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Things are about to get a little hotter in Helotes.
Dave’s Hot Chicken is preparing to open its first Helotes restaurant at 9257 N Loop 1604 W, near the intersection of Loop 1604 and Bandera Road.
And the fast-growing chicken chain won’t be starting from scratch.
Dave’s is moving into a former Arby’s restaurant, giving the existing drive-thru building a completely new identity.
From Roast Beef to Hot Chicken
The property was built as a fast-food restaurant in 2007 and includes an existing drive-thru.
After the former restaurant closed, the building was marketed for lease as a quick-service restaurant opportunity. Its location puts it in the middle of a busy retail area surrounded by major shopping, dining and entertainment destinations.
Now, Dave’s Hot Chicken is moving in.
Plans call for a 2,882-square-foot tenant finish-out that will transform the existing restaurant into the chain’s newest San Antonio-area location.
Seven Levels of Heat Are Heading to Helotes
Dave’s Hot Chicken started with a small parking lot pop-up in Los Angeles in 2017.
The concept was simple: chicken tenders, sliders and a serious amount of heat.
That small operation quickly exploded into a national restaurant brand.
Today, Dave’s is known for serving halal chicken with seven spice levels. Customers can play it safe with No Spice or Lite Mild, work their way through Medium and Hot, or take things considerably further.
At the top sits Reaper.
That one comes with a waiver.
The menu also includes fries, cheese fries, mac and cheese, kale slaw and milkshakes for anyone who discovers a little too late that they may have overestimated their spice tolerance.
Dave’s Continues Growing Around San Antonio
Helotes will become another piece of Dave’s Hot Chicken’s growing San Antonio-area footprint.
The brand first entered the San Antonio market in late 2022 and has continued expanding across the area since then.
However, this will be the first Dave’s Hot Chicken specifically in Helotes.
The location should also give the restaurant plenty of visibility. The former Arby’s sits near major retailers and restaurants around the Loop 1604 and Bandera Road intersection, with an existing drive-thru already in place.
Construction Is Already Moving Forward
The Helotes conversion carries an estimated construction cost of $525,000.
Plans call for a full tenant finish-out of the existing restaurant, covering approximately 2,882 square feet.
Construction is listed as beginning in late July 2026 and continuing through early November. The project has already reached Review Complete status with the state.
An official opening date has not been announced.
But one thing is already clear.
The roast beef is gone.
Now Helotes gets to find out just how brave it feels about ordering Reaper.