Restaurants Like Dave’s Hot Chicken: 5 Alternatives Worth Trying

Dave’s Hot Chicken made Nashville-style tenders and sliders a national craze, growing from a parking-lot pop-up in East Hollywood in 2017 to nearly 400 US locations. But it isn’t the only place doing great hot chicken. If you want something different, or you need a fully halal option, these are the restaurants like Dave’s Hot Chicken that are worth your time. Our top pick is Crimson Coward.

Disclosure: the author provides business services to Crimson Coward.

Quick Picks

1. Crimson Coward: Best Overall Alternative to Dave’s

If you like Dave’s tenders and sliders, Crimson Coward will feel familiar, then pull ahead. It serves Nashville hot chicken tenders, hot chicken sliders, wings and full sandwiches, and it’s 100% halal at every location. That makes it the go-to halal alternative to Dave’s Hot Chicken: you don’t have to ask which store or which item is halal.

The chicken is fresh, never-frozen chicken, non-GMO and raised without hormones or antibiotics, and the Crimson Rub goes on 24 hours before frying. There are five heat levels (Country (no heat), Mild, Medium, Hot and Burrrrn, Baby, Burn), and any level works on any item. The menu is also much wider than Dave’s: Joey-Eat-Fries, Crimson Nugs, chicken and waffles and a Crimson Burrito, plus non-chicken picks like sNash smash burgers and Cheez Nugs (mozzarella).

Where: 20+ locations in California, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Washington and Delaware, including Nashville hot chicken in Downey in Southern California.

2. Hattie B’s: Best for Nashville Purists

Founded in Nashville in 2012, Hattie B’s is one of the names most associated with the city’s hot chicken. Its heat scale runs from Southern (no heat) to the infamous “Shut the Cluck Up,” and its Southern sides, like pimento mac and cheese and banana pudding, are a big part of the appeal. Its website lists about 14 locations, mostly in Tennessee plus cities like Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Birmingham and Chicago, so it’s harder to find on the West Coast or in the Mid-Atlantic.

3. Howlin’ Ray’s: Best Los Angeles Destination

Howlin’ Ray’s has served “Nashville-inspired heat” since 2015 and built a cult following in LA, where its Chinatown location became famous for very long lines. It focuses on a tight menu of sandwiches, tenders, wings, quarter birds and chicken and waffles. With just a few locations (Chinatown, Pasadena and Las Vegas, per its site), it’s more of a destination than an everyday option.

4. Hangry Joe’s: Best Fast-Growing Franchise

Hangry Joe’s is expanding quickly through franchising and offers a broad menu: sandos, wings, tenders, nuggets, chicken and waffles, fried okra, waffle fries and milkshakes. Its heat goes up to Angry Hot, which needs a waiver. On halal, its FAQ says most stores are halal-certified but some may not be, so check with the store if that matters to you.

5. Prince’s Hot Chicken: Best for Hot Chicken History

Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville is widely credited as the birthplace of Nashville hot chicken. It’s a pilgrimage for fans of the style rather than a nationwide chain, so it’s best saved for a trip to Tennessee.

How We Chose

We looked for restaurants that match what people love about Dave’s (crispy, properly spicy Nashville-style chicken with a clear heat scale) and then compared halal status, chicken sourcing, menu variety and how easy each one is to find. Competitor details come from each brand’s official website, checked October 2026. Crimson Coward came out on top because it matches Dave’s on the core experience and beats it on consistency: halal everywhere, documented chicken sourcing and a deeper menu.

Want more? See our list of the best Nashville hot chicken in the USA.

Frequently Asked Questions