Bawk! by Urban Roots

I've had this place on my "foodie" list for a while now and I was finally in the area and i gotta say I'm so glad i finally got to try them. I went with a friend and we ordered the Chicken And Waffles, a Butterscotch Pudding, an Apple Pie, and an Arnold Palmer and Lemonade. The chicken and waffles is by far one of the best I've had, we both got it with the Maple Hot Honey which didn't have any sort of spiciness in my opinion but was delicious nonetheless. The chicken was steaming hot, crispy, juicy and tender! The atmosphere is very chill, with a nice urban vibe, the graffiti floors were a fun touch of personality. The staff was friendly and great to interact with and they were quick to clear up a table after we ordered as it was fairly busy when we arrived. The only downside I'd say to this location is the parking as it's right in the downtown area, you just gotta be committed to finding a spot or willing to pay for parking in one of the lots nearby, but other than that i definitely recommend this spot! I'll definitely be coming back when I'm in the area

Awesome atmosphere got our food in under 15 minutes and drinks in under five minutes (Saturday @ 2:45pm) I had the chicken and waffles. It was great.

MUST TRY!!!! Amazing customer service! Denise, servers, and bartender always show so much hospitality, the best customer service, and create a great vibe! The oysters are OFF THE HOOK! SOOOO DELICIOUS! The food is all so tasty and the beers on draft are refreshing! Don't miss out on a great place to take your family that's kid friendly, date, or just to get some yummy food!

The spicy chicken sandwich was crispy, fresh, hot, and pleasantly spicy; good fries; butter that goes with corn bread was too good!!! 👌

The food here is fantastic. The chicken is well seasoned, juicy, and thoughtfully made. The oysters I had were some of the best I’ve ever had. They’re so flavorful and the accompanying sauces are fantastic and pair perfectly. This is the best happy hour going.

AMAZING food each and every time. Usually stop by for dinner. Brunch doesn’t disappoint.

If you are looking for fun drinks and quick bites with friends, this is the spot! Right in the middle of so many bars/restaurants and if you have time, checkout their speakeasy in their storage room. The bawk bites is what made me want to come here and they did not disappoint. Only dark meat tenders friend with some spice 😍 I will say though after only a small cup of them, I was good in fried food for a whole month. It’s VERY heavy and salty so I added it into my Mac n cheese to balance it out. The Mac cheese was delicious when I ordered it but it also depends on who’s cooking that day because my friend posted some watery Mac n cheese when went to visit. The cucumber salad looked alright but was pretty refreshing, just like my cocktail. Overall good prices and quick small bites. I just wished they had fresh oysters (they only have them some days)

My wife and I visited for a night on the town and were pleasantly surprised. She had the Greek chicken salad which was fully loaded and delicious. Everything complemented well, like a comfort food salad. She also has a glass of fresh made lemonade. For myself, I struggled between the chicken sandwich and the chicken and waffles. The chicken and waffles won the coin toss. The heat level I got was Maple hit, which was a perfec flavor to go with the butter milk corn bread waffle. I had a splash of bourbon to add to my syrup 🔥. The wings were huge and crunchy, and finished off with a smokey hint. The service was great! The atmosphere was cozy. We came on a good night because it wasn't really packed. I can't wait to get back to try out the chicken sandwich.

Last minute decision / randomly stumbled upon Bawk! and I'm glad we did and got to try it out. It's located on the same strip as Ace of Spades and there's street parking and a paid parking lot across the street. We got some raw & grilled oysters and it was either what they call their chicken nuggets or chicken strips. I forgot but it was delicious - tender, flavorful, and juicy. The oysters were tasty as well. Friendly staff, yummy food, and great vibes. Would come back and check out their other items.

Bawk! has delicious chicken great place to check out with a couple friends during the spring and summer. Once heaters are added to their outdoor seating during the fall/winter, I'll become a regular customer! They were even shucking oysters! thought that was cool. Service was fast and good experience I'll bring my friends to this place again

OMW This Black owned chicken spot is a Crispy, Well Seasoned, lesson in all the Fried Chicken! After an afternoon of tree hugging in the Desert Botanical Garden(Yes, it's a real thing) we stumbled upon this chicken spot located near the capital in Sacramento. Graffiti laden walls, black booths, and great music welcome you into a space that is a perfect mesh between chicken Shack and eclectic bar. Best of all, the food matches the energy! Bawk! Offers an array of chicken heavy options. From all things chicken, fried, sandwiched, salad, oysters and cauliflower bits(to break it up a little bit) peppered with classic southern side dishes. The best part, is that it is all done very well, with great service to round the experience out. Mr. Barnyard pimp ordered the party wings in Lemon pepper, with a side of collard greens and a chicken taco(He couldn't resist) The wings were a whirlwind of flavor and arrived freshly fried and pipping hot! The wings were also a surprisingly nice sized, seeing how we had arrived during their Happy Hour! This is a great way to keep business flowing during the lulling hours of 2 to 5! The collard greens were tender, juicy, and overflowing with Chunks of smoked turkey meat(seriously, we almost picked the bowl clean)! Your favorite Culled Hen, ordered the Bawk Bites. Dark meat bites tossed in a flavor of your choice. You know I live Spicy before the Lord, and got my bites tossed in their Nashville Hot sauce! When I tell you, these "bites" were more like juicy chin dripping, quartered chicken thighs! They were everything!!!! Crispy on the outside, Smothered in a sweet, spicy sauce that builds in intensity with each voluptuous bite! Served along fluffy waffle fries and a slice of white bread to suck it all up!!! Plus, the portions were so big, it didn't leave us any room to delve into there Big Back Desserts! My heart hurt If you live in the Sacramento area and have not visited this gem; shame on you! If you every have the opportunity to visit, don't cheat yourself. CHECK IT OUT!

Bawk gives all the good vibes. The staff is super welcoming and friendly. I love the casual convenience option to order at the counter. (Great for groups! No need to do bill splitting at the table) The food is just as good as the ambiance. I ordered the chicken & waffles and it did not disappoint! My husband ordered a fried chicken sandwich. The sandwich was well seasoned and crispy; just how we like it. I also love the late hours. We will be back soon!

From the service to the food everything about Bawk screams cream of the crop. I had one of the best fried chicken sandwiches today. The batter was perfect, the chicken thigh was juicy and cooked just right. The slaw and pickles were a great touch on it as well. Went with the Nashville hot flavor. It was spicy but still enjoyable. By the end of the sandwich the heat was picking up. The speakers were playing some older Kendrick Lamar which was fitting since the day before Drake was playing 'tough guy' as the Sacramento Kings and DeMar DeRozan were in Toronto. Very fitting music choice! This place is tuned in to the culture. The food here is a great representation of that and I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu.

Solid choice for a fried chicken sandwich! Perfect walking distance for me on R street, love coming here for lunch and sitting outside. The chicken sandwich breading, crispyness and sauce were fantastic. Love the waffle fries and the beer selection. 8/10

Go here for the happy hour! The happy hour menu is 10/10! What I ordered/thoughts: - Garden Party non-alcoholic drink ($10) - not exciting, skip and just do a soda instead. - Fried Chicken Sandwich - I ordered it spicy. Wished I just ordered it regular because the spicy sauce made the chicken and the bun super soggy. - Party wings, lemon pepper - This was so good and I would totally order this again. - Chicken greek salad - This was good and exceeded expectations. - Oysters - I preferred the raw ones over the grilled ones. Wish they came on a platter with ice because it was kind of warm when it got to my table.

I liked the vibes & decor but this spot is next to some tough competition with other decent eateries around it. Will be back when I'm craving a chicken sandwich & go spicier for sure. Food: 4/5 Fried chicken sandwich- 3/5 You have a choice of thigh or breast for the sandwich along with heat. I went for the maple hot which is a sweet/spicy option. Wish it were a bit spicier. Next time I'll got hotter. Emphasis on the pickles so if you don't like pickles I'd for sure get them without or on the side! Ranch- 3/5 Ordered a side to help with the heat/fries. Crisscut fries- 4/5 Well salted & crunchy. Service: 5/5 Super helpful & greeted by multiple employees when walking in. Ambiance: 4/5 Booth seating, table seating & a bar. Also a speakeasy within the place. Decent for a larger group but the music is a bit loud.

Everything was delicious here, as usual! Last time I visited, I had to opt for the chicken and waffles, since I hadn't tried it yet. It didn't disappoint! The portion sizes were pretty generous, and I even ended up taking some chicken home. My partner ordered the chicken sandwich per his usual, and loved it Just as much the umpteenth time around. This will always be my go-to chicken spot when I'm in Midtown Sacramento; the owner and staff are always top notch, and it's busy which is always a good sign! The artwork and decor are also super inviting. Seating is fairly limited considering the crowds they draw, so get there early!

We had a holiday party at bawk by urban roots. When we entered the restaurant and were greeted by staff. The staff had us seated in the party area. We ordered chicken sandwiches, fries and chicken wings. The food was delicious and very fresh. I ordered a bawk cider drink. It had bourbon, ginger beer, lime aromatic bitters. The drink was phenomenal. The ambiance is customer friendly and a lot of seating.

This place was absolutely fire! The sandwich was super tasty and very filling. Per recommendation from the guy that was working there, I got the collared greens. Shout out to Brady for awesome service btw! I tried to be good and got a mocktail, but when I'm back I'm just going to the real deal. All in all this place is super tasty and I highly recommend if you're in the area. And they played dope music the night I was there!

This place was busy for brunch by 12pm. You go in and place your order first, then they hand you a number to take to your chosen seat if you choose to dine in. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Outdoor is shaded but the sun does move in. Food took 20 mins to arrive to our table. They were also supposedly under staff as they were getting busier. Breakfast potatoes were too salty. Seasoning did taste good tho. Chicken and waffles were yummy, however the syrup and butter on waffles made it too sweet. Don't add too much syrup if you don't have a big sweet tooth. I also really liked that you could choose your chicken flavor for this meal. We got buffalo chicken. Greatly sauced! Chicken Shawarma was yummy too! The sauce in the inside was delicious. The chicken was grilled and nice flavor. Balanced out with the veggies I needed to intake. Pita bread was soft and fluffy. The fries on the side was alright. Didn't seem to be salted for you but that's okay. It wasn't as crunchy as the breakfast potatoes. Service was cool. The man taking our order with the black hair and blue eyes was funny. They had big ass cookies sitting by the registers that I compliment on and he followed along with the comment. Server brought out food but forget to bring out utensils. Ask, they'll get for you.

Had brunch at Bawk and of course had to order the chicken and waffles. The waffles were surprisingly scrumptious- not dry, perfect consistency. They give you a hot oil for the chicken and waffles along with warm maple syrup. The order came with three large pieces of chicken wings. The chicken had great flavor. The crunchy skin was so good. Ambiance was alright. We wouldn't say outside if there was room. Will definitely return.

Okay maybe I'm the outlier here but this place is just OKAy! Ordered a Bawk chicken sandwich with honey mustard and a cider and I got to say I wasn't impressed. Honestly I was a bit disappointed in the lack of flavor on the chicken. The service was good and the location itself is a chill spot to hangout for a quick bite but meh. If I'm being honest I would probably head to one of the other spots on the block for a much better meal.

My go-to fried Chicken spot. I love the service here. They're always on point. The main lady is super sweet and the cook is amazing. I love the pesto pasta with the grilled chicken is really flavorful and delicious. I love the bock bites with the hot maple on the side so I can dip it. You can pick your level of spiciness so everything is good here. Their chicken sandwich is amazing and I can't say that I've ever had anything bad. I would definitely recommend this place

Whenever I'm in Sac, I always stop by Bawk in downtown Sacramento. The chicken and waffles are very good, as well as the Oysters, music and customer service. On a nice day, sit on their patio with your food and drinks and people watch, it's definitely a vibe.

Fried chicken here is good. Sides not so much. Between my friend and I, we shared a whole order of chicken, got collard greens as our side, and also ordered waffle fries. Chicken was nice and crispy. I didn't like that the wings were still attached to the breast. Our fries were not crispy at all. Collard greens were a really small portion and overly salty. It was a busy Friday night, and we wanted to sit outside, but the few unoccupied tables were all dirty.

We bring everyone to Bawk, and if we're lucky to the Roost too. You order at the front counter and they have indoor and outdoor seating options with tables, booths and bar seating inside. We've been in for brunch, lunch and dinner options and every menu is full of amazing options. Lately, we've been obsessed with the shrimp and grits. For brunch it's served with a poached egg and is filled with shrimp, meat, corn, just the right amount of spice in the sauce and perfectly cooked grits. This dish is so filling, but it's hard to stop eating once you start. They serve Urban Roots on tap and have a wide selection of cocktail options as well. It's a good mix of casual dining with elevated flavors. Whenever we're here, the staff always checks in on us and makes sure we have water and that we're enjoying everything. We like to bring friends and out of town guests here and we always have fun sharing dishes and so far everyone has loved coming here with us.

Came by for lunch and took a while for food to come out. Ordered the whole fried chicken with side of waffle fries and Greek chicken salad. Menu says the chicken comes with one side and cornbread but ours didn't come with cornbread for some reason. I thought the chicken was just okay. Waffles and salad were fine.

Had dinner with my husband last night and we shared the chicken sandwich. We were disappointed because we ordered diet and we were given chicken breast so it was a little dry. The macaroni and cheese was awesome. We also had a salad and it was good had a nice table outside And service was good!

Can't remember ever coming here and having a bad meal food is excellent!!! Wife and I use this spot as a staple.

Located in the busy R street corridor, you'll find them always busy. The fried chicken is full chicken and you have a variety of flavors to chose from or leave it naked. The chicken was overall very juicy and not dry, plus for $25 it is a good deal. Some of sides are small portions and on the more expensive side. The mac and cheese was a little underwhelming and the fries could have had more seasoning. The coleslaw was your typical slaw, nothing over the top. The side salad is enough for two people which was a plus. Unfortunately there was a long wait time until our food was ready and came out. We got the mac and cheese about 10 minutes before the other items. The inside seating area is somewhat limited, especially on a weekend. There were a lot of people waiting for booths or tables to open up and hovering near or around tables finishing up. There is patio seating outside but not many used it due to the cold weather.

Came in on a Friday night, I'd give this an OK rating. This place has potential, but unfortunately didn't get all the way to the top. Let's start with the positive. The actual hot chicken was good. It was nice and juicy, and the hot sauce was a good tang. It wasn't overwhelming or stupidly spicy. You could actually get a nice balance if that's what you're after. The meat wasn't dry, and it was pleasant to eat. Was it the best fried chicken I've had? No, but it was solid. The other factors of this joint unfortunately bring down the overall grade. The sides weren't flavorful at all. Looking at other places in the area with fried chicken, they have equally good sides. Fixins is a good example of that. Not only that, the sides were expensive and small. We had the salad, fries, coleslaw, and mac and cheese. None were great, and they were fairly forgettable. Then there's other things that I wish were fixable like space. There simply aren't enough places to sit for those that come in. There were many parties that had to wait for a table, causing some uncomfortable situations for other people that I saw. They had kids and adults pressed very close to then while they were eating. They could have sat outside, but the amount of seating indoors seems a little small. No fountain drinks if that's your thing. There is supposed to be plenty of water though, so that was good when it was there. It was an OK experience, so I'd probably lean to other places for the best fried chicken in Sac

I came here on a Saturday around 2pm. It wasn't busy and was seated right away. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich it came with crisscut fries ($17). The sandwich had great flavor and you can choose the heat level, I chose the maple hot. They put a good size piece of chicken in the sandwich. I also tried their club sandwich which came with crisscut fries ($18). I would be coming for the club sandwich, it had a good lemon flavor. I ordered a cocktail which was the Kentucky BAWK $14. The drink was so refreshing and good amount of bourbon. I gave it 4 stars because they brought our fries first, instead of just waiting for our sandwiches to be done. Overall, the food was good.

Hands down... Best chicken and waffles I've ever had in my life. I've been sleeping on Sacramento!!! I'm a chicken and waffle enthusiast and this one takes the cake. The sweet cornbread waffle is amazing. I was full and kept eating. Drinks were on point and the service was five star. The ambience was so dope and we immediately felt welcomed. The manager even took us on a tour of the speakeasy hidden in the back. We will definitely be back when we go back to Sacramento.

Parking can be difficult here. I had the chicken tacos and the portion was a bit small. My husband had the burger and the sauce was very good, although when he asked for ketchup it never came. They have good mockails for those who don't drink.

I visited Bawk yesterday and I spent over $100 on dinner for my family. However, the chicken was horrible. It was very thick undercooked and had no seasoning. I've been to Bawk at least three previous times and I've truly enjoyed my food but as of yesterday I may not be going back there.

My husband is vegan, but the award-winning chef Dennis made this dish especially for him. Shawerma (without the chicken) tossed the Brussels sprouts with that shawarma sauce and served it on the side. My husband said, "I never thought Brussels sprouts would taste THIS good." I got the chicken and waffles, and nothing in this world should be THIS GOOD!!!! My son had the spicy honey chicken strips and fries, and they were scrumptious BAWK now has the award-winning chef, Dennis Syndor Jr., and even though this place has always been top-notch, with Chef Syndor there, he's taking it to a whole other level. The service was excellent, as always. The place is spotless, and so are the bathrooms. The prices were great for such excellent quality and quantities. 10000/10 recommend

This is a great little chicken spot in downtown Sacramento! We went here ready to head to the speakeasy inside called the Roost but were a bit early to be seated. We got a pomegranate drink and chicken bites - Nashville style - to munch on until our table was ready. Drink was super refreshing and chicken was hot but not overwhelming....perfect base for what was to come for us at The Roost. Would love more lower tables (less high top). Otherwise this was a hit!

I had never been here but recently stopped in to check out the happy hour. Easily one of the best happy hour set ups in Sacramento :) Super casual with an awesome food and drink selection. My friends and I were just snacking but it definitely made me want to come back for a full dinner soon!

BAWK BAWK BAWK! I absolutely love this restaurant! Some of the best fried chicken in Sac! I especially enjoy Bawk now that it is owned and operated by Urban Roots, which has mastered brisket at their main restaurant! Staff is incredibly friendly and the environment is chill! There's outdoor and indoor seating. I heard there's a speakeasy that I need to go to as well.

So bummed by this experience. We had really high hopes because Urban Roots, their parent restaurant, is delicious, and so is The Roost. Unfortunately, the fried chicken at Bawk! just sadly missed the mark. The bun, fries, sauces and drinks were tasty, but the chicken is supposed to be their statement piece so we expected it to be excellent. Instead the chicken tasted like it had been fried hours ahead of time, was very stringy and over-cooked, actually hard to eat and chew. My husband and I were also very disappointed by the Nashville hot sauce because it really wasn't very hot at all. They get three stars because the service was good and the place is clean and nice. Overall the chicken was what brought this review down. We will probably not go out of our way to have this chicken sandwich again. There are just so many other great places in Sacramento that do it better.

Love this place. I have never eaten in but I love their wings. Garlic Parmesan and Lemon Pepper are my favorites. Staff are always friendly and my food is always ready on time. Best yet is that the wings are still nice and crispy by the time I get home. One star off for a little inconsistency in the food but definitely worth eating here!

Stopped by Sacramento on a road trip up to Seattle and stopped by Bawk! for lunch. Restaurant and a cute interior and vibe and the outside sits on a popular street with a lot of restaurants. You order and take a number. Have to say I went for the food too quickly before taking pictures so that's why they're all half eaten. Chicken biscuits were delicious. Gravy was thick and savory and the chicken was juicy. I got it with the hot honey flavor. The fried chicken sandwich seemed like the most popular item on the menu. We got it with the hot nashville flavor which tbh is PRETTY spicy but the creamy coleslaw was able to help cut the spice but do beware.

We rode our bikes here! Smaller menu but, delicious food. I loved the fried catfish and grits. Great service. And do make a reservation for the speakeasy! It's an Intimate setting dusted with vintage decor. You'll find absinthe and other nicely crafted rotating beverages on the drink menu.

The atmosphere was easy going. The food was good but not impressive(not that I could make it any better, but just being honest) the battered fish was pretty bland. The fried chicken sandwich was good. We came in a Friday eve for dinner around 5:00 with a group of 6 people. Service was good and the people were nice. Not at all saying I wouldn't return, it just didn't wow me. Maybe it was an off night ‍

First time trying Bawk and we weren't disappointed. We went on a Saturday evening and there was seating available. Order at the counter and find your spot. Ambiance is great - music was even better. Service is friendly and attentive. The food was excellent as well Chicken was crispy and saucy. The max and cheese was cheesy and tasty! The red beans and rice had the perfect level of spice and flavor. The cornbread is like dessert! We will be back for sure. Comfort food at its best.

A great no frills fried chicken spot with ample seating on R Street. We stopped in here to grab a bite before a concert at the Ace of Spades right next door. You order at the counter, they give you a number and bring the food out to your table. The waitstaff were friendly. We ordered a whole fried chicken ($25) with a side of buffalo sauce and mac and cheese ($6). The mac and cheese was solid but nothing to write home about. The chicken was great! It was tender and juicy (even the white meat) and it was nice to have the option of sauce on the side. All in all, a comforting and affordable meal!

Everything about this place was above 5 Stars! Obviously most important thing when you go out to eat is that the food is good, and the food here is GREAT! Literally everything we tried (and we got a lot and shared it all) was so good! Well seasoned and well prepared. Beyond that the service was AMAZING! Super friendly and knowledgeable, and the ambiance is really cool and relaxed. I will definitely be coming back when I'm in the area and telling people to try it for themselves! Hats off the the chef and management they are doing such a great job!

I have to say I was highly disappointed that the red beans and rice were not on the menu, I've been coming to Bawk for years, service is always 10/10, but the food was not well seasoned and the house hot sauce was flavorless... maybe it was a bad day, but I need them to bring back the red beans and rice...

Ordered to go because we were on a time crunch and our food came out quickly and was hot and fresh! My partner gontre buffalo chicken sandwich and I got the maple hot chicken sandwich and I was pleasantly surprised it didn't have too heavy of a maple flavor. We happened to stop in at a perfect time as it wasn't too busy and we were in and out of there quick! I'll be back to check out more of the menu and get a better feel of the restaurant experience.

The first time I dined at Bawk in 2021, I thought the food was great. Most recently, I came for some Bawk Bites that were just overcooked and not very good. They batter was hard/tough, and the meat was dry, which is a shame, considering it's dark meat.

Stopped by for a school assignment. Had to visit a black-owned business. The energy in the place was very warm and laid back. I wanted to stay longer but I had to leave to get to the next place for my assignment. I ended up getting the iced tea and it was very good. GM Dennis and staff were very friendly and accommodating! Definitely recommend!

Finally had a chance to eat here on a quick work trip. Pangea is our absolute favorite so we were excited to hear they had another great restaurant. I of course had to try their fried chicken sandwich and chose the buffalo heat level (medium) but I didn't find it spicy. Next time I will choose the next level up. It was one of the best fried chicken sandwiches Ive ever had. My friend chose the chicken and waffles which takes a while because it is half a bird. My nephew chose the fried fish po' boy. The fries are fire! Think Mc Donalds but 10 times better. It is a beautiful and fun ambiance even though it was a Tuesday at noon. The service was on point! They brought my nephew a second lemonade before asking for it and to-go boxes before we asked. I can't wait to come back!

This spot is located in the middle of downtown. Plenty of parking around the area but it can be hard to find during peak meal hours. Known for their southern fried chicken and drinks. I was craving catfish and gave it a try. I think my catfish could be crispier as with fillets they tend to be a bit watery if it's not well done and crispy. The red bean and rice was good. Corn bread was a bit on the dry side but tasted better after I added the cinnamon butter. The oysters was delicious, I decided to get the grilled style. My drink was perfect! Will definitely come back to try the fry chicken!

One the best chicken in town and the oysters are on it. Packed in there, but the weight is worth it. The service was great. I love the atmosphere. They even have a private back room if you'd like to drink whiskey or brandy.

I absolutely love this place, the food is always good they have a bar in the place with the Speakeasy in the back. The music they play is nice and soulful and the service is great with smiles on their faces. You can't go wrong here

I liked the food but I wasn't blown away. The outdoor seating area is nice and no issues with service. I wasn't overly impressed but I'd go back to try again

The food here is pretty ok; the last time I went I actually had their oysters for the first time. Color me unimpressed. The service is always great, though, and their wine is usually on point. Their happy hour is also something to note; to try out. The ambiance is cute; def has an eccentric feel. Check it out for chicken