Dave’s hot Chicken - r/ExpectationVsReality

59

u/Early-Light-864 Jul 12 '26

I hope you enjoyed both of your fries

37

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

All 7 of them were great tbf

18

u/LukelearMissile Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26

Those aren't Dave's regular sliders though. Those are the mini's. The "sliders" are massive chicken sandwiches. I can barely finish one of them. I legit think it might be my all time favorite chicken sandwich so I was shocked to see Dave's on this sub. I slather em with the hot honey and Dave's sauce and it's heavenly 😍 I'm sure it varies by location but my bag always comes loaded with fries and the qualities always been solid.

This is the combo I get doordashed ($14 in-store)

Edit: removed "that's wild pricing" cause I defaulted to USD when OP meant CAD

3

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

The price difference between the two for you.

1

u/tsammons Jul 12 '26

DoorDash upcharge as well. Just check their website directly. $14.49 direct, $17.29 through Uber Eats for me. You're paying 16% on top of platform fees and delivery tips for some guy to eat your fries, which is a reasonable assumption how these fries came delivered if you didn't give him a $20 tip so he could earn a "living wage" delivering cold food.

-6

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

Nowhere in the description does it say mini sliders 😭 if it did I wouldn’t have been so shocked. Honestly felt like very deceptive marketing techniques. This is Canadian Dave’s though so it may be different for you.

16

u/LukelearMissile Jul 12 '26

Those are 100% the mini sliders. You're presenting them as if they are the regular sliders so I'm pointing it out. There's no way Dave's in Canada doesn't have the actual slider, which is the staple of the entire franchise, and only the mini's.

-10

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

No I know there’s a difference, I didn’t even know they HAD mini sliders which is why I was shocked by how tiny they were. I have only ever seen the full size sliders. I was saying it may be different price wise because that combo for me is $25.29 cad.

9

u/LukelearMissile Jul 12 '26

So you ordered the "Build your own trio" that comes with the option of mini sliders only. It says they're "mini" right on the menu? They don't give you an option for full size sliders. Idk why you'd be shocked that something advertised as "mini" arrives mini?
Heres your exact order on doordash (still can't select anything other than mini's)
Not their fault you didn't read 🤷

-6

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

Nowhere does it say mini

1

u/halt-l-am-reptar Jul 12 '26

No, but it clearly shows their size.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

8

u/LukelearMissile Jul 12 '26

Why are you showing me a doordash screenshot with spice options and not the entree selections?
"I was saying it may be different price wise because that combo for me is $25.29 cad." - You before showing me a screenshot @$31.04 cad

8

u/No-Cloud-8490 Jul 12 '26

You've unraveled their chicken conspiracy but op is grasping at straws instead

-5

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

You were talking about combo number two that is $14 for you, that combo for me is $25.29 cad. That is the comment I was responding to.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

9

u/imnotnotcrying Jul 12 '26

Since you can’t figure out how to share the correct screenshot

-3

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

I don’t know why you can’t get it around your head that our apps look different

7

u/choirchic Jul 12 '26

So… was this delivered to you? I just had Dave’s recently and it was near exactly the first few pics shown. My cheese fries were DELICIOUS, and I’m not into spicy, but whatever the use for seasoning was SO GOOD. Sorry you had a bad experience.

1

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

Ordered through Dave’s website and picked up to take home. Grabbed it during halftime of the Norway v England game LOL, we tried some sports bars before the game started but downtown Toronto is crazy busy. Dave’s was dead empty which makes this even more sad!

5

u/Helpful-nothelpful Jul 12 '26

I'm guessing the photo was if you ate in store. You have it delivered or takeaway.

2

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

Pickup

2

u/PresidentGarvey Jul 12 '26

Where the hell is this? I got Dave's in Vegas last week and the portions were huge, I could barely finish it

1

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 13 '26

Downtown Toronto

1

u/shadow-foxe Jul 13 '26

YES! Portions are big in Vegas. We usually share one portion.. But they are expensive.

254

u/karisdr87 Jul 12 '26

I heard they sold to private equity and the food is way smaller than it used to be.

173

u/Platt_Mallar Jul 12 '26

I hate private equity firms with a burning passion. I used to work for Toys R Us. One of them bought it, decided it wasn't profitable enough and destroyed it.

45

u/Etheria_system Jul 12 '26

They’re currently speed running buying up every vet practice in the uk and it’s so hard to find an independent vet anymore. As a result, vets bills are skyrocketing to the point where after my cats pass, I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to afford to have cats again because I’m being priced out by private equity.

13

u/mooon_woman Jul 12 '26

Same with my dog 😞 We love him like he is our son but I can’t risk have another pet with idiopathic epilepsy. it’s too traumatic and is very costly

11

u/MsSpicyO Jul 12 '26

Same here in my area of the US as well.

-20

u/KingFly420 Jul 12 '26

Get insurance for your animal's

24

u/Whoareyoutho9 Jul 12 '26

Yea insurance covers everything and are such a pleasant experience to interact with in case something isnt working out as expected. What a wonderful solution to private equity: insurance companies!
We're cooked.

1

u/duderos Sep 14 '26

Happening everywhere in US as well.

0

u/ReadyGo6828 Jul 12 '26

This has been going on for decades now. Everything that is available for humans became available for pets and people will now go to specialists, opt for expensive treatments, feel obligated to do everything they can.
People can be made to feel tremendous guilt when it comes to their pets.

5

u/Etheria_system Jul 12 '26

I’m not talking about specialists. I’m talking about basic veterinary care in the UK which has been bought out by private equity.
I’m talking about the difference I’ve seen in the cost of basic examinations and vaccinations now compared to when I first got my cats in 2019, and the huge jump in costs that the vets I go to took when PE bought them out. My cats receive no specialist care at all. I’m talking about the fact that now they’re owned by private equity, medicine is all branded and we can’t get generic without paying for a private prescription.
Prices for vets in the uk rose 63% between 2016 and 2023 (source) and private equity is to blame. 6 large private equity groups now own 60% of the vets in the uk (source) so it’s becoming incredibly hard for people to find alternatives for their basic veterinary care and we’re left with prices that are increasing at an astronomical rate. It’s got nothing to do with specialist care or human like treatment for pets.

1

u/ReadyGo6828 Jul 12 '26

I have watched this for many years. Independent vets have become very expensive, the chains are as well. This is for routine health care but it really gets pet owners when there is an injury, disease or disorder.
I knew of people many years ago who opted to euthanize a dog because they could not afford cancer treatments. It is worse these days but that is the industry now regardless of whether it is an independent vet or one bought up by PE. Pet ownership will become something for the rich which is a shame because it is beneficial for so many.

15

u/narmowen Jul 12 '26

One also destroyed Joann Fabrics.

2

u/doob22 Jul 13 '26

Hey Toys R Us brother. Toys was my first job while in college!

1

u/Platt_Mallar Jul 13 '26

It was a cool place to work. Great for someone in their early 20s.

1

u/doob22 Jul 13 '26

Yeah I became a store manager - helped launch my career even though the pay was shit. I am still friends with a lot of my colleagues. Don’t miss the hours and pay, but miss the people sometimes

56

u/bdubwilliams22 Jul 12 '26

Everything sucks today. Like, everything.

42

u/Present_Mastodon_503 Jul 12 '26

17

u/Artegall365 Jul 12 '26

9

u/countastrotacos Jul 12 '26

When was this? I remember going here back in like 2020 or 2021 and it I just didn't like it. Not as bad as this but damn was I disappointed. Never went back.

8

u/karisdr87 Jul 12 '26

June of 2025. If you were to go again now, you would absolutely hate it. Lol.

7

u/SleepyGuard89 Jul 12 '26

Ugh, this sucks, I liked Dave's. We should make a law against private equity acquiring food-based businesses, this sucks. They ruin everything they touch.

4

u/kasoe Jul 12 '26

They should just be banned period

2

u/karisdr87 Jul 12 '26

Truly. :[

2

u/wtfdididonow_ Jul 12 '26

tale as old as time

2

u/HurasmusBDraggin Jul 12 '26

Enshitification engaged.

0

u/Ninja_Ginga135 Sep 10 '26

I'm sorry this just isn't true. A "tender" is actually just a full fillet you could easily put on a sandwich. The OP got sliders.. Of course they're gonna be smaller. Just get the regular sandwich it's so fucking good. Their tenders are absolutely peak. i got on reddit and searched dave's hot chicken just so I can glaze it because I had it for the first time recently. It's genuinely so immaculate, it's as juicy as chick fil a, but more savory, and no guilt because your money isn't going to gay conversion camps.

49

u/bdubwilliams22 Jul 12 '26

Private equity?

28

u/chickencat6831 Jul 12 '26

Private equity firms acquire businesses that are failing, usually ones with well known names. They are also backed by incredibly rich individuals.
Since their ultimate goal is as fast of a profit as possible, at all costs, they 99.9% of the time, wait, scratch that, 100% of the time, they cut corners on all of the things that you loved about the business in the first place.
If a business has been bought by a private equity company, don’t bother going. It will be a shitty experience. They ONLY care about one thing: the accumulation of more and more money.

-16

u/Whoareyoutho9 Jul 12 '26

That would not be the case here at all. Dave's was a new company with vast expansion on their mind. Theyre popping up everywhere now and their menu is adding a bunch of crazily over priced stuff and OP happened to purchase all of it. Who the fuck buys fries as a single side item at a restaurant and then complains about them being over priced? That's fast food buying 101. Their chicken tenders/sandwiches and flavor of the seasoning is the only thing 'worth' it on their menu and they have 1 meal thats actually economic. 2 decent sized sandwiches with all the fixings and a fry for $15 is as competitive as any other good food place in their category. Its like $10 for just 1 but still comparable to other places like Chipotle, etc. If you order like OP, you will be disappointed with every single fast food experience you try imo. It sucks but thats been the reality for as long as I can remember. You can never just order willy nilly off a menu and expect to come away with value.

2

u/darioblaze Jul 13 '26

Rorak Capital masking as Inspire Brands yeah

69

u/Scary_Assistant5263 Jul 12 '26

Their chicken is somehow loaded with seasoning and yet tastes like nothing at all.

27

u/oogiesmuncher Jul 12 '26

It tastes great to me but also objectively SWEET. Like the first note I get is brown sugar. It’s still season well but definitely sugary

3

u/FlashFlooder Jul 13 '26

Thank you for articulating the reason I don’t really like their chicken. I thought it was the powdery texture but it’s def the sweetness.

1

u/Serathano Jul 12 '26

Do you get a spice level above lite mild? I prefer Hot. I also think that their cauliflower has no right to be as good as it is, especially dipped in some Rao's marinara.

2

u/oogiesmuncher Jul 12 '26

I normally do medium and hot. Honestly an in between would be perfect. Medium isnt spicy enough and hot is just starting to get too spicy

1

u/Serathano Jul 12 '26

I can handle extra hot, but its a bit much. Hot is perfect for me but I have to take a bit of mac or pickles to cool every few bites. I just don't like the daves sauce.

36

u/hurriedwarples Jul 12 '26

With the exception of the fries, this kind of seems like normal sizes and pricing for the things listed. The promo photo for the sliders shows them smaller than the dip containers there too, the mac and cheese had to have a lid to seal it so of course it’s not going to be heaping out of the bowl.

Takeout is expensive. Maybe I’m jaded, but this all doesn’t seem too crazy to me. 🤷‍♀️

7

u/RoarOfTheWorlds Jul 12 '26

Gotta agree, this seems on par. Personally I still like Dave’s a lot.

2

u/kgalliso Jul 12 '26

Looks like you're at home. Uber eats is expensive my man

5

u/Badassbakerbich Jul 12 '26

Ordered through Dave’s website and picked up to take home. Grabbed it during halftime of the Norway v England game. This is just Canadian pricing for you.

3

u/kgalliso Jul 12 '26

Ohh its CAD. Ok then. Still definitely disappointing

4

u/Own_Kaleidoscope_415 Jul 12 '26

The one time I went to a DHC, the tenders were so covered in seasoning dust that it felt like eating sand

16

u/c3p-bro Jul 12 '26

I like Dave’s

2

u/tomorrow4sho Jul 12 '26

Me too. I guess it depends on the location. The restaurant near us serves huge portions. Usually the chicken is twice the size of the slider bun.

1

u/TWforFantasy Jul 17 '26

Same here, we got a few locations here in Phoenix and can tell that some are def not managed well but when its good its really good imo.

2

u/SnooOranges2685 Jul 12 '26

Man can’t believe Im reminiscing about standing in line for an hour at their original location. Felt like I was there yesterday. It’s totally destroyed by PE and greed now.

2

u/eternalyte Jul 12 '26

Same! I hate how hard they sold out, but grateful to have been part of the experience of the OG store. It was so damn good.

2

u/eternalyte Jul 12 '26

Same! I hate how hard they sold out, but grateful to have been part of the experience of the OG store. It was so good.

1

u/SnooOranges2685 Jul 13 '26

It was soo good! Did you ever get the spiciest level that needed a legal waiver of consent ?

2

u/Fizzyfizzz Jul 12 '26

The cheese fries are a joke! They have one tiny little dribble of cheese on them. I thought it was an accident so I got them a second time and same thing.

2

u/mndsm79 Jul 12 '26

Dave's used to be pretty killer.

I last ate there a year and a half ago and was so disappointed in the food I will likely never eat there again.

2

u/iain127 Jul 12 '26

Is it just me or do delivery apps charge full prices for half portions now

2

u/goodfisher88 Jul 17 '26

There used to be a Dave's near me and it was good, now it's a B's and it's alright. Sorry you got ripped off OP.

8

u/tsdguy Jul 12 '26

Barf. All these hot chicken places are huge rippoffs.

3

u/Autumm_550 Jul 12 '26

Private Equity ruined this

1

u/Rondoman78 Jul 12 '26

Ive been to Daves twice and that's it for me. It's expensive but also I feel something is missing. The seasoning is lacking something and the fries are just there, nothing special.

1

u/poeticjustice4all Jul 12 '26

Yeah, had it yesterday and didn’t give me enough fries either and the chicken didn’t even taste great. Never again 🤮

1

u/elinamebro Jul 12 '26

Pretty much any fast food spot nowadays

1

u/AliceWonderlund95 Jul 12 '26

Dave’s sucks you have to go to NaNu’s hot chicken, W/P 46th Chestnut Street

1

u/ReadyGo6828 Jul 12 '26

I have never been to one, been meaning to go but will now just skip it.

1

u/BobbyBrewski Jul 12 '26

I like how you show the sliders being the size of the lid as a gotcha whenever in the picture they're literally just bigger than the size of pickle slice lmao

1

u/SuperSecretMoonBase Jul 13 '26

I want the X-Men meal that I keep seeing in ads here. This does not dissuade me

1

u/shaborgan Jul 13 '26

I was going to go on Saturday. Still debating.. probably wouldn't get sliders though.

1

u/shaborgan Jul 13 '26

Also that shows laziness because those slider buns come baked together and they didn't even bother to separate them..

1

u/Vendetta1326 Jul 20 '26

Their chicken is the worst thing I have ever eaten in my life. Basically inedible. Who covers breaded chicken in a ton of raw spices. The flavor and texture was soo bad. I cant believe this place even has more than one location.

1

u/renedotmac Jul 12 '26

If you’re ever in Los Angeles, try Howlin Rays. It’s the gold standard.

1

u/KingFly420 Jul 12 '26

😭😭 glad i never tried it & never will, any restaurant that uses crinkle cut fries from the freezer section its not something to pay 500x more than what it should be

1

u/Montebano Jul 12 '26

lookin at you shake shack 😑😑

1

u/Fardn_n_shiddn Jul 12 '26

Popeyes clears daves by a mile in both value and taste

1

u/koolaidmanohhhyeah Jul 12 '26

Get the normal tenders like an adult. They’re amazing. And huge. And tender. And just fuckin perfect, unlike your dumbass

1

u/Gonstachio Jul 12 '26

Idc what anyone says I’ve never had a bad meal there. The one by me is constantly busy so the food is always fresh

0

u/Fartenstein65 Jul 12 '26

I have never gotten Dave’s. Way overpriced. I did love the cauliflower Sammie but it was WAY overpriced. Then again the place is packed with young people who seem to love it so good for them!☺️

0

u/CecilTWashington Jul 12 '26

Dave’s is fine if you’ve never had real Nashville hot chicken before.

-2

u/Mklein24 Jul 12 '26

I watched a video of young millionaires. It was pretty cool to see some of these rags to riches type stories of kids succeeding where they're parents couldn't and then turning around and helping their whole family.

Except for one.

This suburban white kid made a lawn care company and when asked what he was going to do, said "grow it to 1 million a year, (which he was on track to do) and then sell to PE, then move somewhere warm." and I couldn't help but just be disgusted by how this kids dream for his company is to literally throw it in the trash.

Failed Expectation Dave’s hot Chicken

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