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The location is great. It's right in the heart of Downtown Oakland with so many other restaurants and attractions nearby. There are a couple parking structures close and there is also street parking available. The inside of the restaurant is a bit on the smaller side but it has tables to sit at. The service is quick. The bathrooms are clean. Not much to complain about service wise. I like how they have a hotness-level of their spices. The food was great. The chicken was extra crispy and packed full of flavor. I got the most un-spicy flavor since I do not like spiciness and it was great. Virtually not spicy at all! The fries were also very crunchy and covered in a spice. My only grit with my meal was the oil, the fries and chicken were a bit greasy. I had to wash my hands after eating and even then the smell still kind of lingered on my fingers. The prices are also a bit high. For a meal for two, expect to walk out of here for around $35 making this a ($$$) for me. The flavor of the chicken almost makes up for the hefty price tag. Bottom line/TLDR: great chicken but expensive and oily.
If you're a fan of Nashville hot chicken, you no doubt are wetting your pants over the presence of this Oakland cafe. And why not? They do a pretty good job of replicating the spicy down home style of a Hattie B's (review: https://yelp.to/7VXLRu1VQw), but they were sorely lacking the Southern hospitality I was hoping for with this type of operation. Glum is the best description of the service here. Because of its proximity to the Fox Oakland, Jamie W. and I have been here a couple of times for pre-concert bites. On our first visit, I tried to be good by ordering The Salad with Fried Chicken. It consisted of shredded cabbage, peanuts, carrots, cucumber, tomato, red onion, dill pickle, crispy shallots, various herbs, and green goddess dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/m9ii5JdLwF). With the chicken, it came to $17. It was quite a generous serving and packed with flavor. As with every dish, you have the choice of six different levels of heat. I went with Mild because I'm a wimp. Jamie had the $14.50 Fried Fish Sandwich, a beer battered filet in a buttered bun stuffed with slaw, dill pickle, and their comeback sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/L6zgweS0aD). He went Mild, too, and the sandwich was a hefty delight. We came back several months later and tried a couple of other favorites. Still the same glum service, too. This time Jamie was smart and had the $8.50 Hotbird Jr., just a smaller version of the fish sandwich (photo: https://yelp.to/pVKxP_1sgh). I went in the other direction and had the heavy $21 Nashville Fish & Chips, whole beer battered and fried catfish with apple slaw, dill pickles, and a pile of fries (photo: https://yelp.to/fD82Y0xJRb). That was definitely for the seriously committed. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of fish and chicken that manage to satisfy AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...not enough tables when we come but we made do SERVICE - 2.5 stars...turn that frown upside down TOTAL - 4 stars...Nashville-to-Oakland, get on board RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ
The food was well put together and fish sandwich sizable. I was surprised that the sandwiches didn't come with anything. But we'd ordered a side of Mac n cheese with was noodles and liquid cheese. It took a long time for someone to come to the counter to take our order. Seemed like just one person working. There were plenty of seats and a good amount of people dining in.
The Bay Area seems to have nice places to have a good chicken sandwich. This is one of the nice places I've tried. The inside seemed a bit empty but lovely with the 'All you need is hot chicken'. Service was clunky but thorough. Waiting time was fine. I did notice that their fry selection is not too extensive. I went with waffle fries and the regular hot chicken sandwich, I believe medium was the spice level. I can recall there were layers of sweetness. The coleslaw was sweet to me, not sure if it was the pickles as well. The flavour was nice. The spice was potent but not extreme; very comfortable while I watched people pass by. Waffle fries were crispy and fresh. The sauce was more on the sweet side but a good layer of flavour. Water and utensils are self served by the doorway. Right in the middle of downtown Oakland. Easily accessible with public transport.
I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. It was recommended by a friend who lives nearby so we were excited to try it. When we walked in there were a lot of bugs flying near the entrance but at least that was the only place they were flying. The guy working the register was super friendly and let us try some of the spice levels using almonds. I was on the fence between mild and medium but didn't want to ruin my first time. My fiancé and I ordered fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and collard greens. The chicken sandwiches (7/10) were pretty big and filling. The chicken didn't seem dry at first but the more I got into it the more it seemed like it. Just a little though. The fries (8/10) were good but nothing that really sets it apart from other burger/sandwich places. The collard greens (6/10) were flavorful but super heavy. I'm sure it's intentional but I'm just not used to it. We didn't even finish it. Also, they came out a little late because the guy working accidentally left it in the window. Overall I probably wouldn't return to this place on my own, but not against coming here if my friend wants to go.
The Hotbird is pretty damn legit if you ask me! There seems to be quite a few of these hot fried chicken spots opening up in the area. I'll admit that I'm a creature of habit and have been basically stickin' with my old and faithful World Famous Hotboys. And while I love them to death, I also love that I have options now. Because... who doesn't love them options?! Dropped by one evening to check this spot out for dinner. The location is prime time. It's located just one short block from the Fox Theater and tons of fun bars off Telegraph. For a chicken shop, the interior is pretty spacious. They have a beer and soju cocktail bar with a couple of big screen TV's inside. You order at the register and they'll deliver your food to your table. They've had some burglaries in the past unfortunately, so they don't accept cash for payment (which is totally understandable given the circumstances). The sweet young lady who assisted me at the register was really kind and helpful. You can adjust the heat level to your liking. One thing that I found unique about this spot is that they offer hot fried fish. Can't say that I've seen this option at any other hot fried chicken spot that I've been to thus far. I was intrigued and you know I had to try it. And that, I did. Welp, it was... ***wait for it***... FIYAH! As in, hawt fiyaaah! Me likey, me likey a lot. I'll be honest, it's truly nothing like a hot chicken sandwich. The texture is a lot softer of course and even though I got a medium heat level, it didn't seem too hot to me. Now if I had gotten a medium hot sammy from Hotboys, my ass would have been on the toilet pronto. So in essence, the medium spice level here worked on my behalf. Loved the aioli sauce and the simple slaw. They hooked it up with a fat ol' piece of fish for me too. It was super filling. I liked the waffle fries too even though I'm more of a traditionalist and would have preferred plain Jane fries since the sandwich is pretty fancy itself. The only thing I'd say is don't expect the fish sandwich to be anything like a hot fried chicken sandwich. It's a totally different experience and I don't mean that in a bad way. The fish is just a lot more subtle and less textured. Pretty impressive for my first ever hot fried fish sandwich. I'd get the fish sandwich again, but I will def try their chicken sammy on my next visit.
Random training class downtown. Talked a bunch of strangers into going to lunch with me. The person taking our orders was pretty nice, offered his opinion on menu items. I got the honey butter chicken sando, no cheese no jalapeno. I would have liked to sub the cheese for something else but only pimento is offered I guess. I got the fries, thinking they were waffle fries since there were a bunch of photos with waffle fries. They were not. Kind of disappointed about that. I wanted to get the Mac but I knew I was going to be too full, and I wanted the banana pudding. The banana pudding was not a disappointment. Overall, great vibes, great food. I will return.
Delicious food in a comfortable casual restaurant with friendly customer service. Recommendations: Chicken Sandwich Fish and chips Banana pudding
We stopped here before a weeknight concert at the Fox and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a simple menu plus beer, wine, and some soju cocktails. Perfect for a pre-show bite. The inside was very quiet and service was quick. It's nice that you can choose the spice level (and maybe get on the wall of fame if you're brave enough!). It gets pretty serious even for people who like spiciness. We got the tenders and a chicken sandwich. Both brought the heat and the breading was perfectly crisp. Not greasy, not soggy. The sauces (esp the Come Back Sauce) were a great compliment. The slaw was tangy and sweet. I'd love to try more of their stuff!
Date: 7/23/2023 Time: 5:20 PM 67° Sunny My husband wanted fish 'n chips. Our go to place in East Oakland is closed today. Yelp search of somewhere close to Alameda resulted in Hotbird at 1951 Telegraph Avenue. I called in the order of the fish and chips and the fried tenders platter. Both entrees included coleslaw, pickle chips and sliced garlic bread The bread reminded me back in the struggling days when bread was used for hamburger bun, hot dog bun, butter/sugar sandwich. To y'all in the hood, ya know what I'm talkin' about...LOL. Gentleman who answered the phone told me food would be ready in about 15 minutes. Wow! The fried tenders had a kick to it without the medium level sauce. With the medium level sauce, the tenders were delicious. The honey mustard sauce was okay. I should have asked for ranch dressing. The coleslaw cut some of the spiciness down. I didn't think I would find coleslaw as good as KFC's, but Hotbird's coleslaw is even better. Yummy! When I checked in, the owner had my order ready, all in a bag. Hotbird was not busy and I was in and out of there in less than 5 minutes. I'm impressed with the quick service. A quick glance of the ambience has a small dining area with red highback stools and chairs, several tables and two flat screen TVs. Front of restaurant has big picture window for those who enjoy people watching. The place is comfy and casual. I can't say anything about the fish, except it is a huge piece, included waffle fries and tartar sauce. P.S. Husband says fish is spicy. He couldn't even finish of his dinner. Return visit? Yes, on a quiet Sunday.
Ordered: Fried Chicken Sandwich (~$15): fried chicken breast (medium spice), slaw, dill pickle, comeback sauce, on buttered bun Waffle Fries (~$5): seasoned waffle fries with comeback sauce Aya's take: I actually came in wanting to try the Fish Sandwich since it sounded unique but the worker told me to try the Chicken Sandwich if it was my first time. It was surprisingly empty when I stopped by around 3pm on a Friday. The Fried Chicken Sandwich was crispy, juicy, and had a nice kick at the medium spice level. The Waffle Fries were pretty average but complemented the sandwich well. I've definitely had better Nashville-style chicken sandwiches but there's nothing wrong with Hotbird's. It was a good try.
I really really enjoyed the staff and the environment on top of the food!!! Found this spot near underdog film. I got the spicy and my husband got the southern chicken. Really wish I got the Mac and cheese! It looked fire!
Really wanted to love this place. Location is great. Slaw on the sandwich was amazing. Bun was great. Didn't care for the fries they were over seasoned. And the chicken was just kinda ok. The batter on it falls off pretty easy and all the flavor is in the batter not the chicken. I went hot and it had a slight kick. Would try again and hope for a better result.
2 years ago
Was in the area & stepped in... Sandwich 4.3outta5 -excellent cook on the crab, nice sauce, lived the pickles. Fries 3outta5 -they were ok. Some seasoning or garlic would go a long way The cashier/server was nice. It'd be good to inform the customers where the napkins and condiments are tho. Chill atmosphere read more
Eek! I want to give this place 3 stars for being par for the course, but I just couldn't. First let's start off with the good. Day one I had the fish and day 2 I had tenders. I don't do well with spicy so I got mild. Boy that's hot! lol, hence the name, although enjoyable. The food is great, but that's not the opportunity. The come back sauce is fiiiyeeerrrr! It really does have you coming back. On to the misses. Service with a smile does not exist here. It's more of just regular service. Not inviting at all. Merp. The condiment bar was a holy hot mess. You can tell the ketchup pump hasn't been broken down or washed in weeks. The ketchup was caked onto the pump and family of flies just flying around inviting their friends for a a family meal. Sanitation much? Yikes! read more
A lot of fried chicken sandwich places tend to frame their prized protein in mediocre ingredients, but Hotbird does an exemplary job in making sure every element of their sandwich is memorable. I ordered a mild Hotbird Jr. -- one tender topped with pickles and slaw, all spilling out of a buttered bun -- for just under $10. Suffice it to say that their slaw and pickles are excellent: the former wasn't watery or unflavored, the latter was nicely sweet and sour. The crunch on the chicken itself was unbelievable, something I believe might only be achievable with multiple layers of batter because of how thick the coating was. The mild spice was further muted by the slaw and bun but was a good amount for me. The only unfortunate characteristic Hotbird shares with other FC restaurants is an exasperating wait, albeit in a clean and stylistically decorated restaurant. I waited 15 minutes on the dot for my single tender sandwich with no customers save for a lone DoorDasher circling the counter. If you order more than that, prepare for a longer wait, but I'd honestly say it's worth it. read more
The location is great. It's right in the heart of Downtown Oakland with so many other restaurants and attractions nearby. There are a couple parking structures close and there is also street parking available. The inside of the restaurant is a bit on the smaller side but it has tables to sit at. The service is quick. The bathrooms are clean. Not much to complain about service wise. I like how they have a hotness-level of their spices. The food was great. The chicken was extra crispy and packed full of flavor. I got the most un-spicy flavor since I do not like spiciness and it was great. Virtually not spicy at all! The fries were also very crunchy and covered in a spice. My only grit with my meal was the oil, the fries and chicken were a bit greasy. I had to wash my hands after eating and even then the smell still kind of lingered on my fingers. The prices are also a bit high. For a meal for two, expect to walk out of here for around $35 making this a ($$$) for me. The flavor of the chicken almost makes up for the hefty price tag. Bottom line/TLDR: great chicken but expensive and oily. read more
If you're a fan of Nashville hot chicken, you no doubt are wetting your pants over the presence of this Oakland cafe. And why not? They do a pretty good job of replicating the spicy down home style of a Hattie B's (review: https://yelp.to/7VXLRu1VQw), but they were sorely lacking the Southern hospitality I was hoping for with this type of operation. Glum is the best description of the service here. Because of its proximity to the Fox Oakland, Jamie W. and I have been here a couple of times for pre-concert bites. On our first visit, I tried to be good by ordering The Salad with Fried Chicken. It consisted of shredded cabbage, peanuts, carrots, cucumber, tomato, red onion, dill pickle, crispy shallots, various herbs, and green goddess dressing (photo: https://yelp.to/m9ii5JdLwF). With the chicken, it came to $17. It was quite a generous serving and packed with flavor. As with every dish, you have the choice of six different levels of heat. I went with Mild because I'm a wimp. Jamie had the $14.50 Fried Fish Sandwich, a beer battered filet in a buttered bun stuffed with slaw, dill pickle, and their comeback sauce (photo: https://yelp.to/L6zgweS0aD). He went Mild, too, and the sandwich was a hefty delight. We came back several months later and tried a couple of other favorites. Still the same glum service, too. This time Jamie was smart and had the $8.50 Hotbird Jr., just a smaller version of the fish sandwich (photo: https://yelp.to/pVKxP_1sgh). I went in the other direction and had the heavy $21 Nashville Fish & Chips, whole beer battered and fried catfish with apple slaw, dill pickles, and a pile of fries (photo: https://yelp.to/fD82Y0xJRb). That was definitely for the seriously committed. FOOD - 4 stars...hefty portions of fish and chicken that manage to satisfy AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...not enough tables when we come but we made do SERVICE - 2.5 stars...turn that frown upside down TOTAL - 4 stars...Nashville-to-Oakland, get on board RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's a collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ read more
The food was well put together and fish sandwich sizable. I was surprised that the sandwiches didn't come with anything. But we'd ordered a side of Mac n cheese with was noodles and liquid cheese. It took a long time for someone to come to the counter to take our order. Seemed like just one person working. There were plenty of seats and a good amount of people dining in. read more
The Bay Area seems to have nice places to have a good chicken sandwich. This is one of the nice places I've tried. The inside seemed a bit empty but lovely with the 'All you need is hot chicken'. Service was clunky but thorough. Waiting time was fine. I did notice that their fry selection is not too extensive. I went with waffle fries and the regular hot chicken sandwich, I believe medium was the spice level. I can recall there were layers of sweetness. The coleslaw was sweet to me, not sure if it was the pickles as well. The flavour was nice. The spice was potent but not extreme; very comfortable while I watched people pass by. Waffle fries were crispy and fresh. The sauce was more on the sweet side but a good layer of flavour. Water and utensils are self served by the doorway. Right in the middle of downtown Oakland. Easily accessible with public transport. read more
I would actually give this place 3.5 stars. It was recommended by a friend who lives nearby so we were excited to try it. When we walked in there were a lot of bugs flying near the entrance but at least that was the only place they were flying. The guy working the register was super friendly and let us try some of the spice levels using almonds. I was on the fence between mild and medium but didn't want to ruin my first time. My fiancé and I ordered fried chicken sandwiches, fries, and collard greens. The chicken sandwiches (7/10) were pretty big and filling. The chicken didn't seem dry at first but the more I got into it the more it seemed like it. Just a little though. The fries (8/10) were good but nothing that really sets it apart from other burger/sandwich places. The collard greens (6/10) were flavorful but super heavy. I'm sure it's intentional but I'm just not used to it. We didn't even finish it. Also, they came out a little late because the guy working accidentally left it in the window. Overall I probably wouldn't return to this place on my own, but not against coming here if my friend wants to go. read more
The Hotbird is pretty damn legit if you ask me! There seems to be quite a few of these hot fried chicken spots opening up in the area. I'll admit that I'm a creature of habit and have been basically stickin' with my old and faithful World Famous Hotboys. And while I love them to death, I also love that I have options now. Because... who doesn't love them options?! Dropped by one evening to check this spot out for dinner. The location is prime time. It's located just one short block from the Fox Theater and tons of fun bars off Telegraph. For a chicken shop, the interior is pretty spacious. They have a beer and soju cocktail bar with a couple of big screen TV's inside. You order at the register and they'll deliver your food to your table. They've had some burglaries in the past unfortunately, so they don't accept cash for payment (which is totally understandable given the circumstances). The sweet young lady who assisted me at the register was really kind and helpful. You can adjust the heat level to your liking. One thing that I found unique about this spot is that they offer hot fried fish. Can't say that I've seen this option at any other hot fried chicken spot that I've been to thus far. I was intrigued and you know I had to try it. And that, I did. Welp, it was... ***wait for it***... FIYAH! As in, hawt fiyaaah! Me likey, me likey a lot. I'll be honest, it's truly nothing like a hot chicken sandwich. The texture is a lot softer of course and even though I got a medium heat level, it didn't seem too hot to me. Now if I had gotten a medium hot sammy from Hotboys, my ass would have been on the toilet pronto. So in essence, the medium spice level here worked on my behalf. Loved the aioli sauce and the simple slaw. They hooked it up with a fat ol' piece of fish for me too. It was super filling. I liked the waffle fries too even though I'm more of a traditionalist and would have preferred plain Jane fries since the sandwich is pretty fancy itself. The only thing I'd say is don't expect the fish sandwich to be anything like a hot fried chicken sandwich. It's a totally different experience and I don't mean that in a bad way. The fish is just a lot more subtle and less textured. Pretty impressive for my first ever hot fried fish sandwich. I'd get the fish sandwich again, but I will def try their chicken sammy on my next visit. read more
3 years ago
Random training class downtown. Talked a bunch of strangers into going to lunch with me. The person taking our orders was pretty nice, offered his opinion on menu items. I got the honey butter chicken sando, no cheese no jalapeno. I would have liked to sub the cheese for something else but only pimento is offered I guess. I got the fries, thinking they were waffle fries since there were a bunch of photos with waffle fries. They were not. Kind of disappointed about that. I wanted to get the Mac but I knew I was going to be too full, and I wanted the banana pudding. The banana pudding was not a disappointment. Overall, great vibes, great food. I will return. read more
We stopped here before a weeknight concert at the Fox and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a simple menu plus beer, wine, and some soju cocktails. Perfect for a pre-show bite. The inside was very quiet and service was quick. It's nice that you can choose the spice level (and maybe get on the wall of fame if you're brave enough!). It gets pretty serious even for people who like spiciness. We got the tenders and a chicken sandwich. Both brought the heat and the breading was perfectly crisp. Not greasy, not soggy. The sauces (esp the Come Back Sauce) were a great compliment. The slaw was tangy and sweet. I'd love to try more of their stuff! read more
Date: 7/23/2023 Time: 5:20 PM 67° Sunny My husband wanted fish 'n chips. Our go to place in East Oakland is closed today. Yelp search of somewhere close to Alameda resulted in Hotbird at 1951 Telegraph Avenue. I called in the order of the fish and chips and the fried tenders platter. Both entrees included coleslaw, pickle chips and sliced garlic bread The bread reminded me back in the struggling days when bread was used for hamburger bun, hot dog bun, butter/sugar sandwich. To y'all in the hood, ya know what I'm talkin' about...LOL. Gentleman who answered the phone told me food would be ready in about 15 minutes. Wow! The fried tenders had a kick to it without the medium level sauce. With the medium level sauce, the tenders were delicious. The honey mustard sauce was okay. I should have asked for ranch dressing. The coleslaw cut some of the spiciness down. I didn't think I would find coleslaw as good as KFC's, but Hotbird's coleslaw is even better. Yummy! When I checked in, the owner had my order ready, all in a bag. Hotbird was not busy and I was in and out of there in less than 5 minutes. I'm impressed with the quick service. A quick glance of the ambience has a small dining area with red highback stools and chairs, several tables and two flat screen TVs. Front of restaurant has big picture window for those who enjoy people watching. The place is comfy and casual. I can't say anything about the fish, except it is a huge piece, included waffle fries and tartar sauce. P.S. Husband says fish is spicy. He couldn't even finish of his dinner. Return visit? Yes, on a quiet Sunday. read more
Ordered: Fried Chicken Sandwich (~$15): fried chicken breast (medium spice), slaw, dill pickle, comeback sauce, on buttered bun Waffle Fries (~$5): seasoned waffle fries with comeback sauce Aya's take: I actually came in wanting to try the Fish Sandwich since it sounded unique but the worker told me to try the Chicken Sandwich if it was my first time. It was surprisingly empty when I stopped by around 3pm on a Friday. The Fried Chicken Sandwich was crispy, juicy, and had a nice kick at the medium spice level. The Waffle Fries were pretty average but complemented the sandwich well. I've definitely had better Nashville-style chicken sandwiches but there's nothing wrong with Hotbird's. It was a good try. read more
4 months ago
I really really enjoyed the staff and the environment on top of the food!!! Found this spot near underdog film. I got the spicy and my husband got the southern chicken. Really wish I got the Mac and cheese! It looked fire! read more
Really wanted to love this place. Location is great. Slaw on the sandwich was amazing. Bun was great. Didn't care for the fries they were over seasoned. And the chicken was just kinda ok. The batter on it falls off pretty easy and all the flavor is in the batter not the chicken. I went hot and it had a slight kick. Would try again and hope for a better result. read more
Hot chicken has gotten pretty popular lately but I'm a fan of Hotbird. I tried their chicken tenders (got mild - it was actually pretty mild while still maintaining flavor) and they came out so fresh and warm. I would say there's a bit more breading than actual chicken but is that really a bad problem? The fries were those oh so delicious crispy shoestring type. The actual restaurant itself as far as ambiance goes is pretty similar to any kind of fast food place. A good spot definitely worth checking out! read more
3 years ago
I had high hopes for this one...sadly the chicken batter is just too much batter overly fried, too oily and chicken was tough :( not a good sando. I am a big fan of chicken sandos and have enjoyed plenty before this sad stop. Vibes were ok nothing happening inside the restaurant - lots of take out and pick ups perhaps that's why. I ordered medium and my husband the hot chicken sando. Both were oily and overly fried and didn't leave good taste in the mouth afterwards. There is too much batter in that poor chicken and the meat was tough. It gave me heartburn afterwards and that has never happened before. And it has never happened before when i dont finish my sando but it happened at the hot bird ...Maybe they had not changed the oil? Dunno. I know I won't return... read more
Got the mild fish sandwich for work lunch and it was yummy! The bread is soft and a bit sweet. I got the coleslaw on the side. The coleslaw is on the tarter side, can see it being a bit too much for some people but I really liked it and it pairs perfectly with the mild spice from the sandwich. Would definitely order this sandwich again! read more
2 years ago
This is my second time at Hotbird. The first time, I forgot to post my review, and by the time I remembered, well... I was walking through the door. So, I won't make that mistake again. Also, writing this review provides excellent cover as I let my tastebuds rest for a minute or five. Located in downtown Oakland, this is a handy spot with decent parking available on the streets. It's metered, but they can't control that. Like last time, I got the fried chicken sandwich. Shooting again right in the middle of their spice levels with hot. Extra and burning are the two remaining above this. I also got the 3 piece tender plate, but without fries this time, because I'm watching my weight. Okay, seriously, it was more than I was able to eat last time, and I don't like wasting food. I stayed with hot, just like before as well. I will say that hot is great, but you're likely to be able to handle a higher level of spice on the sandwich due to the coleslaw and pickle. But without those, you're on your own, and the spice level will sit in your mouth with the naked rawness of whatever you chose. For me, I felt that hot was as high on the spice tree as I wanted to go for three tenders. They're a good size, and while I could manage a higher spiciness for just one, three seems like it would end up melting porcelain, and I don't need to be in the middle of that. The spice is a dry rub, so technically, you could brush a lot of it off. But why do that, ya poser. Just stick with what you like. There's no prizes for the crispiest asshole unless you get one for yourself. Just bear in mind that you'll probably be on a liquid diet while you recover. And speaking of liquids, I washed all of this down with a Drink Beer Slay Dragon IPA. Ok, two. I'm just about to order another. Given that I still had a couple of tenders left, I ordered the coleslaw and pickles along with the beer, and damn if they don't add a delicious contrast to the spice. I ended up ordering dessert as well. Which was a banana cream pudding. And a t-shirt, but that's not for eating unless you ordered a spice level well above your tolerance. I really liked the design, and it was $25, which I didn't think was bad considering I'd finished that first beer on an empty stomach. They only had large, which I likely was, after all that food. So it worked out perfectly. And that dessert? I had to walk out after eating it, so I didn't spend the rest of the day working on a diabetes diagnosis. So, definitely not a one-off experience, and I'll be back for more of this. 5/5 fo sho! read more
2 years ago
Family, this place delivers a KILLER fried chicken sandwich! Really solid crunch to the batter, moist chicken meat, tangy slaw topping, I mean it's all there. Comeback sauce adds a touch of sweetness and some aroma (and it's a good dip for fries, too). I ordered Hot spice level and it induced just a hint of perspiration without overwhelming all the other flavors. Service was prompt and courteous. Sandwich took a few minutes, presumably because they cook to order. Dining room is set up a little sparingly, but we got a table. If it had been a little more crowded, we would have gotten stools at a counter- anyway, there was plenty of room, and it was all clean. I will be back, and intend to get a beer with the sandwich next trip - good looking draft lineup. read more
3 years ago
We were craving a good chicken sandwich with coleslaw and this was perfect. I got mild and it was spicy but not too much, my husband got hot and thought it was very spicy, but the coleslaw helped. The comeback sauce was so good!! We got extra for our waffle fries and to put on our sandwiches. Also not sure if they make their pickles in house cause they were delicious. We were passing by Oakland so if we are ever around again, we would definitely try them again! Thank you!! read more
2 years ago
We tried this place twice via Doordash and loved it. Our third time was when we were in the area recently and thought we'd grab lunch here. Hubs got the fried chicken sandwich (mild) and I tried the fish sandwich (also mild), and OMG love love love love love. The flavor is so rich, and the crunch that comes with freshly fried anything is pure LOVE and a stab to the heart at the same time. Skip doordash. If you have a car, drive your hungry ass over and enjoy it fresh. read more
I was surprisingly impressed with how great this place was! My best friend and I were in the area going to the Fox Theater for Omar Apollo's concert and wanted to eat something before doors opened. When we got to the Theater we saw that there was a Shake Shack nearby which I'm used to but she suggested we try something new and looked to the restaurant next door, Hotbird. I ordered a Fried Fish Sandwich with medium spice & she ordered a Chicken Salad with medium spice as well. I got a Lucky Devil Belgian sour as well which was a fantastic pregame for the concert as it was only 8 ounces. I like mild to medium level spicy and the spice level in my sandwich had a decent kick where I had to take breaks after 4-5 bites. My friend can tolerate spice a lot better than me and thought her salad had the perfect amount of spice to it. Our food came out relatively quickly too so I thought that was a plus given that it was right next to the venue and we weren't pressed for time. This is my new go to spot for any Fox Theater concerts and I'm so glad we decided to venture past the familiar! read more
2 years ago
Ooh a new hot chicken in the town! Hotbird transferred its roost from SF to the former Roam Burger Telegraph location and according to reviews, it's already bringing the heat to downtown Oakland. It's a bold move with Hot Boys nearby but gotta love the fiery competition! I like that the menu is simple but has variety. In addition to the obligatory Nashville hot chicken sandwich, there is also my other favorite fried food- fish! You can choose a sandwich, salad, chicken/fish and waffle fries, cheesy grits, collard greens and banana pudding. There are also a bunch of spice levels ranging from none to burnin'! I got the mild fried fish sandwich and waffle fries - I added ranch for an extra 50 cents- kinda regret it cuz it was a little too "dilly" for me. Waffle fries came out first and they were flavorful and crispy- yum! Fish sando came next and hot diggity- the fish filet was huge! It was piping hot and beautifully jutting out of the buttery toasted buns, heaping fresh coleslaw, pickles and comeback sauce. It was really tasty, although I think I can definitely handle the medium spice because the mild virtually had none. I probably should have gotten a salad because I felt like I was gorging on too much fried stuff but everything was really yummy. The staff was very friendly and the space is clean and inviting. FYI they have a burnin' wall of fame and I overheard my server say you get on there if you finish a burnin' spice level chicken sandwich! read more
Delicious. Fresh. Food. I ended up being a plus one to this cool influencer event where you got to sample the menu, enjoy the ambiance and even check out what going on behind the counter. For influencing videos I guess. I don't know. I can barely keep up posting on here let alone record everything I see lol. BUT! Despite all the influencers taking endless photos and videos of the food, letting the camera eat first, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The area is nice, walkable with limited street parking. The place had plenty of seating and fun decor and signage everywhere. And the people were so nice and welcoming considering a bunch of tiktokers had just invaded the space. Get any and every sandwich. I really enjoyed the chicken, spicy as I could handle it. And the waffle fries! YES. Huge portion sizes too. The banana pudding is more whipped cream than banana but still a nice light dessert. And the drinks were good, though not very strong, they add a nice cherry on top of the meal. Totally recommend this spot. Get to it! Your tastebuds need this. read more
Pretty solid place a block from the Fox Theater. Not a lot of places open in the area on a Saturday night, but this was a nice find. Went with the chicken tenders and fries, collard greens and the salad. The salad is more of a Cole slaw with lots of add-ins. The collard greens were nice and the tenders were very juicy, but not oily. A nice selection of beers as well. read more
4 years ago
Hip little spot with a fun and select menu. Also, an impressive list of beverages both with or without alcohol. I had "The salad" with fried fish and a side of cheesy grits. To go, the mildly spicy, chicken sandwich. The cheesy grits were just that! Cheesy, creamy, with crunchy onion bites on top. These are the kind of grits you might crave after a night dancing... you know what I mean? Comfort food worthy. The Salad with fried fish was fun and different. It had colorful veggies all finely and uniformly shredded, tart dill pickle chips hiding under the fish and a creamy tarter sauce on the side. The veggies supported the unique and tasty cuisine this place produces. It had cabbage, jicama, green beans, red onion, carrots, tomatoes and a creamy green goddess dressing with dill hints. There were also these crunchy little chips or bits that mixed with the salad giving it texture! Wow! Nice touch. The fish was what you would crave- healthy fillet with crunch on the outside and tender on the inside. I'm guessing snapper vs. cod. Delish! The Sammy was for family back home. If it's anything like the grits and salad, it will be over the top amazing! read more
What is this downtown Oakland spot that serves Nashville hot chicken sandwiches? Wait, no, it's not World Famous Hotboys I'm talking about...it's Hotbird. I wanted to try this spot and see how it stacked up to Hotboys. There are so many similarities between the two, from the name, the feel of the website, the menu items, the location and even down to how the food is boxed for takeout. I tried the fried chicken sandwich (medium spice level), an order of chicken tenders and a side of fries. The order arrived quickly. The sandwich was a good size and I could see the spiced crust of the chicken. I liked some of the crispier bites of the exterior of the chicken and the medium spice level was good for me. To me, even though the size of the sandwich at both places are above-average. I think the size of the chicken at Hotboys is larger than Hotbird. The fries at Hotbird are actually waffle fries here. I would've liked them a tad crispier. The chicken tenders (like Hotboys) were huge. Three tenders come in each order (5 come in the Hotboys versions). Would've liked to taste the chicken a bit more (I tasted more of the spice), but these tasted good. So while Hotbird was a tasty alternative, HotBOYS still wins for me. Check out more at my IG: rickymeetsworld read more
Hotbird is nesting in Roam Burger's emptied roost. the basic infrastructure remains. Hotbird premiered at First Fridays years ago. then went to S.F. now they're back at a base closer to home. offerings: sandwiches & plates, sides, desserts, soju cocktails, beers, sodas. drink: orange creamsicle soju cocktail (7) -taste like a creamsicle popsicle i had in my youth -with intermittent bursts of soju i had in my 30's *brings back memories, quality production: 4 stars eats: chicken sandwich (13) med. -spiciness wasn't as strong as the almond sampling, heat didn't accure. drinking the soju, eating the pudding dissipated the heat. -thick, juicy, moist, marinated breast meat with crispy batter *the slaw, pickles, large breast portion was mighty fine, but not great: 4 stars banana cream pudding (4) -comfort food with banana slices, vanilla wafers bits, whipped cream 4 stars read more
Business owner information
Aaron N.
We got things tune up, try us again!
4 years ago
I think it's very interesting that Hotbird opened up quite close to Hot Boys! I stumbled upon it when I was trying to figure out what to have for lunch while heading to work one day - I drove by it and noted it was another Nashville style chicken sandwich place! I parked and decided to give the new place a try since I absolutely LOVE chicken sandwiches. The venue is pretty small, but a cute and subtle spot to go to for lunch. Staff took my order quite fast and were super friendly! I ordered the fried chicken sandwich at medium level (I wasn't sure how their spices fared despite me loving spicy food, so I stuck to the safe side and just chose medium). Within 10 minutes I got my order and was eating the sandwich in no time. I have to say, considering size-price ratio, it's on the pricier end for a smaller sandwich. Flavor was good and just right, I think it would be good if a person doesn't like/can't handle spicy food. I personally still prefer Hot Boys (mainly because they have bigger chicken and their medium is a lot spicier than here), but I think for the right people (folks who actually want to enjoy chicken that is savory and not as spicy) this place would be a better alternative. I'm open to trying a higher level next time to see how the spice fares some more! read more
Always hyped to see a new spot in the neighborhood. I think a Roam Burger used to be here, RIP. Awesome: 1. They have little almonds coated in spices to show you how intense their mild, medium, hot and extra hot levels are. I'm not a baby re: spice but medium really creeped up on me! 2. The jumbo wing plate looked like it was made of pterodactyl wings--HUGE. The breading is so light and fresh and amazing. Delish. 3. Fish sandwich was also great; perfect light batter, fresh slaw, good sauce 4. My husband had an oyster poboy that he was VERY happy with--gigantic for the price, too. 5. My daughter had a plain chicken sandwich and she ate all of it... and you know how kids love to waste food as a hobby, so this is a big deal 6. Service was super friendly 7. Beer prices aren't insane ($8 for a Pilsner) Less Awesome 1. The waffle fries needed a little longer in the fryer; they came out a little limp. Still totally edible though, and I'm not going to steal a star for somewhat pale fries Happy to have you in the neighborhood HotBird read more
Fried chicken sandwiches here a whole other level of good . Ignore the other place down the street , just go here . Crunchy , succulent, juicy , savory , and the highlight is the spicy is actually good spice, it's not the kind that's hot for no reason . The other thing I loved is chicken was seasoned in the middle too . Other chicken places skimp on the seasoning getting in to the chicken and this one did an awesome job. read more
Look out Hotboys 'cause there is a new fierce competition in the O-Town for the most amazing fried chicken sandwich! They opened with readiness to impress! Everything about their sandwich compliments the flavors so well- the cold slaw to the crunchiness and savory fried chicken in between toasted buns = perfection. The fish and chips were very yummy (and I've had them in London/the UK which doesn't even come close to how much better we do it in the states!) We'll be back (and back and back) again Hotbird! read more
Business owner information
Aaron N.
Yessss thank youuu!!!
Overall, not too bad. - Chicken: juicy - Breading: crispy - Slaw: a little plain - Bread: soft - Sauce: okay - Spice: mild was not spicy at all - Price: kinda high, $13.50 for the sandwich only Rating: - Fried Chicken Sandwich: 4.5/5, mild didn't really have any spice at all. I think medium would be better. - Fish and Chips: 3/5, fish lacked seasoning and the breading was super soggy. Found myself dunking it in tartar for more flavor. - Waffle cut fries: 3.5/5, needs seasoning It's hard not to compare hotbird to hotboys. I think hotboys still takes the cake for me. Better seasoning and more flavorful. The chicken at hotboys is also juicier and has a more flavorful slaw and sauce. Also, $13.50 for just the sandwich and no sides is kind of on the pricier side. read more
Business owner information
Aaron N.
Thanks for coming by. You got to get add spice on the fish and chips,…
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Ask the Community - Hotbird
Do you offer any halal meat?
Yes! I confirmed with the manager that all of their chicken is halal.
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Hotbird - comfortfood - Updated August 2026
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