2 min readDave’s Hot Chicken launched Hot Mozz, thick-cut fried mozzarella dusted with the brand’s signature spice levels.The sticks deliver a dramatic cheese pull and crispy exterior, especially when paired with Dave’s Sauce and pickles.While perhaps too hefty to order as a full meal, these mozzarella sticks are perfect for snacking and sharing.
Mozzarella sticks are one of those foods people take very seriously. Everyone has their gold standard. Mine happens to be the ones from Chili’s, which have set an extremely high bar for what a proper cheese pull should look like.
So when Dave’s Hot Chicken announced Hot Mozz, its new fried mozzarella launch, I approached with cautious optimism. Dave’s is known for turning up the heat on hot chicken, but mozzarella sticks are sacred territory.
Steven Morea
The concept is simple, but very Dave’s. Thick-cut mozzarella is breaded, fried until golden, and then dusted with one of the brand’s seven spice levels, ranging from Not Hot to the infamous Reaper. For testing purposes, I tried three versions: No Spice, Mild, and Hot. I opted out of Reaper (or else my gut would start sending me death threats).
The first thing worth mentioning is the cheese pull, and this was a serious one. The moment you break the crust, the mozzarella stretches dramatically, and I kept pulling until I physically could not pull anymore. If you are chasing that iconic stretchy mozzarella moment, this delivers.
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Steven Morea
Texture-wise, the exterior is crisp with a nicely seasoned breading, while the inside stays fully molten. Dave’s also serves the Hot Mozz with pickles and Dave’s Sauce, which provide a briny crunch and some creamy, savory relief from the heat. The No Spice version tastes like a very good, classic mozzarella stick. Once you move into Mild and Hot, the spice is not overwhelming, but definitely builds as you go.
One thing I noticed quickly is how filling these are. The cheese is rich, the breading is substantial, and I was ready to tap out after just eating one of them. Personally, I see these more as a side or something to share rather than a main entree. Dave’s does offer combo options with three or five pieces and fries, but for me, that might be pushing it.
Steven Morea
What I would really love to see is the mozzarella incorporated into a chicken sandwich. Imagine a Dave’s tender topped with one of these molten cheese sticks. Still, as a standalone item, Hot Mozz delivers on what people want from mozzarella sticks. The cheese pull is dramatic, the crust is crisp, and the seasoning adds a fun twist to a classic appetizer.
If you are a fan of the legendary Chili’s cheese pull, Dave’s Hot Mozz absolutely holds its own.
