spice paste, layering cayenne, habanero, and a secret proprietary blend of aromatics over hand-breaded, juicy chicken tenders. The first official pop-up drew a line around the block. Within weeks, the concept had a cult following, and dave hot chicken became the name on every foodie's lips in the region.
When we opened our brick-and-mortar location at 1410 Precinct Line Rd in Hurst, TX, we stayed true to our roots — keeping the menu tight, the heat real, and the quality uncompromising. Every piece of chicken is hand-breaded to order, dusted with your chosen heat level, and served hot, fresh, and bold.
Today, daves chicken serves thousands of loyal guests weekly, but the soul of that original pop-up lives on in every order. We don't do shortcuts. We don't do frozen. We do fire.
Explore Our Menu
Why We Exist
Our Mission & Pillars
At Dave's hot chicken, our mission is simple: deliver the most bold, authentic, and satisfying hot chicken experience in the United States — every single visit.
Uncompromising Heat
Seven genuine heat levels from No Spice to Reaper — each crafted with a real spice paste, not a powder dusting. Your heat, your choice.
Fresh Every Order
Hand-breaded to order, every time. We never pre-bread or freeze our chicken. What arrives at your table was prepared minutes ago.
Community First
We grew from a community pop-up and we never forget it. Every hire is local, every supplier is vetted, and every guest is family.
Quality, Always
We source premium chicken daily, use real buttermilk brines, and insist on quality at every step — from supplier to your hands.
What Drives Us
Our Core Values
These values aren't words on a wall — they're the operating principles that guide every decision we make at Dave's hot chicken, from the kitchen to the counter.
01
Authenticity Over Everything
We stay true to Nashville tradition. No gimmicks, no short-cuts — just an honest, fire-forward recipe executed with precision each day.
02
Respect for the Guest
Every customer walks out having had a memorable, high-quality experience. Their time, palate, and feedback shape everything we do.
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Teamwork & Growth
We invest in our people. A happy, skilled team produces exceptional food and exceptional service — every shift, every day.
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Continuous Improvement
We never stop refining. From sourcing better ingredients to tightening our processes, the pursuit of better never ends at daves chicken.
Our Journey
A History of Heat
From a single deep fryer to a beloved United States destination — here's how Dave's hot chicken grew from a dream to a legacy.
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2017
The First Pop-Up
Dave sets up a portable fryer in a parking lot in Hurst, TX, serving his secret spice-paste chicken to curious neighbors. The line stretched further than anyone expected.
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2018
Going Viral Locally
Word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire. Dave's hot chicken becomes the most-talked-about food concept in the DFW area, with hundreds queuing on weekends for a taste of daves hot chicken.
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2019
Brick & Mortar Opens
We sign the lease at 1410 Precinct Line Rd Ste 200, Hurst, TX. Our first permanent home opens with a full team, the iconic 7-heat-level menu, and zero compromises on quality.
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2021
Menu Expansion
We introduce new sides, sauces, and the legendary Reaper level — our hottest heat to date. Dave hot chicken lovers from across Texas make the drive specifically for this milestone addition.
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2023
Online Ordering Launches
Daves chicken goes digital. Guests can now browse the full menu, customize heat levels, and place orders online — making Dave's hot chicken more accessible than ever across the United States.
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2025
Catering & Events
Dave's hot chicken launches full catering services for corporate events, weddings, and private gatherings — bringing bold Nashville flavor to events of every scale across the region.
The People Behind the Heat
Meet Our Team
Dave's hot chicken is built on talented, passionate people who believe great food starts with great culture. Here's the crew making the magic happen every day.
Maria Chen
Operations Manager
Maria keeps the kitchen running like clockwork. With a background in restaurant management across the United States, she ensures every order meets Dave's exacting standards.
James Okafor
Head of Quality
James is the quality gatekeeper at daves hot chicken. No chicken leaves the kitchen without passing his rigorous freshness, seasoning, and crunch checks.
Sofia Ramirez
Guest Experience Lead
Sofia ensures every guest leaves with a smile hotter than their chicken. She leads front-of-house training, loyalty programs, and all community engagement at Dave's hot chicken.
Love what we do? We're always looking for passionate people to join the team.
View Open Positions