My girlfriend and I were talking about options for dinner on a Friday night, she suggested HCT since it just opened officially that day to the public. I was kind of worried about the crowds and they might run out of food, I have heard stories from friends that went to the North Market location and HCT had ran out of food. Well we arrived on that Friday night around 7:15 and there was a nice crowd inside, the employee greeting everyone at the door was fantastic. He asked if we had ever been to HCT, which my girlfriend replied that she had, but I hadn't. He then went on to explain the concept and the menu and even suggested what to order. Once we got up to the front he said he would come over and check on us since I was a HCT virgin. I ordered a Hot Dark and she ordered a Hot White. Thinking back on it we should have ordered the entire bird. I asked if the whole bird could be split spice wise and the employees confirmed it can be, thus my next time here we will get the whole bird. The chicken was very moist and had a great flavor, the slaw is vinegar based and was also good as was the Mac and Cheese. The employee came over and was checking up on me seeing how my first time was at HCT. I told my girlfriend that I thought it was the Owner with the care and how he took care of us. I wish I would have gotten his name, but he has a beard and skinny with glasses. He is an asset to HCT and now HCT has a fan for life. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Dark-Hot - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Food WAS great here until I was given a set of their chicken that was beyond spicy. I'm talking spicy to the point where there's no flavor. When I order something with just mild spice (WARM), please don't serve me something that is obviously way beyond what the level is. I've ordered this same meal many times and it's never been this hot. The chicken looked like it was absolutely doused in the hot sauce/seasoning. Granted, my chicken may have been mixed up with someone else's order, but it was inedible after the first bite and I had to throw out the rest. Lost a customer... read more

While we caught this place just before their 2100 hour closing time, and there is consideration for that, I'd have to say I was underwhelmed by my experience. My g.f. is a Yelp Elite in CLE and really hyped this place up after doing her usual research. She really wanted to try the place. Compared to a place like Soho Chicken & Whiskey, on w 25 St in CLE, this place is almost a dive. The chicken and hot sauce were decent. The pickles were good. The mac n cheese was burnt and dry. The coleslaw had too much vinegar for my liking. I prefer creamier and smoother. Ordered two boneless breast meals for $12 each. Price point was a little high considering the lower quality sides. The meal included a free iced tea which was a plus. The bathrooms were horrid. They had gender neutral restrooms that were not well kept. Closing time was near but it was busy which means plenty of people still patronized the joint, so clean them please. There were no paper towels left and urine all over the toilet and floor. (E.g. Dive bar/restaurant) . Fortunately for me, as a guy, I will pee anywhere. Would've felt bad for a female going in there. Told my g.f. to hold it in fact. Overall, just okay. Would not feel a need to return. Btw, they ran out of the "banana pooding" offered through Yelp without a substitute and just an apology. Oh well. read more

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The one in Clintonville is amazing. Parking isn't an issue because there is a huge lot behind the building. I had the wing dinner, cold, which means little spicy. The wings were crisp and delicious! The mac and cheese is to die for! Next time I'm getting double mac and cheese and no slaw! Banana pudding was very delicious! It brought back childhood memories! Service was fast and people working there were friendly! Excited to go back!! read more

Chicken is delicious, order will be correct 50% of the time. Sides are often forgotten.

I usually go to the north market location but decided to stop at this once since its closer to my work...it was national fried chicken day so that was all the convincing I needed. If you've been here you know how great the food is so I wont event get into that. But will mention the new menu item....BBBBBBBBB...Baked beans yall. I really liked them. They were very tasty and I'm so glad I now have another option. I've never been a fan of slaw, period. Its nice to know I can save a few bucks by not getting double mac, bc now baked beans are an option and just as tasty....yum! Baked beans for the win! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

If you're into chicken it's probably fine. If you're going for the veggie nuggets, I'd say skip it. You can save a lot of money by buying a box of morning star nuggets and putting hot sauce on them. read more

Fantastic! The chicken here is done well, crunchy skin and moist meat inside. The spiciest level is very satisfying. The coleslaw here is very good. It helps to cut through the fat from the chicken. I like to mix a little bit of ranch to add a creamier taste. The coleslaw is also very crunchy. The Mac and cheese is really dense. I think I'd like it better if it was a creamier cheese. The food here is really dense. You'll leave full. The sweet tea is really sweet so I like to dilute it with the unsweet tea so the sweetness doesn't overload your mouth. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Extra holy drumsticks meal, with warm seasoning on Mac and cheese. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It seems that the kitchen could not get their shit together tonight. I waited for over 45 minutes for a take out order of one chicken breast, and two sides. I won't be back. read more

Super amazing fried chicken various heat types (no heat "cold" to very hot) and delicious sides. I love the mac and cheese and "new" baked beans. The establishment is extremely clean and the staff are extremely hard working and friendly. You must give this place a try if you are at all in the area. We have been to Hattie Bs in Nashville and enjoy that treat however with that being said we prefer this Hot Chicken and sides by far! read more

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From the second you walk in, all the way to the last bite of banana pudding, HCT never disappoints. They provide second-chance employment which gives them a major bonus in my book. That being said, I have always had excellent service from staff who are somehow speedy, but still make you feel like your business is valued. I have never left HCT without at least one genuine laugh brought on by the employees. The service is truly a highlight. Ok, so the food. My go-to order is the boneless meal, hot (like the name), with slaw and ma's mac. The chicken is so juicy and super crispy on the outside. It's perfectly greasy, which is complimented well by the slaw and ranch. The slaw is vinegar-based, a little sweet, and always sooo crunchy and fresh. Don't even get me started on the ranch. It's a runny ranch, made in house, and it has ruined all other ranch for me. You'll need at least 2 containers. Enough said. Ma's mac is your classic, homemade mac and cheese. It's extra cheesy, a little buttery, and ultra-indulgent. The little scoop is definitely the most filling part of the meal. Don't leave without a side of ma's mac! Finally, the banana pudding. It's a simple delight. The textures play well together and it tops of the meal like no other. A few pro-tips: The perfect bite is a little slaw, bite-sized piece of chicken, all dunked in ranch. Then, I always make a ma's mac "taco" with the white bread topped off with some ranch. It's a little (very) ridiculous, but so tasty. read more

Amazing, love this place. Always quality service. Probably the best ranch I've ever had. For sure recommend.

Good and spicy chicken sandwich. I ordered the Hot, one step below their hottest offering and it was good, but not as spicy as they made it out to be. I would come back to try their hottest flavor to see how it is. read more

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Loved hot chicken takeover, somehow never managed to go when I lived in Columbus and recently ate there when I went home and visited. Loved how efficient ordering was and picking up through the window! It lasted two full meals, and the portions were huge, such great bang for your buck! read more

Such wonderful service! And when we ordered two different spice levels for the family meal they separated them so perfectly

It's good, but it gets to be "too much" pretty fast. In my opinion, with the hottest option it wasn't very spicy. It's actually kind of bland. Aside from that I think the texture was pretty good, it had a lot of crunch and was pretty tender. My only complaint was it wasnt very spicy. read more

I first tried their North Market location and was hooked! Seriously don't try another chicken place HCT is your chicken place in CBus! The chicken is always hot and tasty. I feel as if the portions are generous. The staff is friendly, helpful and efficient. They have excellent customer service and make sure that guests are welcomed and set up for a great experience. The drinks are free and are perfect on those hot summer days. The Mac and cheese is amazing as well as the banana pudding, the coleslaw is very good. There are perfect for large groups. They are organized and not once have I had my order mixed up. I appreciate this business and their work ethic is fantastic!! read more

I had the white combo. Thats a breast slathered in Hot sauce, with a side of slaw, side of mac n cheese, and two slices of white bread. Iced tea is available at no additional charge. The chicken itself was great and juicy. The hot sauce wasnt too hot or flavorful though. Maybe next time Ill get the hotter sauce, Holy. The customer service was great. I informed the cashier it was my first time there and he gave me a run down through the menu. I didnt have trouble parking right on High St but Im guessing thats because I came before the big lunch rush. I didn't check the bathrooms but the front looked nice and clean. I wish the slaw wasnt so dry. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover is worth the hype to me. The menu is pretty simple but gets the job done. Of course, the fried chicken is the main event & comes in 4 "heat" levels to choose from (cold, warm, hot & holy). I got the hot white meat option which was basically a fried chicken breast with the bone in it. It was a meal so it came with Cole slaw with Mac & Cheese. I was extremely full after eating without even touching the bread & with only half of the Cole slaw eaten from my plate. Overall, the food was great & will be coming back. read more

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Best chicken in Columbus--hands down. The new clintonville location is fantastic because it's a lot more convenient than the North Market. Their chicken always tastes the same, and always tastes delicious. The sweet tea is super sweet, so beware. (I like it but some folks don't). Additionally, I love that HCT focuses on social entrepreneurship. They hire folks that might not be given a chance elsewhere, so every time I eat there, I feel like I'm doing a little bit of good. And I leave with a very happy stomach. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

HCT makes some solid fried chicken. It's crispy, spicy, and moist. They are thoughtful enough to serve the chicken on bread which serves to soak up moisture and keep the skin crispy, you can eat it but I never do. Their slaw is not my style (I like mayo) and the mac can be hit or miss but their chicken, sweet tea, and ranch by far make up for it! Customer service has always been great. I highly recommend their legs, and wings-so good! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Leg plate spicy with double Mac-so good! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Used the pick-up window for the first time tonight and Katie T. made our experience quick and awesome!! She was so sweet! It goes without saying, but the food was delicious as always, too! Still fresh and piping hot even though we did online ordering - perfect timing! Thanks Katie T. for awesome service and HCT for an awesome dinner! read more

Fantastic food, and the staff chased me down to give me something I left on the counter.

I haven't written a Yelp review in years that I can recall but I have to give it up for Bailey and Ciarra and this place in general. Ciarra asked if I was sure I wanted "Holy" level when I was ordering. I said yes. It had a kick, sure, but I wasn't crying or anything. Then Bailey came along and warned me that there's an "Extra Holy" off-menu option. I puffed out my chest and did my best tough-guy act, and out came an "Extra Holy" wing, almost as if I was being dared! Well, challenge accepted. It was excellent. I still didn't cry, but this place is awesome and I wish I could be friends with these people because they were super nice and super awesome. Oh, and also the sides are excellent too. So, yeah, go here! read more

This was my first hot chicken experience and Hot Chicken Takeover was a great introduction to this tasty treat. Hot Chicken Takeover offers pretty much one option, hot chicken, in various forms: dark meat, white meat, boneless, sandwich and some tasty sides: Mac and cheese or coleslaw. I opted for the sandwich which is served on four pieces of wonder bread and topped with coleslaw and pickles. The sandwich comes with double Mac and cheese. The coleslaw is light and more vinegar than mayo based. The pickles are lightly pickled and refreshing. Overall, this place is a one trick (but delicious) pony so go if you're in the mood for hot chicken! I also enjoyed the free ranch and iced tea! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Hot chicken sandwich - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Good seasoned chicken. I know I will definitely be eating at one of their locations again.

Review #2: back in the area after a couple months, and the food is still great! Though I think they've secretly increased the spiciness of the "Holy" chicken because this time it was hotter on the first bite, and that spice level built even higher as i progressed through the meal. From now on, I'll be taking "Hot," thank you very much! The staff are still as helpful and welcoming as ever. Greg (the general manager) remembered us from our last visit and even personalized our order so that it said "South Carolina friends" on the label. Hot Chicken Takeover, please come to Greenville SC! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - "South Carolina Friends."its always nice when they remember where you're from! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Love the food, love the ordering style, love the seating, love the self serve (and free!) fresh brewed sweet & unsweet tea. The dill ranch is the perfect compliment to the spicy, crunchy chicken. Chicken is extra extra crunchy on the outside & oh so steamy juicy on the inside. Mac and cheese is also hit-the-spot fat kid good. Not a fan of the slaw, but you can get double Mac :) Fat kid is hap happy. This place is so good, be prepared to wait in line. So worth it though. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great place to go to with friends as a casual eat. Fun environment. Their sweet tea is to die for (most of the time)

Yeah. It's amazing. I had the warm level which was the perfect amount of hotness and flavor for someone who loves spice but doesn't want to be blowing their nose all throughout dinner. The chicken breast is large enough to feel very full, but also not too thick to allow for spice, flavor and breading in every bite. Mac and cheese was amazing and the light coleslaw was a perfect way to balance the dense meal. Couldn't stop thinking about that meal the whole next day at work. Staff was friendly and checked on us during our meal. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Boneless breast meal. Level-warm - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Nice rainy day, what better place to go than Hot Chicken Takeover. Had the dark meat dinner, slaw and Mac n cheese. Tried the warm, nice starter, just a little heat, slaw was sweet vinegary, Mac n cheese was great, free tea, sweet was great. Wait staff, super friendly. Will be back for a little more heat. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - The real deal - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It lived up to the hype for me. I love chicken, but normally don't like it super spicy. I took a risk on the "warm" level and it didn't disappoint. The chicken was super flavorful and tender. I had the double-order of Mac & Cheese and it was super tasty! Would definitely recommend giving this place a try if you're into spicy food or chicken in general. It surpassed my expectations. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Spicy chicken, Mac and Cheese, homemade Ranch dressing, Banana Pudding, homemade ice tea... Say No More If your into spicy chicken this is a must go to establishment read more

Stopped in while passing through Columbus. Chicken was so good, the Holy "#&@*%?!" level of heat was perfect. The Mac and cheese was great, too. Restaurant was nice and clean and the staff were friendly and quick. Can we get a Hot Chicken Takeover in Cincinnati, please?! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Chicken with double Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Awesome team , wonderful chicken and sides. The hot ranch dipping sauce is the bomb. Will be back soon! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Thigh meal - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hot chicken takeover definitely lives up to its name!! Especially if you get the HOLY spice level... make sure you come prepared! Haha I usually have no problem with spice and it definitely got to me. It doesn't take away from the flavor and tenderness of the chicken however! Also the Mac and cheese is super on point and if you dine in I 1000% recommend you give their ranch a try! So good! I would pass on the Cole slaw and I wish they sold fries but the chicken is the star player here and that alone makes it worth stopping in! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place is great! They offer a variety of chicken options (drumsticks, white meat, leg/thigh, etc), and four levels of spiciness. You can also choose a meal (which includes cole slaw, mac and cheese, pickles, and bread) or only chicken. We opted for the drumstick meal which came with four drumsticks. And since it was a weekend, we opted for the waffles for an additional $2.50. Spiciness level: Hot. They also offer free iced tea (sweet or plain) as well. The dining area is fun, with big communal tables and a friendly atmosphere. The chicken drumsticks were delicious--big meaty pieces with a fantastic crispy breading, and the spiciness level, whoa. It was pretty darn spicy, but not so fiery that you couldn't taste anything else. The mac and cheese was a nice counterpoint to the fiery-ness, and the cole slaw was fresh and crisp. The waffle order came with three mini waffles which were crisp and delicious. My only quibble is that the waffles look like they're deep fried along with the chicken, and have thus acquired the same spicy flavor. I'd prefer waffles that were cooked separately, to balance out the flavor combos, but this is a minor complaint. Overall, this was a delicious meal in a fun setting. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - The drumstick meal. It's big enough for two! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My family loves everything about this place. I can't eat it anymore because of health reasons, but oh my goodness, if they would come up with a recipe with No breading and dry rub grilled I could eat it again . read more

I haven't been to Hot Chicken Takeover in a while due to it being so busy at the North Market location. When I found out Clintonville was getting one I was so excited. Even though the line was long we got through it fast. I got the cold because I wasn't sure of how spicy the warm was. Overall the chicken was tender and juicy. It's was quite hot from just coming from the fryer. It was very tasty. The macaroni was good and the slaw added a nice cool touch. Overall I was very happy and will be making a trip back soon! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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We called and called to place our order. No answer. I left my name but no return call. So the next day we decided to call again. It was around 830 pm Saturday. Since it was our first time ordering asked how to order. There are no meals they told me. You have to order, 2 thighs, 1 breast etc. The sides are seperate. $25.00! WHAT! Ok, this food must be the best in town. Ok, for that price we expected this food to be out of this world great I ordered for 2: 2 thighs, mac and cheese and baked beans. Chicken wad so hard and brown. Mac and cheese was dry. The baked beans were ok. This was the worst food I have had in a long time. Never again! Very disappointed and sad. read more