In the past year, both Raising Cane’s and Dave’s Hot Chicken have become immensely popular with much debate about which chicken place is better. Both establishments came to Ventura County in 2021, with Raising Cane’s setting up in Oxnard, Calif., and Dave’s Hot Chicken in Port Hueneme, Calif. Raising Cane’s, known for its simple menu focused on chicken fingers, has gained a loyal following for its signature Cane’s Sauce and Texas toast. On the other hand, Dave’s Hot Chicken has carved out a niche with its Nashville-style hot chicken, offering various levels of heat and a distinctive blend of spices. So, once and for all, I am here to settle the debate of which restaurant is better.
During my visit to Raising Cane’s I purchased the 3 Finger Combo which contains three chicken fingers, crinkle cut fries, one Cane’s sauce, Texas toast and a regular fountain drink or tea. In addition, I paid an extra $0.45 to get an additional Cane’s sauce. At Dave’s Hot Chicken I got the #1 meal which contains two chicken tenders, fries, sliced bread, pickles and Dave’s sauce. You can customize the spice level on the chicken with options such as no spice, lite mild, mild, medium, hot, extra hot and reaper. For my meal, I chose the mild spice level.
Price
Raising Cane’s easily wins this with their 3 Finger Combo being $10.89, whereas the #1 meal at Dave’s is $12.99, not including a drink. For the amount of food the customer receives compared to the price of the meal, there was no question that Raising Cane’s was the better financial decision.
Winner: Raising Cane’s
Bread
This shouldn’t even be a competition of whether Cane’s or Dave’s bread is better. Dave’s bread is a literal slice of white bread that anyone could find at a convenience store. It is quite unappetizing and didn’t even taste good. Unlike Dave’s, Cane’s has a very delicious, hearty slice of Texas toast that pairs nicely with their signature sauce. It’s buttery and melts right in your mouth.
Winner: Raising Cane’s
Sauce
The restaurant with the better sauce was a closer race. Both places seem to have a mixture of ketchup, mayonnaise and other spices in their signature sauce. However, Dave’s doesn’t hit the spot quite like Cane’s does. The variety of flavors and spices are more noticeable in the Cane’s sauce compared to Dave’s. There’s a reason why Cane’s sells a 22 ounces cup of their signature sauce; it’s just too good.
Winner: Raising Cane’s
Fries
At Cane’s the fries are quite plain, forcing one to dip it in their sauce every bite which is a bummer since there is so little sauce to begin with. Additionally, Cane’s fries aren’t very flattering and are often soggy. However, Dave’s fries are seasoned and don’t need to be paired with their sauce to enjoy. Overall, Dave’s fries are crispier and simply have more flavor.
Winner: Dave’s Hot Chicken
Chicken
When comparing the actual chicken from both places I found that Dave’s was much bigger in size, however they only give you two tenders, unlike three at Cane’s. But, the size of Canes’ tenders are barely bigger than a pointer finger, so in regards to size, Dave’s Hot Chicken knows how it’s done. Cane’s tenders are juicy and buttery, making them hard to resist. Although it can be argued that Dave’s has more of a natural taste, it isn’t as craveable as Cane’s. After much contemplation, I would have to declare a tie between the chicken at both restaurants. Cane’s is delicious and essentially melts in the mouth, but Dave’s tenders are great sizes and are almost more filling than Cane’s. It’s just too close to call!
To conclude, it is seemingly clear that Raising Cane’s is the better chicken place. If you are wanting a chicken place with more of a variety of options and spices, then Dave’s is the way to go, but if you are wanting an overall delicious chicken-eating experience, I would head to Cane’s. You will not be disappointed.
