Florida has never met a fried chicken chain it didn’t immediately fall in love with, but Dave’s Hot Chicken is something decidedly different. It’s an origin story so absurdly American it should be taught in schools. Four childhood friends, $900, and a parking lot in East Hollywood, California in 2017. That’s where this whole fever dream started. No brick-and-mortar restaurant, no swanky launch party, just portable fryers, folding tables, and what appears to be an actual death wish in tender form.
And now, that spicy little parking lot legend is officially coming to Pinellas Park.
Dave’s Hot Chicken opens at 4683 Park Blvd in Pinellas Park on Thursday, August 6, at 11 am, taking over the former Moe’s Southwest Grill location. Which, if you think about it, is a perfect metaphor for this brand’s entire existence. Dave’s is exactly what happens when something goes from “why does this exist” to “how do I invest in this immediately.” Samuel L. Jackson invested. Michael Strahan invested. And now Pinellas Park is next.
The menu is built around Nashville-style chicken tenders and sliders across seven spice levels: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and the Reaper. Yes, the Reaper. The item made with Carolina Reaper pepper that clocks in at up to 2 million Scoville Heat Units and requires you to sign a legal waiver before they’ll hand it over. You must sign a document. For a chicken tender. This country is absolutely something else…