What did you do to the original menu and recipes? Very disappointed, I will not be coming back anytime soon.

I've never had a bad meal from HCT. Today we went on a whim I got spicy drums, hot, and extra well done. It couldn't have been any better, the seasoning was spot on, the perfect crunch. Delicious. I ordered online which was a simple process but I will say the pick up inside was a little confusing. I wasn't sure if I needed to stand in line or what (should've just went thru the drive thru) but I ended up deciding to stand in the pick up area and after a while someone asked my name for the order. read more

I've been to this location so many times and they've always been so kind and efficient. I am obsessed with their drumsticks (I'm a sucker for dark meat.) All of their sides are amazing!! I have nothing bad to say. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Meal Drumsticks, Meal Boneless, Ma's Sweet Tea - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food was borderline ok taste wise. I'm not a spicehead (I know the name of the place so don't come for me, lol). Decent portions. It was all just so mediocre and underwhelming. Ordered boneless breast with cold level seasoning, lil chick combo (tender and coleslaw) with light warm seasoning, and sides of baked beans and mac n cheese. I received NO sauce or utensils that I ordered. I personally did not like the sides with the exception of the coleslaw (and that's saying something considering I'm a creamy slaw gal). Left me with an overall feeling of "meh". Maybe the chicken would've been kicked up a notch if I had gotten my sides of house ranch. read more

See all

In the food desert (for fried chicken) that is Columbus, Hot Chicken Takeover is a shining oasis. I've been coming to HCT for 5 years and that in itself is saying something because I don't like going to the same place too often . HCT's menu isn't very extensive: BUT if you're looking for quality Nashville style fried chicken in Ohio then you've come to the right place. Side note: the homemade ranch is so good, I'd honestly bathe myself in it. The unlimited free sweet tea is also a game changer. Even if you don't like your chicken too spicy, there are heat levels for every taste. They also do special collabs with other local businesses around the city (namely Jenis ice cream and Late night slice). The only reason I'm not giving HCT 5 stars is because of the limited side choices. The Mac & cheese is AMAZING but the Cole slaw is definitely an acquired taste. I know they're rolling out baked beans as well, but I'm honestly not a fan of beans. So hopefully in the future they branch out a little more and add more sides to their menu!! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Warm wings meal: includes wings, toast, plus Mac & cheese - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Huge hour out to Craig. I came in and he greeted me with no attitude. I asked him for my food to be made fresh and he had no issue with dropping the food with no talk back or questioning why I wanted the food fresh. As I'm writing this he noticed I made a mistake on my order and addressed me to make sure I placed the correct items and made sure he dropped the right food. Thank you a lot Craig you truly made me feel as if my money I'm spending it's going into the right hands. Don't think I'll go to any other location after today. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover is awesome for two reasons: (1) their amazing community support and (2) chicken (of course). It was so heartwarming to see their work on helping the restaurant/service industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then when I heard about their support of the Girl Scouts through the creation of a Thin Mint pudding dessert, using cookies they purchased from local troops and then donating a portion of the proceeds back to them, I knew we had to get back over there ASAP. The Clintonville location is currently open for carryout. You call ahead and then pick up at a drive thru window, which makes it very handy. We were glad to see that they were hopping on our latest visit. The menu covers nearly all of a chicken (boneless, bone-in, wing, thigh, breast, drumstick), plus a kid's option of 2 drumsticks or boneless, and even a chicken-less option of three sides (they offer mac 'n cheese, cole slaw, and baked beans). They have a nice variety of options on heat: cold, warm, hot, and holy, to appeal to a variety of tastes. There are special options on certain days - a meatless seitan option, a gluten free chicken option, and waffles on the weekend. On our most recent visit, we had chicken sandwiches and drumsticks with baked beans and mac and cheese. As always, tea and ranch are included. The meat was juicy and flavorful, and the sides were delicious. Naturally, we had to get the thin mint pudding, which was a delightful combo of chocolate pudding, whipped cream, and crushed Thin Mints - yum! read more

Me and my brother went here and did food revie. It was my second time coming, and his third. I got the same thing from last time I came. The General Manager was so cool, we were vlogging because my brother has his own youtube where he goes around columbus and tries food. The GM was funny, cool, and helpful. I Ordered Chicken Sandwich but it came with white bread, which i don't eat so i asked for alternative and she gave me wheat buns. I hope you go eat there!! @ Hotchicken Takeover (clintonville) read more

I got the full chicken, chicken thigh meal, and chicken leg meal. This location was new to me because I usually go to the north market location. This location is much easier to access for parking. They still have covid restrictions, meaning they have limited dining inside (~6 full tables, ~2-3 seats on each side). Their service is great and their food quality is just as good as their other location. I was hesitant towards getting the full chicken since I'm not the biggest fan of chicken breasts, but this was surprisingly really good. I got everything to go, and it was just as fresh and crispy after driving home ~20 minutes after picking it up. Once again, another testimony to HCT's quality in fried chicken. Would come back again! read more

See all

Definitely here for this place! I live in Cincinnati but have heard so much about this place for so long. Everyone would always tell me I needed to visit when I'm in Columbus but each time I come, I always run out of time. Thankfully, I had a few hours to spare recently and made sure this was on my list of places to visit. Fried chicken can either be done really well or really wrong lol Thankfully, Hot Chicken Takeover got it so right. They have such a crispy crust that lasts for a long time (I saved some for later). It was so flavorful and that extra bit of spice was like icing on the cake. I loved it! My preference was the wings, but I hear a lot of good things about the other options as well. For sides, I went with the coleslaw and Mac n cheese. I love that the coleslaw was vinegar based. The Mac was ok. Not mind blowing, but not bad either. I know where I'll be visiting when I'm back in the area again! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Wings plate with Mac n cheese and coleslaw - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Love HCT. This location has kiosks to order from which made it super simple. Lots of indoor seating and a few cute outdoor tables. Plus a parking lot behind the building. Overall, great HCT location. read more

This restaurant was an amazing experience from start to finish. Kevin and Jamie showed so much hospitality from the moment I stepped in, from offering a sample of the hot sauce to pouring me a glass of sweet tea while I decided what to order. I ended up getting the hot drumstick and boneless chicken with a side of Mac. I love that the hot sauce isn't as sweet as Nashville hot chicken yet carries its own unique flavors with a TON of heat. Pickles and ranch were great to add to each bite as well! I was also told I shouldn't miss out on the banana pudding, and I was so surprised by how good it was. It looks traditional upon first glance but one bite and it is above and beyond! I will be coming back for sure next time I visit Cbus. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Ma's Sweet Tea, Drumsticks, Ma's Mac and Cheese, Miss B's Banana Pudding - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I tried Hot Chicken Takeover for the first time this past weekend. I was told that this was the place to go for hot chicken in the 614. The chicken was juicy, crispy, and they offer four heat levels; cold, warm, hot, and holy. I tried both the warm and hot spice levels. For those with a knack for all things spice, definitely go for the hot and maybe even the holy. Both spices were genuine and did not joke around. I recommend the tenders! The Mac n cheese was truly subpar. It was not lacking in flavor, however everything else resembled your typical Kraft Mac n cheese. Worth a try, but not my style of Mac. The banana pudding is a must have for anyone with a sweet tooth like me. The wafers and sweet cream make for a perfect cushion for the decadent banana pudding foundation. 11/10. The sweet tea was also phenomenal, as were the pickles. Definitely give this place a try and say hi to Kevin (he was awesome!!). read more

This restaurant is at the top when it comes to underrated places to eat. There is Great food and atmosphere. The tea is defiantly the best part. read more

You won't find anything better than this! I've been going to HCT since the very beginning and I'll never stop. Hand down the BEST hot chicken I've ever had (and I've been to Nashville). Make sure to check out their new tenders and fries! As always, you can't go wrong with the sandwich! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - HTC SANDWICH - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I really enjoy Hot Chicken takeover, although the parking at this location is always extremely tough. The prices did really increase as well, I understand with the economy and everything going on the price is not worth with what you get. The sweet tea is no longe free and you have to pay for any additional sides. The price you would pay for your meal at a sit down restaurant is the price is just the chicken alone, before any of the sides and drinks you order. It was a nice change of pace being back here, but will not be much considering the bang for your buck and getting more elsewhere. read more

--Similar to the focus of the restaurant, I would like to keep this review simple and succinct-- The mission of Hot Chicken Takeover is to provide you with a hearty meal with a weekend picnic feel. To that effect, they do it very well! Water and sweet tea come with your order; soda is extra. Your chicken is fried fresh, comes hot, and is very greasy. There are four choices of flavor or heat and cashier will often recommend "warm". Meals come with (vinegar based) coleslaw + macaroni & cheese. TAKEAWAYS: The coleslaw is refreshing; the Mac is forgettable. The real star is the chicken and it is quite delicious! Your picnic table hosts plasticware and a roll of brown paper towel, which you most certainly will need to sop up the oil residue on your fingers. Despite what the menu says, "warm" is almost unnoticeable and "hot" didn't really cause much of a tingle on my hot sauce friendly palatte. When I'm back in town and come back (because I WILL be coming back!), I'm gonna try the "holy" seasoning. Will update when that happens! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Wings meal, hot! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Beware the invasion. Hot chicken has taken over. It's a phenomenon that's spread from Nashville up north and then all over. Everyone is getting caught up in it. That includes vegans, with their good as the real thing seitan chicken sandwiches. I was around here for the first time since they added the vegan friendly seitan chicken. It was an excuse to catch up with friends. The ordering process is spelled out for you. First choose a piece of chicken and whether you want it on bread. Then choose if you want a combo meal. Huge portions here so you get a lot. It's about $12 for a sandwich and side. This comes with an absurd amount of bread, which makes you ask why. It's because of the sauce on the sandwich. The bread soaks it up. A few side items are vegan too, so that's cool. The baked beans are surprisingly not made with any pork. I thought the vegan chicken was the best I've had in awhile. The chicken comes with a spice level. I had the hottest, which is called Holy. This is pretty hot, so you need lots of water. Or tea. They have free tea, sweet or unsweetened. I got unsweetened since I figured the sandwich was already plenty of calories. Though it was hot I still was able to finish it. It has a communal table setup, which might be kind of annoying. It's not always enjoyable hearing other people's private conversations. That and it can get squishy inside, but just focus on the awesome chicken, or maybe seitan. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Vegan Chicken Sandwich - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

First time at HCT. Food is well. Paid $20 for tenders, fries, and Mac. definitely filled me up. Even with inflation, I don't think the pricing justifies what you're getting. I paid for a side of the HOLY but never got it. Cashier had to go to the back to make sure it was alright to ask for a side of a sauce which was confusing. UPDATE: Thank you for the response, Kylee! Was not aware of the $10 deal! I think that will be my next choice! read more

Gluten-Free Tuesdays is our family favorite. They seem to be very careful and we have never been "glutened" that we are aware. Easy, quick meal and ordering on the app is a piece of cake. read more

RIP waffles. Really??? And I tried the fried cornbread, not bad, mine was too hard on outside, but not a replacement for the waffles. I was not in the mood for the gravy today, next time. But, please bring back waffles... only reason for one less star. read more

I've been to Nashville and this is the probably the truest rendition of Hot Chicken I've found outside of Tennessee. The meat was juicy and tender with a well-seasoned crispy skin. The spice mixture was complex and the "hot" level of heat was enjoyable if you routinely eat spicy foods. My main complaint was that the food was pretty greasy, we got some waffles which were dense and literally dripped oil when we squeezed them! The chicken was also on the greasier side, dabbing things with a paper towel might be advisable if you don't want an early heart attack. The sides leave a lot to be desired as well. The mac and cheese had a pretty unremarkable flavor and was also grainy like it had been reheated. The beans were good but definitely on the sweeter side which makes eating the whole portion a little bit too much. Overall, I would gladly come back to Hot Chicken Takeover just for the chicken. You won't find a better non-hipster un-honeyed and actually spicy version of the dish outside of Nashville. read more

Great Customer Service! Kevin was really welcoming! Food was good

I ordered tonight and the chicken was great as usual, but the mac and cheese? I don't know if they changed the recipe or something, but I'm 100% convinced they just gave me Stouffer's frozen mac and cheese. It is not remotely close to what it normally is, and I've had their mac and cheese more times than I can count. This is nasty and it's Stouffer's. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - "SIDE OF MA'S MAC" supposedly - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

/got the big tender plate. Three tenders just like It says, sides are extra. The place is a bit pricey but you can tell it's done made to order. When the sign says the flavors are hotter than most other places believe them. I got the mild and it was plenty warm. The chicken is moist and it is well Breaded.The moms iced tea is good too. read more

I'd visited HCT for the first time a few years back at the north market location. This most recent visit about a month and a half ago was my second time trying them out. I decided to go with the wings meal and chose hot. There wasn't a line so I got to order right away and got my food pretty quickly. I grabbed some of their ranch and headed home to eat. The slaw and Mac were good. The chicken was still pretty hot and crispy but not greasy/slimy. The only part that was missing was the heat which had soaked into the bread below. I tasted the bread and it was indeed HOT! Very easy takeaway meal. Worth checking out once they reopen. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Meal Wings - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hot Chicken Takeover is seriously HOT! I just want to warn you, as I should have warned my Yelp friend. I have my share of spiciness but the heat level is legit! "Warm" = Normal Heat, "HOT" = Lip Burning Heat and "Holy S@#%!" = Heart Burning! If you do want to give their Holy S a try, I suggest the wings as more skin area less meat equal more concentration of heat. +1 star for all the Free Sweet/Unsweetened Ice Tea you can drink, Trust me, you will be drinking that a lot. Check in with your Yelp App to receive a Miss B's Banana Pudding which would cool your burning mouth at the end of the meal! read more

See all

Food was great chicken nice n spicey Service good job and friendly Needs a little bit of warmer Ambiance but a great dinner read more

I was pleasantly surprised to find that their "hot" level of spice was actually spicy! So many "hot chicken" places turn down the heat and leave you wishing it was more. Plus the flavor is great! I like how they use two pieces of wonder bread on each side of the sandwich. Kind of brings an at home feel. Plus, free tea! Nothing to complain about from these folks! I'll keep coming back. read more

This restaurant never fails to give as good as it gets. Hot Chicken Takeover specializes in southern eats with a spicy flare. I have been going to the North Market location often but most of the time they would close due to being cleaned out of food! Who can blame them? I went to the new Clintonville location with some friends, the was a line out the door. But it moved fast so we were able to put in our orders. I ordered the drumsticks with hot spice level and waffles on the side. Standard meals have coleslaw (not the mayo kind thank god) and their signature mac and cheese. I got the waffles due to my love of breakfast type foods. I got my food and a free Ms. B's pudding courtesy of Yelp. And had a decent wait, which they compensated with a free meal ticket? How nice is that? 5 stars for hot piping food and better than average service. This is the restaurant to beat. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - The Hot Drumstick plate with coleslaw and mac! I got waffles too! And courtesy of yelp a free Mrs. B's banana pudding. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Tried Hot Chicken Takeover again to see if I liked it any better, and sadly I don't like it any better than I did before. It is meh. I got the sandwich, cold style. The chicken itself is not bad, but the sandwich has to be dissected just to eat it. It's a giant hunk of fried chicken, on 4 pieces of plain nasty white bread with pickles and coleslaw on it. I ended up just eating the hunk of chicken. read more

I had to stop ordering food from here due to the quality of chicken was far below the price they charge for it. I was getting really bad cuts of chicken where they were serving up busted-boned meat and I don't know if one has never paid attention to what that tastes like but it makes the chicken taste filthy and bitter. Eating chicken that has been poorly butchered and looks more like it was hit by a car, battered and broken, is not enjoyably for any amount of money close to what you charge. I might as well go back to KFC food. They genetically tested it to prove it was chicken. The other issue is the breading was bland. It wasn't the worst flavored breading I have reviewed on a chicken place, but I stopped paying them for something I can do myself, far better, at home. My advice, since Yelp! Asked me what could they do better for this review, is simple: pay attention to the flavor of your food. If you can't taste the delicate intricacies of what the meat prepared in this way should taste like, get a group of people together to tell you. Grandmother's will typically know right away. They are from that generation where fried chicken tasted great. Also, if you went cheap on your chicken provider, upgrade. You have the money based on how popular your brand is. read more

Oh Hot Chicken Takeover, what has Columbus done to deserve you? Today was my first visit to the Clintonville Hot Chicken Takeover, my second visit overall. Overall I had a much better visit this time around, only because they hadn't run out of everything at the time I was there. I was able to order what I had my heart set on, the drumsticks. Can we talk for a minute about how you get four drumsticks, bread, pickles, mac and cheese, and coleslaw for around $10? Considering the free sweet tea, I can't think of many other places where you can get such a great tasting and filling meal for such a low price point. Added bonus, they carry Boylan sodas! A cream soda is the perfect balancing act to some spicy chicken. As I was ordering, I was informed by a friendly cashier that you can get multiple spice levels when you get drum sticks. Seems like a great option for some, but I told her the cold flavor was more the sufficient because when I tried warm it was a bit too much for me. Lo and behold, she told me they can do a "light warm" (essentially just less seasoning). Turns out, even light warm is still a bit too much for my tastes but it was really cool that it was an option. A special shout out the mac and cheese. Goodness that was some really amazing cheesy pasta. I was legitimately offended when a guy said on the way to the trash can "that is way too much mac and cheese" and then proceeded to throw his away. That is immoral and should be illegal. The seating is communal, with benches and stools. I know that's pretty trendy right now but my poor back shakes its proverbial cane at youths and their backless seating. Water, unsweetened tea, and sweetened tea are self-serve and as previously mentioned, free. Everyone's order comes in to go boxes which is really convenient when you think about it. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Cold and "light warm" drumsticks. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

SOOO Good. The food and the service is excellent. Every single employee that I had interactions with was extremely sweet and went above and beyond to accommodate in any way. The restaurant is always clean. Great place to take kids or just hang out with your friends. The chicken is hands down the best in Columbus and the sides (mac and cheese and cole slaw) are so good. The portions are huge. Two people can easily share a meal. I have tried their banana pudding and it's great. I love their sweet tea. And the best part is that the tea is free and unlimited refill. If you haven't tried hot chicken takeover yet, then I highly recommend you visit! read more

I think by now most people know this is the best Chicken all around Columbus. If you haven't come here yet, you're missing out! Cold, your standard breaded Chicken Warm, is warmer than most warms (My Favorite) Hot, darker in color and it's spicy kinda hot Holly $#%!, pleasantly painful but also very edible it's not that bad but a lot of heat with all that spice. If you like hot, you can do 4. read more

See all

Delicious crispy hot chicken! Great company with a wonderful mission. We will keep coming back! Clintonville location is currently our go to. Spicy Chicken House Ranch read more

This place was just OK. I could never really understand the hype behind it. People act as if this is just delicious. It's not bad chicken, just it's nothing special. I know some of these fast casual places try to give you the best of both worlds, but this place seems to just be average and mediocre all around. Although when I came here in they asked if I was a doctor which made me laugh because I really don't look like one so it will always be a memorable experience. read more

I was looking forward to trying this place after a recommendation from friends. Did not disappoint! I got the plant-based nuggets! I loved that they have a vegan option including vegan ranch!! Great service and reasonable prices! Highly recommend! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Vegan nuggets - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It's...fine. I love the company's mission. And when this opened, I was pretty stoked. But since that time, the quality has declined and I've had a much better Nashville style chicken elsewhere. I'm still happy to see this place succeeding, because I believe it feels a niche both in cuisine and in business model. But I do hope they get back on track and maybe even exceed the food quality they opened with at some point in the future. read more

Love the chicken and Mac and cheese at HCT. The service is friendly and fast and I appreciate the bottomless free tea. Something new I discovered is the amazing banana pudding. It's so tasty and they give you a generous portion. Yummy! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Love the all you can drink free tea - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all