Dave's Hot Chicken Introduce
For New Jersey residents craving a taste of authentic Nashville-style hot chicken, look no further than Dave's Hot Chicken in Kearny. This popular spot has quickly become a go-to destination for those who appreciate a juicy, flavorful chicken tender or slider, and it’s especially known for letting you choose your perfect level of spice. Whether you’re a spice novice or a dedicated 'reaper' chaser, Dave’s offers an unforgettable, mind-blowing culinary experience.
The concept started humbly—from a small parking lot pop-up in East Hollywood, California—and has since exploded into a fast-casual sensation, bringing its signature style of comfort food to communities like Kearny, NJ. What sets Dave’s apart is its commitment to high-quality ingredients, including Halal-certified chicken, making it an excellent and inclusive choice for many local diners.
The atmosphere is casual and vibrant, often described by customers as having a clean, friendly environment that’s great for a quick bite, lunch, or dinner. It's a place where you can relax and enjoy a fantastic meal without fuss. The focus here is simple: delivering exceptional hot chicken and sides that satisfy your cravings.
The menu is designed to be straightforward yet offers plenty of variety, ensuring everyone finds something to love, even those seeking plant-based alternatives. From the classic chicken sliders and tenders to the innovative "Dave's NOT Chicken (Cauli)™" options, the commitment to fresh, hand-breaded food is evident in every bite. They also cater well to families, providing a kid-friendly environment and high chairs for the little ones.
---
Conveniently located in the bustling commercial area of Kearny, the Dave’s Hot Chicken location makes it easily accessible for residents throughout the region. You'll find the restaurant at:
175 Passaic Ave suite 12 b, Kearny, NJ 07032
Situated in the Kearny Commons complex, the location offers a straightforward visit for both drivers and local commuters. A major draw for this specific location is the free parking lot, which eliminates the stress of searching for street parking and makes dine-in or quick takeout orders simple. The restaurant has also been designed with accessibility in mind, offering a:
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
This commitment ensures that the "mind-blowing" hot chicken experience is available to all members of the community.
---
Dave's Hot Chicken provides a range of services designed for maximum convenience and dining flexibility, whether you want to enjoy your meal in-house or take it to-go. Key services include:
- Dine-in: Enjoy the casual, inviting atmosphere perfect for lunch or dinner. The establishment offers ample seating, making it a great spot for solo dining, a quick meal with friends, or a casual family outing.
- Takeout: Orders can be placed for quick and efficient pickup, perfect for busy New Jersey commuters or those looking to enjoy their meal at home.
- Delivery: For those days when you prefer to stay in, delivery is available through various third-party services, bringing your favorite sliders and tenders directly to your door.
- Outdoor Seating: When the weather is nice, you can take advantage of the outdoor seating area for a pleasant al fresco dining experience.
- Catering / Feed A Crowd Options: The menu includes large-format "Hot Box" options specifically designed to feed a crowd, with choices ranging from Tenders, Sliders, and Dave's Bites, including "Hot Box Roulette" for a mix of heat levels. This is ideal for parties, office lunches, or game day gatherings.
- NFC Mobile Payments: The restaurant accepts a variety of payment methods, including major credit cards, debit cards, and convenient NFC mobile payments (like Apple Pay or Google Pay) for a fast checkout process.
---
Dave's Hot Chicken stands out in the New Jersey food scene thanks to a few distinct features and highlights that draw in a loyal crowd, including local college students and families. These features highlight the quality of their food and their dedication to a great customer experience:
- Seven Heat Levels: Choose your spice adventure, ranging from No Spice for zero heat, all the way up to Reaper for the bravest spice enthusiasts. Other popular levels include Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and the unique Carolina Reaper blend.
- Halal Certified: All chicken served is Halal-certified, a crucial feature for many diners in the region, offering peace of mind and inclusivity.
- Variety of Chicken and Sides: The core menu focuses on perfectly cooked, juicy chicken tenders and sliders served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and Dave's signature sauce. The meal options, such as the Dave's #2: 2 Sliders W/ Fries ($17.89) or the Dave's #1: 2 Tenders W/ Fries ($15.49), are customer favorites.
- Plant-Based "Cauli" Options: A standout feature is the inclusion of Dave's NOT Chicken (Cauli)™, which offers cauliflower-based tenders and sliders. Options like the Cauli Dave's #4: 1 Cauli Slider with Fries ($15.49) provide a delicious, vegetarian-friendly alternative.
- Unique Drinks and Desserts: Beyond the main courses, they offer refreshing specialty drinks like the Slushers (Frozen Hi-C Orange LavaBurst, Frozen Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade, etc., all $4.39) and decadent Top-Loaded Shakes (e.g., M&M, Oreo, or Fruity Pebbles in various sizes), perfect for cooling off after tackling a spicy meal.
- Signature Sides: Complement your meal with their popular, seasoned fries, creamy Mac & Cheese, fresh Kale Slaw, or the fully-loaded **Regular Top Loaded Fries ($13.09)**, topped with cheese sauce, pickles, kale slaw, and Dave's Bites.
---
If you need to contact the Kearny location or find them with a GPS, here is the essential information:
Address: 175 Passaic Ave suite 12 b, Kearny, NJ 07032
Phone: (201) 299-6499 or +1 201-299-6499
---
Dave’s Hot Chicken in Kearny has established itself as a must-visit destination for comfort food in New Jersey, and there are several compelling reasons why it’s worth choosing for your next meal. Firstly, the quality of the food is consistently praised by local patrons. The chicken is guaranteed to be juicy, tender, and hand-breaded, delivering on the promise of an exceptional hot chicken experience. The fact that the chicken is Halal-certified makes it a widely accessible and appealing choice, distinguishing it from many other fast-casual chicken restaurants in the area. This commitment to quality and dietary needs is a significant factor in its local popularity.
Secondly, the customizability of the heat level ensures that the restaurant truly has something for everyone. Whether you prefer the mellow flavor of No Spice or are ready to sign the waiver for the fiery Reaper, you have full control over your dining experience. The menu structure, focusing on tenders and sliders, keeps things simple but highly effective, making it easy to quickly get a satisfying meal.
Moreover, the dedication to customer service often shines through, as noted in customer feedback that highlights the friendly and fantastic staff. Service is often described as fast and attentive, contributing to a positive overall experience. The casual, clean, and graffiti-inspired ambiance creates a fun and welcoming environment, reminding you of its street food roots but with a cleaner, brighter modern touch.
Finally, the inclusive menu—featuring both the standard hot chicken and the popular Cauli alternatives, plus a variety of delicious shakes and sides—makes it a perfect spot for diverse groups. It caters to lunch, dinner, and solo dining, with amenities like free parking and excellent accessibility. For an authentic, high-quality, and mind-blowingly flavorful Nashville-style hot chicken meal in New Jersey, Dave's Hot Chicken in Kearny is a solid choice.
Dave's Hot Chicken Menu
Slushers
- Frozen Hi-C Orange LavaBurst $4.39
Explosive fruit flavors and 100% of the vitamin C your body needs.
- Frozen Hi-C Flashin' Fruit Punch $4.39
Explosive fruit flavors and 100% of the vitamin C your body needs.
- Frozen Minute Maid Strawberry Lemonade $4.39
100% Pure squeezed pasteurized orange juice. A delicious orange juice with a taste that’s the next best thing to fresh squeezed.
- Frozen Powerade Mountain Berry Blast $4.39
A combination of electrolytes and carbohydrates that provide effective hydration and energy.
Meals
- Dave's #4: 1 Slider With Fries $13.09
Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- Dave's #2: 2 Sliders W/ Fries $17.89
Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- Dave's #3: 1 Tender & 1 Slider W/ Fries $16.69
Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce & all tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles and a side of Dave's sauce.
- Dave's #1: 2 Tenders W/ Fries $15.49
All tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles and a side of Dave's sauce
Drinks
- 20 Oz. Diet Coke $3.59
A crisp, refreshing taste you know and love with zero calories.
- 20 Oz. Coke Zero $3.59
The same great taste but with zero calories.
- 20 Oz. Coke $3.59
The cold, refreshing, sparkling classic that America loves.
- 20 Oz. Sprite $3.59
The cold, refreshing flavors of lemon and lime, perfectly blended.
Daves Burstin Beverages
- Burstin Mango Regular Shake $9.59
New! Mango Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of mango.
- Burstin Strawberry Large Shake $12.49
New! Strawberry Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of strawberry.
- Burstin’ Strawberry Slusher $6.79
New! Strawberry Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of strawberry.
- Burstin Strawberry Regular Shake $9.59
New! Strawberry Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of strawberry.
- Burstin’ Mango Small Shake $8.39
New! Mango Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of mango.
- Burstin Mango Large Shake $12.49
New! Mango Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of mango.
- Burstin’ Mango Slusher $6.79
New! Mango Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of mango.
- Burstin’ Strawberry Small Shake $8.39
New! Strawberry Bursties! Fruit-flavored, bursting bubbles for a juicy "pop" of strawberry.
Dave's NOT Chicken (Cauli)™
- Cauli Daves #1: 2 Cauli Tenders With Fries $20.29
Cauliflower Tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles and a side of Dave's sauce.
- Cauli Daves #4: 1 Cauli Slider With Fries $15.49
Cauliflower Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- 10 Pc. Cauli Tender Bites W/ Fries $11.89
Cauliflower bites served with a slice of bread and side of Dave's sauce
- Single Cauli Slider $10.39
Cauliflower Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- Single Cauli Tender $7.99
All Cauliflower Tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles, and a side of Dave's sauce
- Cauli Dave's #3: 1 Cauli Tender & 1 Cauli Slider W/ Fries $21.49
Cauliflower Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce & all Cauli Tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles and a side of Dave's sauce.
- Cauli Dave's #2: 2 Cauli Sliders W/ Fries $22.59
Cauliflower Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- 10 Pc. Cauli Tender Bites $8.39
Cauliflower bites served with a slice of bread and side of Dave's sauce
Top-Loaded Shakes
- Small M&M Top Loaded Shake $8.39
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Small Fruity Pebbles Top Loaded Shake $8.39
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Large Fruity Pebbles Top Loaded Shake $12.49
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Large M&M Top Loaded Shake $12.49
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Regular Fruity Pebbles Top Loaded Shake $9.59
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Regular Oreo Top Loaded Shake $9.59
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Regular M&M Top Loaded Shake $9.59
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Large Oreo Top Loaded Shake $12.49
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
- Small Oreo Top Loaded Shake $8.39
Choose your shake flavor: Chocolate, Vanilla, or Strawberry.
Dave's Bites and Top Loaded Fries
- 10pc. Dave's Bites $8.39
White meat chicken tender bites served with a slice of bread, pickles, and side of Dave's sauce.
- Small Top Loaded Fries $8.39
Fries piled high with cheese sauce, pickles, kale slaw and topped with 3 Dave’s Bites and drizzle of Dave’s sauce.
- 10 Pc. Dave's Bites W/ Fries $11.89
White meat chicken tender bites served with a side of fries, a slice of bread, pickles, and side of Dave's sauce.
- Large Top Loaded Fries $19.09
Fries piled high with cheese sauce, pickles, kale slaw and topped with 10 Dave’s Bites and drizzle of Dave’s sauce.
- Regular Top Loaded Fries $13.09
Fries piled high with cheese sauce, pickles, kale slaw and topped with 6 Dave’s Bites and drizzle of Dave’s sauce.
DashPass Exclusive Item(s)
- 2 Piece Dave’s Mini Sliders $9.59
2 Mini Sliders (sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and drizzled with Dave's sauce). Available in No Spice, Medium or Hot
- Dave's Dash #2 W/Drink $19.09
Dave's #2 (2 sliders w/fries) plus a bottled drink. All sliders are served with kale slaw, pickles, a drizzle of Dave's sauce, and a side of Dave's sauce.
Feed A Crowd
- Cauli Slider Hot Box $101.19
10 Cauliflower Sliders. Choice of Two Heat Levels (5/Heat Level)
- Hot Box - Tenders $53.59
10 Tenders. Choice of Two Heat Levels (5/Heat Level)
- Box Of Fries $11.99
18 ounces of our awesomely seasoned and perfectly crispy fries!
- Cauli Bites Hot Box $35.79
40 pcs. of cauliflower bites served with a slice of bread and side of Dave's sauce.
- Hot Box Roulette- Tenders $53.59
10 tenders (4 mild, 5 medium, 1 Reaper®...are you ready?)
- Hot Box Roulette- Sliders $77.39
10 sliders (4 mild, 5 medium, 1 Reaper®...are you ready?)
- Hot Box - Dave's Bites $35.79
40 pcs. of white meat chicken tender bites served with a slice of bread and side of Dave's sauce.
- Hot Box - Sliders $77.39
10 Sliders. Choice of Two Heat Levels (5/Heat Level)
Sides
- Cup Of Pickles $2.39
Take yourself home a 1/2 Pint of Pickles!
- Single Slider $8.99
Sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles and drizzled with Dave's sauce
- Single Tender $6.59
All tenders are served with sliced bread, pickles, and a side of Dave's sauce
- Side Of Dave's Sauce $0.59
Each combo comes with Dave's sauce, but you can get more!
***NEW*** Dave’s Mini Sliders
- Hot Box Of Minis $53.59
20 Mini Sliders. Available in No Spice, Medium or Hot.. Choice of Two Heat Levels (10/Heat Level) Serves 5
- Dave’s Mini Sliders W/ Fries $13.09
4 Mini Sliders served with fries (sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and drizzled with Dave's sauce). Available in No Spice, Medium or Hot
- Dave’s Mini Sliders $9.59
4 Mini Sliders (sliders are served on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, and drizzled with Dave's sauce). Available in No Spice, Medium or Hot
Dave's Hot Chicken Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- College students
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Parking
Dave's Hot Chicken Photos










Dave's Hot Chicken Location
Dave's Hot Chicken
175 Passaic Ave suite 12 b, Kearny, NJ 07032, USA
Dave's Hot Chicken Reviews
cashierspiceslidersfriesatmospherepatientfood and servicethe menuenergyserver
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1Dave's Hot Chicken never disappoints, and we had such excellent experience at this location. The service was fast, friendly, and fantastic. The food met our high expectations. My chicken sandwich was pretty good. We'll definitely stop by here again next time we're passing through.
July 18 · AonIt Was my First Time Here and Claudia Was So Amazing , From the Greet and to the Helpful options Given to Choose from the Delicious Menu .The Space was Clean , Tables , Food was Fresh and I Appreciated the Service given By The Lovely Claudia ❤️Thank You I will be Back … And I Did Order food to Go as well 👏🏾👌🏾
September 29 · Dre s (Kit)The staff was excellent, very courteous, and helpful. Elliott, thank you so much for all of your help! We ordered the top-loaded fries, mac and cheese, and one tender slider. All the food we got was just okay, but the mac was bland, so we weren't fans. Other than that, our experience was good.
July 10 · Skylin WilliamsI hate having to write this review because I actually love this restaurant, but last night I had gotten off work at 11 pm and arrived home to see there wasn’t any food to eat. I decided to order delivery here via uber eats because you’re very consistent and always fill me up when I need it. I had gotten the two slider combo with fries and my ordered arrived a little past midnight. I will say I ordered 1 minute before online orders stopped at this location (I’ve worked in food service for over 5 years so I’m aware how sucky that is) so I don’t know if the staff on board that night had a bone to pick with me for that or not. Regardless, I can’t control what time I get home and what time you guys close so I pulled the trigger on ordering very late. When my order arrived, I expected the usual high quality I get from you only to be disappointed that I was given two sliders that had two small “tenders” that were actually more breading than they were chicken. I don’t like calling foul play but seeing this much of a dip in quality under the circumstances definitely seems a bit targeted. Especially when my food looks like this. Had I pulled something like this back when I was in food service I’d be reprimanded I hope the same follows after this review. I hope to see the same quality I’m used to moving forward.
August 16 · Cristian CedenoThe sauce is wild. I got mild and this is spicy. I love it. 10/10 would return for a possibly spicier sauce. After taking more bites the spice mellowed out and became regular.
September 26 · Marley Bee
More restaurants near me
Crown Fried Chicken4.0 (108 reviews)64 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Masagana Enterprises Inc4.0 (104 reviews)80 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Consigliere4.0 (60 reviews)31 Warren St, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
Caribbean Essence3.0 (83 reviews)91 Heckel St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Shi's Cakesu2019 Coffeehouse5.0 (62 reviews)85 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Anthony's Bakery0.0 (0 reviews)90 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Silver Lake Cheesesteak & Tacos4.0 (338 reviews)93 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Aaliyah's Bakery3.0 (53 reviews)154 Belmont Ave, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
El Bi Social Club5.0 (4 reviews)Newark, NJ 07107, USA
Emilyu2019s Creations Chocolate Factory4.0 (44 reviews)112 Franklin St, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Dolapos kitchen3.0 (51 reviews)421 Central Ave, Newark, NJ 07107, USA
Wine bar0.0 (0 reviews)2A Franklin St Terrace, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA
Categories
Top Visited Sites
Gong Cha3.0 (68 reviews)
Croton Mini Deli4.0 (187 reviews)
Greenpoint Fish & Lobster Co.4.0 (929 reviews)
J P Clarkes4.0 (104 reviews)
7th Street Burger West Village4.0 (470 reviews)
Buttermilk Bakeshop4.0 (175 reviews)Top restaurants Searches
Trending Dining Insights Posts
Discovering the Best Dessert Shops That Focus on Handmade Creations
Exploring Chocolate Shops That Pair Flavors With Expert Craftsmanship
The Ultimate Guide to Cat Cafes and Dog-Friendly Cafes
How Middle Eastern Restaurants Are Innovating With Fusion Flavors
Exploring Dessert Shops That Offer Artisan Treats With Unique Flavor Profiles
Exploring Barbecue Restaurants That Focus on Slow-Cooked Regional Specialties
