Daves Hot Chicken

I had a wonderful experience! I ordered the hot sliders, and they were absolutely amazing! The chicken was crispy, juicy, and perfectly spiced. The mac and cheese was also superb. Despite being labeled as sliders on the menu, believe me, they are really full-sized sandwiches.

I visited the restaurant right when it opened on a weekday, so there was no wait, and my food arrived nice and hot. The service was outstanding, and the drive-thru was very convenient. I ordered the #2 combo, swapped fries for mac and cheese, and added cheese to my sliders. Unfortunately, the mac and cheese was a letdown; I took one bite and couldn't finish it. On the bright side, the sliders were quite tasty and had a good kick, as I opted for the hot spice level. The chicken pieces were hearty, and the portion sizes were generous overall. The sliders were flavorful, enhanced by the sauce, and they even provided extra sauce on the side. While I still regard Mico's as the top choice for hot chicken in Houston, this place was definitely worth a visit.

On the downside, even though the fries and mac and cheese were undoubtedly delicious, the overall meal felt somewhat one-dimensional in terms of flavor. The chicken, while well-cooked, lacked depth; it tasted more like seasoned chicken tenders with a predominant paprika flavor. Although the paprika provided a nice color, it ultimately resulted in a somewhat bland taste, missing the complexity of salt, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, or other spices. Additionally, the sandwich had a little too much coleslaw for my taste, and I felt that the meal was somewhat overpriced, especially since drinks weren’t included. The meal came with a standard slice of regular white bread—nothing buttery or toasted to enhance the experience. Overall, I would rate my experience a 6 out of 10. In my opinion, Chick-fil-A’s Chicken Sandwich still holds the top spot, and Raising Cane's remains the best option for value, crispiness, and flavor in their chicken tenders.

I visited the restaurant for the first time and ordered a tenders meal with mild sauce, as well as a tender and slider meal with medium sauce. Although there was a mix-up with the spice level stickers, I received the correct meals. The service was quick and friendly. The chicken and fries were crispy and delicious, but the chicken didn’t quite stand out when compared to other places I've been. Overall, I enjoyed the atmosphere and theme, but the constant playing of 1960s oldies music felt mismatched with the early '90s L.A. hip-hop wall art and decor.

Even with these issues, I intend to return once my wallet has had a chance to recover from the bill. As I mentioned, the chicken was well-seasoned, and the overall vibe was pleasantly laid-back.