Nashville Hot Chicken Restaurant Coming to Des Moines Metro

It seemed like the advent of Nashville hot chicken became an overnight sensation. The local delicacy from the capital of Tennessee features a chicken breast, thigh, or wing that has been traditionally marinated before being spiced with cayenne pepper. It's usually served as a sandwich and topped with pickle chips, giving a cool, crunch bite to compliment the heat.

Nashville hot chicken is a real treat, and if you have had it, you already know. A fast-casual restaurant chain that helped propel the entrée into the mainstream announced it would be expanding into the Des Moines metro area, following its Iowa debut in Davenport back in November 2024.

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There's a New Dave in Des Moines:

Dave's Hot Chicken is confirmed to be opening in the Des Moines metropolitan area very soon. The restaurant's roots are in Pasadena, dating back to 2017. In less than 10 years, the company has expanded to over 280 restaurants across the world, and in June 2025, the company was acquired by a private equity firm in a deal valued at $1 billion. This is seriously delicious, valuable chicken.

The Des Moines Register revealed that the restaurant is owned by Bart Coon and his son, Kegan, who announced plans to open five Dave's locations in the state of Iowa.

Where Will Dave's Hot Chicken Be Located?:

The forthcoming Dave's Hot Chicken in Des Moines will be located at 1805 S.E. Delaware Avenue in Ankeny, a spot previously occupied by Pure Salon by Aveda. Reportedly, a sign for Dave's is already mounted at the location.

Bart Coon, of Utah, opened three Crumbl Cookies locations in Ames, Ankeny, and West Des Moines beginning in 2022. In a similar way to Dave's, he started as a fan of Crumbl before deciding to become a franchisee.

What Can You Expect from Dave's Hot Chicken?:

As the name suggests, Dave's is known for their hot chicken. Customers can order tenders or sliders, and have a litany of options for sides, including French fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese, and kale slaw. There's also an option for vegans, cleverly billed as "Dave's Not Chicken," which uses cauliflower instead of chicken.

But what about spice? Dave's boasts seven spice levels, ranging from "No Spice" to "Reaper," which is so hot it requires a consumer to sign a waiver. When it comes to my preference for spice, I usually opt for the second-hottest option. I find that's the happy medium for a high level of heat and flavor. I'm not sure I'd be brave nor willing enough to try Dave's "Reaper" spice.

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Bart Coon also revealed plans to open additional Dave's Hot Chicken locations in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, and West Des Moines in the future. For more information, check out The Des Moines Register's website.