Dave's Hot Chicken Makes Its Already-Sinister Reaper Spice '50% Hotter'

Dave's Hot Chicken Makes Its Already-Sinister Reaper Spice '50% Hotter'

The chicken chain is already known for having intense heat on the menu. Now, it's taking things to new heights.

Spicy food challenges continue to be an entertaining diversion, whether you're watching others indulge or, for some masochistic reason, crave spicy delicacies yourself.

Dave's Hot Chicken, the national fried chicken chain with outposts in 36 states, has been a favorite for heat seekers because of its Reaper level of spice, the most mouth-singing tier of its seven spice levels. It's a heat that requires diners to sign a waiver. But it's about to get even spicier.

The chain says fans have been asking the chicken purveyor to up the ante. So, it's obliged, making the Reaper spice blend 50% hotter. (I remain unsure exactly how 50% hotter feels on the palate, but I'm not keen on verifying.)

“We’re known for having the hottest, most flavorful hot chicken on the planet, and giving our guests what they’re craving,” said Dave’s Hot Chicken’s CEO, Bill Phelps. "The introduction of our hottest Reaper ever delivers on that."

For those who enjoy torturing their tongue, Dave's Hot Chicken also has the self-inflicted wound box, or, no, it's called the Roulette Challenge. When diners order a Hot Box — a $40 box of 10 chicken tenders — they can take the Roulette Challenge, which places one Reaper-spiced tender in the lot. It's fun to share.

Dave's Hot Chicken only entered Minnesota in 2023, but already has four locations and plans to add others in St. Cloud, Rochester, and in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. Currently, you can find the new, spicier Reaper flavor in St. Paul, Coon Rapids, Minnetonka, and Apple Valley, the latter of which just opened in June.

SOURCE: Bring Me The News