This food was so good it's making me come out of Yelp semi-retirement. A certain hot chicken sandwich chain was giving out free sandwiches with a download of their app today, and as we drove by the restaurant I knew it was not in the cards - that place was PACKED. So instead, I perused Yelp for other fast dinner options. Here I came across HCK Hot Chicken, skimmed reviews (I rarely let other people sway my opinions anyway) and after checking the small-ish menu we decided to check it out. THANK GOODNESS WE DID. The space only had a few people when we got here, and after sitting and waiting for food I did notice many to-go/takeout orders come and go. They have a SOLID menu, with many staple chicken dishes (chicken sandwich, chicken & waffles, even a mac & cheese bowl), and of course, hot sauce of varying degrees. There's also a big ol' neon sign that says "HALAL" over their menu, so I'm assuming they ARE halal to some extent (would ask to confirm). I ain't no pansy, so I got a medium heat chicken sandwich. If that's not your baseline, you don't know hot chicken baby!! One of two combos (the other being just tenders) comes with the sandwich, fries, and a drink for about $15. My husband ordered the mac and cheese bowl, also medium. Now, you know how sometimes you order medium heat, and it's more like a warmer mild? Well, that's definitely not the case here. This is where HKC would get an extra star from me if it could. SIX stars for a medium hot chicken sandwich that was ACTUALLY medium, ACTUALLY cleared out my sinuses pretty well, and the fact that I slammed that sandwich down like it was my job speaks volumes. I tried my husband's Mac too, and it was so, so good. Y'all underestimate how much I've fallen for this place. I don't even live in the area anymore, and I'm already plotting ways and reasons for me to come over here so I can stop by for lunch when so desired. Staff was also very pleasant! We didn't spend too much time waiting in the lobby, an our food was out within 10 minutes of ordering. They're advertising as "made to order" and I can concur with that - our meals were fresh, and of course, HOT! I need these guys to move next door to my house! Until then, I'll be back to visit soon for sure. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Medium hot is the baseline. Not taking any criticisms. - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Walked in at 5:45pm and there were customers eating at several tables. Stood at the counter for several minutes but no one came out from the back to greet me or take my order so I left and went somewhere else. 3 stars because the people at the tables seemed to be enjoying their food..... which I'd gotten to try it. Casual tables. Seemed chill :( read more

This is my favorite hot chicken place in Buffalo. The food is always very good. My personal favorite is the loaded fries with the after burner sauce. The sauce and spice level are perfect. I would recommend ordering ahead if possible because the wait can be a while if you're ordering there, but it's worth it. Bonus points because they serve halal meat. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Chicken strips - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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First things first, the food here is amazing! So amazing that I almost forgot to take a picture (as you can see by my half eaten picture). I got loaded fries with base sauce, the fries were perfectly seasoned, the sauce was amazing, great flavor, and the chicken tenders on top were chefs kiss ! I also got their little donut holes which were delicious. Also a side of their Mac and cheese, it was spiral noodles, and white cheddar cheese sauce. Sooo good. Updated to add better pictures! You know if I go back that means they are that GOOD! read more

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Popped in for lunch and got the chicken sandwich with what I would call spice level medium, along with crinkle cut fries and a drink. The Combo #1 meal was solid! And though not as large as some of the other "hot" chicken sandwiches I've had here recently, it was definitely flavorful which is a big win! I really wanted to try the tenders as well, but I resisted ordering that at the time, but I definitely would return for those just to try them with their house sauce. Overall, it was a nice dining experience with friendly staff who were engaging and a nice, convenient location with plenty of parking. read more

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This was a spur of the moment decision for dinner the other night and I couldn't be happier. I was craving something spicy but nothing too crazy where I wouldn't be able to enjoy it. I've said it before and I'll say it again, this sandwich is so good and has the right amount of heat. I got the After Burner sauce which isn't the hottest but has enough of a kick to keep you on your toes. The fries are cooked perfectly with a good amount of salt, pepper, and flavor. I really love the dipping sauce that came with them. It's SO GOOD. I ordered ahead and picked up on my way home. The order was ready right on time and I was back home with it still piping hot. This is a great little spot to satisfy that spicy chicken craving. read more

Tried the sandwich, Mac and cheese and fries. Everything was delicious! Staff was super friendly. I chose the after burner sauce which was level 2. It had a kick but next time I'll try the scorpion one. I'm curious to try the tenders next time as well! read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Well, we finally got a chance to visit HCK, and it won't be our last time! We both ordered the chicken sandwich with a side of fries to share. My husband got the Medic (appropriately named), the hottest sauce, and I ordered the After Burner, 3rd hottest. The chicken was great, not a pre-formed piece of meat, juicy, and nicely crisp on the outside. The heat on mine was the perfect level. It hit me on the first bite but then was ok. I felt the cole slaw and pickle on top cooled the whole thing down a bit and added a nice crunch. The fries were mildly flavored, and the dipping sauce added to the overall taste. Service was good and the place was clean. Need to go back to take advantage of their Sunday special. Next time I'll try the chicken fingers. 2023-118 read more

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Wow! When they say their hottest sauce is HOT it truely is. I like real spicy hot foods so when I ordered the chicken sandwich I ordered it with their Carolina Reaper sauce named Medic. I have had foods that had this pepper in it so I thought how hot could it be. I'm glad that I waited until I got home to eat it because it would have been embarrassing scene if I had eaten it in the restaurant. OMG, I got home sat down to enjoy my sandwich, I took a bite and I have to say it was the hottest thing I ever ate. Congrats to HCK for being the one that took down the hot food king. I don't know if as I get older my taste buds have become more sensitive or what but I was calling for a "Medic" (the appropriate name of this sauce). After I regained my composure I still wanted to enjoy the sandwich so I rinsed off most of the sauce and finished it. Although the rinsing took away most of the crunch, the chicken was very good. I definitely will be going back but next time I'm bringing the heat level down one notch. If you or someone you know also claims to be able to take any heat level then go their and order the Medic, if you dare. Regardless of your tolerance for heat, this place is a must try. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Very solid chicken sandwich. The slaw was very good. Got it with the cayenne infused sauce, and I definitely could have gone a bit hotter. Loved the potato bun and the crinkle fries! Normally, I do not order mac and cheese out, but I must say their mac and cheese was delicious! Creamy and cheesy with flavor was actually the favorite thing I ordered. read more

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Pretty good hot chicken place! Got the sandwiches and they were filling and good fries.

The absolute BEST chicken I've ever had wOW!! Amazing place super friendly staff love it!! Highly recommended trust me on that!!

I'm so impressed with this restaurant!! I ordered catering from here and I honestly am recommending them to everyone! The owner was an absolute dream to work with and the food was amazing! We ordered the Coop 2 package, which is for 20 people. The owner allowed me to take the coleslaw off the order and upgrade to full pans of mac and cheese and fries for no charge, which was so convenient and helpful! He was attentive, so nice, and made everything easy. The food itself was delicious and I am already excited to eat the leftovers. The chicken tenders were huge, tender, and spicy but not overwhelmingly so. The sandwiches were incredible and the combination of chicken, coleslaw, and pickles was so good. The mac and cheese was very creamy, and the fries were seasoned well and a huge hit!! Everyone at our party was impressed and my sister-in-law is calling them about catering tomorrow! Do yourself a favor and give this place a try!!! read more

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We passed this place on the way to Tully's and we decided to try it. Man are we glad we did! The chicken and waffles was amazing! The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy. The cashier was a bit short with us and not that friendly, but over all this was a good place! HCK has a few tables set up for dining in and it has a good space for a small family read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Chicken and Waffles - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Man this was a good sandwich! Closest I've had to anything from Nashville! The sauce was super tasty and the butter roll was awesome as well. The chicken was superb crunchy and flavorful throughout. The mac and cheese is super good as well! My fiancé tried the chicken and waffles and it was delish as well! The prices were great and everything came out very quickly. Can't wait to come back again! read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

I came on OPENING Day and they just got everything right!!! I ordered my chicken sandwich with the 2nd hot sauce out of 4 heat levels (after burner). I was honestly surprised at how mild it was! Next time I would like to try the next hottest one- angry hot! The fries were yummy- especially dipped in the good sauce (that comes on the side with your meal). The mac and cheese was also delicious- I would liked to get the loaded Mac next time! If you can't tell I highly recommend this place and I will be back! read more

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Buffalo gets to welcome the 7th franchise in the HCK Hot Chicken family and this Buffalonian is happy for it! We ordered the chicken tender combo, with Afterburner sauce for Himself and an order of chicken tenders with Base sauce for me. The base sauce had enough of a kick for me but certainly not uncomfortable. Our order got to our table in 12 minutes after being freshly prepared and was delivered piping hot. The chicken tenders were large, super crispy, juicy and perfectly sauced. I was able to eat only one but Himself enjoyed both of his. The fries. Oh, the fries! First you need to know that I am not a fry girl at all. I usually only enjoy a couple of them off of His plate but I went face down on these. They are ultra crispy due to a special seasoning and natural rice coating and served with what HCK Hot Chicken calls their "good sauce". With tip our bill was just at $25. We'll definitely be returning when the hankering for great fried chicken is upon us. read more

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As the line was extremely long on the weekend HCK opened, we decided to try their chicken this week. If you order online, know that your chicken will be ready well before the 20 minute time slot they mention. They do a great job explaining all their different flavors, and theyve done a good job with their sauces. I ordered their chicken tenders in their spiciest and the second most spiciest flavor. My wife ordered hers in their third most spiciest flavor. As much as I love spicy, considering my background, I'm not fond of habanero flavors, which was apparent in the spiciest flavor. This was still the best habanero based sauce I've had. I was a fan of their second most spiciest sauce. My wife found her third most spiciest sauce too mild, but mine a little spicy. We think they didn't add enough sauce to her tenders. We also ordered their Nashville style sandwich, which was an absolute mess, as mentioned in other reviews. The flavor is good, but the coleslaw compromises the sandwich. If they worked on this,this would be the best sandwich in Buffalo, not that it isn't already. This is still the best place I have found in Buffalo for good spicy chicken. Edit: The spiciest sauce has Carolina Reaper in it, which is a hybrid of the Naga and Habanero. I'm usually not fond of the habanero flavor, but still love all their sauces. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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All I can say is WOW! My fiancé and I came here for lunch we were blown away. I got the loaded Mac and cheese bowl and it was delicious! It was so cheesy and creamy. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the good sauce on top was so good it should be called the great sauce. My fiancé got the combo #1 with the Nashville chicken sandwich and fries. He got the afterburner sauce that has great flavor, but if you want something hotter go for the angry hot. The fries were seasoned perfectly and were some of the best we've ever had. The owner Naiem came over to check on us and introduced himself. He was very friendly and welcoming upon us entering. It's a nice space with plenty of tables to sit and enjoy your food. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Nashville Chicken Sandwich Combo - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Food was made to order, hot, and delicious. Very friendly staff and just an overall great place to grab a bite to eat.

Everything was delicious, I had the chicken and fries with the sauce! We ate in and they brought us our food. But they brought one meal out at a time and there was like 15 min in between. By the time the second person got their meal the first one was done already. read more

This restaurant is very clean. Everytime I've ordered from them the food is great. I always get my order in a timely matter. The service is one of the reasons other than the food that I come back. They all have great customer service! read more

Food is good but employees are idiots. Waited 30 minutes for my food and I got irritated and asked about it and it's been sitting on the shelf behind the counter the whole time. read more

I was really excited for this and all of the reviews/photos looked amazing. I will start off by saying customer service is excellent and the ordering online is a breeze. Our order was to be ready by 6:05 but wasn't ready until 6:35. No big deal. But unfortunately some of the items tasted like they had been ready at 6:05. We ordered the cinnamon donuts, Nashville sandwich, chicken & waffles. Overall the food was edible but pretty meh. Unfortunately it was the cost and quality for me that missed the mark, it's what you can expect from a large chain. Not much flavor, some chicken items were so thin (chicken & waffles) and the fries tasted frozen. I can't fathom spending $50 again on this read more

This is my new favorite place. The Loaded Mac and Cheese Bowl is incredible. Like eye closed, fully body mhhhhhhhh. The place is clean and the staff are nice too. Love it here read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Loaded Mac & Cheese Bowl - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Last night we went to HCK Hot Chicken. We were not too excited about the new chicken establishment in Niagara Falls Blvd so we tried here. We were not disappointed. We both got the chicken sandwich/crinkle fries/drink combo, only I did the Medic hot sauce challenge. You get 5 minutes to eat this hot sauced sandwich then you have to sit there another 5 before drinking or eating anything else. I didn't have a problem I've done hot sauce challenges in the past and got my picture on their wall! Also, their crinkle cut fries are the best I've ever had. Try it! read more

HCK Hot Chicken - My Pic on the wall after completing the challenge! - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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This was our first visit here. We got a couple sandwiches, chicken and waffles, and fried pickles. I went with the Medic level heat (Carolina Reaper), and it indeed does have a really solid heat. Unfortunately, I requested all of my toppings on the side to add later, and they were never included, so it was just a chicken tender on a bun, and a bit disappointing for it. My fiancé did not care for the chicken and waffles, she just said it wasn't good enough to get again. My son thought most the items were too greasy, though the pickles were really good. We will try them again, but I wouldn't frequent them for the price point vs quality. read more

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Nothing more to say other than bad food. Simple as that. After seeing these very positive reviews that confuse me now, I decided to stop by this place. I ordered the 8 pc wings with base sauce and the chicken tender combo which I split with another person. Service was very nice, overall atmosphere was neat, but that unfortunately doesn't make up for the food. The wings were huge which excited me but I was very disappointed when I found out they were 30% chicken 70% cartilage. The little chicken there was seemed poor quality. The tenders were alright; chicken breast was mediocre. Fries were decent and so were the sauces. As a last chance being hungry from not wanting to finish the food I ordered their fried pickles to go. After about 15-20 minutes I opened them and they were very wet. They seem to have been too hot and the steam had created condensation. Chewy batter and hot pickles were not satisfying. Would not come again under any circumstances. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Deep Fried Side Fried Krinkle Kut Pickles (To Go) - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

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Absolutely delicious chicken sandwich! Now the disappointment. Out of diet Pepsi Only napkins came from a machine on the wall Should have a roll of paper towels on each table Had to ask for ketchup for the fries not on counter. Soda machine looks old for a new place. Single bathroom is a long walk to the back Had to get paper towels in bathroom to clean our hands. Poor layout with the soda machine and trash can in the narrow hallway. Once again... prodded for a tip via the tip jar and on the credit card display. Just for the privilege of ordering at the counter. Two combos+ tax + tip =$38 very good sandwich but hard to justify . read more

i have nothing but good things to say about the food and service here. for sauce options PLAIN, BASE, AFTER BURNER and MEDIC. if you want the flavor but not a big fan of spicy try BASE, a kick of spice: AFTER BURNER, if can handle and enjoy spicy foods: MEDIC and no sauce (odd choice) PLAIN. my personal orders/recommendations: loaded mac and cheese bowl (base sauce) w/ extra sauce + tenders or tenders (base sauce) + fries combo w/ a bev read more

The food is w but look out for the spice The service is the bestttt so fat And the ambiance is great to read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Chicken and Waffles Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Puts Popeyes, Chick-Fil-A, KFC and Co. to absolute shame. The best chicken sandwich I have ever had. The sauces perfectly compliment the FRESH chicken (it is clear as day that this not frozen, the proof is in the taste/texture), the pickles, the coleslaw. All seamlessly come together to create a beautiful symphony of flavor. The only downside to this place is that it is not located closer to my home. To ownership: Would give more stars if I could. When you inevitably take all of our money in exchange for your incredible food, if you decide to expand into franchises, please keep doing things this way. Please do not fall into the trap. Don't ever cut corners. Keep this fresh, downright amazing product how it is, with the high standards that you obviously have. Never settle for less and THANK YOU for bringing this chicken sandwich into the world. Eating your food is a joyous experience. read more

When you walk into this restaurant, the feel is high energy and care with the message on the walls and the sauces ready to go off the shelves. From the lovely Kayla taking our order with veteran customer service, a smile, and a warm countenance, to the owner with a huge heart, Naiem, the staff is impeccable. I ordered the #1 combo with the medic sauce (Carolina reaper), and after one bite of the juiciest and glistening red chicken, I knew I was hooked. My fiancée had the #2 combo with the mild sauce and loved it too, though not until after I had her try a bite of mine. Ha, that went well. The prices are extremely fair and affordable for the quantity of food provided, the place is clean, the food is awesome, and I could not say anything better about HCK Hot Chicken. I'll be coming back anytime i need a chicken or hot food fix. A shining gem of chickeny goodness. 5 fire emojis! read more

Effin amazing ! Finally real hot chicken in buffalo, besides wings all due respect to 716. Fries tasted fresher than yo mama and chicken was outstanding ! I can tell they put detail and go deep to get everything right vs the broad menu. Only suggestion get an App or something to order ahead. Very friendly dude at the cash register turns out he was the owner, told him I forget who Dave is .... read more

HCK Hot Chicken - That's just a half eaten portion of the chicken and waffles - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Best sandwich I ever tried in town. Nice service, food is fresh and piping hot. I gonna be regular visiting this place since I tried first time todays it's been two month my experience is the same as first time. Every penny I spend here is worth it. However I forgot to mention about this place have loaded Mac and cheese bowl is must try item read more

Service is key here! The owner is there working the register with a smile on his face ready to take your order which is an automatic 5 stars for me. I was too hungry so I didn't have a chance to take pics so you'll just have to trust me. Once you place your order, you are given a timeframe or when it will be ready and a number to take to your table and wait. The inside is clean and there were plenty of tables open for us even at lunch time. I tried the Nashville chicken sandwich with the base sauce but it was not spicy enough for me so I was able to request after burner on the side. Great flavor and just the perfect amount of heat! The chicken itself was huge and it was a real chicken breast, no fake chicken fingers. It is topped with pickles and coleslaw and I couldn't believe how messy it was without any additional sauce but I was not complaining. I would prefer old fashioned lettuce and tomato but it wouldn't be a Nashville hot without the pickles and slaw. The fries were also perfectly cooked and had a delicious seasoning on them, really making them stick out. Everything was very good and the owner even made sure to check in with us to make sure we were happy. Definitely check this place out!!!! Oh and beware- the medic sauce is ridiculously hot and should be ordered on the side read more

Placed an order before they were officially open due to system glitch but was met with a friendly staff that provided great customer service!! HCK Chicken is a flavor-packed delight. The crispy coating gives way to tender meat, and the unique blend of spices offers a satisfying kick without overwhelming. Paired with crispy fries and tasty dipping sauces, it's a must-try for chicken lovers seeking a memorable and delicious experience. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Combo 2 - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Everything about this place is top notch! From the owner welcoming you into his establishment and the food being absolutely delicious. Please check this place out as you will not be disappointed! read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Combo 1 with After Burner and Mac n Cheese - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York

Great food and service. The staff is really nice and a pleasure to talk to. Will be back.

It's a no for me on the chicken but the fries were not bad and their fountain loganberry was excellent. Also the service was excellent. I had the wings and they were just too overly battered and clunky. read more

HCK Hot Chicken - Chicken 8 wings with fries - Salad Near Me - Buffalo, New York