A Popular Spicy Chicken Chain is Opening Locations in Eastern Iowa

If you enjoy spicy chicken tenders and sandwiches, you'll love this new chain coming to Iowa! According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Dave's Hot Chicken is planning to open multiple locations in the state!

If you've never heard of Dave's Hot Chicken, that's no real surprise. There are currently ZERO locations in the Hawkeye state. There are restaurants all around us, though. The Dave's Hot Chicken website says they are located in Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.

The Gazette reports that Dave’s Hot Chicken is currently planning to open five locations in the state of Iowa, with three here in the eastern part of the state. That includes one in Cedar Rapids, one in Coralville, and one in Davenport. The other two will be in the Des Moines area. As of right now, we don't know exactly where each each one will be or when they will open, but the Gazette says that "openings across all target Iowa markets could take three to four years."

Dave's Hot Chicken has pretty humble beginnings. According to the official website, it was started in a parking lot in East Hollywood back in 2017 by three childhood friends in their 20s. The first customers found out about the eatery on Instagram, which eventually led to a reporter from EATER/LA stopping by to try it out. The site reads:

"He took a bite of his first Dave’s Hot Chicken tender, and our world changed. The next day he posted, 'East Hollywood’s New Late Night Hot Chicken Stand Might Blow Your Mind.' So much was born for us in that moment. The lines went down the street and around the block."

The menu at Dave's Hot Chicken is pretty simple. It offers tenders and sliders with your choice of "heat." The flavors progress from no spice to lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot, and the spiciest: REAPER. Sides include fries, cheese fries, mac & cheese, and kale slaw. The restaurant also offers chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry milkshakes.

We cannot WAIT to try Dave's Hot Chicken! Have you ever had it before? Let us know in the comments or by sending us a message on our station app!