It's inconceivable how on July 20th of this year it will have been a year since the grand opening…read moreof HCK Hot Chicken in Vinton, Virginia and I hadn't heard of it. I can say it's the best kept secret of the Town of Vinton, in Roanoke County, and it's about time that it no longer be a secret. I am determined to go try it out and spread the word. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those young established ones that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And HCK Hot Chicken is the perfect example. Located off East Washington Avenue, in one of the most beautiful areas of Vinton, near William Byrd High School, this restaurant is located inside a long standing convenience store, "Vinton Tobacco & Grocery," and in the same location of a bp gas station, but don't let this fool you, it has its own entrance on the side, its own parking lot, and a drive-thru lane for ordering. Besides this, its owner has done a great renovation job, that this is one of the cleanest gas stations/convenience stores that I have ever been to, and because of this it in no way detracts from the clean, bright, and contemporary ambiance of the restaurant itself. Founded in 2020, in Woodbridge, Virginia, the first HCK (Hot Chicken Kitchen) Hot Chicken restaurant had as its Mission: "Unity through Food." Recognizing the power of food to bring people together. Their belief is that "food unites us and can lift people up." There menu features succulent Nashville-style chicken sandwiches, classic and boneless chicken wings, chicken tenders, chicken and Belgian waffles, loaded fries, loaded mac and cheese, coleslaw, fried pickles, fried donut drops, and more. The owner of the restaurant who warmly greeted me when I arrived told me that all of their dishes are gluten and allergen free. With no MSG and no peanut oil.The chicken is farm-raised, fed only vegetables and grains, with no use of growth-boosting chemicals. When one enters the restaurant, it is nicely designed (with the colors red, black, and white), and with hardwood floors, wood tone tables and chairs, a well organized ordering counter, and a well lit menu high above the counter, as well as with large pictures of menu item just below the menu sign. The very friendly and knowledgeable order taker took my order from behind the counter. I ordered a Nashville Style Chicken Sandwich Combo with the mildest sauce they had. It came with their seasoned krinkle kut fries, a side of good sauce, and a drink. Not bad for $14.49, especially after you taste the food. The chicken was the plumpiest, juiciest, and tastiest chicken that I have ever eaten in a sandwich. The fresh toasted artisan potato bun complimented its flavor. The fries were crunchy on the outside and soft in the inside, seasoned to perfection. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourselves because a picture is worth a thousand words. The welcoming and hospitable owner came to see how I had liked the food and I told him how amazing everything had been and that I looked forward to returning to try other menu items such as the Fried Donut Drops. In conclusion, I highly recommend this restaurant for a very unique and wonderful chicken dining experience. Amazing food, clean and comfortable environment, and excellent customer service.

Hot Chicken for the win! The best fries and fried pickles too! My favorite sauce was the scorpion…read morepepper! The wings were large crispy and juicy. Service was fast and courteous. Good spot, highly recommended.

Looks like we have a new chicken wings restaurant in the neighborhood and it's Atomic. Atomic…read morewings just opened a few days ago. It's located at Blue Hills Village, in Roanoke, Virginia, on the former Chicago Bob's Storefront. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public. And this Atomic Wings is the perfect example. Dedicated to serving a wide range of all natural jumbo wings and other menu items, Atomic Wings offers halal chicken at any spice level and a variety of dipping sauces to suit any taste bud. The founder of Atomic Wings did so by fullfiling his dream of recreating the hot, crispy wings he had once eaten during his college days in Buffalo, New York. Today at around 5:30pm I went with a friend to check this new place out. It had reasantly celebrated it's Grand Opening a few days ago, and still had some of the balloons decorations of the event attached to the outdoor columns of its building architectural design. When we entered I was surprised to find some customers eating there and others waiting for their To Go orders. The owner of the new restaurant came out and gave us a warm welcome, greeting us himself in person. He had a nice, friendly personality, and just by meeting him I could already anticipate the success of this new restaurant. Their menu was well lit and hanging high above. Their prices were very reasonable and they had a nice variety of chicken items besides their famous Wings, such as Chicken Tenders and Chicken Sandwiches, and for dessert, Fried Oreo Cookies. For those who enjoy a cold beer in a hot Summer day, they had both Bottled Beers and Tap Beers, as well as Beer by the Pitcher. They also had regular fountain drinks and milkshakes. And for fries, from Fresh-Cut Fries, to Waffle Fries, to even Tater Tots. The lady at the counter greeted us and took our order. We both ordered the #3 Combo Meal with 5 pieces of Chicken Tenders, Fresh-Cut Fries, and a fountain drink. My friend had Root Beer and I had Dr Pepper. They also had Pepsi and Southern Style H & C Brand Ice Tea. They charged for the order and took my first name to call us when the order was ready. When they called my name and recognized who I was, they immediately brought the order to our table without given us a chance to go pick it up. This is what I call service. Going above and beyond ones highest expectations even in the little things. When I saw the tray they had brought me, and placed on our table right there in front of me, I was mesmerized by the size of the Chicken Tenders and by the great amount of Fries served. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review and see for yourself. But just as if this wasn't surprisingly enough, when I tasted the first Chicken Tender, it was so crispy on the outside and so soft and juicy in the inside, and so tasty, even before dipping them in the sauces they provided. And the Fries. You might wonder, What can they do to the fries to make them stand out above the rest? The answer: Nothing. The fresh-cut fries had their natural flavor that stood out and were fried in such a way that were crunchy on the outside and soft and moist in the inside. As we were enjoying our meal. More and more customers were coming in to pick up their To Go orders as well as to dine in. It seems like the best advertisement "Word of Mouth" after trying the product, was being very successful. And greatly so, for a new Star has joined the Star City of Roanoke and the community as a whole is benefiting from this new addition to their culinary lineup.

The have the absolute best wings! They were crunchy and flavorful without being overcooked and dry…read more I can't do super spicy but the Mango Habanero wings are the first time I've had wings that the sweet Mango flavor of the sauce really shone through all the Habanero heat. The jerk flavor was tasty and full of complex but well balanced flavors. We also tried the Garlic Parmesan wings which were great too because its hard to not make that flavor too greasy. The ranch they serve for dipping with the wings was creamy and had a great zing. And lastly - Never have I ever had such crispy, tender, and well seasoned waffle fries. They stole the whole show! Well Done!!

Great pizza!!! Loved the thin crust and choice of tasty toppings. Incredibly good tavern style…read morepizza (look that up--it's the other Chicago style). We had brussel sprouts as an appetizer and two pizzas for three people. The sprouts were not only delicious but a big serving--plenty of food for the three of us. Who knew that Roanoke would have such good pizza? Plus a delicious old fashioned made with Woodford bourbon. Check it out!

We visited the Yard Bird Tavern in downtown Roanoke. Finding a spot can be a bit of a gamble;…read moreunless you're lucky enough to snag a space at the curb, you should expect to pay for parking. ​Atmosphere & Menu ​Upon entering, we found the restaurant pleasantly sophisticated, though it was nearly at capacity. While we opted not to explore the drink menu, we were eager to see what the kitchen had to offer. The menu itself is concise, focusing primarily on wings, sandwiches, and pizzas, supplemented by a few small appetizers. ​The culinary style is quite eclectic. They feature several unconventional toppings and flavor combinations that might seem a bit eccentric at first glance. ​The Culinary Experience ​I decided on a flatbread-style pizza topped with: ​Smoked chicken ​Pickles ​Peppadew-style peppers (which resembled small cherry tomatoes) ​A tangy, zesty sauce reminiscent of an enchilada base with an extra "zing." ​My wife opted for a "build-your-own" pizza featuring red onions, pepperoni, and bell peppers. Although she realized too late that she had forgotten to request light sauce, she noticed the oversight immediately upon the dish's arrival. ​Service Observations ​The service was a bit of a mixed bag. Our waitress was professional but remarkably brisk. She lacked the usual pleasantries or "small talk" one might expect, focusing instead on efficiency. While her haste felt a bit impersonal, I couldn't complain about her attentiveness--she was incredibly prompt at refilling my iced tea the moment my glass was empty. Make sure you bring your pocketbook this pizza brings a sting at the register.

I live in the town of Benton and I truly do like KFC as the food and the chicken they but I'll…read moretell you what whoever they hire to manage. The local vent in KFC needs to go back to whatever they were doing collecting beer cans on the side of the road or whatever before they hired and put them as a manager of this restaurant because it is the worst managed restaurant I have ever seen in my entire entire life. It is ran multiple companies and I'm just telling this is of people working a restaurant than I've ever seen in my the owner was smart he should just close the damn thing down and be done with it because if that's the best quality of people you can get I'm sorry you're gonna go out of business at some point anyway so just stop pissing people off and close the doors or get new people quality people pay them what they're worth

They charge 15 dollars for a buffet, hardly keep chicken on it. there choices of food on buffet…read more was horrible. desert, is pudding. no macaroni and cheese. food is cold.. 40 dollars for two people is outrageous given the experience wasn't the best. fried squash is soggy and cold. isn't worth it. id just buy a meal and call it a day.

So it was a very nice Sunday morning in Roanoke. Nice fall type weather and four big hungry dudes…read more One of us had seen some good reviews for Hatch. We were going to be ready at about ten o'clock and they opened at ten o'clock. We were worried there might be a line but happened to be the first table. They sat us in a nice both and the room was well lit. Music was kind of all over the place. Our waitress was Aubrey and she rocked. She answered our menu questions. She kept our drinks full and we all ate until we were full. The food was good not great. We got a big breakfast platter. All four of us. It was a lot of food. The waffle was really good. The eggs were bland but Texas Pete helped that. The potatoes were dry, Pete from Texas helped that too. They had a chicken on a gravy biscuit. The chicken was good but not nearly enough gravy. The Busch it was dry and crumbled and was disappointing.

I stopped in for lunch while I was in town for training and had high hopes based on the menu. I…read moreordered the fried green tomatoes and the creamy salmon with mashed sweet potatoes and hush puppies. Unfortunately, the food was disappointing. The fried green tomatoes and hush puppies were overcooked to the point that they were barely edible. While the salmon had a nice flavor, it was also overcooked. The mashed sweet potatoes had powdered sugar added, which made them much sweeter than expected and overpowered the natural flavor. The bright spot of the experience was the service. The servers were incredibly sweet, attentive, and made sure I had everything I needed. I truly appreciated their hospitality. I hope the kitchen can improve its consistency because the staff certainly deserves better food to serve.

ICE NEEDS TO STOP HERE!!! The sign on Hardy Rd says…read moresomething in Spanish. Thete is no translation in English. I asked the manager what it says and why thete is no English words on the sign. He got nasty and said chicken. the girl at the drive thur spoke no English and had to get someone to translate. why am I being penalized for not speaking Spanish???

After watching many, short but to the point, Bojangles TV commercials, I decided it was time for me…read moreto go visit one of their restaurants and try them out. After all, their official slogan is "It's Bo Time" Although the Bojangles southern chicken franchise began serving food in 1977 in North Carolina, this Bojangles is located on Hardy Road in Vinton, Virginia and opened in 2012. One of the first things I noticed when I arrived at this restaurant in Vinton was the simple but fun architectural design of their building and the use of the color yellow on the awnings of the building and on their outside parking lot sign with their logo. Yellow is the most attractive of all colors, and so each time one drives by the restaurant, your eyes can't help it but to gravitate to the restaurant and read the red fonts with their name Bojangles. Also interesting to mention is that the name of Vinton is found written on the logo itself, detail that brings out that the company emphasizes giving back to the communities they serve. Once inside, the interior design was in the minimalist style with a huge open-space dining room with many large windows to bring in the light and the few walls were covered with placks giving recognition to local sports teams with their Team group picture on them. Another sign of the company's commitment to the communities for which they serve. Then what also caught my attention was the short wall labyrinth to help large number of customers line up in front of the ordering counter to wait for their turn to order. As soon as I reached the ordering counter, one of their friendly employees, wearing their red t-shirt uniform, warmly greeted me, answering all my questions about the menu, and taking my order. I ordered the #10, Bojangles' Chicken Sandwich Combo. With the Season Fries and a drink. And two Blueberry Cookies for dessert. I paid with my credit card and was given my receipt. I didn't have to wait much for my order to be served at the pick-up counter. The first thing I noticed was the bun so soft and fresh, a little thing but a sign of a good restaurant. The chicken inside was so plumpy and crunchy with just the right seasoning. The fries had just the right cut to help bring out their flavor. And the cookies tasted homemade and delicious. Even the drink from the machine was very refreshing. I ended having a refill. As I was eating I noticed other customers coming in and dining feeling like at home, many cars being served at the drive-thru, the employees showing teamwork and providing exceptional customer service, and even taking the time to dine themselves before the rush time arrived. I was so impressed with the food and service that I received, dining at a Bojangles for the first time, that I did my research and found out that Bojangles considers its people to be their number one asset. They emphasize developing and training their team members, recognizing their importance to the company's success.

This is by far the best-run McDonald's in the "Greater Roanoke Metropolitan Area"…read more The fries are always fresh, and I haven't been given a wrong order in 10 years. Service is above average and wait times in the Drive-Thru are negligible. The Crew is always attentive and eager to serve. Fast food doesn't get any better than this.

Trainee got an attitude because I was trying to help her with my order (I work at a different…read moreMcDonald's ) because she's new , and then the shift manager got impatient with me because my app was loading and they claim they're service is fast, it took them 30 minutes to come to the register took another 30 minutes for them to get my food , I insist to never visit this McDonalds ever unless you want to get disrespected , 1 star never returning

First the price is astronomical. Second the food quality is low on a scale of 0 to 10 i would give…read moreit a 3. Thirdly the associate that took my order didn't speak clearly and would not listen to what I said. Fourthly the person at the window was pleasant and courteous. Overall I would not recommend the restaurant to.any of my friends or family.

Long Johns has long been a valued eating experience till recently. The fish was great, the service…read moredecent. I know the Vinton branch just reopened but they got my order wrong at the drive thru and tried to overcharge me after I showed them my coupon. After adjusting the price they still shorted me two pieces of fish. Next time I will go in the store and visually inspect before I pay

I remember when all Pizza Huts had large dining room restaurants and you could enjoy eating your…read morepizzas with family and friends there. Today I was about to go to this Pizza Hut in Vinton but I called ahead of time and found out that they only do Take Out or Delivery, so I placed an order through Door Dash from home for a large 14" Supreme Pizza. It included pepperoni, seasoned pork, beef, mushrooms, green bell peppers and onions. It was set at Hand-Tossed Pizza Crust, with Classic Marinara Sauce, and Regular amount of cheese. And had it hand delivered. While I waited I noticed that they had other options of crust such as the Original Pan Pizza, the Original Stuff Crust, their Thin 'N Crispy, and their Tavern Pizza. They also had their Personal Pan Pizza. When the pizza arrived, it was delivered in a modern design box that was sealed with a sticky label up front. It arrived hot and had a lot of ingredients but lacked cheese and sauce, and I found the crust to be on the sweet side. Once at one of their now extinct Taco Bell / Pizza Hunt restaurants I had a Pepperoni Personal Pan Pizza (the only one in the menu) and I seemed to like it better than this one because the crust was not so sweet and it had more cheese and sauce and this made the spicy taste of the pepperoni stand out better. In conclusion, this pizza from this Pizza Hut in Vinton was good, but not as enjoyable, and I think I would have preferred their Original Pan Pizza.

They used to have the BEST thin and crispy pizza. Perfect amount of sauce and cheese. Not sure…read morewhat happened, now they overload the cheese and there is more sauce. The last 4 pizzas I picked up were not good. First order had so much cheese, It was inedible. I ate one of the two and could not eat the other. Next pick up of two med pizza's has way too much sauce, Too much cheese and was not cut. Also, the thin and crispy crust is not crispy at all, was floppy. I will need to find a different pizza place with the crispy crust. It's a shame and I am not sure what changed.