I have been to Hot Chicken Takeover so many times in different locations but never had the opportunity to try it at North Market. Finally came to for lunch on a Sunday and it was pretty quiet inside, very clean and plenty of space to seat and eat. Parking is available at Vine Street Garage and I believe all the vendors at North Market should be able to validate parking. Ok now for the food, I ordered the chicken sandwich but I opted for the Range dressing, because I just love HCT's ranch. I can have the ranch with everything. The sandwich came with 2 sliced of white bread on both sides, pickles and slaw. I have never had the sandwich before this event, and let me tell you, the sandwich is huge. You will make a mess, but it's worth it! It was delicious especially when you pair it with their sweet tea! As always the staff at any HCT are very friendly and prompt, this location was no exception. Good food and good service, can't beat that! Can't wait to visit HCT again! read more

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Ordering is kiosk-only. The lids were messy, and the floor felt very sticky, which made the space seem a bit neglected. I also noticed a large fridge being used in the back, which made me wonder how fresh the food really is. Chicken Tenders: came out hot and moist. Still, Hatty B's holds the top spot for me. Pickles: Much sweeter than expected--if you like sweet pickles, you'll enjoy them. Hush Puppies: These were a standout. Super crispy and well-seasoned. Fries: The wavy cut was fun, but they were pale, under-seasoned, and needed to be crispier. Mac & Cheese: Creamy and cheesy, just how it should be. But why was it served in prepackaged containers? Sauces The hot honey ranch was excellent. Their regular ranch and comeback sauce were also surprisingly good. read more

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I know some love this place, they've got a (for North Market) massive dining area on the second floor, with an ambiance that's entirely what you'd expect for North Market, except maybe with a bit more wood. Service is friendly, the kitchen does take a minute (as freshly cooked fried chicken should!), and the sides do work. The fried chicken to me was good, but given just how much good fried chicken was out there, did not rise above average enough for me to warrant a 4th star on Yelp. Especially given they use seemly standard small-sized restaurant drumstucks-- which to be fair is a drawback shared with many of their competitors. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Inside. Second floor of North Market. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Nashville-style fried chicken & Southern sides with a cool comforting dining space that features plenty of seating options. My first visit was only because it's the only air conditioned area on the second floor. My second visit was because Mrs. E. had never been and she saw a sign for free iced tea. So $14.50 later we got free tea. I believe you're picking up what I'm putting down. I don't care because I love their chicken. Just looking for a quick snack today, we ordered the $10 Sliders and Ma's Mac. The Mac was a decent sized portion that was pretty straightforward. It had a pleasing taste, but nothing spectacular. The sliders are brushed with honey and garnished with spicy pickle slices and taste wonderful. Add two teas and we were full. The young man at the register was a joy to talk with, as were the fellas delivering our food. Count on a third visit soon! 07/24 read more

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Hot Chicken takeover was a solid lunch option. Located on the second floor of the north market it has plenty of space and seating. I did their classic chicken sandwich with the Nashville hot. Sandwich had good flavor but the piece of chicken on the sandwich was really small for the cost. read more

This place is really good! Exactly what I wanted. It's casual, quick, and delicious! The chicken is really flavorful and the fries are wonderful! I ordered the sliders, heat index warm spice, and a side of ranch which I poured over top the chicken. The ranch is homemade and so yum! The chicken spice was plenty for me, especially with the hot honey, but if you like a lot of spice I'd go a level or so up. It's a little pricey for what it is but you do get a lot of fries (they're a separate cost) and the sliders are a good size. My order came out really quickly. I think I spent $20 after all was said and done. It's located on the SECOND floor of North Market (my first time here so I wasn't sure). It has its own space with tables and chairs, unlike many of the other places in the market. I walked to the market but didn't notice any direct parking specifically for the market itself, so keep that in mind (there may be a garage nearby). Definitely give this place a shot! read more

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It's a bit overrated. The chicken is decent, but not better than Nashville Hot. The macaroni and cheese was good, but not stellar. We loved that it was in the North Market, as we'd never been there before. Hot Chicken Takeover was loud and crowded and not as clean as I'd expect. The service was friendly and the prices were high. read more

Pretty good hot chicken spot. Love the free and unlimited sweet tea. Wish the batter was crispier and a bit more breaded but flavor is there. Also ordered the fried pickles which were good. Overall rating 3.5 read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place has its own dedicated 2nd floor with ample seating, which speaks volumes to the popularity of the place. Fortunately there was no line when I went, and I ordered the 2 pc chicken tenders (warm spicy level which is their most popular) and creamy coleslaw for the side. Even the 2 pc chicken tenders come with the usual white bread and pickles which were fairly standard. You can request for ranch dipping sauce for the tenders which I did, at no additional charge. The chicken tenders were good but the batter is not that thick and flavorful, so the ranch sauce helped carry the chicken tender flavors a lot. The coleslaw is fairly creamy but tasted just like regular coleslaw, which is okay. Make sure to check in on Yelp for $5 off! Value is excellent and food comes out fast, so this is a great meal on the go, but don't expect it to be top notch hot chicken by any means. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Hot chicken tenders (warm), creamy coleslaw - IG @bougiefoodieboi - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Not worth it. Flavorless food. If I had to choose, the best thing had to be the green beans. They didn't even fill the cup though. The mac n cheese was straight trash. Dry, with no flavor at all!!! Didn't even taste like cheese. I remember this place having good macaroni & cheese back in the day. The chicken wasn't great either. It was spicy but lacked any good flavor to make you want to keep eating it. It's price point much more expensive today but not worth it. Letting this place go. Wont be back. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Macaroni n cheese Green beans - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Okay as a pescatarian that misses the chicken nugget fix, this hits the spot. Yes the spice is right, more like a dry rub heat than saucy nuggs. Yes it comes with a piece of white bread and pickle slices. Yes the amount of about six nuggs is a great snack or full meal when added with a salad of something. Yes the price is okay- even better when you have an Uber discount like how we enjoyed them here. I would say that considering they are not real chicken, the price should be less. Oh yes the homemade vegan ranch is a nice touch too! Hats off to the chicken lovers out there. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Vegan hot chicken nuggs - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

As much as I have eaten at Hot Chicken Takeover over the years, I somehow never tried out the "OG" location in the North Market downtown area. For me, there have always been other more unique dining options at North Market to try instead of HCT (there are 2 HCT locations within 5 miles from my home). I finally had the chance to check out the downtown location, and I loved it. The staff here is friendly and accommodating - a hallmark of the staff that work at any of the HCT locations around Columbus. The chicken sandwich comes with 4 slices of bread, pickles, and slaw. It was delicious and very filling (if you complement the sandwich with sides, it can easily be two meals for one person). We also ended up getting the sweet tea (best in town), the baked beans, and the banana pudding. Parking in North Market is a hassle, especially now that North Market no longer has its parking lot. While the restaurant validates parking, I was told by the parking garage attendant that the validation was for $1 only, and I still had to pay $2 for a spot in the Vine St. parking garage. Minor inconvenience, and certainly a first world problem but I just wanted to make others aware. read more

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How can you live in or visit Columbus and NOT hear about or go to Hot Chicken Takeover!? One of Columbus' best and most reputable - especially in the fast casual industry. Specifically went one day to try the collab Unicorn Fries with Late Night Slice, another Columbus staple, and they SLAPPED. You'd think just adding the same seasonings and sauces to waffle fries would make this meal redundant but that was far from the case. Served as the perfect combo alongside one of their quality sandwiches - this place keeps it simple and effective by relying on what they do best - hot chicken. Always been a fan of how quick and easy it is to do takeout from here too - reliable service, multiple locations, and a generally friendly "neighborhood picnic" vibe to every store. Super approachable and very delicious. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Unicorn Fries! And a sammy of course :) - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Very good hot chicken. I didn't pay attention when I ordered the OG Chicken Sandwich and when it came I was shocked to see four pieces of bread. That's not a bad thing, I just didn't pay attention. I was able to deconstruct the sandwich and share with the extra bread. The Mac and cheese was really good. Sweet tea was stay as well. Nice spot upstairs at the North Market. read more

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I was very pleased with my experience at Hot Chicken Takeover. We ordered the Jumbo Tender Sandwich and felt like I got a bang for my buck because it was huge. I tried the normal Southern flavor and enjoyed the tenderness of the chicken. My favorite part was the chipotle slaw that came on the side. We also got the warm OG Sandwich and the spice was very nice--nothing that stung, but enough to add a kick to each bite. I would also recommend their waffle fries with house ranch. I have a severe nut allergy and did not realize the waffle fries may come in contact with nuts (I found this out as I was writing this review) so make sure to ask if you have any dietary concerns. They seem to be good at gluten-free too. I would only take off 1/2 a star since the tables were pretty messy when we went. read more

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Not bad chicken, just not comparable to what you can get in the south. They also mixed up our orders and I received the mild instead of the medium. On the menu it says that the medium is spicier than the normal medium, which may be true in comparison to other local chicken joints, but to me it was less spicy than the average medium in the south. The mild is not spicy at all. That being said, the chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, so it is cooked well. The mac and cheese was ok. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This was my first time eating at hct, cavalli took me and told me how good it was. He was right on the money, being from s east Kentucky I love southern comfort food. I will definitely be going back to try more of their menu. Tiffene's hospitality was spot on and she took very good care of us. Danielle, short north district read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Danielle and Cavalli - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Good fried chicken for the Midwest but after living in the South for a few years, it is sadly not as good as I remember lol definitely recommend getting at least a little bit of spice or else it just doesnt hit right. The side of ranch is nice tho! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Stopped by Hot Chicken Takeover at the North Market Downtown location as they partnered up with the Yelp Gets Hot series Always great to explore new businesses or revisit place that I been to. The menu is pretty simple, just pick your meat, heat level, and sides. I actually never try their chicken sandwich before and they now also offer the jumbo tender sandwich. I got the Jumbo tender sandwich and it is good. When they said jumbo tender, it meant it And the sandwich included two tenders. I can hardly hold on to the sandwich without cutting it in half. The tender itself is super juicy inside with a crispy coating. Along with the pickled onions, slaw, pickle and the creamy chipotle sauce. read more

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I wish this restaurant concept was at our hometown instead of the other one we have. It is night and day difference. I always use yelp, especially when traveling to find the best places to eat and this was one of them. Inside the North Market, they have mostly the upper floor with seating. I had the warm chicken sandwich with mac and cheese. My husband ordered the hot sandwich with baked beans. It was very busy but definitely worth the wait. The chicken was tender and super juicy. Spice level was just right for me. Sides were on point with the mac as my favorite. My only complaint was the bread get soggy fast since the sauce is on it as well and was hard to eat but nothing utensils can't fix. We will be back if we are in the area again read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - SANDWICH SIDE OF MA'S MAC - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Really enjoyed the flavor profile of the hot chicken. Service was fast and friendly. Drumstick had great crunch. My only critique is that I expected more heat for their hottest level...more more a spice rub... read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Hot chicken - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This has been my favorite spot for the past 2.5 years, bought their wings several occasions. It's fresh and the flavor is awesome. But I guess, it's not anymore, in my recent visits, the quality of their wings isn't good, not up to their mark. last time was too salty and yesterday its burnt bad. I'm deciding whether or not if I ever go back?? read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Burnt wings - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I really wanted to like this. Probably deserves a 3.5! Service was great! Food is pricey, hott temperature is legit! And I love it HOTT! Wings were tasty but small. Lemonade was not good. Beans - pass. Ambiance was good, environment relaxed. I'd try it again if I'm in Columbus, again. read more

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We came here twice during our multiple visits to North Market. This is the only restaurant upstairs, so it could be easily missed. Though, judging from how busy it gets, probably not the case. We had the Sliders, the OG Chicken Sandwich, Ma's Mac, Waffle Fries, and the Kale Caesar Salad (not all on the same trip). Everything was excellent! The crispiness of the breading. The spiciness of the hot sauce. The creaminess of the Mac N Cheese. The menu is also reasonably priced (the Yelp check-in offer helps too). The only suggestions I have for them is better Ranch dressing (found it to be bland), and I would prefer sweet potato fries to waffle fries. read more

Pro: price, homemade ranch. Grow: needs a greeter or register person. Everyone works back kitchen. Tip: check in to Yelp for $5 off! I missed that deal, my lunch could have been $5 I was shocked by this deal, $10 for 3 spicy tendies, waffle fries, and a sweet tea! Not sure if these are the typical prices in Ohio but coming from California I was overwhelmed with joy! This restaurant is located on the second floor within the popular North Market. The restaurant is very spacious and you order yourself at the computer. There were no workers to greet me or guide me in the ordering process which did make it a bit awkward. Food: I loved everything! The "hot level" was not hot for me so I had to order the next heat level. The waitress was very nice and brought me the next heat level sauce at no extra charge! The heat level "holy" is perfect for those that enjoy a kick. The house ranch was my favorite! It paired the hot chicken perfectly and was flavorful. The waffle fries were crispy and generous. Sweet tea was delicious and I loved that they also have an unsweetened option, I did 75% unsweetened and 25% sweet. Overall, this was tasty and a great deal! read more

I have been a extremely loyal patron of HCT for years, But I AM DONE !!! Today I got the 2 thighs and a slice of bread, they were about the size of a Silver dollar for just over $9 I AM DONE NEVER AGAIN !!! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - This is supposed to be a Chicken Thigh - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Discovered this place upstairs in the Short North Food Hall. It's been my go to for hot chicken since we have nothing here even close in Dayton. Have since discovered a few other locations where you can just drive up and run in which can be more convenient if you are on the go. Definitely recommend. read more

awesome food! I miss this place! Rhian was a great help- appreciated her kindness today. read more

Biggest juiciest most flavorful tenders I've ever had. This was such a grand slam. Hopefully everyone gets the chance to experience this chicken heaven... read more

Previously went to the Clintonville store but food is not as good as previous. Portions size/quality has gone down, prices went up, there is no ambiance (noisy & spartan seating at best). Service was always hit/miss. New ownership didn't do this place any favors. read more

This place has gone downhill. The positions are smaller but the prices are up. The food taste good but it takes a very long time to get your order. read more

First time in my many trips to Cbus. Fantastic! Had chicken over waffles with hot sauce. Great! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I have nothing but good things to say about Hot Chicken Takeover in the North Market! The food was really good, especially the fries! If you are a pickle lover, trust me and ask for extra pickles! The ranch is also really good but a little runny for what I like! I would also like to mention the service was outstanding! Two employees running the whole store by themselves and still managed to provide fast and excellent service! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Holy chicken tender sandwich - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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45 minute wait The wait caused me to miss a session that I wanted to go to at a conference across the street. Good food but the wait was too much for me. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Lunch special - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is a very dirty location, I couldn't stop looking at the floors & all our food was being served behind a dirty black curtain...the wait took incredibly long for 1 meal, I couldn't believe it. It wasn't busy by any means, it was a Tuesday night. I will not be back at this location or much if any. The prices are very expensive for what you get. I can eat at a restaurant for the same thing. read more

I recently purchased macaroni and cheese from hot chicken takeover and it was the worst macaroni and cheese I've ever bought. Sadly, they used to have very good macaroni and cheese. I won't be back. read more

Staying at a nearby hotel for business, and after driving 5 hours from Erie, PA, I had no intention of going out again. Searching through Yelp and Doordash, I found a tasty-sounding menu at Hot Chicken Takeover. I can't comment on the service beyond "They followed instructions." Ditto, no comment on the ambiance. The food, though, that I can comment on. I ordered chicken tenders, medium spice. It was cooked perfectly, juicy, with just the right amount of spice. YMMV. It came with waffle fries that were hot and crunchy. What I did wrong was to get sucked into ordering fried pickle chips, because I love some good ones. As you might imagine by my tone here, they were not good. They could have been; they were fried nicely. The problem was they were entirely too salty. Inedibly salty for my taste. So order chicken and pass on the pickles. read more

I went to the North Market because I hadn't been for a while. This was my first experience with hot chicken takeover and I'm glad I stopped. I ordered the lil chick meal or the kids meal. It has 1 piece of chicken, bread a side and of course sweet tea. I'm usually not a tea fan but omg this tea was super sweet and refreshing! I even had seconds! Free tea with every meal is quite the offer. Their Mac n cheese was also very tasty, not the best I've had but up there. Their bread was just bread...I didn't eat it. Their chicken! Oh their chicken was crispy and spicy and a very good flavor. I'll be back at some point. :) read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Lil' Chick drumstick hot - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

was in the 'bus for something else and a Yelp search for hot dogs showed "Hot Chicken Takeover" as the first non-sponsered suggestion?!? I took the hamster hint and found myself a few blocks over in a differently sketchy part of town, wandered into the market and followed the signage topside to investigate further. while comparing notes on the menu and the self service terminal a young lady came out to help me decide on how much of what to get for the ride home before settling into a pleasant conversation about finance, bad magics, and the fuzzy bunny. as we're yucking it up the food guy comes out with my sack o' snacks: OG chick-san stupid-hot, a pot of baked beans, plus bañaña pudding... should maybe have asked for it deconstructed for ease of transport - not sure it would have mattered much as the breads didn't get all soaky-wet but did kinda stick to the lid (baby carrots and celery sticks kept me out of the box all the way home.) Sunday morning I had my sandwich straight out of the fridge for breakfast. I was hoping for an eye-opener but was mildly let down since the heat level hovered somewhere between Colonel Salty's and General Tso's... maybe this doesn't travel well or maybe there's just something wrong with me but I was expecting something more lava-ier when I asked for extra-hot. still, nice flavor and texture on the chicken (spicy warmth courtesy of Avery Island, Louisiana) and the baked beans were excellent. my lovely bride snagged the pudding so I can't say one way or the other on that but she was all dreamy eyed making happy sounds... read more

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I love Hot Chicken Takeover. I have been going avidly since attending OSU nearly 10 years ago, and I have always loved not just the food, but the attitude, decor, and vibe of the place. I have recommended HCT to everyone I can think of, I bring friends near constantly when I am in the area. Even now, I live an hour outside the Columbus area, but I make it in at least every other month as I am travelling. For the last couple years, the restaurants have been going downhill. This started post-COVID with the removal of free iced tea. It seems most decisions made since then have been about improving the bottom line and not the customer experience. I frequent the locations north on High street, in the Short North, at Easton, and on Grandview. Same story at every location, food and vibes have been going downhill steadily for years now. Today was my last time visiting a Hot Chicken Takeover. This was my first visit since the rebranding to HCT: Southern Chicken. The food has hit an all time low. The menu is confusing and has lost all the magic of the original. The service is minimal to none. The chicken: I have been getting the original sammie for years now. The breast has been getting smaller in portion over the years, the breading recipe changed a little while ago, but this was all mildly acceptable because you can rationalize small changes over time even if the product is constantly getting worse. Today my sandwich had no more white bread, just a dry bun trying to make up for the height that the meat lacked. The cole slaw was horrible (more on this below), and the "original sauce" added to it doesn't make sense when the chicken is seasoned and sauced by itself. The sides: The sides are now all soulless imitations of what used to make Hot Chicken Takeover great. The highlight of this restaurant used to be the cole slaw. The vinegar slaw recipe was incredible, and something that no other restaurant offered or did as well. Now today I was served a bland GFS mayo slaw that I couldn't pick out of a lineup from any other cafeteria food. This is true of all the sides. The mac and cheese, the slaw, they all have no seasoning and taste like they are bought in frozen food. The portions: While prices have continued to climb, the portions are laughable. The chicken has to be 30% smaller on the sandwich than 5 years ago. The sides and the pudding are maybe 50% full (true on multiple visits recently). The community: A large part of what made HCT great was its inclusiveness. My girlfriend is vegetarian, and we both LOVED this place. The vegan nuggs were great, and I enjoyed ordering them myself from time to time. This place made both meat and plant eaters feel like they could enjoy the same food. Today the new rebranded menu had the vegan nuggs removed. When we asked about them, they told us they still had some, but no vegan ranch. It seems like the vegetarian and vegan options are being pushed out of the way in favor of the new "Southern Chicken" branding. A sad failing of one of the most important aspects of this place. All of these changes have turned a beautiful unique restaurant I loved into a soulless Popeyes knock off. I would rather go to Chick-Fil-A at this point, which breaks my heart to say. I wish I had anything positive to report, but I will be telling my friends that I was wrong and we should look for another local place to fill this void. I hope one day maybe these profit based changes will give way to some of the old charm, but unlikely. read more