Free spicy chicken sandwich? A Drake-backed Meridian restaurant is ‘hooking everyone up’

Believe it or not, there’s something that gets mouths watering more than Nashville-style hot chicken.

Free Nashville-style hot chicken.

Expect drooling Idahoans to flock to Dave’s Hot Chicken in Meridian this week. The restaurant, which opened last November at 3450 N. Eagle Road, is “hooking everyone up,” as a media release says. The entire chain will give away free chicken sliders — the same delicious-looking ones that cost $6.69 on the menu.

All you have to do is download the Dave’s Hot Chicken app between now and the end of the day Tuesday. That’s the company’s sixth anniversary. Do it, and a slider magically will appear in your rewards. “A free chicken sandwich,” Dave’s promises in a media release, “with hot, crispy and spicy chicken straight out of the fryer, topped with secret sauce, crunchy pickles and slaw.”

What’s not to like? Customers will be able to cash in the free slider through Sunday.

If you already had the app downloaded before hearing about this promotion? You’re good to go.

“Six years ago, four friends created something phenomenal, and on May 2, we’ll be celebrating that success by making sure everyone has the ability to enjoy Dave’s,” CEO Bill Phelps said in the release, “whether you’ve been visiting since the parking lot pop-up days or have just been wanting to give the best hot chicken on the planet a try.”

Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Dave’s keeps the menu tight. It’s basically two things: chicken tenders and sliders. The bird comes in seven spice levels, from No Spice to blowtorch-to-the-face Reaper. And “each piece of juicy, hand-breaded chicken is spiced to order,” Dave’s promises.

Sides? Choose from four: kale slaw, mac n’ cheese, french fries and cheese fries. Beverages include sodas and shakes.

As a growing brand, Dave’s Hot Chicken truly is en fuego. Rights have been sold to more than 700 franchise locations in the United States, Middle East and Canada, Dave’s says.

The Meridian location is a locally owned franchise. But the company has a crew of celebrity investors behind it, ranging from rapper Drake to actor Samuel L. Jackson.

Hours at Dave’s Hot Chicken in Meridian are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.