By JAZZY DUNLEAVY-MEAD
Contributing Writer
Dave’s Hot Chicken is something I’m sure you’ve heard mentioned around campus lately. Located at 1206 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203, the food is absolutely to die for, if the raving reviews from my classmates and friends are anything to go by. It has become a go-to restaurant these past few weeks with its wide array of menu options and hours when college students are the hungriest and aren’t feeling the dining hall.
The company was founded by best friends whose sole purpose was to create the perfect fried chicken. According to the masses, they very well might have succeeded. A snippet directly from their “about us” page on their website says, “The four friends scrounged up $900 to put a tiny stand in an East Hollywood parking lot. The menu was simple, and the chicken was the star.” A star it is, given that there are currently over 100 locations in about four different countries, and they are continuing to expand.
The menu ranges from chicken tenders, to chicken sliders, or a combination thereof, with a varying range of spices going from “no spice” to “reaper” level, which sounds pretty wicked hot. The company even has a signature sauce that comes with each meal known as Dave’s Sauce. If you need to counter the spice with something sweet, there are a number of fountain drinks, milkshakes and sides to choose from.
Dave’s Chicken has been mentioned in People magazine, Nation’s Restaurant News, and over a dozen other publications. You can follow them on Instagram, and you can also order online through said website, which is the perfect way to appeal to college students because let’s be honest, no college kid wants to order in-store when they can order online for pickup. You can also Doordash from them, which of course is every college student’s dream. With only a $1.99 delivery fee and delicious food, you really can’t go wrong on those nights where the dining hall is just too far away.
Dave’s is also listed as a halal eating location, meaning that it is Muslim friendly. Fellow students have referred to it as just overall delicious, easy, and a crowd favorite (considering the amount of times I’ve heard my friends ordering it). The dine-in experience is homey and stays true to its food stall roots. If you’re looking for a place to eat out with your friends, or order some food for an evening of homework or TV Dave’s Hot Chicken is the place for you.
(Some of the menu items do contain allergens such as milk and dairy, but their chicken is fried in soy oil.)
