David "Dave" Reyes
Founder & CEO
The man behind the fire. Dave spent two years perfecting his spice blend before opening the doors. His motto: "If it doesn't burn a little, it's not worth remembering."
2017
Founded
50K+
Happy Customers
6
Heat Levels
4.9
Average Rating
7+
Years of Bold Flavor
Our Origin
How dave's hot chicken Began
It started with a backyard pop-up, a secret spice blend, and lines around the block. Dave's hot chicken wasn't born in a boardroom — it was born in a driveway in Montgomery, Alabama.
Back in 2017, founder David "Dave" Reyes couldn't stop thinking about the legendary Nashville hot chicken he'd tasted on a road trip. He spent months perfecting his spice paste — a fiery blend of cayenne, chili, garlic, and a handful of secret ingredients — coating fresh, hand-breaded tenders and frying them to golden perfection.
"People said I was crazy trying to bring real Nashville hot chicken to Montgomery. But that hunger — literally and figuratively — is what drove us from a folding table to a full restaurant." — Dave Reyes, Founder
Word spread fast. What started as a weekend side hustle became a full-time obsession, and in 2019 daves hot chicken opened its first brick-and-mortar location at 7413 Eastchase Pkwy. The rest, as they say, is delicious history.
Explore our full menuWhy We Do It
Our Mission & Core Values
At dave hot chicken, every decision starts with our mission: to serve the boldest, freshest hot chicken while building a community that feels like family.
Our Mission
To deliver authentic Nashville-style hot chicken crafted with premium ingredients, served fresh, and made to ignite the senses of every guest who walks through our door — or orders online.
Our Vision
To become the go-to destination for hot chicken lovers across the South, expanding our reach while never compromising on the bold, hand-crafted quality that made daves chicken a local legend.
Our Promise
Fresh chicken, hand-breaded daily. Spice made in-house. No shortcuts, no frozen shortcuts, no compromises. Just the real deal, every single order, every single day.
What We Stand For
The Values Behind daves chicken
Freshness First
We hand-bread every piece of chicken fresh to order. No pre-made batches. No heat lamps. What you get is exactly what we just made — hot, crispy, and alive with flavor.
Honest Heat
Our six heat levels from No Spice to Reaper are crafted to deliver the real deal. We don't fake mild or exaggerate hot — every level delivers exactly what it promises.
Community Roots
Montgomery is home, and we take that seriously. We source locally when possible, hire from the neighborhood, and give back to the community that made us who we are.
Relentless Quality
From the way we source our chicken to the exact temperature of our frying oil, quality isn't a department — it's how we do everything, every time, without exception.
Our Journey
How We Grew From a Driveway to a Destination
Every milestone in the dave hot chicken story was built on spice, sweat, and a whole lot of love from our customers.
2017 — The Beginning
Backyard Pop-Up Launch
Dave Reyes serves his first batch of hot tenders from a backyard pop-up in Montgomery. Lines form within 20 minutes. Word spreads through the neighborhood like wildfire — and the spice follows.
2018 — Going Viral
Social Media Recognition
A local food blogger posts about daves chicken pop-up and it reaches 100K views overnight. Orders flood in. The team grows to five people and a proper commercial kitchen is rented to keep up with demand.
2019 — First Location
Eastchase Pkwy Restaurant Opens
Dave's hot chicken officially opens its doors at 7413 Eastchase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL. The first week sees a 3-hour wait on opening day. The restaurant earns a 4.9-star rating within its first month of reviews.
2021 — Award Season
Best Hot Chicken in Alabama
Montgomery's food scene crowns Dave's hot chicken the best Nashville-style hot chicken in the state. The "Reaper" heat level wins a regional spice challenge, cementing the brand's reputation for serious heat.
2023 — Online Ordering
Full Digital Ordering Platform
Dave's hot chicken launches its online ordering system, bringing the fire to customers' doorsteps across greater Montgomery. Catering packages and combo deals expand the menu to serve groups of all sizes.
2025 — Growing Strong
50,000 Customers Served
Dave's hot chicken celebrates serving its 50,000th customer and continues to grow its team, its menu, and its reputation as the boldest, most craveable hot chicken destination in the South.
Meet the Team
The People Behind the Heat
Great chicken starts with great people. Our passionate team brings decades of culinary experience and an unbreakable love for bold food to every shift at Dave's hot chicken.
Maria Santos
Head Chef
A culinary school graduate with 12 years of kitchen experience, Maria elevated Dave's hot chicken from great to extraordinary — refining the fry technique and developing the signature sides.
James Porter
Operations Manager
James keeps the machine running smoothly. From staffing to supply chain, he ensures every customer gets the same exceptional experience whether it's a Tuesday lunch or a Friday rush.
Aisha Williams
Customer Experience Lead
Aisha is the heart of the front of house. A Montgomery native and longtime fan of daves chicken, she turned a part-time server role into a full-time mission: making every guest feel like family.
Passionate about great food? We're always looking for talented people.
View Open PositionsReady to Taste the Story?
Experience Dave's Hot Chicken for Yourself
Seven years of passion, premium ingredients, and relentless heat — all in one order. Come taste what the buzz is about.