Dave's Hot Chicken, at the end of the day, is fried chicken. Whole breast meat, which is a quality advantage over mechanically processed fast food, but deep-fried and built around calorie-dense combos. The protein numbers are strong across the menu. The calories and sodium scale up fast depending on what you order.
Dave's Hot Chicken Nutrition Calculator — build your order and see the full breakdown before you go.
The Calorie Range Is Wide
Dave's has five numbered combos and a bites menu. Here's what each one costs from the official nutrition chart:
| Order | Calories | Protein | Fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dave's #5 — 1 Tender + Fries (No Spice) | 930 | 31g | 48g | 2,410mg |
| Dave's #5 — 1 Tender + Fries (Reaper) | 990 | 31g | 54g | 2,680mg |
| Dave's #1 — 2 Tenders + Fries (No Spice) | 1,230 | 56g | 58g | 3,080mg |
| Dave's #1 — 2 Tenders + Fries (Reaper) | 1,350 | 56g | 71g | 3,630mg |
| Dave's #4 — 1 Slider + Fries (No Spice) | 1,060 | 37g | 56g | 2,350mg |
| Dave's #3 — 1 Tender + 1 Slider + Fries (No Spice) | 1,370 | 62g | 67g | 3,400mg |
| Dave's #2 — 2 Sliders + Fries (No Spice) | 1,500 | 68g | 75g | 3,340mg |
| Dave's Bites 10pc (No Sides, No Spice) | 650 | 41g | 35g | 1,570mg |
| Dave's Bites 10pc + Fries (No Spice) | 1,090 | 47g | 55g | 2,770mg |
| Single Tender (No Spice, no sides) | 490 | 25g | 29g | 1,210mg |
| Single Slider (No Spice, no sides) | 620 | 31g | 37g | 1,150mg |
Dave's #5 at 930 calories is a real meal. Dave's #2 at 1,500 calories is a big one. Add Dave's Sauce (180 cal) and a regular shake (740–760 cal) to any combo and the meal total climbs fast.
The Protein Upside
The protein numbers at Dave's are genuinely strong, especially for a fried chicken concept.
Dave's Bites 10pc stands out: 41g of protein at 650 calories without fries. That's better protein efficiency than any of the combo meals and makes it the best order on the menu for anyone prioritizing protein-to-calorie ratio.
Dave's #1 — 2 tenders with fries — delivers 56g of protein at 1,230 calories. That's a legitimate high-protein meal number. Dave's #3, the mixed tender and slider combo, hits 62g of protein at 1,370 calories.
The fat load is high across everything — frying does that. But for people who aren't strict about fat source, the protein delivery is real.
Where Orders Go Wrong
Shakes: A small shake is 590–610 calories. A regular is 740–760 calories. A large is 1,110–1,140 calories. Most people don't order a small — a regular shake added to Dave's #1 takes the meal to 1,970–1,990 calories. Adding toppings (Oreos, M&Ms) adds another 270–490 calories on top.
Top Loaded Fries: 980–1,000 calories per order. Easy to add as a side without realizing it doubles the fry calories versus regular fries (440 cal).
Dave's Sauce: 180 calories per cup, 18g of fat, zero protein. It comes with most combos automatically. The chicken has plenty of flavor from the spice blend — logging it separately matters if you're tracking.
Reaper spice: Adds 60 calories per tender or slider from the chili oil. Negligible on a single item, adds up across Dave's #1 or #2.
Kale slaw: 270 calories and 26g of fat — not a light side. Swapping regular fries (440 cal) for kale slaw saves 170 calories, which is worth doing, but the slaw isn't free.
How to Order When You're Tracking
Lowest calorie full meal: Dave's Bites 10pc without fries — 650 calories and 41g of protein. Best protein-to-calorie ratio on the menu by a wide margin.
Lightest combo: Dave's #5 (1 tender + fries) at 930 calories and 31g of protein. Add kale slaw instead of fries and it's about 760 calories — one of the few combinations that fits comfortably on a 1,500-calorie cut day.
Best combo for protein: Dave's #1 (2 tenders + fries) at 1,230 calories and 56g of protein. Works well at maintenance or above. Skip the sauce and drink water and it stays at 1,230.
Hard skips on a tracking day: Shakes, top loaded fries, Dave's Sauce. A regular shake alone is 740–760 calories — more than a single tender with fries.
See the full breakdown for your exact order in the Dave's Hot Chicken Calorie Calculator.
Who Dave's Works For
High protein targets: Dave's Bites 10pc at 41g of protein for 650 calories, or Dave's #1 at 56g for 1,230 calories. Hard to beat those numbers at a fast food chain.
Eating at maintenance: Dave's #1 or #3 fit easily into a 2,500-calorie day. The protein is useful and the calories are manageable if you skip the shake.
On a cut: Dave's #5 or Bites 10pc without fries are your orders. Both fit into a 1,500–1,800 calorie day without sacrificing protein. Avoid the slider combos — sliders add bun carbs and extra calories without improving the protein numbers.
Watching sodium: Every combo at Dave's clears 2,300mg of sodium, which is the full daily recommended limit. Worth knowing, but it affects water retention rather than fat loss directly.
The Bottom Line
Dave's protein numbers are among the best at any fast food chain — especially the Bites, which deliver 41g of protein at 650 calories. The combo meals are filling and predictable once you know the numbers. The meal goes sideways when shakes, top loaded fries, or extra sauce get added to an already substantial combo.
Order the Bites or Dave's #5 if you're watching calories. Order Dave's #1 if protein is the priority. Skip the shake.
Build your order before you go: Dave's Hot Chicken Macro Calculator