amazing service from Donna!! thank you for being so patient with us and helping us decide

Finally went and tried Babas, I have no clue what took me so long! I got the chicken sandwich with extreme heat, it was so damn good. Really good quality chicken, good slaw, and their sauce was really good as well. Not overly sweet like most places. Fries could've been better but they weren't bad. Macaroni and cheese noodles could've been cooked a little bit long. Also, wasn't too crazy about the cheese sauce. Oh and my bottom bun was a little hard, don't know if it was toasted too long or if it was just stale. All in all it was a good experience with good food! read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Front counter where you order - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Yummy. Had a couples times. Chicken was moist and serving size was good. Pricey but delicious

I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars, but I can't. The food was good, but I think I was expecting more and was left a little disappointed. I went on a Friday night and expected the wait time to be long, but they were actually pretty quick! The sandwich was made fresh. I ordered the mild and it definitely as a little kick to it. read more

See all

Fast and friendly service. The establishment was very clean and prepped the food well. Thank you for the great experience. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

BOMB I got the hot chicken and it's bomb w flavor The fried pickles delicious Customer service in point read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - BOMB I got the hot chicken and it's bomb w flavor The fried pickles delicious - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

One of the best chicken sandwich places in the Riverside area. This place is located in the downtown Riverside Food Lab. There is a parking structure so it should not be an issue. There are a lot of food options in this place, but Baba's is definitely one of the highlights. Flavor, spice, juiciness, crunch, and bun choice is great. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Went on bit of a binge eating at the food hall here. Ordered the mini-baba at the 'hot' spicy level and was pleasantly satiated. Chicken tasted fresh, great mix of spices and fix ins in the sandwich. Fries were perfectly crispy on the outside and had a great flavor to them. Would definitely come back. Thank you Baba's for a great lunch. read more

First timer and chose this restaurant in the Riverside Food Lab because it had the longest line. Well, found out the long line was because they were short-handed. I ordered their chicken tenders (medium) with a side of fries and a soda = $20 with a 15% tip!!! It took about 25 minutes to get my order. My meal came with a few pickles and a slice of bread. Need to ask for a knife and fork. I didn't and ended up eating with my fingers. Food was good, seasoning on chicken was great, seasoning on fries was good. Only complaint was the wait, prices, and that I wasn't offered plastic utensils. But that might be CA law now where you need to ask for them. I'd go back but won't order a drink and will ask for utensils. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken tenders (medium spice) and fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

One word: delicious! Baba's is truly fantastic, and I can't wait to be back for more. It seems to be the most popular place at the Food Lab, and I'm not surprised. The line was very long but moved fairly quickly. The employee who took our order was friendly and warm, and it didn't take too long for them to make our food. I ordered the two strips plate, which comes with your choice of side. I got it with fries. The chicken was moist, tender, and oh so flavorful. The fries are also well seasoned and tasty. The plate also comes with pickles and some unmemorable pieces of white bread. I got mine mild, which had a good flavor. If you can't handle much spice, I would go with mild. The food here is definitely better than other Nashville Hot Chicken places I've been to (I'm looking at you, Dave's). If you're looking for some tasty chicken, come here! You won't be disappointed. read more

Great convenient food inside the Food Lab. I had a chicken sandwich, and the chicken was perfectly juicy. The sauce was really good. I would warn you the heat levels are no joke. Whatever your normal heat level is, go one down. read more

Ate here one time back a several years ago. Saw how close by I was to it again and had to get it one last time. The price is well worth the portions. 8/10 chicken spot and the atmosphere is nice too. read more

great service and great food 5 big booms. I love the service. They're all all nice. They take care of you. Food was great. paula the server is great read more

Why wasn't this spot around when I was at UCR?! ( actually might be a good thing it came later or else I'd have become a plump chicken myself.) We ordered the chicken sandwiches and wow oh wow! They are sooo juicy and fried in a crispy perfect way. It did not taste oily, which is a plus! I got it without spice... I know I know.. judge me all ya want! I still loved my sandwich!! read more

Goodness, that was a good Chicken sandwich. I though it was big in the box but when I picked it up it was bigger than I thought and needed 2 hands. $12 was on point for what I got and I ate the rest of it later. One might say I got two sandwiches for $12. Mac a Cheese was just ok but very cheesy. Couldn't get into it. Customer service was second to none. I will definitely be back when in the Riverside area. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

This was our very first experience with Baba's. Whenever we come to the Riverside Food Lab we see the line at this establishment is long so we decided to do the wait and see what the hype is all about. We ordered the loaded fries with mild sauce and all the toppings. It was tasty and definitely a good cravings spot. However, the sauce was definitely not mild. I'm not sure if their mild is just already spicy or if they mixed up or sauce but it was definitely hot. Like get some tissues hot. I checked in on Yelp and received a free side of Mac and cheese. Definitely not Impressive at all. Looked and tasted similar to Velveeta from the store. No seasoning at all just cheese and pasta. I honestly wouldn't pay for that ever. Lastly, the packaging and presentation. Our bag had sauce all on the outside of it and the boxes were saucy like the gloves they were using we covered in it. I'm sorry but I don't want that all over me or my brand new car so that was definitely disappointing and should be addressed. Would I return here? I would order it again if we were already at the Food Lab ordering other food. I did enjoy the fries and I like the concept of of the coleslaw on it and the sauce and pickles. Just be aware of the spice level if you're sensitive to spice and maybe get that on the side. They were very flavorful minus the bland Mac and cheese. read more

See all

Riding the wave of 'hot chicken' but missing the mark by much. The chicken itself is good- decent size, nice crispy breading but the 'hot' addition amounted to reconstituted chili powder that the tender was dipped in. End result was a perfectly fine piece of chicken coated in gritty, bitter, wet paste. So, let's just say- I don't have to experience it again. On the plus- the very nice, cheery young man at the register was a delight, the crinkle fries are good. read more

Great service, got my food quick and the food tastes amazing. It's got a cool ambiance as well since the staff is kind and generous along with a cool sign. read more

This place is located inside the Riverside Food Lab, and it seemed like a popular place! Even amidst Covid, there were people surrounding this station, and I was also impressed by the high reviews on Yelp. Ordered the chicken tenders (comes with two pieces of chicken, two pieces of bread, and fries) for about $10. You can choose the spicy level, so I got mild. The chicken was quite good! It was piping hot and pretty crispy. Each piece was also quite large too. The spices were interesting and had a nice kick to it. They also give you different sauces to dip the tenders in. I actually quite enjoyed adding the honey on the chicken because it balanced out the spices well. If you check in yelp, you get a free Mac and cheese! Yum!! Overall, this place would be above average for chicken. I would like to see more variety in terms of flavoring of the chicken. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Pretty good,not amazing ,but pretty good . Chicken sandwiches are fat ...but dry...Definitely add some sauce or ranch or something if you get one. Loaded fries are ok...they look/sound better than they are though. Virtually no meat (unless you pay for extra) so it's kinda just a lot of fries and cabbage lol...there's nacho cheese or something on them also ,but it's kind if a mess, flavorwise...they need to rethink that recipe. Overall pretty good though. Lack of seating is ass here ...but that's not really their fault. read more

Best place for a first timer! Amazing food! Great customer service! Felipe was very helpful for my first time experience here

Update 9/3/20 Got the loaded fries!! It was delicious!! However we ordered cheese on both my sandwiches but I was missing cheese on both :( Thank you Mike! read more

The food is great as are the people that work there. Try the fried pickles; they keep me coming back.

Good lord. OHHHH LORRRRD. This is Golconda, Nirvana, Heaven, the best hot chicken sandwich on Earth. Got the medium, comes with a generous helping of crinkle cut fries, nicely seasoned with some deliciousness...but the SANDWICH, this makes the Popeyes sandwich taste like a TV dinner. Two big meaty slabs of crispy, juicy, tasty chicken, spiced just right. Topped off with a tasty slaw that adds more crunch. With your Yelp check-in you can try their mac and cheese, nice and super cheesy, not runny, very hearty. The only thing keeping this place from five stars was my inability to order online. For some reason, clicking on "mobile order" takes you to the Riverside Food Lab page, with no way to order from Baba's. If this gets fixed, it's a perfect experience. EXCELLENT food. EDIT: I was informed that mobile ordering is turned off on Friday and Saturday due to volume overload. This is indeed clearly stated on their Instagram page. I can understand the need for this; better than overwhelming the operation and losing customers. So I stand corrected: Five stars for Baba's Hot Chicken! read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Supposed to be fiiire...we'll see! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

Trash food before it was decent but now it's absolute garbage I would not recommend this place!!!! Fries over cooked chicken sandwich horrible do not spend your money here read more

I am definitely coming back! I was so happy with my food and I loved the customer service they were so helpful and the cashier joce was so nice read more

Chicken sandwiches are usually on point though I just placed an order with fries and when I got home (2 mins away) the fries are cold and taste like they've been sitting out for a day. No number to call them and rectify the situation. Update: the business owner contacted me directly and resolved the problem the same day. I appreciate the professionalism and will certainly be back for some more great tasting chicken sandwiches! read more

Rude service. Was having issues with the kiosk ordering and wanted to order at the register. Two girls working up front and they tell me to use the kiosk and would not help me in person at the register. Food is decent but isn't worth the hassle. Take your business somewhere else. read more

I have visited this place a few times, and had given a 5-star rating, but have to drop it because the taste and quality wasn't up to the same level. The chicken was dry and almost a little burnt and the buns were super burnt read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Baba's Sandwich Combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

The chicken sandwich was good, but they gave me the wrong order. I ordered the combo so I could get the Mac and cheese as a side, but although the order was correct on the receipt, they gave me fries as my side instead. I hate French fries, especially thick ones like they have. So they went in the trash and I paid an extra $4.50 or so for my sandwich since my Mac and cheese didn't come. I should mention I had my food delivered through Grubhub so I couldn't check my food until it got to my house. Worst part is that Baba's seems to have no phone number for me to call and let them know my order was screwed up and ask for compensation. 16 bucks is too much to pay for just a chicken sandwich, since they didn't send my side. Didn't come with a drink. That's too expensive for a mistake like that. This, and the fact that I can't even call them about my order, means I probably won't be ordering there again. It's been a pretty annoying situation. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

This review is based on the great service by Baba himself. I drove from OC to Riverside to pick up some Baba's chicken. I go inside, grab my food, and confirm that there is only 2 bags of food, and then drive the 40 minutes to get home. When I get home I found out that 1/3 of my order was missing. I contacted the owner on IG to say that all the non-spiced chicken was missing (food that kids would eat) and wanted to know what's going on. He confirmed that there was an error on their side, and cooked up a fresh batch and personally delivered the food to my house. That's the best service I have ever seen in my life. Anyways, in terms of food as other reviews have stated, the food is legit. Medium is pretty spicy. The loaded fries are totally decadent. I'll definitely be making the trip out to Riverside again for some Baba's read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - No Spice chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

See all

Today was my 1st time trying this, I paid $45 for 4 sandwiches and this is over priced. They forgot my fries to my meals, condiments, sides etc. I don't live nearby so when I arrived home I was extremely upset. This will be my last time eating here. They don't even have a valid number to call, i checked Google and my receipt, I am very disappointed. If your looking for a Howlin Ray's type of sandwich I wouldn't recommend. Its a lot smaller and not as full of slaw. The sandwiches overall aren't bad they have good crispy pickles but too expensive when you forget to add my sides. read more

My boyfriend and I used to drive 45 mins for some hot chicken until we found Babas. We absolutely fell in love. Now we visit a couple times a month. We are addicted! Spice level hot with extra well done fries, please. A must if visiting riverside. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

This place is pretty good heat levels aren't bad, Mac n cheese is perfectly moist I barely had to chew it, the cabbage stuff and pickles pair nice with it. they're hella busy so be prepared to wait... it's hard to get a cashiers attention to get our order taken. Over all good place would recommend. Thanks bye read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Front of place - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

The food was amazing, and fresh!! This is located in the Food Lab it's located in a great area to walk around after .. Service was on point . read more

Great service with a friendly smile. The chicken however was lacking. You may see a lot of 5 star reviews but that probably because people havent experienced Howling Rays or Daves and maybe its their first time having a hot chicken sandwich. Or maybe i came on a off day? I found this place through Instagram and had to try it! Its closer to me then the other hot chicken places I mentioned. I hate to say it but this place looks better on social media then eating their sandwiches in real life. So heres the break down of the sandwich. They slip 2 tenders which isnt a deal breaker but that was pretty interesting, the seasoning they used was lack luster for hot chicken. The coleslaw on the sandwich was plain and didnt have enough on my sandwich, maybe if i had more it be different. I mean you want a good amount of coleslaw to have those epic textures of slaw and chicken. I had to put honey, ranch, and their extra house sauce to really enjoy the sandwich. Though if your the type to take the first bite right away dont expect much. I was even more excited when they said they were halal since most restaurants that say they are have foods full of spices and flavor profiles that are unique. Mac and cheese was good and so was the fried pickles. If your the type of foodie who would drive some distance to try food this place isnt worth the effort unless you came to riverside and was hungry for a decent sandwich. I really wanted to like this place since its really close by but i might not come here again unless someone i know has never had hot chicken and wanted to try it in a pinch, or if i was in the area. Again great service and the people were friendly! I also loved how they were handing out sitckers and selling cans of soda due to the pandemic. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

Honey, Honey, I'll say it one more time, HONEY! Bought their crispy chicken sandwich, mild, if I remember correctly. I was taking it down as I enjoy all the flavor profiles of such creations; but I decided to dig in my bag and found a packet of honey. So I did the thing; I did it, I added the .... HONEY! OMG, talk about elevating a sandwich. My daughter said I was crazy when she saw me adding it, after she bit it, she too enjoyed it. read more

I ordered the chicken sandwich level Hot and stayed away from Extreme plus fries and I received a free Mac n Cheese with a yelp check in. I love spicy food and the Hot was the perfect heat for me where the sandwich was edible without drinking water after the first bite. The sandwich was delicious and the fries were first rate as my girls kept eating my fries instead of their Monty's fries. read more

Pro Tip- Order Online. That way you won't be waiting in their long line. But, if you order there make sure to check in for the FREE Mac & Cheese. We ordered: Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Strips, Mac&Cheese, and Fries. Spice Levels: Mild, Hot, and Extreme Chicken Sandwiches were bomb. (Minus paying extra for cheese and not getting it) The Chicken is fat and juicy and the Brioche bread is soooo good!! Mac and Cheese was okay, lacked flavor compared to the chicken and from the prep they looked dry but revived with a splash on their cheese sauce on top. the fries were seasoned and good. Mild: is Spicy Hot: Made my Lips swell Extreme: RIP to your bootyhole. Overall, it was good and I'd deff come try it again. Just wouldn't pay for the Mac and cheese. read more

Gee williker there is so much about this place that I can say. So I'll say it all. This was the best and I mean the best Nashville hot chicken I've ever had. I swear this food had to be directly ships from Nashville it was that good. Not only did they have great combos but they are so well price. I swear I haven't seen prices this good since the stock market crashed. I've never been to food lab before so this was a godly experience. After the nice kind lady took my order they got me my food quickie fast. I then took a bite of the god like looking chicken and holy fuck I turned into a feral animal. I was craving Baba. I just wanted Baba all inside me. I ate the chicken tenders so fast as well as their Mac n Cheese . I've never had an organism and for the fist time I orgasmed. I actually can't believe this place is legal. No place should be able to make you cum like this place does. Overall 10 out of 10 experiences if I could give this place a 5.5 I would read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Baba's big chicken - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California