Baba's Chicken in Riverside! Well seasoned chicken and a great size, I loved the flavor and it was definitely one of the best hot chicken tenders Our meal came with "bread" or "toast" but it was genuinely just a random piece of white bread not toasted or anything. Chicken: 8.5/10 Bread: 5/10 Would try other items in the future!! The service was very fast, we went on a busy holiday and we still got our food pretty quickly. Located in the food lab, can walk around downtown or chill in the outdoor or indoor seating. read more

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Baba's Hot Chicken is located in the Food Lab at Riverside - it's one of many options, so beware those with option paralysis! I ordered the sandwich with tenders, which comes with a side of your choice. We had a relatively big group (~6), but our orders were out in 10 minutes! The portions were huge.. I usually don't say this, but I didn't even finish my fries. The fries were just crunchy enough, and delicious paired with sauce. I also thought the chicken sandwich was pretty good! If you're coming with a group, just be aware that there isn't much seating here. read more

No words but to say delicious! Crispy French fries, the chicken well done and just an overall great food experience. read more

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

Good customer service people are nice and good food it's like Dave's hot chicken but cheaper and better

Hot chicken sandwiches with varying heat levels. Service is great, with a great casual place to dine.

3.5 stars (rounded up because vibes) We stopped by this spot inside the Riverside Food Lab, which is definitely on the darker side--ambiance-wise, not shady vibes or anything. Just giving a heads-up in case you're into brighter dining scenes. First off, shoutout to them for being open on Easter! That was a nice surprise. But let's talk service... it was kind of "hands-off." The two workers seemed mostly focused on cooking, which I get--but it meant nobody was really managing the front or calling out names when food was ready. We had to walk up after waiting awkwardly, thirsty and confused, because they didn't give us our drinks or even let us know our order was ready. Now, food-wise? The loaded fries were a win--huge portion, totally sharable, and actually seasoned well. The chicken had a great crunch and solid flavor too. But... if we're comparing to the king, Dave's Hot Chicken, it just didn't hit the same. My husband ordered the hot sandwich and said it wasn't nearly as spicy as expected, and no one had him sign the "spicy waiver," which Dave's is known for. Missed opportunity to add a little drama, honestly. All in all--it's not a bad spot. I'd eat here again, especially if I was already in the area. It just didn't dethrone my OG go-to. Still worth a try if you're looking to switch it up or avoid long lines elsewhere. read more

I haven't tried the chicken sandwich yet but the loaded fries were delicious! We got medium spice chicken and with all the saucyness on the fries it wasn't really that spicy but tasted great! The pickles, slaw, sauce, and everything else mixes in super well. Regular size is perfect for 2. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Baba's Loaded Fries (medium chicken) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

overall score: D order: loaded fries i would never get this item again as it was almost disgusting to eat.. after a few bites i got sick of it. there was way too much fries compared to the chicken. i basically finished my chicken on my first bites. not to mention, the price was insane. service: ordered on a kisok and food came out fairly quick. ambiance: located inside food labs and there was plenty of seating. read more

Horrible... went on 11/29/25, waited 45 minutes for my order. A meal for a tender combo for my daughter. When I finally asked, they couldn't find my ticket. turns out they had my ticket behind another ticket, didn't seem to care. read more

Best Hot chicken sandwich I've ever had. Also the staff were super friendly and quick. Highly recommend if you in the Downtown Riverside area. read more

Riverside food lab does not disappoint, I love coming down to Riverside for Baba's Chicken for the service the food and the atmosphere. The menu has a variety of different options and combos I always like getting the Baba's sandwich combo which includes a sandwich, one side and a drink. The sandwich which you can chose the level of heat you'd prefer it to be from classic, medium, hot and extreme, I personally go with hot the amount of heat you get from the chicken does not mute all other flavors in the sandwich which includes coleslaw, pickles and Baba's special sauce the amount of seasonings that are used to make the chicken are simply amazing. The mac an cheese to go with it makes the combo even better but personally it is Hands Down best Spicy Chicken Sandwich in the Inland Empire!!! Be sure to check them out on your next visit!!!. read more

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

What a delicious deal! I got the sandwich combo with the loaded fries as the side and the fries themselves are a complete meal, they're so huge. The nacho cheese on them is so flavorful. The sandwich was super tasty as well. I got "hot" and it was quite spicy. The counter was kept clean and the staff was very friendly. Definitely would visit again. read more

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

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Okay okay, Soooo i know i said cluck chicken was my faves chicken but man oh man after having baba's the second time, THIS PLACE TAKES THE CAKE. carbs galoreeee, chicken sandwich, mac & cheese with their well done crispy fries. their ranch is super good idk i have an obsession with really good ranch. I love the riverside food lab it's so cool inside & how they have bars in the vicinity as well. The gentleman was a good cashier cause he recommended the spice level for my sandwich . read more

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

Bomb sandwiches, great deals! Definitely check it out 10/10 recommended Loaded fries 10/10 read more

They have great service nice and friendly ! I would totally recommend if you're in the DTR area! 10/10 read more

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

Everything looks nice and the food is very good here, I don't choose anything other than babas chicken

It was the kiddo's birthday so before a trip to the Game Lab, so I thought giving the Riverside Food Lab a try was in order. We were originally looking for a restaurant that is not there anymore. But thanks to the nice selection of eateries, there were still places she wanted to try. After a lap around the area, she decided on Baba's Hot Chicken. Baba's located between Bricks and Birch and Fufu's. You can't miss it. Baba's can also get pretty busy. A good sign IMO. I ordered the Baba's Hot Chicken sandwich with Fries and the kiddo got the chicken tender combo with Mac and Cheese. I can tell you that much like every other restaurant nowadays, it was not cheap. $42 (I did add a tip) for two meals with drinks. After about 10-15 minute wait we were ready to dig in. The sandwich was really tasty. A soft bun filled with chicken and some cole slaw and slathered in Baba's sauce. Ask for extra napkins because wow the sauce is all over the place lol. Very messy sandwich. The fries are crinkle cuts and they give you a nice portion. The kiddo enjoyed her tenders even if the mild was spicy to her SMH. So would I come back to Baba's Hot Chicken? Yes. The meals were tasty and although pricey, you aren't going to leave hungry. Service was friendly and the food was fresh. If you're going to visit the Food Lab, this place is worth your time. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Baba's Sandwich Combo with fries. Baba's Tenders Combo with Mac & Cheese. Pricey but filling and delicious. Drinks not pictured ($40+) - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

My family and I attempted to visit the Festival of Lights for the opening night of the 2023 season & ended up at the food hall eating Baba's. It was definitely the highlight of our night because it was delicious. The prices are not bad for the portions, in my opinion, especially when comparing it to other places. The employees working were very nice and quick despite the large crowds and a line that I thought would take an hour. We waited maybe 15-20 minutes, but once we ordered, the food came out in just a few minutes. I was so impressed! The fries were so good with a yummy seasoning and the chicken was seriously cooked to perfection. My stepson LOVED the macaroni and cheese. I tried it too and it was very good. I'd love to go back when it's a little less busy and enjoy the food half area because it's really cool looking inside. read more

10/10 i come here everyday after work i love it !! staff is great !! I love the chicken it's fresh

Stopped into food lab before a show and picked babas. I ordered the chicken sandwich with fried pickles as my side and kiddo got tenders with Mac n cheese. The food was fresh and portions are big but I think it's kinda lacking in flavor and I wish there was more slaw on the sandwich. Mac n cheese noods were a lil crispy still. Staff was nice. read more

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

Slow service. Very slow. Slow slow slow slow slow. You will wait 40 minutes to an hour easily for a sandwich and a fries.

Another fried chicken joint and I'm not mad about it. The tenders at Baba's are massive, juicy, crispy and delicious. I do wish they distributed the seasoning a little better, but nonetheless they're still great. The mini Baba sandwich was a pretty standard size sandwich and it comes with a side. It's a bit overpriced, though, considering most other places offer two sliders and fries for the same price. Their fries were good, though; seasoned well, crispy outside and like mashed potatoes inside. The fried pickles weren't the greatest; too much pickle, not enough breading. They would have been good if they were just slices of pickles instead of wedges. It's sort of like biting into a salt bomb. The mac and cheese was also very mediocre, but it was free with a Yelp check-in, so I won't complain. The restaurant is located inside the Riverside Food Lab so it can be a bit chaotic trying to find somewhere to sit. The vibe is pretty trendy/hipster; graffiti and murals on the walls, neon lights, etc. Although it's overpriced, I would recommend the sandwich, tenders, and fries. (Mac and cheese too, only since it's free lol) read more

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First time here and the customer service was great! Thank you Jocelyn, for your kind customer service. The food was great, just enough spice and flavor. Definitely recommend coming here! read more

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

I come here maybe every few months since I live further away but man this place is delicious!! They added these loaded fries a while ago to their menu and I'm obsessed!!! Their sauce is so flavorful and thick, they added some nacho cheese with some pickles, chicken and fries. It's so filling!! The staff is always so nice even when they are busy with a long line. They are always sure to give me extra sauce too. It's in the Riverside food lab so it's very busy inside but typically clean and all the restaurants inside are colorful and vibrant. Nice place to come with friends and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Baba's Loaded Fries without slaw. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

ALL of food at Baba is scrumptious and leaves you wanting more, be far my favorite place at the Food Lab. If you haven't checked it out then you're missing out, come in a try a bite. You'll be glad you did, and the customer service is always great too. Wish I could give this place ten starts! read more

DELICIOUS! I cant express enough how much I enjoyed my spicy chicken sandwich from Babas! I didn't want to commit to a normal sized sandwich mostly since it was my first time so I went with their Mini Baba with fries. Other than the chicken to bun ratio being off(more bun than chicken) it was the tastiest spicy chicken sandwich I've had in a while. Baba's is located inside "The Food Lab" so it's bustling with people eating all kinds of food. If you're lucky (and it's busy) you may eventually find a table to sit at otherwise you may just be looking around. My bf and I did not risk it, once we saw a seat we sat down and made sure to have one of us sitting there at all times. Once we sat down we really were able to appreciate the inside. The vibes inside are cool! Anyway, before we sat down we ordered our sandwiches. Service from the employee wasn't the best. She seemed like she was trying real hard to avoid any kind of extra convo other than ordering. And since there were only 2 workers (cook and cashier) she kept on leaving the front to package food so that delayed our ordering some more. Once we ordered we were told we'd get a text when our food is ready. Cool! We got a text right away and then we ate. And again, it was great! I wasn't expecting it to be so good; it was so good my bf and I went back to order their regular sized baba to go for later. Though we got our food the first time pretty quickly the same could not be said for our second order. We waited such a long time! There was an anime convention down the way so maybe that elongated the wait some more but honestly it was worth it. Not only was the sandwich good but also their Mac n cheese. That was so good too! I'm super glad I live right down the way from Riverside because I have a feeling I'll be coming back for some more Babas soon! read more

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

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We came to the Food Lab again and had Baba's chicken for dinner. We bought the 2 tenders combo, spicy, an extra tender, mac n cheese, and the loaded fries with medium spice on the chicken. With soda on the side. They are experiencing a staff shortage and had a full warning on the counter where you order. When we went, it was about during dinner rush hour and they had only 4 or 5 people working. Here's the thing though, they did a good job in keeping up with the customers. Yes the line can get long, but the food came out in a reasonable amount of time, and the customer service from the 2 staffs that we interacted with were very helpful and efficient. The food was great! The spicy tenders were crispy, spicy, and juicy on the inside. The regular size of the loaded fries was massive, thank goodness we shared. The side of mac and cheese was surprisingly delicious, so cheesy! The only thing I missed this time around was the house sauce.. lol how did I forget to ask for it? I remembered only asking for ketchup, not the house sauce. But take it from me, next time you go, ask for it! Not that their chicken needs it, because its already beautifully seasoned, but of you love dips, you'd want to try it. read more

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Food is good, I've just had better When it comes to a hot chicken place I prefer a place that gives you lots of sauce and just has more flavor in general Fries were pretty solid but expected more from the sandwich. The fried pickles were a bit of a miss for me too. But still solid if you just really like hot chicken read more

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

Me and my boyfriend tried this out last night & when we got there to pick up we only saw two employees handling online and in person orders. We were notified our online order is ready but When we came to pick up the girl working there told us it's not put together yet. Once we came back home we realized they forgot to include our loaded fries, ranch and Utensils so we were both annoyed about that. Chicken sandwiches were great and tasty, but just wish this place had a better system because we weren't the only ppl who had issues with either their order or had other ppl waiting. SO we will try again hopefully it's a lot more organized or fully staffed lol read more

Food was great but the customer service needs much improvement. Young lady didn't even pack my food in a bag just handed it to me and my order wasn't even complete. Other than that it's yummy read more

Baba's is located inside Food Lab. I tried their mini baba & one side, fried pickles. I was glad I got the mini because there was nothing mini about it - huge chicken sandwich. I tried it with medium spice. The sandwich tasted good, but it fell apart easily. The fried pickles were also good, but they come in large spears. I personally prefer fried pickles in the chip style, but I digress. Service was OK. Ice machine was broken. Overall, it satisfied me for a meal but it was truly nothing special. read more

Great hot chicken. Medium is plenty hot for me. : D There are 3 more levels of heat above. Fast service. Small take out vibe.

Wooooo Hooooo All Aboard The Baba's Hot Chicken Sammy Train! Take a little trip, take a little trip with me... Next stop is FLAVOR TOWN! We decided to go on a Friday evening. No line #Score and the young man working Bryan was so welcoming, friendly and personable! I got my hot chicken combo and a free Mac n cheese and my hubby bought a medium spiced chicken sammy combo. We decided to take it to-go and even after transit. Food was still hot and tasty! My husband and I enjoyed the chicken sammy. It was flavorful and not salty at all. Cooked to perfection as it was still juicy on the inside. The slaw had good flavor and the fries were super crispy! The mac n cheese was good the cheese was tasty. Just not a big fan of the long curly noodles. I'm old skool so I like regular macaroni shells. Lol;) Can't wait to go back and try extreme heat as the hot was mild to me. I like mine on FIRE!!!!! Overall a great bite to eat! Definently will be back for more... read more

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

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***So apparently my original review was "flagged and removed" because it was supposedly posted on the Baba's Chicken business page. That makes absolute no sense because if you go to that page, there are reviews from fellow Elites for the YEE that was held here. Idk if it's Yelp that's having issues or someone's just hating on me, but I specifically put my review in that YEE page as I do for every YEE I attend, but whatevs... For the record, I DID purchase an item off their regular menu so I was also a paying customer.*** Here's my review that was removed...and the photos I took are somewhere in Yelp land... Copy & Paste!! Got to the counter right at 1pm and the lady checked my name on the list. I placed an order for the mild sandwich with a side of their mac n cheese. I also ordered the mini Loaded Fries and a bottled water. This time around they had the Yelp Swag and I redeemed myself from the Cinnaholic Experience because I missed the vaccination card holder and the hand sanitizer. I got a bandana and a plastic plate to eat my goods off of, but I ate the food right out of the boxes! Lol The sandwich is WAAAAAAY better than Dave's!! The mild had enough kick in it for me!! The loaded fries are AMAZEBALLS!!! For a mini size, it left nothing to be desired!! So freakin' good and loaded to the max that the box barely was able to close all the way! I didn't realize the sandwich came with a side, so I had to get that mac n cheese. Even THAT is 10x better than Dave's AAAAAAAND they filled up the cup!! That's wtf I'm talkin' about!! LOL BYE, DAVE'S BYEEEEEE!! Overall, this was a bomb experience and MANY THANKS to IE Yelp CM Mylesha once again for pulling it off!! Thank you also to the staff at Baba's Chicken at the Riverside Food Lab for this deliciously satisfying experience. The process to order was quick and easy and I got my food in about 5 minutes before the line formed behind me, score!! =) Hope you enJOY this one! read more

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Overall: 4.4 stars. I loved the hot chicken sandwich! Parking: Easy. Free (first 90 mins.) Price: $13 for a sandwich and fries though seemed a little pricey. Atmosphere: It was a little warm in the Food Lab. Probably because it was around 2:00 pm and a lot of people were taking their lunch. There were a lot of ceiling fans though. It was bright enough with the lighting and there were easy to read signs of the restaurants and menus. Service: The line was a little long with 5-6 parties ahead of us. The employee at the register was nice and knowledgeable. Taste: 5 stars. Wow very crispy fries! Perfect amount of seasoning. My kids and I loved the fries. I also ordered waffles and they were ok. Not fluffy or anything spectacular just like regular waffles. However, the spicy chicken sandwich was quite tasty. There was a good amount of meat with crunchy cabbage/slaw. Just the look of the chicken sandwich made me salivate! The 3 chicken strips were a little bit spicy and were crispy. The seasoning was a little sweet. I chose the Hot spice level which warmed my body but wasn't very spicy. I'll be back. Would love to try the Extreme level next time! I think the spicy seasoning is kind of addicting! read more

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This is located inside the Riverside Food Lab! It's a food court, so you'll need to find your own seating. Service here was pretty quick despite being busy! The tenders I had were really good and flavorful. Their seasoning definitely hits the right spot, but I do like other Nashville hot chicken places more. This was a bit more expensive for its quality, but it was still delicious regardless. Their spice level is pretty accurate, so I recommend a medium or higher spice level for you spice lovers out there. I got the tender combo which came with pickles and a slice of bread. The fries were extra so I passed on that! read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - 2 Baba's Tenders - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California

Food is fresh, spicy, hot and fast. Great food, with a great taste. Portion was generous.

My husband and I had the opportunity to stop by the Riverside Food Lab a few weeks ago and we found our way to Baba's Hot Chicken. We came by on a weekday during lunch and it was surprisingly busy both at Baba's and the Food Lab in general. This didn't deter us from adding another hot chicken place to our list of spots to try. Staff was super friendly, patient with questions, and efficient with preparing food. The food was crispy, fresh, and oh so delicious. Being that it was lunchtime, they were pretty busy, but the taste and presentation didn't suffer as the staff masterfully worked through orders. We ordered a few things to try: - 1 Hot Baba Sandwich with fries - 2 Baba's Hot Tenders - 1 Baba's Loaded fries All chicken were ordered with mild heat and it was the perfect spice level. A little kick, but loaded with flavor. The slider was generously packed with two crispy tenders and perfectly fried french fries. Their house sauce was tasty and complemented the chicken well. The loaded fries were...LOADED. House slaw, chicken bits, nacho cheese, ranch, and house sauce. The portion was large and though it was a burst of saucy flavor, it may not be a reorder for us as it was just a little too much (in a heavy way) when eaten with the flavorful chicken offerings. Baba's Hot Chicken is a contender in the hot chicken game in this area of the Inland Empire, but I may not be as bold to rank it the best of the whole I.E. We would definitely revisit if we were in Riverside and in the mood for hot chicken and would recommend it to anyone directly in the area looking for a quality experience and quick meal. read more

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Found my go to for late night food! I drove down the mountain to get some food and I was not disappointed! The food was fresh the workers were very nice! I was planning on getting the baba's loaded fries & Mac n cheese but they were sold out of it so he recommended the grilled cheese and it did not disappoint. The loaded fries were delicious and the pickles were so fresh and crunchy. Parking was free and since I went late at night, it was empty and a quick experience. They were also playing good music so it's a cool place to go out with friends especially in riverside where there are many bars & clubs. read more

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This place goes hard!! The loaded Fries are bomb!! I got the medium heat but I think I'll try the extra hot next time. read more

Baba's Hot Chicken - Loaded Fries go hard!! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Riverside, California