Is Dave's Hot Chicken Halal?

The short answer

Dave's Hot Chicken does not serve pork, and its chicken is halal-certified in every country outside the United States. Many US locations also serve halal chicken. However, the company does not require halal chicken at every US location, so you need to check your local branch.

Why does it depend on the location?

Dave's Hot Chicken sells chicken tenders, sliders, fries, mac and cheese, and shakes. There is no pork anywhere on the menu. This removes the biggest worry about sharing cooking equipment with pork.

The only question is where each location buys its chicken:

• Outside the United States. Locations in the UK, Canada, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Australia serve halal-certified chicken as a standard practice.
• In the United States. Many locations, especially in areas with large Muslim communities, buy halal chicken. Examples include Dearborn, Paterson, parts of Northern Virginia, Houston and Anaheim. This chicken is often certified by Halal Transactions of Omaha, known as HTO. Other US locations do not buy halal chicken.

Each US location is run by a franchise owner who chooses the chicken supplier. As a result, two Dave's Hot Chicken restaurants in the same country can have different halal status.

How can you check your local Dave's Hot Chicken?

• Ask the staff whether their chicken is halal-certified, and which organization certifies it. HTO is a common answer.
• In areas with large Muslim communities, halal chicken is more likely, but you should still ask.
• Outside the United States, halal certification is standard, but it never hurts to ask.

Common questions

Is Dave's Hot Chicken halal in the USA?

It depends on the location. Many US locations, especially in areas with large Muslim communities, serve halal-certified chicken, often certified by Halal Transactions of Omaha. There is no rule that covers every US location, so ask your local branch.

Does Dave's Hot Chicken have pork?

No. There is no pork, bacon or other pork product anywhere on the Dave's Hot Chicken menu.

Is Dave's Hot Chicken halal in the UK, Canada or the Gulf?

Yes. Locations in the UK, Canada, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Australia serve halal-certified chicken.

What certification does Dave's use for halal chicken?

US locations that serve halal chicken often use chicken certified by Halal Transactions of Omaha, known as HTO. Ask your branch, because each location chooses its own supplier.

The bottom line

Dave's Hot Chicken depends on the location, but it is a strong option. It serves no pork, uses halal-certified chicken in every country outside the US, and serves halal chicken at many US locations. Because there is no rule for every US branch, confirm with your local restaurant before you order.