I normally do not do comparisons to other restaurants in my reviews, but with hot chicken options in Birmingham, I know of only two. Eugene's and Hattie B's. I had been to Eugene's years ago, but Hattie B's has been my go to since they opened in Birmingham (or at least since I discovered their Birmingham location), so I went in with the realization that my judgement of Eugene's will be judged with Hattie B's as the bar. Now let me preface this by saying that when in Nashville, Hattie B's is not my favorite. That honor would fall to Prince's followed by Party Fowl. But Hattie B's has expanded outside the boundaries of Nashville and has become a frequent stop when I am in Birmingham. So, walking in, I noticed it is a bit dingier than Hattie B's, but not disgustingly so. It is just a bit less polished. I ordered a white meat quarter, which came with two sides. I could not make up my mind between three, so I added a side for two dollars. Since I am a huge hot and spicy fan, I got their hottest flavor and my sides were collard greens, baked potato salad, and deviled eggs. The sides, well, two were very good and the deviled eggs were bland. I think I would have to give the nod to the greens and potato salad over Hattie B's. Now, I would guess the chicken was bigger than over at Hattie B's, but unfortunately, the taste just was not there. It would be hard to call it even mediocre. Hot chicken is supposed to be a fiery explosion, this was just a dud. For the dipping sauces I chose Alabama white sauce and it was good. I am glad I tried Eugene's, but I won't be returning. I encourage you to try both and make up your own mind. Mine has been decided. read more

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Food is always great and workers are nice. The Mac and cheese is my favorite side to get here!!!

The service was great, the food was great, the vibes were on point .... can't wait to go back!!

You guys- when I tell you it was the best fried chicken I've ever had, I really mean it! I'm from AZ and my kids love canes (typical) and we tried Dave's hot chicken which just opened out there but Eugene's blows both of those out of the water! We showed up an hour before they closed on a Saturday and they were out of a lot of items (which means people be eating ) we both ordered the dark half qtr meal & got two sides. Fried okra (thin batter & crispy) which was great, coleslaw was decent. I like mine a little more vinegar type but this was typical southern coleslaw. The employee recommended Alabama white sauce with the chicken. That sauce was made in-house and the BOMB. It did seem like maybe they were lacking a bit of organization with the orders but that's the only thing negative I'd say about this place. The manager working was friendly and working in the back with everyone ...& was very responsive to us. Don't sleep on Eugene's! read more

Food was excellent. Extremely fresh. Service at cashier was neutral. Excellent service from kitchen.

We were in the area, so we decided to stop by. I've only had Eugene's once before this evening and that was from the food truck. So I was excited to actually try it again at the restaurant. Walked right in and placed an order for the Chicken Tender Sandwhich with Fries and a side of honey mustard. It wasn't too busy but since the food was cooked to order, it was a bit before we received our food. The Sandwhich was good and plenty of fries. I did the medium heat and at first I was thinking it really didn't have a kick but it slowly hit. I may take it next level on a future visit. I only ate half of my meal which was a plus because now I can enjoy the other half later. I must visit again so I can try the baked potato salad that my friend raved about. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Chicken Tender Sandwich with Fries and honey mustard - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I look forward to trying staple restaurants in my travels. On this day, I wanted something good and from a place with 5 stars. I looked online, read the reviews and decided to try them out. Not being from the area, the directions were a little confusing but that has nothing to do with them. They're located in the food district in what I believe is downtown, however, this location was a little further down. Nevertheless, if you park on the street, it's not a bad walk. I came around lunch time and they were pretty busy. It's small on the inside but they have indoor seating as well as outdoor seating. The menu has SO much to select from. The prices weren't too bad. I opted for a fried catfish meal with one side. Unfortunately, they were out of fries. I went with baked beans instead. They ask what level of heat you want and I went with a very light heat. I asked it the "heat" was too hot and informed that it was mild. The reason the rating is low is due to the extremely long wait time. I don't know if their team was short staffed or what but my order took well over 30 minutes. Once I got it, I decided to take it to go. The sandwich was great. I wish that I had not gone with a "heat" because even the mild was a little too spicy for me. Even though the order took a long time, the food was piping hot. Now the baked beans were ok as they had a little kick as well so after all of the spiciness, I only tasted heat and not the food. Another thing that they should inform patrons is that the beans have meat in them. Although I'm not a vegetarian, I would have went with a different side item. Overall, not too bad. I could give them another shot with knowing that I don't want any " read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Catfish sandwich & baked beans - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Fantastic chicken and fried catfish! We got medium heat on both and the spice and flavor were there. Quick service and good prices for the quality of food! Will definitely make this a stop on my new weekly lunch spot rotations! read more

This place definitely lived up to the hype! I had been wanting to try it for a couple of weeks but due to covid it seems they are closing around 8pm most days. The food is made to order so you get it nice and fresh. The tenders were perfect white meat, perfectly seasonef and the mac and cheese was creamy and delicious. They have a good selection of beers as well. Definitely recommend if you're in the area read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Lemmon Pepper Jumbo Chicken Tenders with creamy mac & cheese - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Wow just wow! I have no words for this place. I was told it had the best chicken ever, and now I can confirm Eugene's definitely knows what they are doing when it comes to chicken! I'm not a fan of Hattie B's (too spicy for me), so I wasn't sure how much I would like Eugene's. I decided to be "conservative" and get their lemon pepper chicken tenders. WOW! It was amazing. So delicious! These were some of the tenderest chicken fingers I've ever had. The seasoning is equally amazing. As my side I got the pickled fried okra. They fry the okra in big pieces so I wasn't expecting that at all. It was a nice surprise. I can't remember if my meal was 4 or 5 chicken tenders, but it was a lot of food! I was full and able to bring home a good bit for my dad to have the rest. You really can share this meal equally with another person in my opinion. Maybe with an appetizer. After having chicken this good here, I really want to try their other food like their greens and their fries! I will be back! read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Food truck - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Good hot chicken in Birmingham. Not the best but definitely hits the spot. Get the beans

This chicken is soo good!!!! I didn't get the hot, but the mild was perfect for me! I ordered the chicken sandwich with the coleslaw on the side & deviled eggs for my side. The way the chicken crisp taste is sweet & tangy in a way that I've never had before. Love the small mom & pop vibez. It didn't take long for my food to come out. Located right by the City Walk. I highly recommend everyone to try this spot out when visiting Birmingham. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Chicken Tender Sandwich with deviled eggs - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I've only tried the food truck but we really enjoyed it on the two occasions we had chicken from there. I like that you can pick your level of heat even no heat which means hubby can have it too. I got the hot which had a kick but next time I will get the next level of hot. For a side, I got the potato salad which was good. I think it was made with sour cream which made it different but enjoyable. We tried the banana pudding for dessert. I loved it. A little pricey at 3 dollars for a small cup but it was yummy. read more

Chicken was very juicy and yummy and the side of fries were crispy and hot. Visited the location by the BJCC for the first time while I was at a convention. They were friendly and relatively quick. It is a bit tight inside, but during warmer weather they do have seating outside. read more

This place came highly recommended for having some of the best hot chicken in the area. It's kind of tucked away but looked to be in a nice bustling area (just a block walk or so from what looked like a nice restaurant district). There is parking on the street or in the lot across from them. The place is small.... really small. They had may 4 four top tables and one large communal table in the middle. Service was fine... I definitely didn't get any type of smile or kind gesture. Felt more like a.. I will just take your order and you can leave kind of vibe. Which is fine if you don't like people. I ordered the waffles and chicken strips and got the second to hottest level. It is pretty hot but the syrup helps hide that. What I did think was strange is that the chicken and the waffles came separate. Wasn't expecting that but it now made sense when they asked if I wanted ranch or blue cheese. Would I stop here again? most likely not. It wasn't horrible and may be worth a trip. It satisfied my craving for hot chicken, so at least I have that going for me. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - I made chicken and waffles - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great things come in small packages!! The secret sauce in this fried magic is sweet spice crispiness of the chicken, medium heat is just enough. If you like the heat it's there and will open up your pores with spicy sweet delight. I had fluffy buttery deviled eggs and sweet spicy & tangy skillet beans. Chicken is very crispy on a slice of bread to soak up the chickens juiciness. Limited indoor seating but better outdoor seating to enjoy the New City Walk and people watching. Tea was cane sweet but no over the top sweet. Definitely a great place, I added a spin option not on the menu by pairing Catfish with my order and they said hell yessss. Fish was greasy and spicy with and end slight dusting of dry spice. Loved It!!!! read more

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Holy Moses. Everyone must eat here. This is Alabama food. Choices of fried chicken plates, with sauces and spice to taste. BBQ sauce was good but not even necessary on southern wings. I was licking the bones clean. Pickeled fried okra wasn't my thing (its actually picked okras that are friend, crazy) but it was small enough that I ate it all. I wasn't a fan of the mac n' cheese either, so next time I'd go for the greens. Everyone was nice, and to reiterate, the chicken was amazing. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I haven't been to the actual restaurant yet, but I've had their chicken twice from a food truck. And each time I can tell you it didn't disappoint. It's weird to say it but it's their fries that hit the spot. They're thin and crispy. Their chicken is less wet than Hattie bs and to me that is okay. It's more of a dry hot but slightly sweet variety. I like their wings and fingers. I can't say which one is better because both are great in slightly different ways. Since Eugene's is a Birmingham start up I will always recommend coming or trying this place first when in Birmingham. read more

The food at the hospitality Is superb. It is a relaxed environment. The chicken especially lemon pepper chicken is great. The fried okra was amazing the Mac and cheese had the right consistency and great cheese pull. I really enjoyed everything about it read more

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I, along with my husband, started eating at Eugene's when it was only a food truck. We would faithfully follow their Instagram page to find out where we needed to drive to get some of that delicious hot chicken and those oh so good shoestring fries! When Eugene's opened a brick and mortar store, we were ecstatic, but we loved that they kept the food truck as well. We normally get the jumbo chicken wings (mild) or the popcorn chicken. Sometimes, we get the quarter white. The food is always fresh and flavorful. Now, Eugene's is pretty much busy all the time so when you go there, you may have to wait. However, the wait is always worth it to get your hands on some of the best hot chicken I've ever had! read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The chicken here is definitely 5 stars and some of my favorite chicken from anywhere. I've tried hot and stupid hot and enjoy both a lot. Recently they've started serving grilled chicken salads available with heat and it's one of my new go to food choices. I also thoroughly enjoy the popcorn chicken and during Birmingham restaurant week they had chicken sliders that were absolutely delicious. I highly recommend Eugene's not only to hot chicken lovers, but anyone who loves chicken. Their sauces, especially the ranch and honey mustard are very delicious. I've experience both the food truck and the restaurant multiple times. I will say service has lacked at both the truck and restaurant a few times, but the food always makes up for it. The people are not always the friendliest and the restaurant itself is incredibly small. I've also had the truck not show up where it said it would be on their Instagram schedule and waited for a good 20-30 mins and it never showed which I understand things can happen especially with a mobile kitchen, but updates would be helpful on changes or delays! Also, the truck tends to run out of the things often during my experiences. Overall, the food is great from the chicken to the sides. Parsnips or fries are very greasy, but tasty, mac and cheese is good too. The menu is pretty extensive with a few different meat options that can be plain or with heat, chicken and waffles, kids menu, unique sodas, desserts, and beer. By far one of my favorite places in Birmingham and definitely worth trying at least once. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Grilled chicken salad with hot heat - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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If you are like us and assumed this was similar to Nashville hot chicken, then you may be disappointed like we were. The mild of Nashville Prince's had a lot of heat for me, but the mild here didn't even have a hint of heat or kick. In fact, it was sweet. I'm not a big fan of sweet sauce on my food, especially if it's unexpected. The lemon pepper was good. You can differentiate the lemon and pepper flavor which I had only experienced once before. Sides we got: - mac and cheese - fried okra - corn bread - deviled eggs PSA to all onions hater: there is onions in the Mac and cheese. I wish I had a warning before I ordered and ate it. Corn bread muffins were pretty dry. Overall, meh. I think I came in with the wrong expectations, and it may or may not affected my opinion on this place. Chicken was super juicy though. read more

The food was just ok. It was VERY similar to a mom and pop version of Hattie B's. The service was ridiculously slow! Also, the temperature inside the restaurant was MUCH hotter than outdoors and it was 91 degrees outside if that tells you anything. In all fairness, I tried it during World Games at lunchtime and i'm sure they were tired and overwhelmed. I'll try it one more time and update. read more

Great flavors and service. I also like the variety of flavors offered. Location is a little congested with limited parking.

Got the chicken tender plate to go. Chicken as amazing I got the hot which if you want a comfortable fire in your mouth it's perfect .. wish I had pick something other than fries with it ... and I didn't get a ketchup packet in my to go bag .. but that's ok ... it was my first time there and didn't know the layout . As far as where to order and the such. Still gets five stars and the cashier was patient with my ordering read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - To go - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

I am not a fan of Hattie B's Hot Chicken so I was skeptical about this "hot chicken", however it exceeded my expectations. The real star of the show was the collard greens. They were SO flavorful. The chicken was good. The chicken was made to order so it comes out piping hot. I would definitely go back read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Traditional Wings - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

amazing food. Vegan friendly. food came out quick and was exactly what we wanted!! If you're in B-ham, this is a must stop.

The greens are AMAZING. I got the 3 wings and side... not a big fan of the wings extremely too big. The flavor was good. Going to try it again. read more

Food has no seasoning, when I asked the cashier what was good she looked at me and said idk as if I did. The kitchen staff laughed and played while my food was sitting was sitting in the window. Then a gentleman with a cask on his right arm was vey well mannered and polite BUT his cask seemed a little worn and dirty, which turned my stomach and ruined my appetite. The deviled eggs were atrocious. I just want my $22 back!!! read more

This is the best hot chicken in Bham. It's not to spicy but still packs a punch. This was my first visit to the brick and mortar location in Uptown. I normally just wait for the food truck to cross my path. The best part about this location they offer cane sugar sodas including cream soda: Yes! If your looking for chicken with spice not too hot to eat please check it Eugene's. This is truly a Birmingham original. read more

Ya'llllll! I really didn't plan on coming here but there was an event downtown, me and my friend decided to stop here since it was on the corner. I'm pescatarian so unfortunately i couldn't try the chicken BUT i was elated to see their was catfish offered. I got the po-boy and i have never tasted catfish like this!!! The batter they used had a mild cajun-feel kick with a touch of sweetness, like honey. It was delicious!!! This meal fulfilled me more than I expected! Im excited that more food trucks are evolving into businesses down here in the city of Birmingham. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Catfish Po-Boy - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The food is great your chicken taste like home. I just hate I smell like chicken grease when I leave. But the food is worth it

Eugene's is just slightly above average fried chicken. Their biggest asset is the assortment of flavors and rubs they offer for their chicken. Their prices are also very reasonable. Their chicken isn't bad, but it doesn't rival nearby Gus's World Famous Friend Chicken. They also have a great selection of sides that you can't go wrong with. Finally, Eugene's offers large family size options that are great for take-out. Half Bird (4/5): Their "Half Bird" is exceptionally tender and well-seasoned. Though if you are looking for a crispy batter with a satisfying crunch, this is not the option for you. Their dry rub is delicous and flavorful. With my "Half Bird," I ordered the white meat with the Hot Rub and the dark meat with the Southern Rub. Both were delicous but I prefered the slight kick that comes with the Hot Rub. Eugene's is a quaint shop with southern charm. It is incredibly clean and in an exciting and newly developed part of Birmingham. Within walking distance, there are plenty of other dining options and even a new TopGolf. If you find yourself in Uptown or at the BJCC, Eugene's is a good option. Nonetheless, for the best fried chicken in Birmingham, I would recommend going to nearby Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. Their menu is slightly less diverse but their chicken compensates for the lack of variety! read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Half Bird - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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They came to my job on lunch and you could smell the freshly cook chicken. It reminded me of my grandma's house on a Sunday evening. The line was reasonable so I had to try them. I ordered the hot jumbo wings and fries and man, it was fresh out of the oil! I loved it, dang near burned myself but that's my fault for not letting it cool down a bit. Lol. The flavor was nice and juicy; skin was crispy while meat was succulent and moist. The sauce I believe was their own hot sauce but it wasn't overpowering. The fries were crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside The cashier was nice and the cook funny. If I were to come across them again, I'd eat again. Nothing wrong with some good ol' fried chicken. I mean, you just can't hate it. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Jumbo wings and fries - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Eugene's Hot chicken food truck never fails. Got 2 oc dark no spice and fries and popcorn chicken & spice & fries. My husband always enjoys his leg and thigh with a full 4 star thumbs up. Mine was good but for me he makes the spice hot but it has no flavor. I always forget to just do no spice and add my own hot sauce. If I could change anything I think he should work on getting more flavor to the spice. But if you dip it in enough ranch you can fix that to a certain extent. Giving 4 stars since it's always a hit for my husband and just a small miss for me read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Popcorn chicken & fries - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This is not a review I wanted to write but it must be said so maybe some changes can happen. Firstly the food is fantastic and I think Eugene's has some of the best chicken in Birmingham, However their service is very underwhelming. The people are great there are no issues there but the three different locations that we have been to have always taken 45 minutes or more to get basic meals. We have been waiting well over an hour for our food from the food truck. This is unacceptable. This falls on management. Whether it's logistics or staffing no one should have to wait this long for fried chicken. There are plenty of other chicken restaurants that I will go to instead of waiting too long for food. Please do better Eugene's! read more

Eugene's is a neat little spot tucked into a corner in Uptown, and could not be more delicious! My husband is a fan of hot chicken, while I tend to stick with just plain fried chicken, and both of us were blown away! He's been a fan of Eugene's since they were only in the truck, but I found that the brick and mortar location is more my speed, since they seem to offer a wider selection (although, to be fair, the truck's offerings may have changed since the last time I went there). I got fried wings and fries, and they were absolutely delicious. The breading on the chicken was crispy and flavorful, and the meat was juicy. The fries were cooked perfectly - they may be up there in the best fries I've had in Bham! Definitely a Birmingham staple to take your out of town guests to if they want a delicious, unique, relatively inexpensive meal. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The tender strips are juicy and crispy. It comes in 3 pieces. The "hot" level is right for me; it's spicy without being stupid hot. Corn bread comes in 3 pieces, individually done in mini muffin pans. Real corn inside. The coleslaw is sweet and tangy but really small portion. Small dining room with only about 5 tables. read more

I tried this joint for the first time today!! OMG!! The wings were deliciously prepared! I tried 6 hot and 6 mild... The hot ones had me on a swivel! LOL! I throughly enjoyed my lunch! I will be back! The bread, pickles and my blue cheese dressing topped everything off! Their drink choices confused me though. They don't have the traditional Coke or Pepsi products. They have beverages made with pure cane sugar. They also serve tea, beer and wines.. read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Jumbo Chicken Wings (Hot) - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

OMG I'm in love with this place!!!!!! Hands down the best hot chicken in Bham. It's a smaller places but somehow they manage to get everyone in and out pretty fast. They have added some outside seating that will come in handy this spring and summer (outside is dog friendly). They have a pretty good selection of beers (some local). My go-to meal is the mild tenders with a side of slaw and we order an extra side of fries. I love getting a bit of chicken with a little ranch and slaw... soooooo good! Try it next time. The deviled eggs are fantastic! They have fried catfish that I haven't tried yet but it's on the list. Along with some of their other southern cooking. If you haven't been yet, STOP what you're doing and go! You will not be disappointed! read more

Eugene's Hot Chicken - Jumbo chicken finger plate! So good - Food Trucks Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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