Dave's Hot Chicken Sparks Menu: What to Order & Prices
Last Updated: Sep 2026
I resisted this place for months. Another chicken tender chain, another line out the door, another thing my coworkers wouldn't stop talking about. Then I gave in on a slow Tuesday, ordered wrong, and burned my mouth for forty minutes.So let me save you that. Here's the whole Sparks menu, what it costs, and what to order.
Visit our latest Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu for updated prices, calories, and complete menu details.
Where It Is
| Address | 1565 E Lincoln Way, Suite R-115, Sparks, NV 89434 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (775) 446-5600 |
| Hours | 10:30 AM – midnight, daily |
| Chicken | Halal |
| Setup | Dine-in, takeout, Wi-Fi, highchairs, wheelchair access |
| Payment | Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay |
| Delivery | DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub |
Right by the Outlets at Legends. Easy from Reno, easy off I-80, parking is [your note here — is it a nightmare at 6 PM or fine?].The midnight close is the real selling point. Sparks after 10 PM is a drive-thru wasteland. This isn't.
What Nashville Hot Chicken Actually Means
Quick detour, because people get this wrong. Nashville hot isn't fried chicken with sauce dumped on it. The chicken fries first, then gets brushed with a cayenne-and-oil paste while it's still screaming hot. The heat bakes into the crust. That's why it stays crunchy instead of going soggy.
Dave's follows that method, hand-breads everything, and spices each order separately. Nothing sits under a heat lamp pre-seasoned.
Dave's Hot Chicken Sparks Menu Prices
The Combos
Everything here is tenders or sliders. Tenders come with white bread, pickles, and Dave's sauce. Sliders sit on a potato bun with kale slaw, pickles, sauce on top.
| Combo | What You Get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dave's #1 | 2 tenders + fries | $16.09+ |
| Dave's #2 | 2 sliders + fries | $18.49+ |
| Dave's #3 | 1 tender + 1 slider + fries | $17.29+ |
| Dave's #4 | 1 slider + fries | $11.99+ |
| Tender alone | Single | $5.99+ |
| Slider alone | Single | $8.39+ |
These came off the delivery apps, which pad prices 15–20%. Order in person or through the Dave's app and it's cheaper. Not a little cheaper. Noticeably.
The Seven Spice Levels
No upcharge for any of them, which I appreciate.
| Level | Reality Check |
|---|---|
| No Spice | Plain crispy chicken |
| Lite Mild | You won't notice |
| Mild | Kids are fine |
| Medium | Most ordered. Start here |
| Hot | Your drink disappears |
| Extra Hot | Regret territory for most people |
| Reaper | Waiver, 18+, Carolina Reaper |
Their scale is steeper than other chains. A "hot" at some other spot is roughly Dave's Medium. I thought I was tough. I was not.The Reaper waiver is a real piece of paper. They will hand it to you. People film themselves eating it and the videos are not flattering.
Bites, Mozz, and Loaded Stuff
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dave's Bites | 10 pieces, bread, pickles, sauce | $9.59+ |
| Bites w/ Fries | Same plus fries | $11.99+ |
| Hot Mozz (1) | One fried mozzarella plank | $4.19 |
| Hot Mozz (3) | Three planks | $9.59 |
| Hot Mozz (5) | Five planks | $15.49 |
| Hot Mozz Slider | Mozz, slaw, pickles, sauce | $9.59+ |
| Hot Honey Hot Mozz | Mike's Hot Honey drizzle | $9.59+ |
| Mini Sliders (4) | Four small, any heat | $9.59+ |
| Mac Loaded Slider | Slider under mac and cheese | $11.89+ |
| Hot Honey Slider | Honey drizzle version | $9.59+ |
| Top-Loaded Fries | Cheese sauce, slaw, pickles, Bites | Varies |
| Top-Loaded Buffalo Mac | Mac, fries, ranch, buffalo, Bites | Varies |
| Build Your Own Big Trio | Three items, three sauces | $21.49+ |
| The Top-Loaded Fries are a shared item whether you plan on sharing or not. | ||
Vegetarian Options: Dave's NOT Chicken
Cauliflower version of nearly everything, called Dave's NOT Chicken. Full spice range. Not an afterthought.
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Cauli Tender | Breaded, spiced to order |
| Cauli Slider | Bun, slaw, pickles, sauce |
| Cauli Bites (10) | Bread and pickles included |
| Cauli Mini Sliders (4) | Fries optional |
| Cauli Top-Loaded Fries | Loaded version |
| NOT CKN Hot Box | 20 mini sliders, two heat levels |
Sauces, Sides, Drinks
| Category | Options | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sauces | Dave's, Ranch, Reaper Ranch, Spicy BBQ, Spicy Buffalo, Mike's Hot Honey | $1.79 |
| Sides | Kale slaw, mac & cheese, pickles, cheese sauce, fries | $3.99+ |
| Slushers | Strawberry Lemonade, Orange LavaBurst, Fruit Punch, Mountain Berry Blast | $4.79 |
| Red Bull Slushers | Same flavors, boosted | $8.39 |
| Top-Loaded Slushers | Pop Rocks | $7.19+ |
| Creme Slushers | Rocket, Orange, Strawberries & Creme | $7.19 |
| Shakes | Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry | $6.49+ |
| Top-Loaded Shakes | Oreo, M&M, Fruity Pebbles, Dirt & Worms | $8.69–$12.19 |
| Fountain | 20 oz | $3.89 |
| Get a Slusher instead of soda. Cold and sweet fights cayenne. Carbonation doesn't. | ||
Group Orders
| Hot Box | Inside |
|---|---|
| Tenders | 10, two heat levels |
| Sliders | 10, two heat levels |
| Bites | 40 pieces |
| Hot Mozz | 20 planks |
| Mini Sliders | 20 |
| Hot Box Roulette | 4 mild, 5 medium, 1 Reaper |
| Roulette is a dare disguised as catering. Someone's getting the Reaper. Nobody knows who. | |
Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me
- Extra Dave's sauce on the side is the best $1.79 here
- Mac and cheese kills heat faster than water does
- Sliders survive delivery better than tenders
- Kids? Mini Sliders at Mild, done
- The Dave's app usually beats delivery pricing even counting gas FAQ
How to Save Money
Step 1: Choose your method — counter, Dave's app, website pickup, or a delivery app.
Step 2: Pick a combo (#1 tenders, #2 sliders, #3 one of each, #4 single slider).
Step 3: Select your spice level — Medium for first-timers, Mild for kids.
Step 4: Add a dipping sauce and grab a Slusher instead of soda.
Step 5: Order ahead during lunch or the 6–8 PM rush to skip the line.
Two quick notes: the app costs less than delivery apps and earns rewards points, and if you're ordering to your door, sliders travel better than tenders.
Order Online: daveshotchicken.com
Planning a visit? Explore the Salem Menu and Spokane Menu for current menu items, prices, combos, and spice options.
Mostly Asked Questions
Does Dave's Hot Chicken in Buford have a drive-thru?
No. The Buford location is walk-in and counter service only, and this is the single most common complaint in local reviews. Your fastest option is placing a pickup order in the Dave's app and walking straight to the counter.
What spice level should I order the first time?
Mild if you rarely eat spicy food, Medium if jalapeños don't bother you. Medium is the most-ordered level nationwide and it's genuinely hot without ruining the meal. Remember the spice is a dry rub cooked into the crust, so it builds — don't judge it from the first bite.
Is the Reaper waiver a real thing?
It is. Dave's requires you to confirm you're 18 or older and accept a waiver that mentions injury, distress, and worse. It's made with Carolina Reaper pepper, and the burn typically lasts 10 to 20 minutes after you stop eating. Don't order it as a joke on a first date.
How many calories are in a Dave's tender?
Roughly 550 calories per tender, depending on spice level and how it's prepared. Dave's publishes full nutrition and allergen PDFs on its site if you want exact numbers for your order.
Does the Buford location deliver?
Yes — through Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub, and the Dave's app. Just know that third-party apps mark items up around 25 to 30%. The Hot Box Sliders is $65 in store and closer to $77 on Uber Eats.
What time does it close?
11 PM Sunday through Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday. The kitchen stops accepting orders roughly 10 minutes before close.
Is there a vegetarian option?
Dave's NOT Chicken uses breaded cauliflower in place of the tenders and sliders, available in all seven heat levels. Hot Mozz mozzarella planks are the other meat-free pick.
Can I mix spice levels in one order?
Yes, at no extra cost. Hot Boxes can be split across two levels, and individual items in the same order can each have their own. Handy when you're feeding a group with different tolerances.
How's the parking?
There's a free lot, and it's fine on weekday afternoons. Friday and Saturday evenings get tight because of Mall of Georgia traffic on Buford Drive.
Is Dave's more expensive than Popeyes or Chick-fil-A?
Yes, about 30% higher across comparable items. You're paying for halal chicken, seven spice levels, and fried-to-order prep. Whether that's worth it depends on how much those things matter to you.
What's the best thing on the menu?
Subjective, but the consensus pick is a slider at Medium — the potato bun, kale slaw, and pickles balance the heat better than a plain tender does. Add cheese fries and you've got the standard order.
