
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The restaurant has seven levels of spiciness, with the top level known as the Reaper. The Reaper is so spicy that customers are required to sign a waiver before trying it, acknowledging that eating it can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death. Despite the warnings, many people are intrigued by the Reaper and curious to know what it is made of.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Spice Levels | 7 |
| Top Level of Spice | The Reaper |
| Waiver Required | Yes |
| 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." |
| Taste | Rich smokiness, followed by extreme spiciness |
| Effects | Sweating, watering eyes, hiccuping, crying, stomach pain, running nose |
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What You'll Learn

The Carolina Reaper extract obliterates other flavours
The Carolina Reaper, once the hottest pepper in the world, is not for the faint-hearted. Dave's Hot Chicken offers seven spice levels, with the top level known as "The Reaper". The Reaper is so hot that customers are required to sign a waiver before ordering it, acknowledging that eating it can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death.
The Carolina Reaper extract in Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper offering obliterates any other flavour. The initial rich smokiness lulls customers into a false sense of security, but the spiciness quickly takes over, engulfing the entire respiratory system. The heat is so intense that it is difficult to taste any other flavours in the chicken. The extract from the Carolina Reaper pepper is so concentrated that it feels like a chemical trying to burn a hole through the mouth and down into the stomach. It is described as tasting like burnt chalk and chemical burns, with a bitter, dry, and nasty flavour.
While some customers find the Reaper unbearably spicy, others with high spice tolerance enjoy the flavour. One customer who regularly consumes Carolina Reaper or Trinidad Scorpion sauce/purée in their food describes the taste as "remarkably good". However, for those not used to such extreme spice levels, it may taste like "roadkill dusted tarmac with an aftertaste of death".
The Reaper spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken is not for the faint-hearted. It is significantly hotter than the other spice levels, including "Extra Hot", which already packs a punch. The heat from the Carolina Reaper extract is so intense that it overwhelms the taste buds, making it difficult to detect any other flavours in the chicken or accompanying sides.
Dave's Hot Chicken's Reaper spice level is an extreme challenge for even the most adventurous spice enthusiasts. The Carolina Reaper extract takes centre stage, dominating the flavour profile and delivering an intense heat experience that lingers. While some customers may find the heat tolerable, for most, the Reaper is a lesson in humility and a reminder of their human fallibility.
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It's so spicy, customers must sign a waiver
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The restaurant has over 70 locations and has received investments from celebrities like Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan.
Dave's Hot Chicken offers seven levels of spiciness, with the top level known as "the Reaper." The Reaper is so spicy that customers must sign a waiver before consuming it. The waiver releases Dave's Hot Chicken from liability due to the Reaper's "extremely hot nature." It states that eating the Reaper can cause harm, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death.
The Reaper has a rich smokiness that may lull customers into a false sense of security. However, the extreme spiciness quickly becomes evident, engulfing the entire respiratory system. The heat is so intense that it can cause physical reactions such as hiccuping, sweating, crying, and stomach discomfort.
Despite the intense spiciness, some customers find the Reaper delicious and worth trying. However, it is not for the faint of heart, and even those with a high spice tolerance may struggle to handle it. The concentration of capsaicin in the Reaper creates a burning sensation that some have likened to chemical burns.
The waiver serves as a testament to the extreme spiciness of the Reaper at Dave's Hot Chicken. While it may be a novelty for daring customers, it is essential to approach it with caution and be aware of the potential risks involved.
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The Reaper is the top level of seven spice options
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The restaurant provides seven spice levels to cater to customers with varying heat tolerances. These spice levels include: No Spice, Lite Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and Reaper.
The Reaper is the top level of the seven spice options, and it is known for its extreme spiciness. It is made from the Carolina Reaper, which was once the hottest pepper in the world. The spice level is so high that customers are required to sign a waiver before consuming it, acknowledging the potential risks, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, and even death.
The Reaper has a rich smokiness, but the extreme heat can obliterate other flavors, making it difficult to taste the chicken. The spice builds slowly, but eventually, the heat becomes overwhelming. It can cause physical reactions such as sweating, tearing, and a running nose. Some people may also experience digestive issues after consuming the Reaper.
Despite the intense heat, some people enjoy the challenge of trying the Reaper. It is recommended to start with milder spice levels and work your way up to the Reaper to appreciate the flavor and heat. The experience of eating the Reaper at Dave's Hot Chicken is definitely memorable, whether it is a positive or negative one depends on individual spice tolerance.
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It's described as tasting like burnt chalk and chemical burns
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant chain that offers Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders. The restaurant has over 70 locations and has received investments from celebrities such as Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan.
The Reaper is the top spice level offered at Dave's Hot Chicken, and it is described as extremely spicy. In fact, the spice level is so high that customers are required to sign a waiver before consuming it, acknowledging the potential risks, including bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death.
One customer described the taste of the Reaper as "burnt chalk and chemical burns." They elaborated that it was bitter, dry, and nasty, with a surprising amount of pain. The concentration of capsaicin in the Reaper seemed more intense than that of a fresh habanero pepper, feeling more like a chemical trying to burn a hole. This description aligns with another customer's experience, who described the Reaper as having a chemical taste similar to discharging a can of bear spray.
The intense spiciness of the Reaper can cause physical reactions such as hiccupping, sweating, crying, and stomach discomfort. The heat can also spread beyond the mouth, affecting the throat, nose, and entire respiratory system. While some customers found the Reaper to be unbearably spicy, others with higher spice tolerance reported enjoying the flavor and heat.
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It's a Nashville-style hot chicken slider or tender
Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual restaurant that started as a tiny stand in an LA parking lot in 2017. It has since expanded to over 70 locations, including New York, DC, and Reno, with investments from celebrities like Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Michael Strahan. The restaurant specializes in Nashville-style hot chicken sliders and tenders, offering a range of spice levels to cater to different customer preferences.
The Reaper is the top spice level at Dave's Hot Chicken, and it's not for the faint of heart. It's so spicy that customers are required to sign a waiver before indulging, acknowledging the potential risks, including "bodily injury, property damage, emotional stress, and even death." The waiver is no gimmick, as the extreme spiciness of the Reaper can cause a burning sensation, sweating, tears, and even stomach discomfort.
The Reaper spice level is an option for both the chicken tenders and sliders on the menu. The tenders are served on a slice of white bread, while the sliders are accompanied by kale slaw, pickles, and a spicy cream sauce known as Dave's sauce. The spiciness of the Reaper is intense and has been described as delivering "surprising pain," with a concentrated heat that feels like "some chemical trying to burn a hole through you."
Despite the intense spiciness, some customers find the Reaper chicken tenders and sliders delicious and worth trying, especially for those who enjoy spicy food. The tenders and sliders are part of the limited menu at Dave's Hot Chicken, which also includes sides like kale slaw, mac and cheese, and fries. The restaurant's unique spice levels and flavorful offerings have garnered a dedicated fan base, contributing to its rapid expansion and popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
The Reaper is the top level of spiciness offered at Dave's Hot Chicken. It is so spicy that customers are required to sign a waiver before they can try it.
The waiver states that eating the Reaper can cause harm, including but not limited to, bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress, or even death.
The Reaper has an initial rich smokiness, but the spiciness quickly takes over and can be overwhelming for many people. Some people have described the taste as similar to burnt chalk and chemical burns.
After eating the Reaper, people have reported experiencing a range of symptoms, including sweating, crying, hiccuping, and stomach discomfort. The spice is so intense that it can be difficult to taste any other flavors.










































