If you like spice and sliders, then you’d better try out the recently opened Dave’s Hot Chicken on Rockville Pike.

Dave’s was founded in 2017 as a small pop-up stand located throughout various parking lots in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, by four close friends—Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and brothers Tommy and Gary Rubenyan.

The franchise has grown significantly, with over 300 locations spread across the United States, and has won multiple awards.

Dave’s Hot Chicken recently opened on Rockville Pike on December 18th, 2025. It’s only a 10-minute drive from Rockville High School, making it a convenient place for students to grab something spicy to eat after school.

Students may be wondering: “What’s up with all this hype for Dave’s Hot Chicken?” Well, Dave’s is known for their Nashville-style hot chicken served as tenders and sliders. Customers can customize their spice level, ranging from no spice to the Reaper (which requires a signed waiver).

I ordered a one-slider meal, which came with one spicy chicken sandwich and a side of mac and cheese. I was also able to order one of the top-loaded milkshakes. All of this came out to be $18. The price is on the higher end, but the chicken’s tenderness and spice make it well worth the price.

Personally, I really enjoyed my meal at Dave’s Hot Chicken. The food was really good, but it was a bit pricey. Also, the customer service was great; they were able to serve me my food nicely and quickly.

Now I am going to rate the items I ordered on a scale from 1-10 based on how much I enjoyed the food.

First, we will start with my top-loaded milkshake. I personally liked it; however, it just tasted like a McDonald’s Oreo McFlurry, so it wasn’t anything special. I do recommend just getting the smaller size because the medium size was a lot, and when you got more to the bottom of the cup, there were fewer Oreos. So overall, I give it a 6.5/10.

Next is the mac and cheese. I had a choice of either choosing mac and cheese or fries. I decided I wanted to try the mac and cheese because the visual on the kiosk made it look good. This mac and cheese was definitely one of my favorites. The cheese had a perfect creamy texture, and the taste was just amazing. I don’t know what kind of spice they put in the cheese sauce, but it made it even better. Overall, I give the mac and cheese a solid 9.5/10.

Lastly, I ordered the Dave’s Hot Chicken slider. I chose medium spice because I wanted something balanced, not too mild or too spicy. However, if I went back, I would choose a spicier option since the medium wasn’t spicy enough for me. However, the chicken was super tender and juicy, and the Dave’s sauce added even more flavor to the slider. Overall, I give the slider an 8/10.

Ultimately, Dave’s Hot Chicken is a great place to get something spicy to eat, whether with the family or friends. However, be prepared to drop a lot on the bill because it is on the more expensive side of fast food restaurants. So, if you’re ever in the mood for some spicy chicken, stop by Dave’s Hot Chicken on Rockville Pike.