Let's be honest - HCT was struggling. Their quality dipped. Their consistency was non-existent. They changed their mac and cheese recipe, lied about it, then said they were changing it back (never admitting they lied). They got rid of free ranch and sweet tea. They replaced people with tablets. Well... it's still tablets over people. I'm pretty sure they're a second-chance employer, still (they have a dead link on their site). Their quality has increased again! Ranch is free! Tea is free! Is the old new again? This was always the location we went to - and it was a sad decline. And no other spot was better. Now - they seem to be back! I feel the service has never changed - it's always been people kicking ass behind the counter/in the kitchen. That's never changed. But clearly the new management brought back quality, that let's me hesitantly say - it's good again. They HAVE expanded the menu a little - more chicken options, a couple more sides. Nothing that "ruins" the experiment but gives more opportunity! I'm happy for "the brand" in the sense that new management recognized the old was killing the brand, and saved it and are expanding it (and it seems with the know-how on proper expansion without stretching, hopefully!) read more

The first time I had Hot Chicken Takeover was at their original downtown North Market location. I remember that it was a revelation at how good fried chicken could be. They've expanded quite a bit since then, and now this location in Clintonville is much more convenient to where I live/work. It's also nice that this location has a drive-thru pick up window. The chicken is still great, and being able to order ahead on their app has been very nice. I've had to wait longer than I'd prefer for food before the app, but that aspect of service is now resolved thanks to the app! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Chicken strips lunch combo - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

What happened to this location? Used to be a go to for our family in particular my kids. Did ownership change? Did management change? Over expansion? Chicken sandwich was a huge disappointment tonight for my kid. Looked like a small chicken nugget patty cooked in the microwave. In addition, do yourself a favor and avoid their attempt at a fry pie. All breading (very little filling) soaked in terrible tasting grease. It was so terrible my family tossed it in the trash immediately. Whoever is trying to make these needs to head over to Wieland's market and try a fry pie from there, then you will have a better idea on how to make these. Worst take out experience my family has had in Columbus since the lockdown Covid days. I would avoid this location until they hopefully get back to they way they once were. Much better options around the Clintonville area. Still trying to wash the nasty grease filled pastry from our mouths. Do better! read more

We hardly ever go to HCT anymore. It used to be the place, perhaps the restaurant we went to most often. Then they sold, and it's been downhill ever since. Smaller portions. Higher prices. Lower quality. We now go once or twice a year, to various locations, when it used to be once or twice a month (or more.) This location was the closest to us maybe, and, bonus for new parents, has a drive-through. Happened to be nearby today, walked in at lunchtime, other places nearby packed, this was almost empty. And while I do usually try to go at off times, I can't say I've seen a crowd at any HCT in years. Oh, before we walked in, I tried to order online. Things have changed: the ordering process, and some menu items. I saw collards which we both like, but Sweetie said "as bad as they messed up the mac, I don't even want to try the collards." Sweet tea is no longer free. They got rid of cold and baby heat levels; now they're mild and Southern- I guess? Are they direct replacements? Who knows? You're going to call the blandest one Southern? Interesting. And the higher levels still include warm and hot, so why the change? Unnecessary and confusing. Went through the whole ordering process, which was a pain, tried to check out, and: no guest option. You have to sign in or sign up. For all I know I already have an account, but we go so seldom that I have no idea what the login info is. And why force people to log in to buy food? By this time we were almost there, and just walked in to pick up mac for K, and went elsewhere for lunch for the grownups- there are several great options in these strips. HCT lost a $50 sale because they want to make it time-consuming and difficult to order online. And because we hardly even want to come in the first place since they have gone so far downhill. It was fun while it lasted. Edit: I note that the owner is no longer Joe, the founder, a great guy, though his name is still at the top on this review page. And I note that there aren't many recent reviews, and those average way lower than the ones from 6-8 years ago. Sort by newest and see what I mean. It's not just me. And it's not just this location. It's the new ownership, and the expansion maybe. read more

We've been eating HCT since that first little window on the near east side. We were early investors. I heard that Joe sold the business recently. We just ordered what we've always ordered. The chicken wings were burned. They tasted terrible. The Mac and cheese and slaw are completely different now. The slaw is creamy with onions. After 10 years, it seems all the flavor and uniqueness have been beaten out of HCT by the owners of Jimmy Johns. If you are an original fan, save your money. It's not worth it anymore. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Completely burned wings. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Tiny piece of chicken was my meal. How can they give this to a customer thinking it's ok? Lol

TO THE NEW OWNERS OF HOT CHICKEN TAKEOVER - if you don't fix the customer + operating issues at this location, you'll destroy the value you paid for... seriously... If this is how you're now running all HCT locations, I bet your numbers are down and you're wondering "gee... what happened...?!?". As background - I'm a Hot Chicken Takeover devotee. I've been a raving fan for years. I stood in long lines at North Market many times, just to be told "I'm sorry, we're sold out of this and that". I'd always change my order to whatever they had left, and didn't mind, because the service was friendly and the food was fantastic. I've been to this Clintonville location many times, and had good experiences. Fast forward to today. Walked in 12:15pm on Saturday - silent restaurant, only 2- two-tops occupied. The rest of the cavernous restaurant was empty. Walked to the counter, and the tall man behind the counter literally turned his back on me so he didn't have to speak to me and I didn't ask if I could place my order with him. Seriously, folks, I'm trying to give you my money... I wanted to buy an extra drumstick with my sandwich - you know, spend more money at this for-profit establishment - but all I got was a 6'3" back turned to me, so no extra drumstick. We spent 10 minutes figuring out the awful self-ordering system, and finally got the order placed. I say the self-ordering system awful because I cannot fathom why I can only order waffle fries with the combo?!? Why do I have to order all other sides at à la cart pricing, and back up in the system to first order the sandwich a la carte if I want Mac & Cheese instead of waffle fries ...?!? I think the sides are all the same price, so this was really dumb and annoying. Let me be clear - we've been at the counter for at least 10 minutes - and no "hello" or "welcome to Hot Chicken Takeover" whatsoever - not a single word. The man behind the counter deliberately avoided speaking to us. And I watched the same "turn your back" behavior to other customers who came in after us. If the new owners are telling staff to FORCE customers to use the self-ordering system, it's definitely working, but it's a shitty customer experience. We placed the order, sat, and the order eventually came out. He handed the tray to me, again wordlessly, no smile, no nothing. I said "thank you", he said nothing in return. Bizarre experience. When I walked in, I was struck by how empty and silent the place was. I also noted the sign celebrating "ranch dressing and tea ARE FREE AGAIN...!" Oh, goodie, the new owners are messing with the model trying to make their money back faster. Bad move for a concept with a long history of raving fans. Ask Chipotle how that's working out for them these days (it's not!). Seriously. I tasted my mild chicken sandwich, and it had zero spice. Not mildly spiced, zero spice. I think they gave me "Southern", which is spice-less, not Mild. Or they've dialed back every spice level one notch, again, dumb move. So I went back to the counter and told him my Mild had no spice, and asked politely for some Medium sauce. He wordlessly turned around and walked away from me, spent 5 minutes (while I stood there) getting an order ready for the drive-through, then finally leaned through the kitchen window and spoke to the guy in the back about my Medium sauce. Oh, OK, he speaks. He then prepped another drive-through order while my Medium sauce sat at the pass, and I'm standing there, delivers the drive-through order, then eventually hands me the Medium sauce. I say thank you, and he mumbled one word to me. Let's get this straight - MY ORDER WAS WRONG. That's not how the Mild sandwich usually tastes - I've probably eaten 50 of them. But I was treated like an inconvenience, and made to stand there like a petulant child for more than 5 minutes while the drive-through customers were prioritized over my wrong order. Not cool. New owners - if you want only 2 tables during prime-time Saturday lunch, good luck with that. If you want formerly raving fans who now think you've ruined the model - good luck with that. But my sandwich - an under-spiced half chicken breast in 4 slices of white bread - was like $14 bucks a la carte. That's definitely a premium price, and this was definitely not a premium customer experience. I would've gotten friendlier service at Rally's, and they would have gotten my order right, and they're a hell of a lot cheaper. This WAS NOT the customer experience I'm accustomed to at HCT, and although the sandwich - after I waited 5+ minutes for Medium sauce - was tasty. But I hear there are new hot chicken places in this town. I may give HCT one more chance, but if the experience repeats, I'm trying their competitors. Or maybe I'll just put together an investor group to bankroll Joe Deloss buying back the wrecked brand, at a huge discount. Ask Jim Grote at Donatos how that worked out for him (pretty damn well!). So so so so disappointed... read more

This is almost purely a banana pudding review. It looks the same, smells the same, but WOW, is it awful. Gritty texture and the Nilla wafer topping is just BAD. It's missing its sweetness and saltiness. Sandwiches have gone downhill. It's sad read more

I discovered Hot Chicken Takeover on my last day in Columbus and I am super sad I only got to eat it once because it was SO good. I think maybe my favorite thing I ate while I was visiting! The spice level was appropriate for what I chose, the chicken was perfectly crispy, and it was not overly salty like you get in Nashville. I wish there was one in New York. Definitely recommend for the spicy food lovers out there. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Chicken nuggets! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Sadly gone to the dogs since the new owners. The mac and cheese was so bad we threw it out. The slaw was mediocre and the chicken was pretty dry and a bit burnt. We're never going back. read more

Holy. Hell. I'm a long term fan of HCT- and was thrilled to be back in columbus and treat my family to a great meal. Little did I know, this place is NOT the HCT I remembered. Gone are the days of homemade Mac and cheese, large portions, even... flavor?! The quality of this restaurant has tanked. Paying the same prices, I expected my Mac and cheese to contain... cheese? Nope, no cheese here- just the most bland plastic box mix you could imagine. Skip HCT- visit warios next door for a meal with a company that isn't plummeting in quality. To Joe and the former HCT team, we miss you! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Mac and "cheese" - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Fiery poops anyone? Hot chicken takeover is an established chicken spot that offers great Nashville style hot chicken. Come to think of it, it might be the only Nashville hot chicken place in town. They recently offered the unholy spice level to their chicken that by golly raised the bar on what is spicy. I come from a culture that adds chilli to every meal even when it might not be the best fit and even I am sweating, and happy crying at the end of it. One of the must have winter foods in my opinion. Just make sure you have access to a good bathroom the day after if you know what I mean Besides their chicken, something that I like about hct is how they support inmates by hiring them. I've always enjoyed their warm service whenever I go there and so how much they care about their staff really shows them in that aspect. read more

Pro's: -perfectly mixed sweet tea -yummy crispy chicken. I accidentally went too hot and suffered through it (user error) but was pleasantly surprised that my stomach didn't bother me later -pickles helped me cut the heat -excellent sides. Fries were on point. Mac and cheese not too bad -we came at the perfect time with no line -easy to use order system where you ring up yourself Con's: -I tried really hard but I can't think of anything bad to say I ordered 2 thighs but would have gotten the sandwich instead in hindsight. Would choose fries over Mac and cheese, which is rare for me. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - 2 thighs, hot - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Really surprised and disappointed with the changes to the recipes of the chicken and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese tasted really goopy and bland, the green beans were too salty and the chicken was meh. Such a bummer because I used to love Hot Chicken Takeover. Hot Southern Chicken not so much. I hope they still at least have the same conscience as the old company when it comes to corporate practices. read more

Great location off High St in Clintonville. Two parking lots available. One in the rear and one one the end. Be aware that it's right turn only on to High St from the parking lots. For those from out of town, like us, the menu has changed. All food is ala cart. No more meals unless you order a kids meal. We each ordered our choice of chicken (thighs, drum sticks, wings, or breast). Sides are extra now, but still taste delicious. I love their coleslaw with about half a container of ranch dressing. Perfect. Find a seat at a short table. Only four stools per table now. Oh well. We chose two tables side by side so our party of eight could some what be together. No more fill your own tea or ranch dressing. They do it for you. It's still complimentary. Loved our meals. HCT is still a family favorite whenever we are in town. Decided to finish with their banana bread pudding. First cup they served me was very runny in the bottom. So they replaced it with two more. But by the time they found some more, our party was ready to leave so I ate it later. The crumb topping is not Nilla Wafers (too bad, those are so good). The cream and pudding were firm this time, but where are the banana slices? How is this banana pudding if there isn't any bananas? Maybe they changed their recipe. They shouldn't have. The original was delicious. read more

Where to even begin. I'm leaving 1 star because I can't leave 0. This business has turned into utter trash. When they opened I was genuinely a raging fan. I have put up with steady decline for years but I'm not kidding when I say that I've finally reached the point of no return. I've had a number of poor experiences in the past but for the sake of length will only write about the most recent two. I ordered here a couple months ago, later towards closing and by the time I picked up, drove home to open the bag and realize half my order was missing the store had closed for the night. No opportunity to have the issue resolved. Ordered take out again tonight to arrive home and find this (see picture). Anyone who has had the food here before can see the obvious problem. Completely overcooked the chicken. I tried to eat a piece but it is honestly not worth the calorie intake. My next complaint is that they have recently changed the recipe to the Mac and cheese. It is now macaroni and yellow number 5 food dye sauce instead of Mac and cheese. To top off my complaints the prices are outrageous. Long gone are the days of "our tea is free and always will be". It really should not cost 45 dollars for the same two meals that cost 25 dollars 5 years ago. I know inflation is a thing but costs have not truly doubled. In my mind there are two ways a business can adapt, raise prices or reduce quality, but you don't get to do both. Some general final thoughts, HCT prides themselves on being a fair chance employer which is all well and good, but if you're lacking competent supervision then what's the point? Clearly no one cares about the standards of food or service. It's clear to me that the HCT decision makers care about everyone but the customers. This is for sure my last meal from HCT and I don't even get to eat it. I'm not exaggerating when I say you can buy a better chicken dinner from common fast food chains like KFC for a quarter of the price. I will be moderately surprised if this restaurant chain exists in a decade. If anyone at HCT reads this and cares, my order number for tonight was #29895724606980097 read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Drumsticks - Warm - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Treated myself to Mild chicken wings, Mac and cheese, and tea for lunch. I highly recommend starting with mild before trying hot (or do half and half). Cause hot is indeed HOT. Tea is free and you can get unlimited refills! Parking: there's plenty of shared business parking spots behind the restaurant. Ambience: indoor and outdoor seating available. There's also a drive-thru to pickup orders. Service: good service! Quality: the best chicken place I've tried in columbus! Covid precautions: face mask upon entry. And seating is appropriately distanced. Price: $$ read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Mild chicken wings, Ma's Mac and Cheese, and Ma's Sweet Tea - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

gas food, free sweet tea. Ya'll don't miss Ig I gotta write more words. Jduebsosbdidnd read more

It really seems like people are half and half on Hot Chicken Takeover, either you love it and come here a lot or you are like me and think it is overrated. I will recognize what I did like; the ranch is top tier and that Mac & Cheese is heavenly. I may come back just for that. The chicken, however, was disappointing. The breading style just wasn't for me, it is one layer of flake that is thin and barely any flavor. I'm a true wuss when it comes to true hot chicken levels, so I tried the cool and warm and realized this is not like nashville hot chicken. The warm had no heat at all. I tried the hot from my partner and that was better but still lacked some flavor in general. I'd rather go to Dave's Hot Chicken if I'm being honest. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Tenders and Mac & Cheese - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

HCT is a Columbus staple. Their chicken is amazing and they make the best ranch sauce. And free sweet tea with every meal! I really like their new order set up. It used to be that you'd pick your chicken and it came with 2 sides. Honestly, it's a lot of food and I always ended up with some left overs (not complaining). But it's a tad pricy that way. Now it's more a la cart and you can add on the sides if you want to! Helps make it a little more budget friendly and I can just get what I'll actually eat! They have closed their dining room due to COVID but seem to have their pickup process down pat. You can go inside to order or order ahead and pick up through the drive-thru. Inside, there is hand sanitizer galore and circles on the floor to keep everyone distanced. I think you can eat out on their patio area though when it's warmer or if you just want to brave the cold. read more

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I travel to the Columbus area a few times a year and wanted something different than the typical red meat offerings. I love Nashville hot chicken and this place had good reviews. While my hotel was near the university. I actually needed a place that had parking. I realized I had come to this place once a year or so earlier. I ordered two hot drumsticks and two warm drumsticks. I started with the warm, which had plenty of flavor. Worked my way up to the hot, which provided the kick I needed. Also got the baked beans. Everything was freshly prepared to perfection. The chicken had the perfect amount of crunch on the crust. Service was excellent. Craig was friendly and checked on me to make sure I was fine. I will definitely return on my next visit in July. read more

First off - you MUST order and pay using the self serve kiosk. Service was ONE-STAR - at best. The gal working the counter was severely lacking in the personality department. Customers needing assistance had trouble getting her attention. As for the food. The hot chicken was excellent. Served on double slices (4) of white bread with Cole slaw (adequate) and a pickle - it was very good. The fries were warm (not hot), limp and soggy - a real disappointment. Overall - the hot chicken was excellent but the fries were disappointing and the service was poor. Not inspired to come back for more. read more

Everyone who works here is super nice. I am not a tenders girl but the white meat here hits different. Juicy and the flavor was next level. We fully inhaled the food. Edit: We liked it so much we got more food in the same sitting. The thighs...with the holy s*#t level spice....god tier. And the prices were right. Edit 2: FR, the best fried chicken I've ever had. Korean fried chicken does not compare, and I'm Korean. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Bomb COMBO BASKET COMBO BASKET HOUSE FRIES SIDE OF MA'S SLAW MA'S SWEET TEA (CUP) - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Mid. Go to Popeyes. First off who doesn't offer on the bone chicken thighs or breasts, weird, & why can't I get a 2 piece meal. Chicken was dry & not very crispy, oxymoron. The Mac & cheese use to be so good, but sadly it was also dry & flavorless. Overall not the place it used to be to be. read more

Firstly, I got food poisoning from the food. The service was I guess okay. The ambiance is uh small and a little small. I don't recommend. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Ghost pepper chicken -burnt my mouth- - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

First time trying hot chicken takeovers. Food took over 45 minutes. Ok no big deal, but then why did it say 15 minutes when I ordered? Wasn't even busy. Wasted 30 minutes sitting in your hot and humid chicken joint for bland chicken. Sticky tables and bad music while I waited made the experience worse. At no point while me and a few unfortunate door dash drivers waited for their meals did anyone even acknowledge us. For long stretches of time no one was even behind the counter. read more

We were in the neighborhood exploring Overbrook Ravine and decided to pick up a late lunch at Hot Chicken Takeover. They have a drive up window for pick up, if you'd prefer not to go inside. They have hand sanitizer available for customers and are following COVID-19 safety precautions. There are a few tables outside with limited seating available. The food is always good. You can choose your chicken heat level. I went with the hot bone-in breast with a side of their slaw (vinegar-based). Even waiting over 20 minutes to eat at home, it was still crispy and delicious. Be warned, the hot truly is hot (clear out your sinuses hot). My husband and stepson both got the sandwich (double bread, boneless breast, slaw, & pickles). So good. We picked up one banana pudding to split between the three of us, so just a taste. It's light and delicious. The crumbles on top of the banana pudding were still crunchy, a light sweet finish to a spicy meal. They say you receive iced tea and ranch with every meal. We didn't receive ranch, so I didn't give them 5 stars, but otherwise would have. Staff is friendly and welcoming. A great place for a meal & you're supporting local! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This has been on of my favorite places in columbus for a while. I haven't found better hot chicken in columbus! The staff are always incredible as well. Make sure to get the sweet tea because it is worth every calorie haha. The ranch is amazing as well. If you are in columbus and haven't tried this place yet, go now. I promise you won't regret it!!! read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This place came highly recommended by locals. It's definitely a 5 out of five for price, quality and service. Food came out quick and was easy to order. Yes got the thigh meal in HOT. My friend got the mild, it was real lame. Don't get mild it's not worth the title of 'hot chicken'. I also had the Cole slaw which is a nice change of pace because it had no Mayo. I also had the beans which were sweet and spicy. I'd recommend. All in all, go to this place for lunch at f your in the area it's awsome read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Chicken thighs and Cole slaw - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've had disappointing extra greasy fried chicken the past couple of times so I went in here with lower expectations but boy did they deliver! The most perfect hot fried chicken breast with the most fantastic slaw and Mac and cheese. They also give free iced teas with every meal. Definitely worth trying it out if you're in the area read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Boneless Ma's Mac and Cheese Ranch Ma's Slaw - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

If you're tired of ordering spicy food and it's bland and an 8 year old can eat it with no problem, then head to Hot Chicken Takeover. It's not quite Nashville Hot as far as flavor with the greasy oily peppery goodness, but the crispy crust packs a nice bit of heat. I did a mix of Warm and Hot and the difference was subtle at first, but it started to kick in after a few bites. The sandwich also looked amazing with a nice big breast. 4 slices of bread may be a bit much though. It was a sandwich in a sandwich. The Mac N Cheese was delicious and pairs nicely with the chicken. The Cole slaw is vinegar based but with unlimited ranch dressing, you can make it creamy! Excellent Ranch BTW. I wish they had a salad just for using the Ranch. Also, you get unlimited sweet and unsweet tea with your meal, and you'll probably need it too. The staff is super friendly and can answer your questions on heat level. Park in the decent sized lot in the back. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - 3 Warm and One Hot Drum. Finally some real spice! - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Stopped in and got a sandwich to go. Just wasn't impressed. It wasn't bad but wasn't good, if that makes any sense. The service was good and the inside of the restaurant is clean and nice. I just didn't love the chicken. I got the hottest sauce they had and really liked it but the chicken was off a little for me. Would give another shot though, just to try again read more

It might be cold outside, but it's hot in here. Josh has a very warm and friendly smile. He has great customer service and really makes you feel welcome. Perfectly cooked wings. Finally the warm spice has a bit of heat again. Delicious! Did you know you can add spice to your Mac and cheese? I tried it warm tonight and it took it to a new level. As always, Complimentary sweet tea and ranch keeps us locals happy. And ending your meal with a banana pudding is a must! Keep doing what you do! read more

I was so excited to try this place out, I think I built it up to much in my head. It's been on my short list of places to try in Columbus as it seems to be a popular local hot spot, and gets fabulous reviews. So, to say I was excited to eat here was an understatement. Walking in, the place was dead on a Saturday night. How was this possible? Mike G and I reviewed the menu and I wasn't sure what to get. They don't have "combos" here which surprised me. It's entirely a la carte. Fine, I can live with that since their prices are reasonable. Since I wasn't starving, I went with the kids meal. This included 3 drumsticks and 1 side. I went with the baked beans since those tend to be pretty reliable for a side. I guess a "normal" portion is a set of 4. $ drumsticks, 4 thighs, etc. I probably could have polished off a set of 4, but since I'm traveling, taking home leftovers isn't an option right now. They have free sweet tea or you can purchase bottled pop for a few extra bucks. I stuck with the sweet tea, but it was WAY TO SWEET. I mean, they really over did it on the sugar. It didn't taste bad, but all I could taste was the enormous amounts of sugar. I would have rather sweetened it myself. Anyway, the chicken itself was good and tasty, but nothing life changing. Also, I didn't notice any condiments on the table. No hot sauce or anything, just napkins. Fine. I can live with that. I was to tired to ask, and the food was fine without it. Anyway, I did enjoy my time here but did leave disappointed. Overall, the place isn't half bad, but I have had better fried chicken from Gus's here in Detroit. I generally don't eat a lot of fried chicken for some reason, and even though the food was good, I wasn't overly impressed. At least I got to check the place out! read more

Fantastic. I'm a wimp and went with the mild and still broke out in a sweat. Wasn't very spicy but enough to trigger a reaction. The Mac and cheese and baked beans were great, perfect addition to the chicken sandwich. Reasonably priced and the service was great. read more

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Treated my friend to lunch for his birthday! I told the workers and they were super nice and gave him a free pudding! The chicken came with bread, ranch and the option of a tea! It was filling and tasty. There was an outside bench area and inside area to sit. Prices were very reasonable from $8-10 read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I called ahead to ask "how spicy are we talking? Do you have any spice free options?" I explained my husband cannot have any spice, he has a severe reaction called a laryngospasm where he can't breathe for several minutes. They assured me the Classic chicken was mild as well as the honey barbecue. I should have taste tested before purchasing a $20 meal of 3 pieces of chilcken, fries and corn bread. Thank god he wasn't driving while eating, we would have crashed. He started coughing and had a full blown episode where he couldn't breathe. Just a warning, the 'mild' Classic is very spicy. I would not be so upset had I not called and verbally reassured it was not spicy when it was indeed, spicy as heck. $20 down the drain. read more

Hot Chicken Takeover - "Mild" Classic Chicken. Not mild, people. - Southern Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I love the convenience of ordering online and picking up my meal at the drive-through. That is such a great convenience for this Clintonville location. Last night I picked up dinner for my boyfriend and myself, and we each ordered the chicken sandwich (his the hottest you can get, while mine was the warm version), and we each also ordered a couple sides of ranch, a side of baked beans, mac and cheese, and banana pudding for dessert. I love the crisp on the chicken; it gets perfectly crunchy on the outside while staying moist inside. By ordering the sandwich, it comes with coleslaw on it which is nice so I don't have to order coleslaw as a separate side. Then, when it comes to the bakes beans and mac and cheese sides, I end up mixing the two together. Since the baked beans have a liiiiittle spice to them, it helps add a little spice to the mac and cheese and makes everything super creamy with the sauce from the baked beans. read more

Whenever anyone visits us, they always want to go to HCT! My favorites: the vegan nuggs or original sandwich. The ranch is so good I put it on everything. The new waffle fries are awesome and sooooo crispy. Don't forget to order a banana pudding read more

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

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My wife and I have been going to HCT since it was a window on Ohio Ave. We even donated to the GoFundMe when Joe was trying to expand. We've gone to multiple locations but Clintonville is our favorite. The two stars are for the people who work there otherwise it would have been one. When we get the five grandkids in the summer for the week HCT is one place they love to go. Unfortunately the trip I'm reviewing will be our last. The food was dry and tasteless. The fries were crinkly cut rather than the much better waffle fries and the slaw went mayo based rather than vinegar that goes so much better with the chicken. What a shame. read more