You don’t need to venture far through London to find that it’s a city of chicken lovers.
A particularly interesting new contender in this fierce market is US fast food chain Dave’s Hot Chicken, specialising in blowing people’s heads off with spice so fiery that, in some cases, you have to sign a waiver before you can eat it.
60 locations are planned across the UK and Ireland, with the first one already live and kicking on Shaftesbury Avenue in London.
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Spice is the key differentiation here, with seven different spice levels to choose from that range from spice-free to ‘Reaper’. It’s so-named because it contains some Carolina Reaper, a notoriously potent chili pepper.
If you go for the Reaper you’ll need to sign a waiver saying you fully accept the consequences of eating the fiery chili.
"I acknowledge that eating the Reaper can cause me harm, including but not limited to bodily injury, property damage, emotional distress or even death," the waiver reads. You also have to be 18 or over to partake in the challenge.
For the less foolhardy among us, there’s still plenty of reason to head to Dave’s for a three-piece and chips. The chain has its own spice and herb blend, and there’s a spice level to suit everyone’s capsaicin tolerance.
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Some Reaper survivors in the US have said it’s “pretty tasty and quite spicy for a chain restaurant”, and others have said it’s “pretty mild” when compared with other Reaper chili-based sauces.
Some people across the pond in the US who've tried the dish that requires a waiver have said it was 'pretty tasty and quite spicy for a chain restaurant', but was 'pretty mild' in comparison to other sauces with Reaper in it.
Over here in the UK, on their official Instagram account, a post showing people trying the reaper had some interesting comments. One person said: "I had it today and nearly died", and another said: "Lol I ate the reaper and believe me it was so damn spicy lol I was crying and eating it."
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Some have said the ‘atomic’ spice level at American chain Wingstop leaves Dave’s Reaper in its dust. Are you brave enough to give it a go?
Over on the UK Instagram account of Dave's Hot Chicken, the chain has teased various dishes, with one captioned: "Tenders, sliders, fries - and if you’re brave enough, a taste of the Reaper. Trust us, you’ll need a drink after this one."
Another post shows a picture of a chicken tender with a bit of sauce on it, and is captioned: "POV: You meet the one… and it’s a Dave’s tender."
Kerri-Ann Roper