We were passing by around dinner time after running an errand and hubby suggested we check them out. Great suggestion! Nice open space and a patio for sitting outside. The cashier was helpful once I asked her what she recommended and what was popular. Hubby was interested in the Bbq chicken sandwich special they were advertising so he got that. They were out of wings which is probably what I would've gotten but also I was thinking about tenders. I ended up getting nuggz with the Hot heat level and a side of Mac & cheese. Hub got Ella's Fav heat level because he can't hang with the heat. He chose fries for his side. He got bbq for his sauce and I ordered ranch(of course) and pimento ranchero to try. The chicken is delicious-crispy, juicy and just spicy enough to let me know I'm alive! The sauces were also good although the pimento didn't really have that pimento cheese color or flavor I was expecting but it was still good. The Mac & cheese needs salt and a little more creaminess but it wasn't terrible. Hubby loved his sandwich and fries(I helped him eat those). Overall, 8/10-we'll definitely be back! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Nuggets, Mac, ranch and pimento ranchero - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Finally got the chance to try Joella's Hot Chicken and wow... this chicken left no crumbs. We sampled every heat level -- fair warning: "Fire in the Hole" is no joke. You'll definitely want a drink (and some ranch) on standby. I've struggled to find truly good chicken and waffles around here, but this spot absolutely delivers. The flavors were next level -- easily beating out other local chicken spots. You really can't top the taste, the experience, or the staff. From the moment we walked in, the team was so welcoming and made it feel like home. The vibes were fun, the food was incredible, and I totally get the "Best Fried Chicken" hype. Highly recommend checking it out! read more

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I'll just lay it to you straight: Get the chicken. The chicken is delicious and comes in multiple heat levels that start at Southern (no heat) and go all the way up to Fire-In Da-Hole, which you have to sign a waiver to eat. I like the chicken tenders all by themselves, but you can get the chicken in nuggets, in a sandwich, in sliders and other things (with a waffle!). There are half a dozen different sauces to dip your chicken in, too. But, you know, I'm a classic girl and like the regular barbecue sauce. The sides? The sides are OK. If you like pickles, you might like the fried pickles here. They are decent, and this is coming from someone who doesn't enjoy those vile vinegary vegetables. The coleslaw is a sweet vinegar slaw, which is more like a bunch of vegetables roughly chopped and tossed in a sweet vinegary sauce. The banana pudding is OK, too. It tastes a bit much like artificial banana, which I surprisingly like the smell of, but the taste is not my favorite. The banana pudding doesn't come with whipped cream, which I feel should be standard, but it does have Nilla Wafers that are nice and soft and cakey in it. The people who I've interacted with at this Joella's location in Carmel are friendly and helpful. That's a bonus. read more

I attended the recent Yelp Elite Event at Joella's Hot Chicken and was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful their original chicken is. You almost always hear about that other chicken place (the one that's closed on Sunday) and how they hold the spot for most juicy and flavorful, but I'm thinking that they have some serious competition in Joella's. I'm not a big fried chicken eater, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor/juiciness/crispiness ratio. Their chicken is well- balanced in that manner. The portion sizes were insane as well. Loved the fried pickles too, which I normally would not have tried. The manager was super nice and made us all feel very welcomed. Her team took great care of us. The location is very bright and welcoming as well. Unfortunately, one side of our booth seat had a leak directly over it. It was pretty noticeable, but wasn't marked or labeled to warn folks not to sit there. read more

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Ordered the big sandwich with coleslaw on top. The flavor was good, but I literally almost broke my tooth a few times because each bite was a bone! Small ones, big ones, just too many. I even broke off a piece of my sandwich to give to my son since his meal had one small tender, and it hurt his braces. Couldn't enjoy any of it because I was scared I may choke on a bone sadly to say.... read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We have eaten at this location over 20 times over several years. The store is always clean, the counter staff is always polite, professional and efficient. Food is always properly prepared and hot when it arrives. The Alabama sauce is off of the menu but if you ask, they have it. Other locations often don't, so kudos to the Westfield manager. Glad they have Coke products. I wish they had for warmer weather is covered outside seating. We look for shady outside seating and frequent those restaurants. Umbrellas seldom work for everyone. Also wish they had a path from the sidewalk to the restaurant for easier access for bicycles. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Chicken strips and fried pickles. Dug in and realized I needed to take a picture. - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Food quality is very good and flavorful and went you put that together with great service it's a win win. Very convenient location and I like that they have booths and tables for comfort. Very clean lobby and restrooms. read more

24 hour brined chicken keeps it moist. You can have it breaded or grilled and choose your heat level from 0 to Ghost Pepper and 6 in between plus the 'Fire in the Hole' sauce for which you have to sign a waiver absolving the restaurant and its staff of responsibility. That sounds pretty serious. I tried it and got the recognition card - but frankly it wasn't all that hot for hot pepper lovers. On the other hand, too hot to enjoy the flavor of the chicken. I got the grilled, no heat for Tami with a side of creamy Mac & Cheese (her love language) and a tastefully delightful Banana Pudding dessert. She was very pleased with all. read more

Food was very quick and delicious . Katelynn was extremely helpful with picking my meal and it did not disappoint . Overall great staff and clean store read more

Wow, I'm so impressed. I was in the area and looking for something quick to grab and take home. I love that the spice levels and sauce is customizable. I got two chicken sandwiches and two sides. The chicken sandwiches were SO juicy and the flavor was *chef's kiss*. I did medium heat but I definitely could have ordered a spice level or two higher. It only took 2-3 mins to get my order. I can't wait to try more items from the menu! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Ordered tenders and big pimento sandwich. The sandwich had undercooked chicken and some completely raw spots. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Big Pimento - Undercooked chicken. - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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This was a huge let down. I used to get lots of DoorDash orders here so I figured I'd try it out. The chicken tenders are extremely mid, there's no crunch they're just super soggy. Chicken was tough too. Their fries are good but that's about it. Not worth $15. Absolute waste read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Loved the big portion. Great for sharing with family or friends. Amazing sides. The Mac and Cheese is perfect! Crispy tenders. Great sauce selection. They also have fun soda drinks! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Tenders, Bread, Green Beans, Quart - Mac & Cheese - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

We were craving some fried chicken and decided to stop at Joella's hot chicken in Carmel. They're a walk in restaurant only, they do not offer a drive-through. However, it is well worth your time. The service was good and prompt. The food came out, hot, tender, and juicy. It was a big win with my family. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Wanted to try this place for a while. We got the food to go so no feedback on inside. Chicken sandwich was just okay, wasn't a great flavor. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Hot chicken sandwich - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I was craving fried chicken and I found this place was a Yelp favorite and I can see why. I ordered their fried chicken plate and had coleslaw and mac and cheese for the sides. I enjoyed everything on my plate but the mac and cheese was the standout. There were many heat / spicy options for the chicken and I chose one that was less spicy but I may turn up the heat a little on the next visit as mine could have definitely had a bit more spice. Great fried chicken and I will be heading back soon! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Chicken thighs and Mac and cheese! - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I've been to Joella's in Broad Ripple many times, but never the Carmel location. I had a great experience, including quality service and food. They were very speedy. We ordered and received our food in under 10 minutes. The facility was very clean. I highly recommend the lunch special. You get jumbo tenders, a dipping sauce, a side, and a drink for $8. Everything I've tried off the menu has been delicious. Never disappointed with the experience at Joella's! read more

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I have had Joella's on my list to try for a while. I just happens to be in the area and just happened to be hungry so I thought, why not? Their menu is straight and to the point but still has variety. I got the chicken sandwich with Ella's fav sauce. The sauce was AMAZING and the chicken was cooked to perfection. I want to go back just to try their different sauces. I think what would've made my sandwich better was if I got all of the toppings on it like coleslaw and onions. I think their fries were pretty good. I love a crispy fry. I think some sort of seasoning on the fries would've made them even better. We ordered inside and got it to-go. It was pretty quick. I would say it took 10 minutes max but maybe a little less. I'm a chick-fil-a sandwich girl through and through but I really enjoyed this sandwich from Joella's. So I think next time I am craving a chicken sandwich, I'll stop here again. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

What a wonderful surprise this WISE! My friend recommended we head over here for a business meeting, and I was surprised to find a varied menu for a chicken-focused restaurant. Crystal took our order and gave us a run-through on the different options that we had to eat, along with different options for the sauces and their temperatures/spice/heat levels. That way, we could each pick something right for our taste buds. The food came out promptly and was really, really good, and I will definitely be back! This place is different enough to give you a break from some of the normal restaurant options, but it has some unique twists that make it a lot of fun. I look forward to the next meal or business meeting that lands us at Joella' read more

My husband really loves Joella's chicken! They are limited on vegetarian options, they have a vegan chicken that's pretty tasty. They have the best sides, their Parm Garlic Fries are definitely one of my favorites. They make your food fresh to order, so there is a little wait. If you order via their website, you are in and out for takeout with no wait. I like the restaurant. It's always clean, people are friendly and service is good. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - 2 Jumbo Thighs - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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I'm a fan of Joella's Hot Chicken. This location offered great and friendly service, tasty chicken and a comfortable dining room. The food came out quickly on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered the chicken tenders, tweener heat with Jojo's sauce and fries. The chicken was tender, juicy and flavorful with perfect heat. The fries were crispy and hot. You can get the chicken grilled or fried. There is an outdoor patio and lots of indoor seating. They have a weekday lunch special for $9.99 of tenders, a side and drink. read more

We were excited when we heard that they offered a vegan "chicken" option! So we headed over and ordered the vegan chicken meal with fries and vegan coleslaw. When they brought it out, we looked at the vegan chicken and it looked like a dry, un-deep fried patty of vegetable smoosh. That's exactly how it tasted. For a restaurant specializing in deep fried, battered items, the vegan chicken was super disappointing. It's like they decided that they didn't know how to dredge and fry a vegetable patty. Milk (plant based), flour, seasoning, fake egg (just egg), or simply no egg at all. For sure it tasted absolutely no bueno. We even smothered it with the sweet and hot sauce. No no and no. I threw mine away. The vegan coleslaw and fries were good! $30 for 2 plates and a drink, not again. Try better to fry things, Joella's! :/ read more

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First time dinner, long time passer by. My wife and I wanted something different for lunch so we stopped in Joella's. We both got the three piece chicken tenders with one side. I got green beans which were, meh and my wife got the garlic parmesan fries. Their fries are thin cut so they don't carry the garlic or parmesan cheese well. Get the regular fries. I inquired on the heat levels and was told their hot is like a Frank's hot sauce, which I don't find too hot and typically chains play it safe with heat levels, so I ordered the Fire in da Hole. There was no playing it safe here. This was hot, hot, hot. Eyes watering, sinuses draining, hot. No hiccups though. The heat is a slow build that keeps on building and then it builds some more and then even more. The heat's legit and overpowering, perhaps too overpowering with no gimmicky name on the wall or t-shirt at the end. My wife had Ella's Favorite and said it wasn't spicy at all. They serve Boylan Craft Soda from fountain. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Jumbo Tenders with Fire in da hole sauce. - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

First of all, the ranch is fire. It's hard to find good ranch but damn y'all do it right. On top of that, it is just nice to have a very flavorful dry rub chicken sandwich. The only issue is slower service around peak hours, but that's what ya get with good grub!! read more

The food was quick and the worker behind the counter was so nice and insightful. She was very patient with me when I said I had no clue what to order and gave me some suggestions. I ended up with the chicken tenders with the hot flavoring and the pimento ranchero sauce. For sides I got Mac and cheese and the fries. The hot chicken with the hot flavor was spicy but not like burn your mouth off. It was just a lovely hot flavor. The tenders are huge so honestly I could only eat one and saved the other for later. The pimento ranchero sauce was kinda meh, the ranch dressing was much better and very good. The fries were okay, they're shoe string but are really crunchy kind of like double fried with seasoning. They were just okay. The Mac and cheese was great, it was creamy and just very good. If you miss hot chicken from the south this is a nice stop to try out. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Mac and cheese - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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We stopped by Joella's Hot Chicken for dinner after seeing they had half off chicken and waffles. I have been on wanting a waffle and the ones I make at home haven't been so good. Plus once you add chicken it just take it up a notch. We hadn't eaten here yet, we did go to the other location once, but years ago, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But we had stellar service and hot fresh food. There was a bit of a consistent line. You order at the counter and the bring it to your table. The staff was super nice. I had to add my credit card to the app to get the coupon to work. But you just scan the card so it went quickly. Our waffle was very fresh. It was the perfect amount of crisp and soft inside. and it was real maple syrup! I dipped the waffle into the syrup. I also thought the chicken was crisp and fresh. I went with the tenders. I am sure we will be back. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Chicken and waffles - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Good job cooking, great job food, great ambiance overall! Great service! I had chicken and it was good! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Me and great worker - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

How is this place scored so low? I love this place! Tea is sweet, food is excellent, and it's quick. Big fan of the pimento ranchero sauce on the side. The sides are also very good. I usually do the Mac and cheese but recently had their potatoes and gravy, which were also very good. Highly recommend. read more

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Ordered door dash...on order we said no dairy in kale salad and it's covered in Parmesan cheese. Ordered the chicken sandwich and it's rubbery and tough. Not appetizing. The 16 nuggets were more like fried batter, no chicken. This is second time we ordered from them. First time I didn't love it but thought we'd give it a second chance. No more! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Chicken nuggz- they were cold - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

So, I was excited about having a Joella's this close to where I live, but then after coming here twice, I have a slightly bad opinion. Let me sum it up: DRY: The key to a great chicken dish is to not over-cook it. I've been here four times, and everything I've ever eaten at this restaurant tastes like it has been prepared on the 'daylight' side of the planet Mercury. OUCH: Is it just me, or did I just pay a small fortune? I'll have to do some research, but my inner-monologue tells my I paid a lot and didn't get much in return. I'll go back and re-do the math on this one, but something seems a bit off, in terms of the price/value proportion... read more

How many different ways can you fry chicken? This is one more way. It's good. When you write a Yelp review, Yelp tells you that 4 stars is "good", so this is 4 stars. It's not great and it's better than ok. It's more flavorful than your typical chicken but I don't know what value this adds over, say, Popeye's, which costs less. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Thank you for the free awesome Veteran's Day lunch!!! It was so delish!!! Love the new one week old menu! We will be back again soon to try more new items!!! Thank you! read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Veteran's Day lunch!!! 2 boneless thighs and a side and sauce (SC white). Thank you! I'm so full!!! - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

I hadn't been to Joella's in a hot minute (so punny) and had a hankering for some fried chicken. I realized they had a location near work so off I went! They have a lunch special that includes 2 tenders, a side, and a drink for $9.99. Such a good deal! I've said it once and I'll say it again. Sauce is boss and they sure know how to make their sauce. The bama white has a horseradish zing that is *chef's kiss. They also have 7 other sauce options so something for everyone. Their fries are perfectly seasoned and nice and crispy. The chicken has a nice crunchy coating. And yes, I also needed a side of the creamy and cheesy mac on top of it all. Their fountain drinks are even fun! They have their own cola sodas and even have red cream! This visit reminded me why I love Joella's. read more

Move over, Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A; there's a new queen in town-Joella's Hot Chicken. If you're craving great chicken, delicious southern sides, and a relaxed atmosphere, this is definitely the place for you. The Big Pimento-a plump, juicy chicken breast sandwich topped with homemade pimento cheese (chosen from a surprisingly extensive menu)-was one of the best chicken sandwiches I've ever eaten. Parmesan garlic fries with jojo and bama white dipping sauce were the perfect side, and an order of fried pickles with ranch dressing rounded out a perfect lunch. Oh, and save room for the southern banana pudding-absolutely delicious. Quick, easy service, ample parking, and decent prices make this a must visit and a MUST return restaurant. read more

Just go to chic fil a. I got their Chicken Sammie. Chicken is dry, not very crispy, and very very oily. Fries were equally bland and very oily. I cannot exaggerate the excess oil. Best part of the sandwich was the pickles. I got the second hottest level and it was weaker and less depth of flavor than franks. Honestly, the bread, chicken, and fries all seem store bought, but I have had better out of the frozen food section. Not worth 10 bucks a portion. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - So much oil still on the fries. The flavor is oil, not garlic. - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Well I always wanted to try this place and now I work close by so I'm a weekly regular. Great service, superb food, and good value for what you get. I love to get the chicken plate with Ghost Pepper, yes I love spice. I've done Fire in Da Hole too. All the sides are great including the fries, mashed potatoes, and Mac n cheese. read more

We were the only ones there, and waited 15 minutes for cold, tough French Fries, and lukewarm chicken with soggy breading. This is the 2nd time we've tried Joella's and the second time we've been disappointed. I don't think we will be back. The server was kind and friendly, so I will give two stars for that. read more

Food is sooo fire and I have to get a little bit of everything. This we tried the fried pickles too and they were sooo yummy read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Chicken and 2 Jumbo Tenders & Waffles Creamy Mac & Cheese Collard Greens with Bacon - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

Joella's is a fast casual, southern-style chain with locations in several states. They have chicken plates, such as tenders and wings, and they also offer chicken sandwiches. With the chicken, you can choose what level of spicyness you prefer on a scale shaped like a thermometer (similar to Buffalo Wild Wings). Additionally, you can order from several dipping sauce options. Of course, there are plenty of southern sides to choose from as well. I ordered the tenders and my boyfriend ordered the classic chicken sammie. For the spicyness, we both chose Ella's Fav, which is a moderate but safe choice. You can enjoy the flavor while also experiencing a little heat. The chicken was good, though I would have liked it to be a little more crispy. We ate it quite soon after receiving it, but the breading still seemed a little soggy. For my dipping sauce, I was recommended the Jojo by the server and it was very good! I ordered the parm garlic fries as my side and they were okay. I'm not a huge fan of thin cut fries but at least they were pretty garlicky. The Mac and cheese was standard; nothing special. Fair warning: everything is greasy and oily. Prepare yourself with napkins and pray for your skin. read more

Joella's Hot Chicken - Carmel - Interior - Southern Near Me - Carmel, Indiana

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Random stop in, young lady named Nicell, walked me through the menu! Chicken thigh was fried like my grandmother used to pan fry? Got a bowl of very good collard greens! Place is very clean and seems to run very smooth! Excellent customer service with everyone I encounterd in the store! 5 star chicken and Service read more