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Dave's Hot Chicken is Coming to Greater Cincinnati

The popular Nashville hot chicken concept will open seven locations in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky within a few years.

Sep 5, 2023 at 10:16 am

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Photo: facebook.com/Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave's Hot Chicken tenders, fries and mac & cheese

A popular Nashville hot chicken chain is expanding to the Greater Cincinnati area over the next few years.

Best known for its chicken tenders and sliders that come in varying levels of heat from no spice at all to “Reaper,” Dave’s Hot Chicken is a rapidly growing fast-food chain that got its start in a Los Angeles parking lot. Under the Cincinnati Group, a group of local restaurant operators, the street food darling will open seven locations across Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Dave’s says the Cincinnati Group has experience owning and operating a combined 20 Crumbl Cookies locations, including some in the Queen City, and is at the forefront of several successful franchises.

“We are thrilled to have such an experienced group as owners and operators of Dave’s Hot Chicken in the Cincinnati region and its surrounding areas,” Bill Phelps, CEO of Dave’s Hot Chicken, said in a press release. “This Cincinnati Group has a true passion for the brand, and with a vast knowledge of the business and restaurant landscapes, they will be the driving force that spearheads the brand's growth to unprecedented levels. We are eager to see the Dave’s Hot Chicken concept become a sensation in Cincinnati.”

“We are thrilled for the opportunity to bring Dave’s Hot Chicken to the Cincinnati area,” Cincinnati Group member Jaxon Tews said in the release. “Having experience with franchises, such as Crumbl, being so well received really motivated us to seek out other exciting brands to bring to the area. After doing our research, Dave’s Hot Chicken was the clear choice.”

Neither the Cincinnati Group nor Dave’s Hot Chicken have offered a timeline for the restaurants’ opening or said where in the Tri-State the seven locations will open. The fast-casual chain currently operates three locations in Ohio — Columbus, Lakewood and Warrensville Heights — and one in Lexington, Kentucky.

Learn more about Dave’s Hot Chicken here.

Slideshow

23 Fast-Food Chains We Wish Would Come to Greater Cincinnati Already

WhataburgerOpened in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1950 during the “golden age of drive-ins and American automobiles,” Whataburger grew from a burger stand to over 900 stores across the western and southern parts of the United States. Unfortunately, none of the 900-plus restaurants are in the Tri-State area. What are we missing out on? The classic Whataburger comes with a large beef patty on a large bun with tomato, lettuce, pickles, diced onions and mustard. You can also swap the bun for a brioche bun or Texas toast or add American or Monterey cheese, jalapeños, bacon or avocado. Sauce lovers can also ask for their spicy ketchup or famous honey butter, both of which go great with fries. Other all-time favorites include the Sweet & Spicy Bacon Burger, the Whataburger Patty Melt and a Honey BBQ Chicken Strip Sandwich. If none of those are hitting you, the menu, which varies based on location, also lists chicken strips and sandwiches, breakfast options, fries, onion rings and a selection of delicious shakes and malts – including a limited-time Dr. Pepper shake that looks divine, if only because we can’t get our hands on one.

Dave’s Hot ChickenUPDATE: Cincinnati is slated to get seven Dave's Hot Chicken locations within the next few years. Dave’s Hot Chicken’s story starts out in an East Hollywood parking lot. The chain’s founders say they scrounged up $900 to set up a stand and begin selling their hot chicken, which soon became a star of the L.A. food scene. Soon, lines stretched around the block to get a taste of the juicy chicken topped with Chef Dave Kopushyan’s signature mix of spices. Now, the chain is expanding rapidly, but it stays true to its roots with a simple menu. The hot chicken is the star, offered as tenders or sliders with varying levels of heat from no spice at all to “Reaper.” The sides include fries – cheesy or plain, mac & cheese, kale slaw or a single tender or slider. And to take the heat off, you can order a chocolate, strawberry or vanilla milkshake. And with restaurants popping up so quickly, we think it’s only a matter of time before Cincinnati hits the hot chicken jackpot.

JollibeeThe fastest-growing Asian restaurant company in the world, according to their website, Jollibee serves up Filipino-inspired fast food. The chain offers its famous crispy, juicy Chickenjoy fried chicken, Jolly Spaghetti – spaghetti topped with a sweet-style sauce and loaded with slices of ham, hot dogs and ground meat and the Palabok Fiesta, their take on a traditional Filipino noodle dish covered with garlic sauce, sauteed pork, shrimp and egg. Jollibee’s menu also has chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches topped with umami or sriracha mayo and burgers.

Zaxby’sZaxby’s prides itself on its “indescribably good chicken” and Zax sauce, which is seemingly a mix of ketchup, mayo, garlic powder, white vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper. Their menu contains all the traditional chicken offerings like tenders, wings and sandwiches, as well as salads, sides – like fried white cheddar bites and egg rolls – and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. And while none of Zaxby’s’ 900-plus stores are in the Greater Cincinnati area, you can nab some of their chicken with a quick trip down I-75 to Georgetown, Kentucky, or the Lexington area.

Cook OutFounded in Greensboro, in 1989, Cook Out was a chain that operated only in North Carolina until 2010 when it expanded into South Carolina. And in the last 12 years, it’s grown considerably and now has locations throughout the southern United States, including in nearby Lexington. Cook Out prides itself on its char-grilled hamburgers and chicken sandwiches, which you can get in a range of “styles,” like the Cook Out Style burger, which comes with homemade chili, slaw, mustard and onion or the Cajun Style chicken sandwich, which comes with Cajun seasoning, Texas Pete hot sauce, lettuce tomato and mayo. Cook Out’s menu also includes hot dogs, hush puppies, BBQ sandwiches and plates and more. You can also do a Tray, or a combo, and get an entree, two sides and a drink. And we need to take a second to talk about their shake menu: Their list comes with nearly 40 flavors with everything from your classic vanilla or banana to five different kinds of cheesecake flavors, red cherry and pineapple.

Bojangles“IT’S BO TIME!” is something we could shout if we had a Bojangles nearby. Offering a fast-food take on traditional southern comfort food, Bojangles is best known for its chicken ‘n biscuits. In addition to regular chicken sandwiches, the chain also offers biscuit sandwiches, like the Cajun Chicken Filet Biscuit Sandwich, an “all white meat chicken breast marinated with a bold blend of seasonings and served on a made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit,” or the Southern Gravy Biscuit, which is a “hot, open-faced, made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit topped with delicious, country style sausage gravy.” Their menu also features bone-in fried chicken, salads and “fixin’s,” which includes “Bo-Tato Rounds,” macaroni & cheese, green beans and other traditional southern sides. Luckily, you don’t have to go too far to find a Bojangles – Georgetown, Kentucky, is home to one.

Gus’s World Famous Fried ChickenIf you want phenomenal fried chicken, look no further than this Memphis tradition. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken started as a family restaurant, Maggie’s Short Orders, in Memphis in 1973 and was owned by Napoleon “Na” Vanderbilt and his wife Maggie. In the ‘80s, Vanderbilt’s only son, Veron “Gus” Bonner inherited his father’s famous chicken recipe and the restaurant. He reopened it as Gus’s World Famous Hot and Spicy Fried Chicken and not only continued his father’s legacy, but expanded it. There are now 35 Gus’s locations throughout the country, including in nearby Lexington. Gus’s says what makes their chicken so good starts with the skin, which they deep-fry to the color of bourbon and until it has the cruch of an eggshell. Beneath the skin, the chicken is tender and juicy, and the overall flavor is described as bold with a pleasant spice to it. Each location has its own menu, but the bone-in chicken pieces are a constant. At the Lexington restaurant, you can order starters like fried okra, fried pickles with ranch or fried green tomatoes. You can also get baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad and more on the side.

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...