If you’re craving Nashville-style spice and want it fast, you might wonder: does Dave’s Hot Chicken have a drive-thru? The answer isn’t universally “yes” — some locations have drive-thru service, while others don’t. It depends on the franchise layout, local zoning, and when it was built or renovated.
Below, we’ll walk you through what we know about drive-thru availability at Dave’s Hot Chicken, how to find one, and what to check before you go.
Drive-Thru Availability: It’s Location-Dependent
Dave’s Hot Chicken is expanding fast, and with that growth, some newer locations include drive-thru windows. But not every branch has one.
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Some Dave’s locations list “Drive-thru” on their store pages. For example, one Dallas branch on their directory shows a drive-thru.
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However, many stores — especially older ones or urban locations — may only have walk-up windows, pickup lanes, or indoor ordering without a drive-thru lane.
Because Dave’s is franchised and adapts to space and zoning, drive-thru features vary widely by city, store type, and franchisee.
How to Check If Your Nearest Dave’s Has Drive-Thru Service
Here’s how you can find out whether a specific Dave’s Hot Chicken location offers drive-thru:
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Use the official Locations page
Go to Dave’s Hot Chicken website → Locations menu. Search by city or ZIP. Some locations list drive-thru hours. -
Look for “Drive-Thru” label in the store details
On certain store listings (e.g. via store.daveshotchicken.com), drive-thru hours are shown. -
Call ahead
If the website doesn’t clearly show drive-thru info, phone the location directly and ask, “Do you have a drive-thru?” -
Check the app or delivery/pickup options
Sometimes the restaurant’s app or ordering platform may indicate whether drive-thru pickup is available.
Why Some Dave’s Hot Chicken Locations Don’t Have Drive-Thru
There are several reasons why you won’t find drive-thru service everywhere:
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Urban or dense lots — storefronts in cities with limited space may only support indoor or walk-up service.
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Franchise building design — older branches or pop-up legacy stores might lack the structure for a drive-thru.
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Local zoning or building permits — drive-thru lanes require certain permits; not every location can or will upgrade.
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Cost / investment decisions — adding a drive-thru often requires extra construction cost and staging space, which may not be feasible for every franchisee.
Examples of Dave’s with Drive-Thru
While a complete list isn’t officially published, one example is a Dallas, TX location that does list drive-thru hours on its store directory.
That suggests that drive-thru is gradually being included in newer or larger-lot locations. If you’re in a suburban or newer Dave’s branch, the odds of drive-thru are higher than in dense urban storefronts.
What to Do If Your Dave’s Doesn’t Have One
If your local Dave’s doesn’t have drive-thru, here are some handy alternatives:
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Walk-up window — some locations may have a window pickup lane even without full drive-thru.
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Curbside pickup (via app) — order ahead and pick up at designated area.
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In-store pickup — go inside and collect your order directly.
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Delivery — using DoorDash / Uber Eats / others, depending on the branch.
FAQs: Drive-Thru at Dave’s Hot Chicken
Q1: Does every Dave’s Hot Chicken have a drive-thru?
No. Drive-thru availability varies. Some newer branches have it; others only have pickup windows or indoor service.
Q2: How can I easily find out if a specific location has drive-thru?
Check the Locations map on Dave’s official website, look for “Drive-thru” in store details, or call that location directly.
Q3: Is drive-thru listed in Dave’s app or ordering platforms?
Sometimes yes, if order-ahead or pickup tags include “drive-thru pickup.” But app info may not always reflect lane availability — call to confirm.
Q4: Do drive-thru hours differ from standard restaurant hours?
Potentially. Even with a drive-thru, hours may differ. Always check store-specific details on the website.
Q5: Why don’t some franchises install drive-thru lanes?
Reasons include lot size constraints, city zoning rules, cost of construction, or franchise design choices.
Conclusion
So — does Dave’s Hot Chicken have a drive-thru? The answer: sometimes. Some branches offer drive-thru service, but many don’t. It all depends on the location’s layout, permits, and whether the franchise owner included that feature.
If you’re unsure, check your city’s listing on the official Dave’s Hot Chicken website, call the store directly, or use the app to see if “drive-thru pickup” is an option. And if they don’t have one? Pickup, walk-up, or delivery can still get that spicy chicken to you fast.


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