Dave’s Hot Chicken Allergen Information (2025)

Dave’s Hot Chicken has gained widespread recognition for its flavorful Nashville-style hot chicken, attracting a loyal following of spice enthusiasts. However, for those with food allergies or specific dietary restrictions, finding detailed allergen information can be a bit challenging. While the restaurant is known for its bold flavours and crispy texture, transparency regarding potential allergens in its menu items is somewhat limited. To help customers make informed choices, here’s a comprehensive summary of Dave’s Hot Chicken allergens and dietary considerations based on the available sources.

Dave’s Hot Chicken Menu Items With Allergens

10 Pc. Dave’s Bites
• Soy
• Wheat
• Milk
• Gluten

10 Pc. Dave’s Bites with Fries
• Wheat
• Soy
• Gluten
• Eggs

Hot Box Tenders
• Wheat (in the breading)
• Egg (used in batter or breading)
• Milk (if they use dairy in the batter or the frying oil)
• Soy (in the oil or breading)

Hot Box Sliders
• Wheat (in buns)
• Soy (in sauces)
• Dairy (if cheese is added)
• Egg (in buns or sauces)
• Possible cross-contamination with nuts or shellfish

Hot Box – Dave’s Bites
• Soy
• Wheat
• Milk
• Eggs

Box of Fries
• Soy
• Wheat
• Milk
• Eggs

Hot Box Roulette – Tenders
• Wheat
• Milk
• Soy
• Egg

Hot Box Roulette – Sliders
• Soy
• Wheat
• Eggs
• Gluten
• Peanuts

Single Tender
• Wheat (from bread)
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Potential gluten in breading

Single Slider
• Wheat (present in the potato bun)
• Gluten (found in the breading of the chicken tender)
• Eggs (may be present in the breading)
• Dairy (potentially present in Dave’s signature sauce)

2 Tenders with Fries
• Wheat
• Eggs
• Milk
• Soy
• Gluten

Dave’s #2: 2 Sliders with Fries
• Wheat (from the bun)
• Soy
• Milk
• Eggs

1 Tender & 1 Slider with Fries
• Wheat/Gluten (included in the tender’s breading, the slider bun, and possibly in the fries if they have a coating)
• Dairy (found in the cheese if added to the slider and possibly in the breading or bun)
• Egg (might be found in the coating of the chicken tender)
• Soy (often found in frying oil or condiments)
• Mustard (may be present in condiments)
• Fish/Shellfish (rare, but possible due to shared fryers)

1 Slider with Fries
• Wheat (potato bun)
• Gluten (breading)
• Dairy (potential in sauce)
• Eggs (potential in breading)

Top Loaded Fries
• Dairy (present in the cheese sauce)
• Wheat/Gluten (potential presence due to breading)
• Eggs (possible inclusion in sauces)
• Soy (possible presence in seasonings and sauces)
• Milk (found in cheese sauce and possibly in other ingredients)

Mac & Cheese

Dairy (cheese, butter, milk)
Wheat (pasta)
Gluten (unless gluten-free pasta is used)

Fries

Soy
Wheat
Milk

Cheese Fries

Dairy (cheese sauce)
Wheat (potential breading)
Gluten
Eggs (potential in sauce)

Kale Slaw

Eggs (found in mayonnaise-based dressings)
Soy (present if the dressing includes soybean oil or soy derivatives)
Mustard (occasionally added for extra tang in slaw dressings)

Side of Dave’s Sauce

Soy
Wheat
Milk

Large Dave’s Sauce

Dairy
Soy
Wheat
Eggs

Chocolate Shake

Dairy (primary ingredient)
Soy (often found in chocolate syrup)
It may contain traces of nuts (depending on the preparation environment)
Milk (contains milk proteins)

Strawberry Shake

Dairy (primary ingredient: milk, soft serve)
Soy (often found in strawberry syrup)
It may contain traces of nuts (due to shared preparation equipment)

Vanilla Shake

Milk/Dairy (primary allergen)
It may contain traces of soy (if using certain syrups or additives)
Check for cross-contamination with nuts if the restaurant serves nut-based products

Oreo Top Loaded Shake

Milk (present in the ice cream base)
Wheat (found in the Oreo cookie pieces)
Soy (contained within the Oreo cookies)

M&M Top Loaded Shake

Dairy (from ice cream, milk, and whipped cream)
Soy (present in M&M’s and some ice creams)
Eggs (may be in ice cream or whipped cream)
Gluten (possible cross-contamination in M&M’s)
Nuts (M&M’s may contain traces of peanuts or tree nuts)

Large Oreo Top Loaded Shake

Dairy (milk and cream from ice cream or milk used in the shake)
Wheat (Oreos contain wheat flour)
Soy (present in some ice creams and Oreo cookies)
Eggs (may be present in some ice creams)
Nuts (depending on the preparation, cross-contamination with nuts may occur)

Large M&M Top Loaded Shake

Dairy (present in the ice cream and milk used in the shake)
Peanuts (M&M candies may contain peanuts)
Soy (present in some ice creams and M&M candies)
Wheat (present in some M&M varieties)

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Top Loaded Shake

Dairy (from ice cream and whipped cream)
Soy (may be present in cereal or whipped cream)
Gluten (from Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal)
It may contain traces of nuts (due to cross-contamination in preparation)

Large Cinnamon Toast Crunch Top Loaded Shake

Dairy (from ice cream and whipped cream)
Soy (may be present in cereal or whipped cream)
Gluten (from Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal)
It may contain traces of nuts (due to cross-contamination in preparation)

Frozen Hi-C Flashin’ Fruit Punch

Milk
Soy
Wheat

Frozen Powerade Mountain Berry Blast

Milk
Peanuts
Soy
Nuts

Rocket Creme Slusher

Milk
Soy
Wheat

Orange Creme Slusher

Milk
Soy
Wheat

Strawberries and Creme Slusher

Milk (present in the ice cream base)
Soy (may be present due to certain flavourings or additives)
Wheat (potential cross-contamination or ingredients used in preparation)

Soft Drink

Soft drinks are typically free from significant allergens like gluten, dairy, nuts, and soy. However, always check the label or ask the server if you have specific dietary concerns, as some speciality or flavoured sodas may contain traces of allergens.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.What common allergens are found in Dave’s Hot Chicken menu items?

Dave’s Hot Chicken menu items contain several common allergens, including:

Wheat – Found in the breading of chicken tenders, sliders, and some sides.
Dairy – Present in shakes, cheese-based items, and certain sauces.
Soy – Found in sauces, dressings, and some fried items.
Eggs – Used in mayonnaise-based dressings and some sauces.
Gluten – Present in breaded chicken, buns, and sure sides.
Nuts (Possible Cross-Contamination) – Some shakes and toppings (like M&M’s) may contain traces of peanuts or tree nuts.

2. Does Dave’s Hot Chicken use peanut oil?

Dave’s Hot Chicken does not fry its food in peanut oil. However, some ingredients may be processed in facilities that handle peanuts and tree nuts.

3. Does Dave’s Hot Chicken have any vegan or dairy-free options?

Most menu items contain dairy, eggs, or other animal products. The best option for a dairy-free choice would be requesting unbreaded chicken (though cross-contamination is possible).

4. Can I customize my order to avoid allergens?

You can request modifications, such as ordering chicken without breading or removing certain sauces. However, the risk of cross-contamination remains.

5. How can I check if a menu item contains my allergen?

You can ask the staff for details about specific ingredients and preparation methods.

6. Are the fries cooked separately from breaded chicken?

No, the fries are cooked in shared fryers with breaded chicken, which may cause cross-contamination with wheat and gluten.

7. Are any menu items utterly free from allergens?

Due to shared kitchen equipment, cross-contact with allergens like gluten, dairy, and soy is possible. If you have severe allergies, consult the restaurant staff before ordering.

8. Do Dave’s Hot Chicken shakes contain soy?

Soy may be present in particular shakes due to chocolate or flavoured syrups and whipped cream toppings.

9. Can I request my food to be prepared allergen-free?

You can request modifications (like unbreaded chicken or no sauce), but Dave’s Hot Chicken cannot guarantee an utterly allergen-free meal due to cross-contact in the kitchen.

10. Are there egg-free options available?

Many menu items, especially sauces and dressings, contain eggs if you have an egg allergy, request modifications or avoid certain sauces.