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!!

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.

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.

Came here for lunch on a Sunday, honestly expected this place to be packed, but there were many…read moremany empty tables, majority of the people were around the bar area. We were a group of 6. Waitress got our order and it took about 40-45 min to get our food. To which when we got our food, it wasn't HOT...it was warm, my buffalo boneless wings were very soggy and even the boneless with no sauce weren't up to par. We all ate because we were really hungry and had already spent all that time waiting. Not impressed at all with this BWW location.

If you place a future order, be prepared to be told they can't find your order, that you made a…read moremistake you ordered somewhere else. You start making calls to see if maybe the order got diverted to the other location, then you find out that no. It's here. And they act shocked that "oh they found it!" Then you wait 20 minutes past your pickup time and you ask for an ETA and they say "it'll be a few more minutes" Just really appalling.

I can't think of a better location for Henrietta's Cafe than Melrose Plaza in Roanoke, Virginia…read more When I first heard about this Cafe, I immediately wanted to go try it out, and today I had an opportunity to do so. Just as Melrose Plaza itself, Henrietta's Cafe far exceeded my highest of expectations. After many times of driving by Melrose Plaza, today I made a U turn in my Lexus and ended up in their ample parking lot. As I walked over to the Plaza, I was first very impressed by its beautiful contemporary architectural design. Inside, I was greeted by a friendly young lady in the Plaza's Information Center, and she pointed out where the café in the Market on Melrose was situated. It was located right next to the Market entrance. I was impressed by its clean and colorful look with beautiful ceiling lighting treatment. The ambiance of the place was so cool and relaxing, that I immediately felt right at home, looking forward to having some home cooking. At the beginning of the line, there was a Grab & Go section with large display refrigerators containing prepared food and drinks so you can take with you on your way to work or you can also eat these items in their dining area if you're not looking for hot food. On the way to the ordering counter you can find tall square baskets with some snack items many of which were on sale. The menu was on the wall posted on those boards that you set up letter by letter. And then came the glass display cases. First the refrigerated one with deli meats and cold items such as their famous potato salad. Then the hot one with their Fried Chicken, Fried Fish, Hot Dogs, and hot sides. A very friendly and hospitable young gentleman greeted you and explained the different combinations you could order. All at very reasonable prices. He then served them for you in a sturdy black clamshell container. I ordered two Fried Chicken Breasts with two sides, potato salad and sweet potatoes. And a Dr Pepper from the softdrink machine. Then paid at the counter with my Harvard Alumni World Mastercard. It was all so simple and convenient. Since I was dining in, they put my order on a tray, and gave me some quality plastic utensils. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high quality of their food. For dessert I picked up a Coconut Cream Pie that came in a box and were available next to the register. The food was simply exquisite. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside. The potato salad was very flavorful. And the sweet potato was amazing. They were smashed and cooked with a sweet sauce that contained some type of nuts. I sat down at one of the dining table to enjoy my dinner while observing all the other customers ordering to-go and some to eat-in. Later on when I visited the Market, there was a beautiful quote on the wall about the importance of food and how "food not only reaffirms our Humanity but the Joy of Being Alive." I highly recommend this cozy Café with wonderful food and very friendly and hospitable servers. And am myself looking forward to returning for breakfast one of these mornings.

Chicken wings are outrageously delicious! Service with a smile! Restaurant was clean and…read morecomfortable. An all around good experience.

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.

When I first heard about this place, I never gave it much thought. A chicken salad sounded so…read moresimple, yet the power of an idea of creating the best for the enjoyment of the public in an amazing ambiance, gave brilliance to this idea, and delivered. After being awarded the NC Triad Yelp Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and businesses, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And this Chicken Salad Chick, located in Tanglewood Mall, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Founded in 2008 by Stacy and Kevin Brown in Auburn, Alabama. They turned their love for chicken salad into a thriving business. Overcoming all odds and obstacles along the way, that led to the final result: a well polished restaurant dedicated not only to serving the best chicken salad around, but also with its true purpose of spreading joy through its innovative menu items and enriching lives through the warmth of Southern Hospitality found there. From the moment I walked into the restaurant I not only was impressed by its cleanliness and amazing decor, but by its welcoming atmosphere. I was greeted by friendly smiles that made me feel right at home, providing an exceptional dining experience right from the start. The order taker at the counter was very helpful in describing the menu and showing me how to order in this my very first visit, and I can assure you won't be the last, but first of many, many, more. I ordered the BLT Chicken Salad in a Cranberry Kelli Sandwich Croissant with a Pasta Salad side, and a regular counter drink. After paying with my credit card, they gave me the receipt, a cup which I later filled with Root Beer, and a number to place on the table for one of their employees to bring me my order when ready. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of the food; for a picture is worth a thousand words. The Pasta Salad was exquisite and just the right amount. The Chicken Salad Croissant Sandwich was extraordinary. And they even included a small version of their dessert cookie. One of their employees came around to check on us to see if everything was of our liking. In conclusion, I had highly recommend this restaurant, after having an exceptional dining experience. From the very beginning my expectations of the restaurant were raised and at the end, the dining experience far exceeded the highest of expectations.

Delicious food, great staff that helped us decide what to order and checked in on us after our food…read morewas delivered to make sure it was right. Friendly atmosphere, light and refreshing food on an incredibly hot day. We will be back to try some of the other salads!

As a DoorDash driver, this is, without question, the slowest fast food restaurant in Roanoke. No…read moreurgency whatsoever and they hide behind the cooking equipment to avoid talking to their customers. You will not be addressed when you walk in.

I haven't had kfc since 2009 and I only decided to eat the because my kids never ate there . it…read morewas terrible service and the food was terrible my 15 y/o said I know now why you never eat there mom! I complained to the manger and was only offered 5 $for the breast I was missing. I even did a virtual complaint and no one's yet to respon. kfc sucks and never will they get money again.