It used to be so good. Prices were reasonable for the size of the chicken pieces. The last time we ordered the chicken legs were half the size they used to be. Never going there again read more

The chicken is perfectly seasoned. Listen to the heat bc the higher the spice, they mean it! The ranch is 10/10. And you HAVE to get the banana pudding. read more

Come for the chicken, you'll stay for the all you can eat ranch and sweet tea! The chicken is crispy and moist, but the house made thin ranch enhances it and I love dipping the chicken in ranch. The mac n cheese and cole slaw are pretty good sides. Decent portions-we usually just get one meal and another piece of chicken, because sides are big enough for 2. The tea and sweet are free and soooo good. I don't even drink iced tea other than here, but I look forward to it as a part of my meal. I can't say I've ever liked banana pudding before theirs. There is some topping, but then it's the crunchy sweet crumb topping that makes me keep getting it. read more

This was my FIRST experience with this incredible restaurant at the North Market. I was told there was always a line and for good reason! Also, when they're out, they are OUT of chicken so get there at a reasonable time! While walking around and enjoying the sites and smells of the market, I suggest calling in your order which normally takes 15-20 minutes effectively moving you up much closer to the front of the line. The gentleman that answered was amazing! He just had an inviting way that made my business feel appreciated. I got the 4 leg meal which comes with cole slaw, mac and cheese, 3 pickle chips, 2 pieces of bread, and bottomless warm sweet tea! It's heaven! The chicken comes in 3 degrees of heat, cold, warm, HELL, and HOTTER THAN HELL (I made up the last two, but you get my meaning). I do NOT suggest going above warm unless you testing your tolerance for spicy hot food. That said, the chicken was amazing! Yes, it's fried chicken, it's fried chicken done right! And I heard they have a truly noble cause. Lastly, I had the banana pudding and I advise you get at least 2 because it is the bees knees! Get to Hot Chicken Takeover as soon as you can! All the good you've heard is true! read more

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I have been to this location multiple times and all I can say is thank goodness it is close to work. It is consistently good and I never have to worry that things won't be the same. The chicken is so flavorful and the sides are great. My favorite part besides the chicken of course is the ranch dressing! Not only can you get as much as you want but it is so good. This isn't your typical bottled ranch, this is fresh and homemade. This has become a Friday tradition at work and I couldn't be happier. read more

First time here on the way to a clippers game. Chicken is good. Portions big. The spice is good on the cold level. My grandson loved the fries and he normally doesn't like fries. Service is good. Megan was really nice and helpful. read more

They have pretty good chicken, sweet tea and banana pudding!

Wow! Finally found out why people are waiting in line...have to say this was the best piece of chicken I've ever had. Tender, moist, and nicely spiced. And the ranch dressing, please pour me another shot! I had the boneless breast sandwich, warm (spice level) with coleslaw and pickles as toppings. This was a huge portion, I was packed, had to take the banana pudding home to eat another day. The sandwich bread did not excite me, next time I will try simple piece of meat with sides. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Boneless breast sandwich, 6 hours later and I'm still full! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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So happy that I got to try HCT! One word... delicious! Since this is my first time here, I'll try my best to review everything. Parking - make sure u park at the North Market parking lot! You can get your ticket validated after. We parked at the Vine Street parking garage because it said "entrance through the vine st"... d'oh! Food - It was kind of difficult to locate where HCT was.. but it's on the second floor. There are signs to help you find where it is. When we got there...the line was pretty long though. We waited for over 40 minutes. Worth it? YES! Also, on the side of the wall they put up how many chickens they have left and what they're out of. My bf got the bone in breast meal and I got the 4 piece drumstick meal. Each meal comes with mac n cheese, cole slaw, and bread. Omg... it was so good. Chicken had so much flavor.. crispy n yummy!! & the cole slaw was also our fav! It's not as creamy. I ended up getting the "warm" spice level which wasn't too spicy for me. I think I'll try the hot level next time. Service - you basically order at the counter and they'll call out your name and bring it to you. Although we waited in line for a long time... the service was quick! We got our food right away. The staff were all friendly! As for drinks - they have free tea (delicious too). As for seating, it's a long bench... so if you're not into sitting next to others, it's prob best to go somewhere else to sit. Price - not expensive at all. ~10-12$/ meal! So worth it! Don't forget to check in to get the free banana pudding - it was surprisingly yummy! Can't wait to come back. Yums! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Bone in chicken breast - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This was one of the places on my list to eat during my weekend trip to Columbus. Located inside of North Market on the Upper Level, this place is definitely a must try if you are a fan of hot chicken. There are various options as far as the style you'd like your chicken. There are also various levels of heat to choose from. Drinks that are either sweet tea, unsweet tea, or water are free which is awesome! Alongside your entreé, you also get the options for two sides. I went with the chicken sandwich, spice level hot. For my two sides I opted for both baked beans and Mac and cheese. Seating is open, it's kind've a picnic table concept which I like. Once you order, your name is taken and you grab a seat. Your food is brought out and from there on you enjoy! At first bite, spice caught the back of my throat and I coughed. However, overall flavor of all my food was fantastic. Creamy Mac and cheese and flavorful beans were a great addition. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the dining experience was very pleasant. I definitely recommend and look forward to returning next time in the area! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wow. Fantastic chicken wings, mac and cheese and beans. Definitely go here when nearby. The wings are crispy yet juicy with the exact amount of sauce that needs to be on them to give them to keep them crispy and give ya a nice kick. The Mac and cheese is so buttery and cheesy, you will be begging for more when you finish them. The beans are perfectly sweet and seasoned, and not the least bit dried out, heaven from the first bite. Even the damn pickles and white bread were better than any others. Only regret is not eating more, and not getting a t-shirt. Hope to be back to Ohio one day and this will be at the top of my to do list. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have been to Hot Chicken Takeover so many times over the past few years, and I cannot believe that, until now, I had never written a review. Shame on me! But here it goes... Hot Chicken Takeover is one of my favorite restaurants in Columbus! I love the food, and I love their business philosophy. I was first introduced to HCT at the location downtown, in North Market. When the one in Clintonville opened, I was really happy because I always found battling traffic downtown, looking for a parking spot, etc., to be infuriating. The HCT in Clintonville has a parking lot, and you can also park along High Street or the other side streets pretty easily. During the pandemic, I have ordered takeout and picked it up at the drive-through window. A few people have complained of having to wait a little too long for their food, but I have never had this problem. I never remember waiting more than maybe 10 minutes when I've dined in, and placing an order online for a specific time later in the day has always proven easy for me -- the food is ready when I get there. I have to admit that I pretty much order the same thing every time, so I can't comment on the variety of food that HCT serves. I always drumsticks, warm, with mac-n-cheese and slaw. The slaw, I warn you, is not the creamy kind Colonel Sanders makes, but the juicy kind in which the cabbage has been allowed to marinade in a vinegary brine. Everything about this meal, to me, is amazing. I have tried the "cold" chicken (not spicy) and the "hot" chicken and have found that the cold doesn't have the taste that I want and the hot burns my mouth such that I can't taste anything. The "warm" chicken is a good in-between flavor and heat that I really like. After four drumsticks, I'm starting to feel a slight sweat on my forehead. The mac-n-cheese is creamy deliciousness. Only once have I tried the banana pudding, and it was awesome! I do love a good southern banana pudding from time to time; my only issue with it is that it's a little more than I want. If they had a smaller size, I'd buy it more often. So, my advice is this: if you like fried chicken, especially spicy fried chicken, go to Hot Chicken Takeover. I've noticed that they even have a vegetarian "chicken" option that's not really chicken. Not my thing, but if it's yours, go try it. It's great picnic food if you're still weary about sitting inside. I love it, and I'm glad it's within about a mile of where I live! read more

fantastic! simple idea (Nashville hot chicken and free slaw and mac and cheese and sweet tea) executed perfectly. slaw is vinegar-based and very good, mac and cheese is cheesy, chicken breast is tender and juicy with "warm" being spicy enough for me. free homemade ranch dipping sauce was great as the free sweet tea. a must in Columbus! fun too! read more

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It's not bad chicken, but I don't get the hype. That's just me.. my brother loves it. But for me it's a whole lot of over-priced meh

This review is approximately three years late. My first HCT experience was during a scorching summer, on a plastic chair, fighting a bee for my sweet tea. I have never looked back. Eat delicious chicken. Know that you're contributing to something positive. Cut the sweet tea with Joe's regular tea to save your teeth. Be happy. Hot. Boneless. Tea. Puddin'. Bliss. It certainly has a different vibe now than it did sitting under a pop-up tent in OTE, and there's definitely something I miss about the old digs--but it's great to see them have a permanent place, and the food is still good as ever. Also, fewer bees is pretty undeniably a plus. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Excellent service always at the Clintonville location! They have done a great job of keeping the restaurant safe during COVID with spaced out spots to stand to wait for orders and outdoor dining only. The food is always so good & I have had some of the most pleasant interactions with the staff. Thank you for all that you do! read more

Great service and nice staff I love it here! Food is top tier I've only been here a few times but I will keep coming back. The spice chart is very diverse for any spice lover read more

This chicken was ahhhhh-mazing. I got the wings meal and it was a lot of food for me but glad I had some leftovers. I tried the "warm" which is hotter than most mediums and they warn you in their menu so heads up that it is pretty hot. The guy across from me sitting got hot and he was sweating. Lol. The mac n cheese is very good as well. There was an incredibly long line but it was so bad and I'm telling you... IT IS WORTH THE WAIT. Seating could be tricky since it was crowded so be ready to rub elbows with your neighbor. read more

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The best chicken I've ever had. Was in town from North Carolina and now that I'm back home I'm ruined. I don't think I can find chicken that good near me. I almost want to plan a trip to OH just to be able to eat here again! It was amazing. Their version of "warm" is like my version of extra hot. I eat a lot of hot stuff and have a pretty good tolerance but it was a bit much. Don't get me wrong the flavor was great and I ate all of it, but I wasn't expecting it to be that hot. read more

Went to the location in North Market to order food for the first time from them. They were completely out of dark meat. So I decided to change my taste standards (just to try the food) to all white meat... yet out of that meat. Staff were very kind and apologetic; however, this was after lunch time on a work week. Too bad I couldn't try but on a good note I got to go to one of my favs on the 1st floor for something different. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover is a must go-to in the North Market! It is located on the second floor and is equipped with several picnic tables for you to sit and enjoy the deliciousness while it's hot. It's a pretty simple menu of fried chicken or a chicken sandwich and sides - coleslaw and mac n'cheese. I usually get the chicken sandwich with mac which is always on point. They also have unsweetened and sweet tea. A few things - they do have a limited number of items that will run out during the later parts of the day. That being said, I've gone there around 1 - 2 pm and been fine. It especially matters how busy it gets and if there is a convention in town. Definitely consider stopping by if you're planning on lunch/brunch at the North Market! read more

Have been hearing about HCT for weeks and finally experienced it! Warm was definitely hot enough for me - had the boneless plate with extra pickles and loved it! Will order double coleslaw next time and pass on the Mac and cheese simply because I have food restrictions and can't eat much of it but I did take a taste and it was great too. Simple comfort food that tastes great and is delivered by a friendly and cordial crew. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Really cool concept of simple southern fried chicken and sides. They make chicken the way you want to eat it! Speaking besides the food, the atmosphere of the restaurants are very chill, bench style seating with mamas checkered tablecloth. they have the most delicious tea and lemonade to go along with their southern theme! I believe their sides change also witch is a huge score for me! Variety is the spice of life and hot chicken takeover is full of said spice. read more

This is for the Clintonview location. We've been eating HCT since it was a window on Ohio Ave. Being a patron of Prince's in Nashville I was looking forward to having Hot Chicken close to home. Whenever my grandkids are in town we make it a point to visit HCT on Tuesday because of the gluten free addition to the menu. But when we come in with the grandkids they expect grandpa to do something stupid. Once gave my name as Marco and when it was called out they yelled Polo (rather sheepishly). This last time I used Bingo. Nat at the counter was very helpful when I was using the self ordering kiosk ( a little clunky in my opinion) and got Kayla to help me looking like the cool grandpa by singing B-I-N-G-O as she brought out our order. Review wouldn't be complete without a shout out to the kitchen staff. The food is always consistently delicious and perfectly prepared. Almost makes me not miss Prince's. Although I always go there when visiting my daughter in Tennessee. read more

This was one of my favorite HCT in the city! It was my first time here and they did not let me down. Food was hot and staff were so nice and friendly. They even offered to validate parking. read more

I was pleasantly surprised by this Midwest restaurant's take on Nashville hot chicken! It's not the same, but it's delicious in its own way. I recommend getting the dark meal for juicy leg and thigh meat in the "hot" style. Don't let them scare you - it's not that hot! The mac and cheese with the slaw made this the perfect meal. I enjoyed this location in North Market where patrons sat a communal picnic tables. It truly provided that Midwestern feel where everyone ate together. I was there alone, but didn't feel like it by the end! Make sure you learn the story behind Hot Chicken Takeover while you're there in terms of their supportive employment policy - it's the reason I came in the first place. I'll definitely come back next time I'm in Columbus. read more

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

Better than any Nashville hot chicken. Get the hot sandwich and toss some ranch on that hunk of meat with a side of Mac. It hurts so good! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Sandwich with side mac - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I thought the chicken was just 4 stars, but value is definitely 5 stars. Maybe because I got the cold chicken, it was just like fried chicken to me, but I loved that they serve FREE unlimited sweet tea / unsweetened tea, and ranch sauce. My BF got the warm chicken because we were previously warned how spicy the chicken was, but it really wasn't that spicy. Even I could handle the warm, and I'm weak sauce. It seems everyone was wishing they'd ordered one level hotter. Maybe it was an off day, as some ppl said it didn't taste as spicy as the day before, but hey, might as well go for the challenge of the next level next time. Oh also, best Yelp checkin reward ever! read more

Adding the great baked beans adds a star. The variety helps and they taste great. A good candied taste to help with the heat. read more

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So tasty!! Top floor of North Market is devoted to this place and for good reason. Got the second level spice breast (comes with bread, Mac and Cheese, slaw, sweet iced tea and their ranch dressing). Such a tasty treat and the guy working the line was the nicest ever (gave me other suggestions as to places I could go during my stay). Highly recommend!! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Absolutely LOVED this place. I ordered the wings meal and although it was too much food for me, it was the right choice. The sides balanced out the wings and made them a complete meal. I've had lots of wings at various Wing Wednesdays and Korean restaurants in SF and can say that these were refreshing and a delight to eat! Compared to Korean-style wings, these had a drier, but still sticky texture, and a less sweet flavor. PRO TIP: This is located on the second floor of North Market. I made an extra loop on the bottom level of North Market using my GPS trying to match my blue dot with the pin of the shop, and then realized "Hot Chicken Takeover" was painted in large font at the base of the stairs. Woops :) read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

So hot that when l first touched it, I almost mistook it for being a Samsung Galaxy Note 7. But, you don't have to worry about any combustion here. The only risk of a fire is in the form of a flavor explosion in your mouth! My visit to Hot Chicken Takeover in Columbus, Ohio took place over the summer, but just like that Samsung Note 7, I can easily "recall" it. Takeover literally takes over an area of the food hall known as North Market as crowds eagerly gather in anticipation of their 11am opening. Places like this can always run out of things as the day progresses, but Takeover keeps a running tally on the board (and online) of exactly how many pieces of each type of chicken remain until they close at 3pm. They have "communal" seating, but I don't mean the modern version which sits like 6 to 10 people per table. This is cafeteria style long benches, where you truly will talk to strangers. CHICKEN OPTIONS -Pick your Meat: Wings (5), Drumsticks (4), Dark (thigh & leg), White (bone-in breast), Boneless (Breast), or Sandwich -Pick your Heat: Cold, Warm, Hot, or Holy (as in: "#&@%?!") I went with a HOT BONELESS BREAST (of course). It's hotness wasn't based on some gimmicked sauce or seasoning, but it was legit Nashville style Fried Chicken. EXTRAS/ADD-ONS -instead of getting coleslaw (which I always throw away, haha), you can order "Double Ma's Mac" for $1.50 more - so I did -free bottomless MA's SWEET TEA (the hotter the chicken, the more refills you'll need) -free bread pudding with Yelp check-in read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Hot Boneless Breast - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The North Market is amazing..The wings, the sweet tea, the Mac n cheese, and banana pudding, absolutely yummy..The manager Kylie goes above and beyond for her customers...I'm going back read more

Being honest, this was only my second visit to HCT and it was delicious. The first time was probably two years ago and my friend had hyped it up so much that I wasn't that impressed at the time. We each got warm boneless breasts and I added a side of waffles. We got a lil chick for the bambino (toddler). The side of Mac was a little greasy--could be the cheese gets oily when it melts. And the waffles were yummy but a slightly over cooked. The employees were all very kind and genuine and happy to be there which really makes a difference in the world when so many people (servers) are either fake and want to be your best friend or angry at the world and treat you as if you created their problems. read more

This place is a serious gem in the Columbus community. The food is not only fantastic, but their customer service is the best I've experienced at a restaurant in Columbus. On today's visit I opted for the boneless breast meal, warm. For first timers expecting a wet heat from a sauce (like I did my first time around), don't because it's a delicious dry heat that doesn't really hit you. The spice lingers and builds as you keep eating (in a good way) and the meat has great flavor and is tender. The coleslaw that comes with the meal is vinegar based and fresh. The slaw along with the house ranch seriously do a great job of cutting the heat from the chicken and add great flavors on their own. The Mac and cheese is surprisingly delicious (baked, not weird and gooey). The Mac isn't really seasoned, but it doesn't really need to be anyway. All of the sides complement the meat well and you get a great bang for our buck here. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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

Meh. Mac and cheese isn't cheesy and breading is "ok" at best. I got warm which is "hotter than most mediums" and couldn't even taste the spice. read more

I came to Columbus for a conference. Anytime I travel somewhere, I make it a point to sample something local that's popular with the natives. I happened to stumble upon this place as I was exploring the North Market. I love fried chicken, and if you live anywhere outside of the South it's difficult to get truly great fried chicken that isn't from a fast food chain. The best fried chicken I ever had was in New Orleans, but this was a very close second. When I got there, there was no line. As soon as I placed my order, had my name called, then got seated, the line was at least 30 people long. The menu is small, but they more than make up for it with quality. You're sitting with a bunch of people you don't know and it feels like a family picnic, enjoying really good and spicy fried chicken. The spice was absolutely perfect and I got the hottest level. The skin was crispy, the flesh was juicy, and the sides added the perfect balance and acidity needed to cut the richness of the thighs I ate, which followed by a gulp of cold sweet tea. But what I think made the experience that much more special was when the cook came out and asked me individually how my food was tasting. I was so happy to tell him it was one of the best fried chicken's I ever ate, and it meant a lot to him that I said that. When you eat delicious food made by people who aim to please you, you have a place that's not just a restaurant, but a home. I will definitely come back if I'm in Columbus again. read more

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Chicken is good and fries are good only problem I have is that I feel the sizes are small and the prices are higher than most chicken places. $42 for 2 people which is high for casual eating in my opinion. Probably will not visit again due to cost. read more

I am from Los Angeles, CA and I have Hot Chicken Takeover on my mind! It makes me sad knowing I can't have it here in California! My friend and I were on vacation in Ohio and heard some really great reviews about this place! We were not disappointed! Although they always have a a long and consistent line, it was okay because the line went by fast! The service was amazing and I love how you can check in for the banana pudding. Miss B I really need that pudding recipe! They have unlimited sweet/unsweetened tea and house ranch/syrup! They are located in clintonsville and at the short north market. The Chicken wings always sell out but I'm not surprised cause they are delicious! I also enjoyed the dark meat! The slides (cole slaw and Mac n cheese) are delicious and complete the dish! The portions are big which made me so happy cause I got to take leftovers to my hotel room! For spice level I recommend the warm spice if you're just looking for a kick. Warm was perfect for me and I feel like the next level up would be to spicy. Oh and complete your meal with waffles, you can never go wrong with chicken and waffles! Tourists and locals that haven't tried this place: you guys really need to try it. This may be unrealistic but I wish you guys delivered across the country (think about it) LOL. read more

Great food I just wish I could get it more often. I also wish the waffles were available all week and not just on Sunday