Dave’s Hot Chicken – Spiciest Dish in Columbus Series

Earlier this year, Columbus was blessed to have another Hot Chicken chain open for business.

Hailing from California and from humble beginnings of a “tiny stand in an East Hollywood parking lot,” the chain has grown to more locations than I’m willing to count. The Columbus location is their third in Ohio with one in Lakeview and one other in Fairview Park.

As a heat-seeking city, there was quite a bit of fanfare when Dave’s opened and from driving by a few times previously, the place has definitely been keeping busy (lines out into the street for drive-thru).

Dave’s Hot Chicken has a pretty straightforward menu. There are four combos to choose from:

• 2 Tenders with Fries
• 2 Sliders with Fries
• 1 Tender + 1 Slider with Fries
• 1 Slider with Fries

Not much thinking is needed. Each of the chicken choices comes at one of seven heat levels: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, Reaper (warning!). You can also snag some Kale Slaw or Mac and Cheese if you’re not satisfied with fries as a side. Simple, solid, menu. But what wonders behold from a heat level?

Kicking the door open, and somersaulting into Dave’s Hot Chicken, I yelled “I’m back!” to no one in particular. A few onlookers cursed quietly at me under their breath, so I grabbed my order and headed out.

The Lady of the Farm rolled in with a Mild, just to make sure she wasn’t going to die, and it’s definitely at a very chill level. I was chasing something greater than myself, the Reaper. A disclaimer-riddled level of heat that has kicked plenty of folks in the yarbles over the years. But first, it was time for a warmup with the second hottest, the Extra Hot tender.

After holding the Extra Hot aloft and kissing the tender gently, I began my journey. Familiar flavors of cayenne, salt, something sweet (that was new), and something earthy (cumin maybe?), began to warm my mouth. It has been too long friends, but that familiar hot chicken heat was like a high school homecoming, but without the awkward conversations and humble bragging. Not much going on with the Extra Hot, most closely related to the Medium at Hot Chicken Takeover.

I was deep in concerned thought about if the Reaper level was a lie when I heard a voice whisper, “the spice must flow.” I whirled around to see a haggard old man waving an arm over my box of Reaper Tender and Slider. “The spice extends life,” he beckoned as I approached the glowing box of nuclear red powders. Using my spicy sleuthing skills, I deduced that the slider would be less spicy than the tender due to the nature of its accompanying ingredients. Examining the heft, I went for a piece jutting out of the bread.

The flavor is unmistakable and my brain did a dance of, “I know that flavor, it brings pain, you’re good for 20 more seconds.” Pressing on, the pickles, bread, kale slaw, and Dave’s Sauce (an orange mayo mixture), gave some reprieve, but the Carolina Reaper powder would not be denied. I began to uncontrollably sniffle, my entire sinus system letting go faster than Adidas did Ye. “The spice expands consciousness,” the lurking old man shouted from somewhere in the room. A strong mouth heat, back of the tongue, back of the throat, but a controlled burn with the rest of the slider bits.

“The spice is vital to space travel,” came another whisper as I reached for the spartan tender. No frills, no assistance offered just pure, unadulterated Carolina Reaper Powder-covered tender. This was it, the true test. I must not fear. I took a deep breath and bit into the bright red tender. An outside coating dryer than Arrakis, the powders began to collect at the back of my throat, forming a pile of heat and pain that I’d felt a few times before. Further into the tender, more of the same. With no sauce and no bread, my eyes got teary. Was it joy? Nostalgia? Nope, just the hostile power of the Reaper. As more snot flowed, I began to understand why so many were scared of the Reaper level at Dave’s Hot chicken. One single tear rolled down my cheek.

As I finished the last bite, a disappearing voice whispered, “these were terrible Dune references,” but I couldn’t hear it. The Reaper-level chicken had unclogged most of my seasonal sinuses and left me to think about the heat. While Extra Hot is more of a Medium, Reaper gets serious real fast, ratcheting it up several levels. I’m appreciative to Dave’s for doing what Hot Chicken Takeover wouldn’t, and slamming in some Carolina Reaper powder into their highest level of heat.

Considering the above, I’m placing Dave’s Hot Chicken Reaper Tenders at #11 on the list. It’s a solid heat and too much for some, but the spread of the powder gives it consistency without being deadly. A pleasant surprise and a welcomed addition to the Columbus spicy food scene.

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