Central Valley meatless fans can travel to Visalia for the debut of Dave's 'Not" Chicken's cauliflower sandwich. Photo by Dave's Hot Chicken

Restaurant goers at Dave’s Hot Chicken in Visalia might notice a new addition to the menu Monday as the fast-growing restaurant chain looks to make history as the first national fast-casual restaurant to offer a cauliflower sandwich.

Branded as “Dave’s NOT Chicken,” the items are available for a limited time and are the restaurant’s take on hot, juicy and crispy jumbo cauliflower sliders and bites.

The sliders, which are made from a fresh, hand-sliced, whole head of cauliflower, are breaded and seasoned to order using the company’s same hot chicken sauce.

 

“For years, our fans have been asking us to make a meatless option that has all the flavor, crunch and spice of our Hot Chicken,” said Bill Phelps, Dave’s Hot Chicken’s CEO, in a news release. “After spending weeks in the test kitchen testing countless different products, just like the founders did back in the parking lot pop-up days, we’ve created a meat alternative that’s so tasty, even our most dedicated Hot Chicken loyalists will want to try it.”

Some Dave’s Hot Chicken locations will also showcase exterior signage that says “Dave’s NOT Chicken” reflecting the temporary menu addition.

Locations in Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego and three Southern California locations will feature the temporary signage.

The Sacramento franchise owner Martha Olmos also operates the Visalia location, which opened at the Sequoia Mall Center in March 2023.