Several years ago I tried the Hotboys location in Oakland and I gave them 3 stars because I felt like the wings were heavily battered. Today I was driving through Novato and craving spicy fried chicken. I see most people get the sando from here but I like to just stick to the chicken and not let the bread get in the way! Ordered 2 half chicken light only, which means the wing + breast and then another half chicken that includes the wing + breast + leg + thigh = so altogether, both orders $54.62 It seems expensive considering a whole raw chicken is about $5 but they do some voodoo magic to their fried chicken at Hotboys -- the seasoning is delicious, batter is crispy, and meat inside is still juicy -- the breast meat goes well dipped in their special sauce and they bagged plenty for me! Service was excellent -- very friendly and accommodating! The music is hyped up so it can be a little loud. Bathrooms were very clean. I thoroughly enjoyed digging into my half chicken with my hands. The wait is about 20 minutes but it's not a problem to wait for good chicken! It came out so hot that I was willing to burn my fingers a little LOL read more

World Famous Hotboys - Half (Light Meat) and half dark + light $54 - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

Wow fantastic! I am glad I Google Search fast food places besides the same old chicken place I been to on Novato and I found this cute name place a decided to give this place a try and boy I a glad I did! It was a slight detour from where I was but it was work the drive here as I found Rustic Bakery right next door that my friend told me about the had good pastries. On their website, They use 100% halal chicken, peanut oil, wheat and soy products. I ordered the Chicken Sandwich Combo which is The World Famous Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich and your choice of side. This restaurant is located around the bay area like Oakland, Walnut Creek, Sacramento & Hayward or our locations in Carmel Indiana & Indianapolis. I love the hip looking decor. Something everyone can be surprised with and makes a great conversation starter like aliens and I used to have toy like that growing up. lol good meal combo I got with mild chicken sandwich with fries and a drink was very enjoyable and I would be more than happy to come back to World Famous Hotboys. I was impressed and it was yummy in my tummy. read more

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Was wanting a spicy chicken sandwich and was in the Novato area so decided to try World Famous Hotboys for the first time. After talking with the person taking orders I went with the Chicken Sando with Medium+ heat and side of Mac & Cheese, Also got the Loaded Fries as well. Chicken Sando was nice and crispy and flavorful, sauce, coleslaw and pickle with the chicken was pefect combo. Next time I'll go up 1 heat level as I found the Medium+ wasn't warm enough for me. The side of Mac & Cheese was ok, I wish they had some hot sauce I could have added to it. The Loaded Fries were really good, the combo of the pickles, sauce, chicken, fries and coleslaw hit perfectly ! my only complain was for $15 I wish I would of gotten more for my money. Not that I dislike Dave's Hot Chicken but overall I preferred the chicken here over Dave's, would recommend this to anyone who likes Spicy Chicken. read more

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Ordered CHICKEN ETOUFFE which was highly recommended by my son ! It's a Creole stew with rice ! It is delicious flavorful but spicy for me but hubby and son loved it! The Smackin' Mac & Potato now that's so smackin' delish!!! I would come back for more!!! read more

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I've got Hot Boys and really liked it. The Chicken Sando was solid and definitely brings the heat. I ordered Mild+, and I'm glad I did. It had a nice kick without being overwhelming. Next time, I'll probably try one of the hotter spice levels now that I know what to expect. The Mac and Cheese was good comfort food and balanced out the spice nicely. I also noticed the fries coming out to other tables and they looked really good, so that's on the list for next time. Service was friendly and swift. Can't ask for much more there. I grabbed it to go this time, but it's definitely a place I want to go back to and eat in. The location gives chill vibes. Definitely recommended if you like spicy chicken and want options that actually deliver heat. read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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We were in the area and everyone wanted to have dinner at WFH, despite us living in Oakland, lol. We arrived around 5:45 pm, on a Thursday, and there was no line. It worked out that it wasn't busy, because it meant we had time to peruse the bigger menu. Jonathan was super helpful and made recommendations of what we could enjoy that aren't at the Oakland store. We got an order of the nuggies, baked potato, and sando. The star of the show was the baked potato, which had Mac and cheese, cheese, and pieces of chicken. It was delicious! I think it could have used a little more Mac and chicken, but because we had other items, it worked out well. When we were half way through the meal, Jonathan brought us out some Bonuts and caramel sauce, and they were so good. I would definitely get them again (maybe with some soft serv from next door ). The shop itself is fun and clean. I used the bathroom, and it was clean. There were plenty of seats, but they don't have padding, so not the most comfy. While I am not sure I would make the trek for this eatery alone, I would definitely stop by if driving through the north bay. Thank you Jonathan & WFH for making our delicious meal special! read more

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Another great lunch! This loaded baked potato is absolutely delicious! You must try it. Nice outdoor seating too. read more

World Famous Hotboys - Delicious loaded potato - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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I love this place but I ordered 3 chicken sandwiches and I got tender combo , I don't like chicken tenders! I didn't realize until I left because it was a to go order. read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken Sando Combo - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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Overall a solid chicken spot with lots of options! We went for the tender and sandwich which were both yummy! I got mild plus which was very spicy so would recommend to go light especially if sensitive to spice! Service was great. Fast casual with counter service and bussing tables. Cool vibes. Would come back again read more

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My partner and I came in after craving this place for several weeks! He got a sandwich and I opted for the baked potato with mild plus levels. Ordering is super easy and food comes out faster than expected. The mild plus was spicier than expected. I feel like it was a bit overpowering here and I should've opted for a mild flavor. Last time we were here I got mild and it wasn't spicy at all, so the difference between the two levels felt pretty significant. The fries were our favorite part. They're very well seasoned and crispy! I don't recommend the baked potato but the sandwiches are great! read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

Came to the hot boys restaurant in Novato. Super chido! Super dope Vibe the inner decor is retro old-school, tagged up walls, chained up speakers, a couple arcades games aswell. Ordered the breakfast burrito(recommended) and a can of the hen house double ipa( locally brewed in santa rosa) really good. Tried there second hottest hot sauce tasy but yeas definitely HOT. Next time going to stop by and pick these up for the beach. Service was dope our servers were friendly, have up recommendations. read more

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Just as good as I remember from the Oakland location. Fried chicken sando is crispy, juicy, and delicious. You choose your spice level, and it's tasty without spice if you have a sensitive stomach like me! The crinkle cut fries are nice and crispy outside, soft inside. The chicken etouffee is delicious with the tiniest kick of spice, probably just from a seasoning in it. The rice was a good texture as well. The man who took our order was very friendly/nice, and he was also the one wiping down tables and bringing orders to tables/handling takeout orders. But even though he was juggling a lot, he was still nice and helpful. The walls have a lot of cool art/graffiti, and there was fun decor all over. Give this place a try for some good chicken options! So happy Novato has another good food spot! read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken sando combo with the thigh filet and fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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I did not give it 5 stars because I JUST stubbed my toe. This place is superb. The staff is good and it is in my former best friend's old neighborhood. read more

I finally tried the World Famous Hotboys Fried Chicken Sandwich and it was deeeelicious! THE FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH The sandwich comes on a bun with coleslaw on top of the chicken. You will need to indicate how spicy you want your sandwich. They recommended ordering the mild so you can actually taste the chicken. however, you can make it as hot as you like if you really like spicy food. Note that you will need to indicate how spicy you would like your sandwich I got the mild chicken and it comes with a a "secret sauce" so it's up to you to add it into your sandwich. I prefer mild and it had the right balance of spiciness and taste along with the soft bun, but you can do whatever you want. THE SERVICE I was served by one if the co- owners, his name is Nader, was very helpful in helping me make my choice. He did recommend the breakfast burrito, but I wanted to try there signature sandwich. THE INTERIOR There is plenty of seating inside if you decide to dine in. The decor is very colorful and a lot to see so you will definitely be occupied while eating your meal. The walls are covered with art the ceiling. Every bit of the restaurant has some type of art it's a graffiti artist dream. You definitely need to try this place and also support our local business. read more

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It was my hubby and my first time here earlier today, and Ivan at the cash register greeted us warmly and was very helpful in introducing us to the menu selection and told us what was most popular. The spacious restaurant smelled amazing and there was much to choose from. We took Ivan's recommendations and ordered the fried chicken sandwich with French fries and the 1/4 dark meat fried chicken also with French fries. Everything was cooked to perfection-juicy, crispy, flavorful, and very spicy because we chose the habanero spicy level (u can choose ur spice level and we love spicy). Def coming back here to try more goodies! Loved the spacious atmosphere, comfy seating, and cool/funky decor. Thx u ver much, Ivan for making us feel extremely welcome and for ur first-in-class customer service! Can't wait to return for more of ur recommendations! read more

Hot boys is delicious!!! I got the dark combo (mild) and my partner got the chicken sandwich (mild+) and we had fries and Mac and cheese. Everything we so delicious and fresh and the chicken seasoning was so good! The spices were so flavorful and even mild had a tiny kick to it, can't wait to come again and crank the spice level up a notch!! Also the Mac and cheese is to die for!!! BEST hot chicken spot in Marin County! read more

World Famous Hotboys - Menu - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

Looking for something to eat and not knowing Novato at all, we stumbled upon this place last Friday night. The menu looked interesting so we gave it a try. We ordered chicken sandwiches. Mine mild and baby's daddy medium. We ordered ours with crinkle cut fries, but I believe you could get coleslaw if you want. Our son got the nuggets. The sandwiches come with a delicious cabbage slaw and pickles inside. So good! They also give you a side of some very tasty sauce that tastes similar to thousand island. It goes terrifically with the sandwich. The slight sweetness offers a little relief from the spiciness of the sandwich and compliments it very well. The levels of heat get spicy pretty early on their scale so don't be too cocky or you might not be able to taste your food after a few bites. I don't feel like I'm that sensitive to spicy food. I add hot sauce to so many things and eat it on almost a daily basis and the MILD heat had small beads of sweat forming on my forehead and upper lip. So beware. I ordered the original which is made with chicken thigh. It was really juicy and delicious. There was one part of it, I think the skin of the thigh, where it didn't crisp up so it was kinda chewy. I tried to take that piece off and I ended up taking off the breading on one side of the chicken. Bummer but it was still good! Baby's daddy ordered fried chicken breast which is made with their chicken tenders. I liked them both. I usually prefer dark meat for fried chicken but for this place I prefer the fried chicken breast tenders on the sandwich. Chicken Nuggets were pretty good too. What really wowed me was the Mac and Cheese. WOW!! I'm not totally sure but I think it had little pieces of pimento peppers in it or some type of red pepper. It wasn't spicy at all. It was SO yummy! I don't know who makes the cheese sauce here for the Mac and Cheese but they know what they're doing! We actually ordered a side of cheese sauce as well for the fries and we ended up bringing it home and making our own Mac and cheese with it the next day. YUM YUM. The guy that was working the counter was great. He knew the menu very well and since it was our first time he helped us decipher what our level of heat should be. He was patient and super awesome. This place is fun. Great decorations, free video games, and a funky vibe. Great for children too. Thanks for the great experience! read more

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Glad they finally have a WFH closer to home, but I really do enjoy the Oakland atmosphere. We dined in to enjoy the ambiance. Definitely will be back for a fried chicken fix haha I loved my chicken and waffles, also had to order the Mac and cheese. For some reason, the Mac and cheese tastes good when you have the chicken and waffles with it. I wouldn't order it by itself. Staff was friendly and supportive lol They helped with explaining how the menu works and the heat flavors. I went for the training wheels heat lol read more

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This is some juicy doggone chicken! Flavorful. I am a baby so I got the next up from mild and it was doable. I think I'll go harder next time. Greens are good (spicy) and fries were plentiful and crisp. Much better place than Dave's Hot Chicken tho they are good, too. Staff were ultra nice! Food was ready on time. This place is great. read more

The food is good and the service was great I go to the one in Novato ca. The will go again

I need to point out that the loaded baked potato is the truth. Get it medium spicy and enter fried chicken heaven. Move over sando, there's a better way to eat fried chicken read more

World Famous Hotboys - Smakin' Mac N' Baked Potato - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

The World Famous Hotboys in Novato adds another solid hot chicken sandwich chain to Marin. The hot chicken sandwich craze has led to the development of several of options in Marin! Being a fan of the original Hotboys in Oakland, I was excited to see they were going to expand in Novato. While Hotboys doesn't do anything unique, I would say it is one of the better quality sandwiches. Located at the Hamilton Marketplace, Hotboys opens up in a cozy little shop next to Super Duper! They have ordering for to-go through Toast or at the counter. If you do decide to dine in, there are a few decent sized tables throughout the restaurant for a server to help you. Not sure if I came at a bad time, but from ordering to actually getting food was a bit long. Yet, in the end, the wait was worth it because the food came out hot and tasty! I came and got the chicken tender sandwich (basically a smaller version of their actual chicken sandwich with only white meat) and a side of slaw. My friend got the chicken sandwich and side of chicken etouffee. Both were great with enough slaw and sauce to balance the flavors from the chicken. My only complaint would be that we both ordered it to me mild at the suggestion of the server who said medium is super spicy, but I found mild to be a bit weak. If you can handle spice, I would probably up the level to "mild plus" or "medium." Other pluses from dining in are the Marvel versus Capcom 2 and Simpsons arcade game available for free! Parking is generally plentiful for the plaza and dependent on the time of day. As mentioned earlier, the food is a little bit slower than a typical "fast-casual" but felt worth the wait. Overall, Hotboys in Novato is worthy place to get your fried chicken sandwich fix! read more

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I was so excited that Hotboys finally came to Marin! No more driving to Sac or Oakland for my favorite friend chicken sandwiches! I ordered online on their website and it was super fast to get my order. Took about 15 minutes and it was ready when I came to pick it up. Ordered: 1. Chicken sando meal with southern (lowest) spiciness: Super delicious and I love the fresh coleslaw in the sandwhich. I do wish I ordered it non-assembled as the chicken was already soggy. I've had it fresh before and the sandwich tastes incredible when it's crunchy and fresh. I got it with fries and the fries are perfectly seasoned. It was a little bit soggy but still pretty good. I loved the fries dipping sauce as well. Overall, excellent quality as good as the Sac location which is the one I normally eat at. Online ordering is easy and they don't charge extra (some places tack on $1 fee or whatever ordering online or through a 3rd party). Lots of parking in the complex. Definitely will be coming here a lot! read more

The latest addition to the Novato Chicken scene is Hotboys, an Oakland-based hot chicken chain that seems to be expanding to the north bay as well. The first thing you'll notice is the depth of the menu - there are tons of options including tenders, nuggets, thigh fillets, bone-in chicken with waffles, veggie sandwiches, and a BUNCH of sides including sage gravy, beans, rice, and the usual others. I was very impressed with both the size and moistness of the tenders - they were absolutely delish... I had the 'mild' spice which was sweet and tangy - i'll probably kick it up a notch next time. the thigh sando had a HUGE thigh - my dad was convinced it was a breast cause it was so big! The service was great - we ate in and they took our order at the table, including a "to-go" order for my wife at work. The food arrived faster than I'd expected (a good thing), but even after I spent a long time trying to convey the fact that I wanted them to wait to start the 'to go' portion of the order, the bag with my wife's lunch arrived the same time our dine-in order did. That's my only ding and why I only give four stars. I can't wait to go back and try the bone-in chicken, right now there's really no great option for fried chicken other than Perry's (meh) and Safeway (double meh). I will update my review after the second visit! So, GREAT flavors. HUGE menu. TASTY sides. CRAZY, very BRIGHT interior painted in graffiti-like primary colors. Bring your shades. read more

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The hot spice level is no joke. We are so glad the person working there let us try it before ordering. Great service and good tasting. read more

Southern comfort food: chicken, chicken tenders, fries, coleslaw, waffles, mac n cheese, bonuts (biscuit donuts). Alcoholic beverages also available. It is located in a plaza with plenty of parking. Wheelchair accessible. Indoor and outdoor dining available. Indoor has a nice vibe. Classic video games at the front, I am not sure if they are working. They accept online orders. I ordered the Sando just the sandwich, cut in half with sauce and slaw on the side. I had to order this way as I am going to eat at work and can't be messy. The chicken reminds me of Popeyes and Jollibee, so crunchy outside and juice inside. The sauce tastes like mixed mayo and ketchup. I ordered online and paid $16 for one to go sandwich and didn't notice there is a tip, I don't mind the tip, it's just it was like automatic I didn't notice. I had to wait at the front to get my online order. read more

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Tried the #1 meal -- it was really good! Food came out piping hot. My Sammy was mild and it was the perfect amount of spice. Fries delish! And dessert, a BRONUT--if you try it with your eyes closed, you'd think it was a freshly made churro read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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Tried famous hotboys the other day; they recently opened nearby. It was just okay. I think I'd rather eat popeyes but there isn't one in Marin so I guess this one will have to do for now. We got the World Famous Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich which includes a slaw which I didn't think added value to the sandwich; I'd much prefer be without it. Do not get the etouffee, it doesn't taste like etouffee. It was actually pretty difficult to eat. I got the crinkle fries and paid $5 for cheese. That was probably the best part of our meal. read more

The Family and I love this place! We go back every time we are in the area, I wish my town had one of these. The waffles in the Chicken and Waffles have a great taste almost like a funnel cake and it pairs great with the chicken. The chicken sandwiches are one of the best I've had. We also tried the Bonuts and they were really good. The restaurant was clean and has a cool retro vibe. The service is good and the staff was friendly. Highly recommend this place! read more

World Famous Hotboys - Bonuts Bonuts - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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I went today and the lady at the front was very rude ! I felt racially profiled I hope that wasn't the case though ! But she was very terrible and she knew my food was ready but she let it sit for 35 minutes ! It really hurt my feelings she gave others there food knowing I was waiting. She also was just sitting on her phone ! read more

Me and my friend ordered an orange soda float and a milkshake and they gave us large soda cups each for 8 dollars. It didn't even have a reusable lid? We ordered at 9pm and we noticed they looked like they were closing early. I don't blame them for wanting to close early if it's not that busy. But if you aren't going to give us a milk shake or orange soda float bc "u don't have ice cream", then shouldn't they have offered a refund or something ? I didn't ask for one for how hungry I was and didn't want to bother them because it seemed like only one girl was working. but it does feel wrong to pay 8 dollars for a false advertised drinks. And honestly Everytime I look at my hot boys cup it makes me think how I wasted 8$ on soda and a plastic cup I didn't want. But maybe that's a good thing abt this cup bc now i have a positive memory with my friends about this little experience when I ate my meal I feel like the food wasn't as good as I was expecting. I've tried multiple of their other locations and this one doesn't really represent hotboys in my opinion. So if you excited to try it, just make the drive to Walnut Creek or Oakland. I guess it's not that bad just don't expect ice cream there looolll Service was fast and bathroom was clean though just wanted my ICE CREAMMMMM read more

Surprisingly good for a chain restaurant (showing my prejudice I guess ;) . Treated and given samples by an amazing woman whose name escapes me now. The sandwich was really good, medium was still pretty spicy so I would recommend underestimating your own tolerance at first. read more

I ordered. Mild sandwich with slaw, I added the bonuts. It was all good. The service was outstanding, it was our first time in a Hotboys so the cashier walked us through the menu. It has an old diner feel with good music playing. read more

World Famous Hotboys - Bonuts - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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I was passing through town and needed to get the family some dinner. I wanted to find a great "boys night" with the family. I was sold on the great hot chicken, waffles and video games! Also, they have an epic beer selection as well! Thank you Johnathan and staff, you rock! read more

World Famous Hotboys - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

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First time in and tried to chicken étouffée. At home now sucking on a beer with it and it's really delicious. I've been in New Orleans and tried a lot of dishes there. This one takes me back. read more

World Famous Hotboys - Yum nice heat, but more flavorful and not too hot! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Novato, California

Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Ambiance: 10/10 We tried the sandwich, 1/4 chicken, fries and etouffe. Everything was tasty! read more

Very pleasant and patient staff. Ordered the Sando combo and the Etoifee. Both were absolutely delicious. Medium spice had heat but not to much. Fries were surprisingly good and paired well with the sauce on the side. We have a new freeway access eatery in Marin in our arsenal. read more

I found out about this place throughout a Yelp Elite event, and I loved the food so much, that I had to come back with my husband. This time I got THE SANDO MEAL with Fries, mild plus. My husband got THE SANDO MEAL with Fries, medium plus. Apparently, there was a mistake in the kitchen, and instead of my mild plus sandwich, I got a medium one. I was not ready for that. :) Our waitress, Sage, fixed everything very quickly. Not only did she bring me my mild plus sandwich, but she also left the medium one on the table and told us that we could try that one out too. By the end of it, we had mild plus, medium, and medium plus sandwiches on the table. In my personal opinion, mild plus is perfect! My husband couldn't decide between the medium and medium plus. The sandwiches were perfect and the fries tasted amazing. The chicken was soft and tender, and everything was fresh and delicious. The vibe inside is very unique and colorful. I liked it. Everything seemed clean, Plus the food was out in no time. Thank you, Sage, for your excellent service. You were great! read more

Fries and chicken were all really good here. The fries had really good crunch with lots of seasoning. The chicken had a nice kick to it and was really juicy. Definitely a lot better in comparison to other chicken places. Workers at the counter were really nice and asked if there was anything else I needed. Only problem is I contacted them about finding a white hair on my fry and on my sandwhich. They said would email me a gift card or refund. But never got compensated or a response back from them after they offered me those options. read more

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Very good chicken sandwich! The mild plus was just right for my wife and I. Highly recommend this place. read more