
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food restaurant that serves Nashville-style chicken. The restaurant has gained popularity for its spicy chicken tenders and sliders, with spice levels ranging from no spice to Reaper, the latter being the spiciest option on the menu. While the Reaper chicken has gained a reputation for its extreme heat, there is no evidence to suggest that anyone has died from consuming it. However, some people have reported experiencing negative side effects such as nausea, vomiting, cramping, and sweating after eating the Reaper chicken.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of locations | Over 70 |
| Investors | Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan |
| Liability waiver | Required before eating the Reaper |
| Waiver statement | "I acknowledge that eating the Reaper can cause me harm, including, but not limited to, bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death." |
| Reported side effects | Cold sweats, cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, flu-like symptoms, burning sensation, diarrhea |
| Customer reviews | "Inedible level heat", "nearly killed me", horrible, pain, delicious but spicy, defeated me, a difficult ride, shameful, a tug of war between shoving delicious chicken in my mouth and my brain telling me I've been pepper sprayed |
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What You'll Learn

Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper spice level causes bodily harm
Dave's Hot Chicken, a fast-casual restaurant with over 70 locations, serves Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The restaurant offers seven spice levels for its chicken: no spice, lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot, and reaper. The reaper spice level, named after the Carolina Reaper pepper, is the hottest spice level offered by the restaurant.
Before customers can try the reaper chicken, they must sign a liability waiver, acknowledging that eating the reaper can cause "bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death." The waiver is likely a gimmick to make the spice level seem scarier and generate attention, as well as to protect the restaurant legally. However, some customers have reported experiencing negative side effects after consuming the reaper chicken, including cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, sweating, and crying. One customer even described the sensation as feeling like they had been "pepper sprayed."
While there have been no reported deaths from consuming the reaper chicken, the spice level is clearly not for the faint of heart. For those who enjoy spicy food, the reaper chicken at Dave's Hot Chicken may be worth trying, but it is important to be aware of the potential risks and side effects. It is always a good idea to listen to your body and stop consuming something if it is causing discomfort.
It is worth noting that some customers have questioned whether the recipe for the reaper chicken had changed, as they had previously been able to tolerate it without issue. The restaurant may have increased the spice level or made alterations to the recipe, resulting in a more intense heat experience for customers.
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Customers have experienced nausea, vomiting, and cramps
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant with over 70 locations that specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken. The restaurant has gained a lot of hype due to its famous investors, including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan. The menu offers three combos: two tenders, two sliders, or one of each, with a choice of spice level ranging from no spice to reaper, the spiciest option.
The reaper option has gained a reputation for its extreme heat, with customers signing liability waivers before consuming it. The waiver states that eating the reaper chicken can result in "harm, including but not limited to, bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death." While no reports of death have been found, customers have experienced nausea, vomiting, and cramps after consuming the reaper chicken.
One customer recounted their experience, describing it as "actual flames in my gut." They threw up twice and endured wave after wave of cramps. Another customer reported feeling the worst capsaicin cramps they had ever experienced, along with vomiting multiple times. Some customers suspect that the recipe for the reaper chicken may have changed, as they had previously consumed it without any issues.
The extreme spice level of the reaper chicken has become a challenge for many, with people taking on the "Reaper Challenge" on social media. While some customers enjoy the heat, others find it overwhelming and unbearable. It is important to approach spicy food with caution and be aware of one's limits to avoid any unpleasant or harmful reactions.
While the reaper chicken has not directly caused any reported deaths, the liability waiver and customer experiences highlight the potential risks and unpleasant side effects of consuming extremely spicy food. It is always advisable to exercise caution and make an informed decision about one's spice tolerance before taking on such challenges.
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Customers are required to sign a liability waiver
The Reaper has garnered a reputation for its intense spiciness, with some customers reporting that they experienced cramps, nausea, vomiting, chills, and flu-like symptoms after consuming it. Some customers have described the Reaper as inedible, claiming that the heat was so extreme that it caused them pain.
Despite the waiver and reports of negative reactions to the Reaper, Dave's Hot Chicken has become a popular destination for spice enthusiasts. The restaurant has expanded to over 70 locations since its start as a small stand in a Los Angeles parking lot in 2017. The hype surrounding the restaurant has been fuelled by celebrity investments from the likes of Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan.
The waiver serves as a legal protection for the restaurant, ensuring that customers are aware of the potential risks associated with consuming extremely spicy food. While it may seem like a gimmick to some, the waiver is a serious matter, as indicated by the reported reactions to the Reaper.
It is important for customers to carefully consider the risks before signing the waiver and consuming the Reaper. While spice enthusiasts may be eager to take on the challenge, it is crucial to prioritize one's health and well-being. The reported reactions highlight the potential dangers of consuming extremely spicy food, and it is always better to err on the side of caution.
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The chicken is coated in Reaper powder and chile powder
While no reports of deaths from consuming Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper were found, several people have reported having extremely unpleasant reactions to it. The chicken tenders are coated in a blend of Reaper powder and chile powder, and the heat level is so high that customers are required to sign a waiver before eating them.
The Reaper powder used in the chicken is likely made from ground Carolina Reaper peppers, which are the hottest chili peppers on Earth, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. They have an average of 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). The powder is made by grinding up the dried chile pods, resulting in a product that is 100% pure and uncut.
When preparing Reaper chicken, the chicken is typically coated in a mixture of rotisserie chicken seasoning and Carolina Reaper pepper powder before being baked in the oven. This process results in a chicken dish that is extremely spicy and has been described as "inedible" by some customers.
One customer described their experience of eating the Reaper chicken as "debilitating," with waves of nausea and cramps. They also reported throwing up multiple times and feeling as though they had been pepper-sprayed. Another customer described having the worst capsaicin cramps they had ever experienced, along with vomiting and considering going to an urgent care clinic.
It is important to note that while the Reaper chicken is extremely spicy, the reactions described above are not typical for most people. However, it is always advisable to exercise caution when consuming extremely spicy foods and to be aware of your own tolerance levels.
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The heat level of the chicken is unexpected
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-food restaurant chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The heat levels of their chicken range from "no spice" to "Reaper", the latter being the hottest spice level they offer. While the restaurant's Reaper chicken did not cause any deaths, it is notorious for its extreme spiciness, which has taken customers by surprise.
Several people have shared their experiences of consuming the Reaper chicken, describing it as "inedible" and "debilitating". The heat of the chicken caught many off guard, with some experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, cold sweats, and severe cramps. One customer even likened the sensation of eating the chicken to being pepper-sprayed. The heat of the Reaper chicken is so intense that Dave's Hot Chicken requires customers to sign a liability waiver before consuming it. The waiver states that eating the Reaper chicken can cause harm, including "bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death".
Despite the warnings, some brave (or perhaps unwise) souls have taken on the Reaper chicken challenge. One person recounted how they had to pull over on their way home due to the severe cramps and cold sweats they experienced after eating the chicken. Another individual described feeling as though they had been burned from the inside out, with their mouth and sinuses still burning even after throwing up. The heat of the chicken was so unexpected that some customers suspected the recipe had been changed or doctored.
While no deaths have been reported from consuming Dave's Hot Chicken Reaper, it is clear that the heat level of the chicken is no joke. The stories shared by those who have dared to try it serve as a warning to others considering taking on the Reaper challenge. For most people, the intense spiciness of the chicken is likely to be extremely uncomfortable and may even require a trip to urgent care. So, while you may not die from eating the Reaper chicken, it is definitely not an experience to be taken lightly!
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Frequently asked questions
No, there are no reports of anyone dying from eating the Reaper.
People have reported experiencing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, chills, sweating, runny nose, and cramps.
Yes, Dave's Hot Chicken requires customers to sign a waiver before eating the Reaper, acknowledging that it can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death.
The Reaper is Dave's Hot Chicken's spiciest offering, likely made with Carolina Reaper peppers or chile powder.
Yes, the spice levels at Dave's Hot Chicken range from no spice, lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot, and reaper.











































