May 27, 2026 - Food and Drink

We tried West Des Moines' Dave's Hot Chicken

Linh Ta

Two fried chicken sliders with drizzle on buns, a heap of crinkle-cut fries, a pickle slice, and a red soda cup on a table; Dave's Hot Chicken wrappers visible in the background. — Dave's Hot Chicken sliders with fries. ($14.50). Photo: Linh Ta/Axios

Linh here. Dave's Hot Chicken, a popular Nashville hot chicken chain, opened its second metro location over in West Des Moines, and I decided to try it to see if it's as spicy as its namesake.

What I got: A hot chicken sliders meal with fries ($14.50). There's a spectrum of heat levels, ranging from zero spice to its Reaper heat, which requires a waiver.

My partner and I talked with the cashier, who emphatically believed we could handle "hot," which was the third spiciest option

💀 My thought bubble: The sweet young cashier was dead wrong. I drank Coke Zero to try and soothe myself, and then I learned that pop actually makes the spice worse???

Anyway, if you're a teenager who wants to impress your friends or a heat seeker in general, this is the spot for you.

If you go: 11am-11pm, every day; 6630 Mills Civic Pkwy., #6110, West Des Moines

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We tried West Des Moines' Dave's Hot Chicken

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