In recent years, Connecticut has seen a growing interest in hot chicken, a spicy dish that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. This trend is reflected in the opening of several restaurants across the state specializing in this fiery cuisine.

One rapidly expanding newcomer is Dave’s Hot Chicken, which opened its first Connecticut location in Milford on January 24, 2025. Located at 1611 Boston Post Road, this Los Angeles-based chain offers a menu featuring hot chicken tenders, sliders, sides, and shakes. Unlike traditional fast-casual restaurants, Dave’s Hot Chicken focuses on delivering customizable heat levels to their customers. They offer seven different spice levels ranging from “no spice” to “reaper.”

The Milford location is managed by Rackson Restaurants, which oversees several franchise operations across the country.

Senior and Dave’s Hot Chicken employee Rema Maarouf shares insight into what makes Dave’s Hot Chicken different from other fast-casual restaurants.

“I think there’s a lot of factors that make Dave’s Hot Chicken stand out compared to other fast-casual restaurants,” Maarouf says. She added that the simplicity of the menu allows employees to focus on quality and take extra care in preparing each order.

Beyond the food, Dave’s Hot Chicken prides itself on its vibrant and energetic atmosphere. Unlike many other fast-casual restaurants where the interior decor is uniform throughout all locations, Dave’s Hot Chicken customizes their decor to fit the location.

“The restaurant itself is decorated in such a unique way. The spray paint style is actually customized for each location so that it’s unique and no one location looks the same,” Maarouf explains.

The growing popularity of hot chicken in Connecticut isn’t just about the food, it’s about the experience.

Junior Cooper Candido, who recently tried Dave’s Hot Chicken, shared his view on the restaurant and its rising popularity throughout the state.

“I first wanted to try Dave’s Hot Chicken because of my friends and seeing it promoted all over social media,” Candido reasons.

Candido also observed the growing presence of hot chicken in Connecticut. The first fast-casual hot chicken restaurant to open in the state was Haven Hot Chicken, which debuted in 2020 in New Haven. Since then, BIRDCODE, a fast-casual restaurant chain specializing in hot chicken and offering unique sides, has opened three locations in Connecticut and plans to open two more.

But it’s not just hot chicken that’s taking over; major chains like Chick-fil-A and Raising Cane’s have also been expanding in the state. Chick-fil-A opened three new locations in the past two years, bringing its total to 16, while Raising Cane’s opened two Connecticut locations and plans to open another in Milford by 2026.

Candido acknowledges the surge in hot chicken restaurants across Connecticut. While he recognizes that Dave’s Hot Chicken is impressive, he also compares it to other popular fast-casual chicken chains. 

“Dave’s Hot Chicken is really good compared to other chicken places, but I’d say it’s a close second to places like Chick-fil-A or Raising Canes,” Candido argues.

Maarouf, however, expressed optimism about the future of hot chicken in the region.

“I do think that the popularity of hot chicken in Connecticut will continue to grow,” she said. “It’s a fairly new concept to Connecticut, and people are also getting more excited now with new places like Dave’s Hot Chicken opening more locations in the state and in the East Coast in general.”

The increasing number of hot chicken establishments in Connecticut indicates a significant shift in the state’s food landscape. As more residents seek this spicy cuisine, it’s clear that hot chicken has cemented its presence in the Nutmeg State.