I'm really sad to hear they're closing. As someone in the neighborhood I really loved this place. The spice and coleslaw is so amazing. The chicken is super great. The chicken sandwich is a favorite of mine. I'm going to miss them a lot. read more

Amazing chicken! Love their chicken tenders, sandwiches and fried fish plate. Mild isn't spicy but Medium spice packs a kick! The fries that come with the fish has a nice light crisp. The tenders and fish are HUGE, juicy and crispy, paid perfectly with the comeback sauce. The cheesy grits is a hard pass -1 star since on 3 occasions I've been (two times on Friday night) they weren't able to replace a honey mustard with comeback sauce (since 2 sauces come with the tenders). And can't replace garlic breas for more cole slaw - less carbs. Seems like an easy fix on the UI of the ordering screen - so more than happy to change to 5 stars asap once fixed and more customizable :) Besides that, food (except cheesy grits) and drinks are great! read more

My husband and I decided to do a fried chicken sandwich comparison after happy hour one night, so we decided to grab sandwiches from both HotBird and Hotboys for the night and see which one is better, after tasting both, we decided you can't go wrong with either. I thought the Hotbird sando had the better fried chicken due to spice level and crunch of the chicken (we ordered medium spice level at both places, this packs the punch a bit more). While I thought the sandos were comparable, I liked that the Hotbird offered more options for sides, we ordered the waffle fries and banana pudding, both was great. The chicken sandwich was slightly cheaper here, and given the sides, I think I would choose this place over the Hotboys next time. read more

My first time trying a hot chicken sandwich was from these guys wayyyyy back when they used to sell at First Fridays ! From then on I was hooked ! I was a little devastated when they left to SF but now that they are back in Oakland ... I will probably once a week Now on to the sandwich, I got the medium and it had a nice little kick and the flavors were just exploding! It was a little sweet, mixed with a little heat and some acidity maybe from the slaw was cutting through which I like when eating something fried. Now I highly believe that they only use happy chickens because man it was so moist and tender it was exquisite! Seems like everything was made to order so you'll have to wait about 10-15 mins but it is so worth it. Owner and staffs are super friendly ! This place is for sure going to be the next big thing in Oakland! read more

Hotbird - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

I was rooting for this place to be the bomb but I am biased. I love the World Famous Hot Boys (wFHB) not far from here. WFHB is the standard and the bar you need to go above to get the high score. Hot bird offers a Nashville take on fried chicken. I must confess that I am more of a Memphis fried chicken/food lover than any food Nashville has to offer. So my review may be the result of me just not being a fan of Nashville's take on anything fried. This establishment has taken over Roam which flopped miserably after COVID-19 caused them to lose too much $. With Fox Theater opening, the timing here was perfect and I have been eying this place for quite awhile. This place has a very simple menu. Fried Chicken, Nashville Fish n Chips, a Po' Boy and a few other options. I tried their Standard Chicken Sandwich and the Nashville Fish n Chips (with the works). This will cost you a pricy $40 after tip. Did it have game? Eh.... The Nashville Fish n Chips (mild flavoring but you can make it spicier I suppose though I've never heard of "hot and spicy fish n chips") amounts to a huge piece of cod (? Not sure tho') fried in a very greasy, airy, heavy batter and came with a Cole slaw (4/5, pretty good) with a lemon wedge and a few pickles and two heavy creamy dips: 1) a white creamy ranch; 2) the other a heavy thousand island or special sauce like dip. And a pointless piece of toast underneath all that greasiness. Didn't like it. Maybe that's the Nashville Style? Maybe the Nashville Style is just horrible. I'll give that order a 2.5 stars. I guess I was hoping for a more traditional fish and chips arrangement. I did like the Cole slaw and the criss cut fries were decent. I also ordered the standard chicken sandwich (hot flavor). Drum roll..... Eh, 3.5 stars. While it was hot, the spicy flavor only existed on the batter and not in the juices of the chicken meat. The bun wasn't really charismatic either. I did appreciate the juiciness of the chicken. That was above average. But if you try that vs the Halal style and soft bun of WFHB, we all know that this fried chicken sandwich isn't in the same ball park. Kind of disappointed as I was hoping for a fried chicken war between the two which would put consumers like you and I seeing a price war. Sadly that will not happen. I will also say that despite my average rating, the service here is top notch. Hate to be finicky but nothing was memorable. By contrast, I dream about WFHB and know that I can only go so long before I have to go there. I don't see that happening here. Sorry guys, nice try but something will have to change. The flavoring has to penetrate into the meat. It just ain't happening here. read more

Hot chicken sandwiches are the next big thing these days and Hotbird is hands down as good as it gets. Huge slab of flavorful chicken breast beautifully brined, juicy and tender. On a soft bun to soak up all the mouth watering hot fatty goodness that drips down your face with the first bite. The sandwich is huge!! You can select one of many spice levels, the hot is probably the best one. They also do a non spicy version that's basically just a fantastic fried chicken sandwich, so check that out if spice isn't your thing. The fried fish is also amazing. A great casual space right next to the Fox Theater in the heart of uptown. A perfect bite before a show or to kick off an excellent bar crawl in the Town. The beer selection is also quite good and pairs well with the spicy chicken. The lemonade is to die for. The staff is super friendly and helpful. A great place to just hang out too. This place is going to get real popular real quick so check it out before the lines get there! read more

Hotbird - This is the non-spicy sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

I was hungry for lunch and decided to check Yelp for something new in Downtown Oakland. I came upon this newly opened restaurant and saw the reviews so I decided to try it. The space is pretty big so it can accomodate large groups and they have a full bar. You walk up to a counter and place your order then they call your name when the food is ready. I placed my order and it came out about 10 minutes later. I ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich Medium Spice Level and a side of Cheesy grits. The fried chicken was a whole piece of Breast that was juicy and tender. The bun seemed like a Brioche bun, it came with slaw and pickles, with an orange sauce. I devoured the whole thing, it was delicious, tender, and crunchy, with the perfect medium kick. It didn't burn at all. The Cheesy Grits were good too, with fried onions on top, I saved it for later as the Chicken sandwich was very rich and with the grits it added some more richness. I would go back to try the fish and waffle fries. read more

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Hot Bird is consistent when I'm in the mood for a chicken sandwich or chicken tenders. I usually go for the medium spice level, just enough flavor without going overboard on the heat. The place is always clean, creating the perfect vibe for a satisfying meal. Ordering online is a breeze, and they've got it down - my food is always ready when I get there and I usually receive a text. No complaints about the customer service; it's straightforward and solid. The 3-piece tender meal - it's a really great deal. The chicken is reliably juicy, it includes toast, salad/slaw, and a and sauces, the complete the experience. Another option I've tried is the chicken sandwich which is a decent size and very fulfilling. Every bite is a flavor-packed delight, making it a standout on the menu. I definitely will be coming back! read more

Best hot chicken sandwich in the Bay! Hot Chicken Sandwich: 5/5 - Chicken breast was THICC af, crunchy, juicy, and hot in temp. Must've been straight out the fryer. Well seasoned. I got the xtra hot spice level (5/6) and it's no joke. I teared up a little bit, but loved every second of my meal. Took about 10 minutes for the sandwich to arrive after ordering. There are 6 spice levels: no spice through burnin(?). I'd recommend a med(3) or hot(4) for most people. If you're up for a challenge, go for the xtra hot(5) or burnin(6). They stay true to their spice levels. They have a good variety of beers on tap and cans, as well as soju cocktails. Street parking was tough. Will definitely be back! read more

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I was really disappointed in their fried chicken sandwich. I ordered "hot" but it wasn't hot at all - probably equivalent to a mild tbh. The chicken wasn't that flavorful but it was cooked well - juicy and crispy. I was more impressed by the other items we ordered. The waffle cut fries and cheesy grits were both super good. The cheesy grits had fried onions on top which I really liked. The Nashville fish n chips was the real showstopper though. I must be honest and say there's no way they even come close to Hotboys. I would only come here for the fried fish, unfortunately skip on the chicken. read more

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The service was amazing. The guy let us try some of the different seasoning before we ordered. I got the hot chicken strips, and my cousin got mild. The seasoning by itself was good, but on the chicken, it was very bland and nasty. That is why it is still sitting in my fridge waiting for trash day. I feel like they should have marinade the chicken first before frying it. Just my opinion. The restaurant is nice, and they do have beer and wine on the menu. They also play music in the background. Please give me back my 17.10 dollars. read more

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Been hearing good things about this place so wanted to try it out! Didn't have a chance to try the soju cocktails since we got our food to go but maybe next time. Order the chicken sandwich with the mild sauce. The chicken was very juicy and flavorful. Also HUGE chunk of it, so good bang for your buck. The mild sauce was pretty low heat for my liking but all in all a good sandwich. Also had a watermelon Fresca sort of drink but I felt like they really pack the ice in. Didn't get much drink in my drink. read more

Hotbird - Mild - Chicken sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Horrible service. Asked if the grits and collard greens were gluten free because that's one of the only things on the menu that I could probably eat. Cashier told me he didn't know. I asked if he could ask the kitchen. He comes out and says yes it has gluten. I asked "is it because it's prepared alongside gluten or does it actually have gluten in it?" He said he didn't know. And he fessed up that the kitchen didn't know either. Who knows if he even asked. I kindly said that it would be ideal to know these kind of things, even take effort to learn about one item on the menu that doesn't have gluten because people have a really hard time eating out and sometimes there's one thing that's on a menu that they can eat. (it's ok if it's prepared in a gluten environment) and he CUT ME OFF and told me there was a customer behind me. Horrible service. I asked his name but he didn't want to tell me because he knew he messed up. (heavier set, dark short haired guy.) Well whoever you are, you were working 1:45pm on Sunday the 29th of October. Your manager can train you on what foods contain gluten if they read this. I was going to order more things too for my family and just needed at least one thing I could eat. What a shame. read more

BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH!! Very juicy & flavorful. Ordered the Medium and it was the perfect amount of spice for me. I enjoyed the lightly toasted sweet bun, with the crunchy-ness of the pickles! They also have a good selection of drinks/beers too. Had to get an IPA read more

Hotbird - Chicken sandwich - Medium - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Another entry into an increasingly crowded fried chicken sandwich space, but Hotbird is legit delicious in everything we tried. 1) fried chicken sandwich - a lot of places are overly crispy with crazy contortions of batter that makes your sandwich mostly a mutilated piece of chicken in between 2 buns. Not here. This place offers a real sandwich with a beautiful near-symmetrical silhouette that is bursting at the seams and whose chicken boasts the right amount of crunch. 2) nashville fish and chips - yummy catfish, and with waffle fries, wha?! Chick fila no longer has a monopoly on scrumptious waffle fries. -- the REAL star of this dish is the SLAW. A seemingly side piece, it's the most delectable slaw I have ever had in my life. Almost underwent a personality change a la Ratatouille's Ego. -- FYI: subtract 1 spice level from your desired fried chicken spice setting. No buns here to hide that heat. 3) strawberry lemonade soda - looks and tastes like beauty. No-brainer - gonna come back and try more offerings. And gonna need to come back on a non-workday to attempt their spiciest heat level. Either gonna get my pic on that wall of fame or die trying. And the latter is a real possibility... read more

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I tried Hotbird before a show at the Fox Theatre. I was planning to get some sort of chicken dish but when I noticed they had fish and chips I ordered that, even though it was on the expensive side, $19.99, along with a draft beer. The service was quick, but when the meal was placed in front of me I was told that the napkins were at another location, so I had to get up and retrieve napkins which should've been brought with the meal. My first impression was that the fish was served in too large a portion, basically a whole cod had been battered and fried, rather than breaking it up into say, three smaller pieces, as is more normal and I would have preferred. I tackled the fish and it was a little bit on the greasy side, which due to the size just made it difficult to eat. I ate it all though and it was OK. The fries were crinkle cut waffle type. Considering the size of the fish portion I could've used half again as many fries as served. So, overall I felt like the fish and chips was disappointing, especially considering how expensive they were. Later in the evening after getting home and going to sleep and sleeping for an hour or so I woke up and wasn't feeling well, and the meal paid another visit leaving the way it came in. It was rather unpleasant. I think it was the greasiness that got to me. My advice: stick with the chicken. read more

Hotbird - Huge chunk of fish and not very many fries - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Many hot chicken sandwich options around the bay and Hotbird is a great option. It is on the pricier side forsure. The sandwich was around $18 and getting fried would put the cost to around $25. I decided to just get the sandwich. It was great flavor and crispy. Chicken was juicy. It was a great sandwich overall. read more

Hotbird - Medium Hot Bird Chicken Sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Today was a chicken sampling day. But in this case I decided to deviate from the plan cause there's guys feature a killer fish sandwich. And yes you get to decide the level of heat. Well it's likely I've not had a better fish Sami in a looooong time. The particular slant hotbird brings is a bigger variety of chicken and fish plus beer wine and other adult libations to tickle you palate while the heat blows out your esophagus. Sorry Hot boys... located a 7 iron away, you may be in a bit o trouble. While I admit the fish Sami was not cheep, it was ginormous! I actually don't like Hotboys chicken Sami so I can't compare it to this as I got fish. Must tell you tho if I am craving fish n chips... adding the other southern comfort items like greens and grits along with a nice beer... I'm remembering this spot! I promise to check out some chicken next time, but frankly this is the best fish n chips I've had in a while so it may take a few trips to get around to it. Their tarter sauce was also unique. I tasted tarragon and that added an extra dimension to the spicy fish fillet, slaw and buttery bun! Inside is bright and built for quick dining in and east take out. The guy taking my order must have had a rough night or morning. He wasn't very friendly, but heck it's faster food so I'm not expecting Michelin star service. But that damn fish should run up against anything you might get at a swanky upscale place. Great food without a bunch of pretense and hype. read more

Hotbird is the best, crispiest fried chicken I've had in the Bay Area, bar none. I don't know what they're doing with the batter, but whatever it is, it's working. The portion sizes are ridiculous too - both the chicken sandwich and the tenders plate are big enough for 2 people easily. Be forewarned though that even a "medium" spice here packs a serious punch - there's no shame in getting it No Heat, which is really good. Great beers on tap too. It's just all around awesome. read more

Hotbird - Tenders plate - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Tried Hotbird for the first time today, and tried both the mild fried chicken sandwich and fried fish, along with different sides. The chicken breast was well fried, not too greasy, and juicy throughout, with a brioche-style bun and good mayonnaise-based comeback sauce. The was an error in the fish order as we got a fish and chips rather than the fish sandwich, but the fish portion was large and not overcooked. The waffle fries could have been fried a little longer and seasoned more generously. We ordered everything as mildly spiced but there wasn't much spice so we will get a hotter level next time. The collard greens, coleslaw and mac & cheese were also all good. Service for takeout was pleasant and the food was ready on time. I'm confident any process/workflow issues will get resolved and looking forward to coming back again soon. read more

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Chicken was juicy, crispy, and well seasoned. Great treat on my way home from work last Friday.

The chicken sandwich here is (was?) really good, but the fish sandwich has been completely inconsistent the 4-5 times I've had it. First time was great, second time was mostly batter, no fish, third time great, fourth time terrible - fish tasted off and it was too greasy. Seems like their sauce also has less flavor these days and I'm not a fan of the fries they switched to - bring back the crosscut fries. read more

My bf and I made a special trip over because he had eaten here before. We took bart and showed up at 6 pm on Saturday. The dining room was empty except for a woman sitting at the counter. We waited by the register for, easily, five minutes before we started looking for a bell/buzzer to alert the staff that we were ready to order. We'd heard voices coming from the kitchen the entire time. Eventually, I walked to the end of the counter and looked back into the kitchen. I saw several pairs of legs (the staff was sitting on the counters behind the refrigerator. I said "hello" and then a couple more times before (finally) someone came up, phone in hand, and didn't even speak to me. I asked I'd they were serving and he turned and walked to the back again, maybe asking if someone would help us (I don't speak Spanish). I walked back to the counter and we waited a couple ticks but noone came to help. We left. I would 100% not waste my time to come back. My bf isn't sure if he'll bother again, even though he has had food and enjoyed it from this restaurant. If you're in the restaurant business and are open for dinner, I'd suggest hiring people who want to actually assist customers. read more

As a former nashvillain, I can say this is great chicken. I've ordered here a few times on Uber Eats, and the food has been consistently delicious and great quality. The chicken is always perfectly cooked, still hot when it arrives, packaged well, extra sauces included without having to ask. Shout out to the staff here, you guys are making delicious food and doing it consistently right! read more

Hot was not even spicy, this place is mid ‍ at least the guy was nice enough to offer to cut our sandwich in half since me & my friend were sharing because only 1 sando is $15 LOL read more

Hotbird - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

I've tried hot chicken all over town, always in search of the perfect blend of spice and flavor, and Hotbird delivers! This is my 1st visit and I got the tenders, spice level Hot, and a side of mac & cheese. The portions were generous (enough for 2, and under $30 total is a plus!) and the dry spice rub reminded me of a smokey BBQ chip and a spicy pepper, not spice-level habanero, like the menu suggests, but tasty and hot. Tender, juicy, spicy, and the side of slaw with pickles was good and complimented the chicken well--many spots just give you shredded cabbage drowning in mayo, but this slaw helps curb the heat and tastes great. The one thing that was telling was the toast at the bottom; I never eat it from other places because it's usually too greasy, after catching all the oil drippings, but because the dry rub on the chicken locks in all the flavor, the toast gets great seasoning and stays crispy--I ate every last bite! The mac & cheese was topped with big pieces of toasted ham (not necessarily as crispy as bacon) and it was a great addition. I'll definitely be back and will be recommending this spot to friends and familia. PS: Do yourself a favor and get the banana pudding! Chef's kiss! read more

Hotbird - Order of chicken tenders, Hot . - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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Hotbird's fried chicken sandwiches are satisfying, without being too greasy or heavy. I've tried both the medium and hot spice levels. The medium is a little bland (almost no spice at all), so I definitely prefer the hot. We were kindly given free waffle fries during our last time here since there were extra in the kitchen. There's plenty of indoor seating, or you can grab your food to-go and enjoy it at nearby Lake Merritt. read more

Hotbird - Fried chicken sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

The fried catfish was the worse ever. Huge piece of greasy fish with no flavor. I was not a fan of the batter. Just tasted like grease and air. The fried chicken sandwich was better more flavor but I won't be back to have either one anytime soon. I will stick to Hot Boys for now. And the two stars is for the fried chicken sandwich only. I don't recommend the catfish. read more

The flavor was great, I prefer this one over any of the other fried chicken sandwich places in the area. Also the lady working tonight seemed really busy but she held it down and did great. read more

Love the chicken, But did not get the sides of slaw, pickles, and buttered bread when I got take out today. Just a note! read more

Excellent customer service Food was great I will definitely be a repeat customer but next time I'm getting the chicken sandwich read more

Hotbird - Fish sandwich with a side of fries - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

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I really love the fried chicken sandwich here!! I always get mild and it's borderline almost too spicy for me but I can't stand much heat but need it. It's definitely the best sandwich in Bay Area!! Super juicy and delicious! I like the banana pudding too. I love how it's not crazy sweet like most. read more

Finding the perfect chicken is like trying to find the perfect white shirt, shit sounds simple enough but it ain't. Sometimes the chicken is too dry, the skin isn't crispy enough, the slaw sucks, the pickle have no bite, the bun is wack, and/or the sauce just not hittin the way it's suppose to. Then there's Hotbird - from the perfect bun, the crisp pickles, just the right tang in the slaw, to the sauce that be kicking like Jacky Chan, and of course the juicy yet crunchy fried chicken that just the right size, hella big.....this the one y'all! Try the sides and the desserts are a must because the spice levels are no joke, shit is for reals hot. Yeah yeah you think you can handle it, ha and good luck buddy. For those that don't need to learn lessons the hard way, which is not me, get the medium and work your way up. Lol read more

Hotbird - Tried everything! Lol - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

Get the fried fish sandwich! Well seasoned with a nice little kick. The sandwich maintained its crunch even after an hour picking the food up. read more

Hotbird - Fried Fish Sandwich - Comfort Food Near Me - Oakland, California

This was my first time trying this place, the restaurant presentation was good and very clean. I ordered chicken sandwich with waffle fries. The chicken was good, and waffle fries were okay. The sauce was good and I enjoyed the sandwich which had a nice spicy tang taste. If you in the Oakland area, try this place very a unique good taste to chicken breast. read more

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Been coming to Hotbird since they were in the city. We'd drive 40 mins just to grab a fire ass chicken sandwhich, fries, banana pudding and tenders every week. They moved to Oakland and we followed . They were the best chicken sandwhich in the bay. Over the past 6 months they have become completely inconsistent in quality and quantity. One day everything will be good, not like it used to be but just ok. Then the next time chicken will be dry, breading soggy and falling off , things missing from the order or the serving sizes of an item will be half the size from the last visit but the same price . read more

Food was delish! The sandwich was huge. Collar greens were hella good. Definitely get the orange creamsicle soju. Everyone here was nice!!!! read more

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I love it here! It has been my favorite place to have a cheat day! I love the staff's energy; I appreciate small chit chat while I am waiting for my food. It is a great place to have a solo date or to take a date to. I also dig that there are different levels of hot seasonings when you order, I got the spicy and it was yummy but I could have gone up one more level. The beer is local and awesome and I adore the convenience of their location. read more

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I usually consider my spice tolerance to be pretty good but I got humbled by this place. They let u sample the spicy levels with peanut samples at the register when ur ordering and I found I couldn't do medium, but mild is still pretty dang good. The food comes out piping hot and everything tastes freshly made. I got a fried chicken sandwich before and recently went back again and got a fried chicken salad. They were both great. the sandwich was kinda on the small side. There was a lot of salad (wished there was more chicken). It's green goddess dressing which is pretty yummy. And what was surprising were the waffle fries. They're sooo good. Nice chill atmosphere! And st parking might be a little hard! read more

This is the best Hot Chicken Sandwich in the Bay Area. Not dripping with sauce, the hot is right in the always crispy skin. So good.