Hot Chi Chicken - Revival Food Hall

This is a knockout (TKO) hot chicken sandwich. I ordered the Hot Honey Butter with no changes at a medium heat. Crisp: The crunch is right and it's mostly because everything is made to order. At this location they knock out well over 100 sandwiches per day, most of which are in the mid day rush, so it's always going to be fresh. Heat: The spice was right. A perfect medium and for the heat seekers just go for the hot, you can handle it. Bun bun: Soft, dough-y and overall tight. Other: the sauce the slaw the the pickle, perfect balance, and not (too) sloppy. Overall it's a W for the Chicago chicken scene. Thank you Hot Chicken!

As a lover of Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, I can confidently say that this was a flop. I ordered the hot honey butter chicken sandwich mild and was very disappointed by the sauce and the chicken itself. The bun and coleslaw were good, and I enjoyed the fries and their sauce. But the chicken was really rough, and seemed to be from a worse part of the bird. For almost $18, I expect much higher quality chicken. If you’re in the Chicago area, go to Fry the Coop instead.

The people at Hot Chi love their sauce! I got a Mild Hot Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich, which comes with many toppings that add a variety of texture and flavor. The sauce was quite saucy and took away from some of the quality of the chicken. Other than that, it was a very good chicken sandwich. I also got the Elote, which was really packed with flavor and loaded in sauce. Like I said, the people love their sauce. Everything was good, so Hot Chi gets 4 stars!

Good spot to grab lunch in downtown. I tried their chicken sandwich at their spiciest heat level. The chicken was well breaded and crunchy. It wasn't too spicy, it was more of a slight burn. The fries were fried well and crispy. Overall I enjoyed my meal and would try again

Damn good chicken sandwich! I love leaving fun reviews but given these high minded types in the review, I'm going straight forward with this one. Here we go... If you visit Hot Chi, you'll have several options, all of which are very good. I got their Popeye's "rival" sandwich and cheat fries along with Peach tea. Literally everything was very good about it, the bread, sauce, ingredients, chicken, all excellent. I went with 'Hot' to not overdo it and the heat was perfect, enjoyable but not overbearing. I literally seek out chicken sandwiches and the Roamin' Rooster in DC is probably the only one that comes to mind in this price point that's comparable. They absolutely destroy the fast food versions and even those at highly respected sit down restaurants (which shant be named). Regarding the price, if you feel it's a bit high, consider the quality you are getting along with the location/environment. It's completely fair in my opinion. However, if you're looking for parking access and bottom dollar to base your review around, there's a ton of chicken spots in the middle in large parking lots that you can check out.

My summary is tasty, well-prepared, abundant portions served by a courteous team. I ordered the (3) Nashville Hot Tenders for lunch with a side of the Corn Elotes. In hindsight, I could have just ordered just 2 as the "tenders" were basically the size of a boneless chicken breast. Very filling. Great combination of crunch and heat (I ordered a heat level of 3 out of 5 and it was plenty hot for me). Personally, I'd be wary of going to a level four as I like to taste and enjoy rather than win a contest (think of the "Man vs. Food" TV show) . The chicken was well-prepared and a good temperature to start eating immediately without having to wait for the food to cool. The Elotes were very good, tasty, nice spice and having a good proportion of the ingredients (not too much corn or too much sauce). The atmosphere of the Revival Hall is great and reminds me of being downtown Pre-Pandemic. The tenders, Elotes, a beverage and tip was "all in" about $22. I will be back!

I came here as part of their 6 month promotion to give away 2 hot tenders for the first 500 customers. The chicken was very hot, but had more of a peppery taste than it being actually spicy. The slice of toast it came with was soggy from sitting on the bottom. Overall it was pretty good, but I don’t think I’ll be getting the tenders again. I would like to try the cheat day fries, as it might offer a better balance between the sauce. I like the atmosphere in Revival Food Hall, and there are plenty of places to sit and other cafes/restaurants to choose from.

I adore this place - the Crew that works here is so friendly and they work very fast and efficiently. I tried their Honey Chicken sandwich and tried it at the hottest spicy (the "Call Yo Mama!") and it was pretty good! The chicken was juicy and the sauce, while it didn't make me call my mama, had a decent heat. The Mac and cheese was kind of bland though, so I wouldn't get that again - however, the sandwich was pretty solid. Would come back here!

There was a case once when my reviews [hopefully only in part] were described as nasty. Far from it, I try to be fair, and give praise more often than nastiness. At the same time, if a motel has a cardboard box for a mattress, I'm going to let you know. While I do call out bad experience, I sometimes wonder if I am being too nice. This is the case with Hot Chi and this review. Had you asked me last Monday, it would have been an immediate slam dunk and five stars. Then I returned on Tuesday, and while still great, I'd only call it a layup that time - still great, but not something that invites me to return the next day. I was left with a question: do I award four stars or five? Is five being too nice? Is four me being too much of a Lillian Bloom (or Anton Ego, if you prefer)? I think I am going to be nice, and bump up the 4.5 to a five, plus Yelp doesn't allow half-stars anyways. Both times, I ordered a "Popeye's Ain't Sh*t." First time ordered as Medium; second time as Hot. First things first, the sandwiches go out at incredible speed. The first time I was handed my food before I was done paying. The second time I had a couple orders ahead of me, but these were seemingly constrained by how fast orders could be packaged, versus the cooking and assembling. Now, as great as speediness is, quality matters too. Both times, the chicken within was hot, crisp, and tender. This was far removed from the sad, soggy pieces that sit under a lamp at so many fast-food-chicken-shop places. Flavor-wise, both had a little sweetness, with the medium having an approachable level of heat, and the hot being more up there, but still perfectly enjoyable. (Proceed with caution - I have high heat tolerance). Unfortunately, the Hot was almost the fifth star's undoing. I am not sure why, but this piece of chicken was very heavy on the acid notes. I am not sure if this is the nature of their Harissa sauce, if this chicken spent a little too much time in brine, or if some pickle juice sneaked over. While I still devoured it like no one's business, I can't say I enjoyed it quite as much. Now, let's talk about veggies and sauces. These were wonderful for adding flavor and moisture. The garlic sauce gave very light garlicky notes that worked wonders. The tomatoes added a little moisture, the onions tang and crispness, and the pickles a little more crunch and salt. Finally, when it comes to the assembly itself - one round one, there was no issue, but on my second visit the sandwich fell apart about halfway through eating. Though, I am not sure this is entirely their fault - chicken thighs, for all their benefits, tend to be uneven. I don't know if I am brave enough to try the hottest level ("Call Ya Mama!!!!"), I have found heat-tempered-self gasping for air more times than I would care to admit. I am open to giving the "hot" another chance, and if it doesn't work out, I will happily drop down to a medium and continue ordering them more often than is good for my health.

Everyone seems to dub this place as the best hot chicken which leads me to believe they haven't been to what I call The Big 3 (Roost, Fry The Coop, and Dave's Hot). Hot Chi Chicken is what I would consider to be a very here and there meal, not something I'd crave or put in a regular lunch rotation. To start, the price point is egregious for what you're getting and I've been here a couple times (hoping they'd improve) and the food is always cold, clearly sitting there for who knows how long. The customer service is great but the chicken leaves something to be desired, especially if you've been to The Big 3. Generally an okay sandwich, the flavor is decent but missing the mark in my book. I wouldn't personally recommend this place but I leave it up to you to cast your judgement.

If you're in the loop, and looking for a quick and tasty bite for lunch, I certainly recommend Hot Chi Chicken! Visited a little after the lunch hour rush and was impressed by the service and efficiency, between ordering and receiving my meal I was out of there in less than 10 mins. Hot Chi offers huge juicy, tender chicken sandwiches with your preference of different heat preferences! I got their original sammy in the "hot" heat level. Finally a place that packs the heat/spice I'm looking for!! Very spicy, awesome flavor and a big portion-- I had enough for now and a lot to later! I can't wait to get here on another lunch break (prepare to be sleepy by the time you get back to work lol)! Highly recommend!

Just ordered the hot honey chicken sandwich at the HOTTT level of spice, no sides. It was $16.00 with tax and tip. Standard service, took the standard amount of time one would expect for a walk up counter fried chicken sandwich. I ended up sharing half with my hubs, and thought it was an appropriate amount of food for a lunch. It's a juicy, great quality chicken thigh- with tons flavor. The bread was great, the sauces and pickles were spot on. I couldn't tell the hot honey, but there was a lot happening between the buns.

I went around 6pm on a Thursday, the food hall overall was pretty empty. There was no line for Hot Chi Chicken and I've seen it on TikTok before so I thought I'd give it a try. I got the Hot Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich (mild). The staff were nice and the service was quick. There were many seats available in the food hall so my friend and I ate there. As for the sandwich it was a little disappointing. It didn't look as good as the ones I've seen reviews of. In addition to that it wasn't hot, just warm as if it had been sitting for a bit. The flavor was good but would have been better fresh. I would recommend coming here during a peak time for a better experience.

I have stopped by this location a few times whenever I have had to come downtown to work. Lunch is always a crowded session, so I tend to hold out until an hour or so after high noon. The Popeye's Ain't *Blee Blah* and the Hot Honey Butter have been my go-to sandwiches when I order from them. Those are some sloppy sandwiches, but they are so good. I keep telling myself to get the sauces on the side so that I can add however much I want when I return to the office. Somehow, I keep forgetting to follow through. Nevertheless, their tasty sandwiches get an encore every few months when I walk over to Revival Food Hall.

I first discovered this place at their south side location a couple years ago so one may wonder why I'd write a review for another location with almost the exact same food. Well to be honest this is probably the meal/lunch in the entire loop area & what I discovered about 2 months ago is they even have delivery. Now of course the price skyrockets when getting it delivered but you'd be hard pressed to find something this tasty in the entire area. Again they're heavy handed with the sauce & the fries are the heaviest so much so that the healthiest appetite won't be able to finish them. The fries could also use more time in the fryer but nonetheless this is the best meal/lunch in the loop & best chicken sandwich in Chicago.

Third time's the charm. My last two attempts at trying the new Hot Chi location didn't work out, but I finally got it. They claim to be halal, but in full transparency I couldn't find any certification posted. This one is located inside Revival Food Hall. The menu is simple enough and there are five heat levels for the chicken. The place was well staffed and service was friendly. I ordered the hot chicken tenders with medium spice; it came out pretty quickly. They didn't have plastic knives when I went, so eating the tenders was a bit tricky. This dish consisted of two tenders served atop toast with a couple of pickles and some sauce on the side. It cost $10, which was very reasonable. The tenders were awesome. Nicely sized, battered, and fried. They were juicy and tender, and the flavor was outstanding. I've tried a few hot chicken places like Dave's and Hangry Joe's, but Hot Chi has a very unique flavor. It seemed to be a mix of spicy, tangy, and a bit sweet. The side sauce was pretty good, too. And the medium spice level was actually medium spicy.

Located in Revival Food Hall, this is a yummy spot to stop by for lunch if you work in the Loop or anywhere downtown! I liked that you found customize how spicy you wanted the chicken (based on a scale with about 5 options) and the unique twist on the items (e.g., harissa glaze on the Popeyes Ain't Sh!t). Service was great and despite being a busy lunch spot, moved quickly! I will definitely be back!

It's really disappointing when you read good reviews and then you walk for 15 mins and get to the restaurant and that becomes the end of your excitement. The lines were all empty but I still stood there abd waited for the cashier to call me, to my surprise I looked into my eyes and ignored. Another gentleman came from the back kitchen looked at me a again ignored. I tried to initiate the conversation with the first gentleman, again ignored but I guess 3rd time is the charm. So finally he said how can I help you, I asked about the halal food and he saif the sandwiches are halal. So I ordered 2 of their sandwiches he asked me how spicy I want them to be and I said mild. Got my sandwiches from him immediately and then came to my table with my partner. Hahahaha no fries or anything else but a small sandwich in a big box starring at me. I picked it up and took a bite and wow the amount of vinegar in it was outrageous so I thought I should try the seconf one and hahaha again same the amount of vinegar was mind blowing. The chicken was crispy on the top but inside very soggy. The buns were small and thr presentation was below average and they charged me almost $27 for this. This was my first and last visit to this establishment. This is outrageous and disappointing at the same time.

Stopped in during peak lunch period, but that always means the food is fresh! I ordered the Cheat Day Fries with the chicken at medium heat. it came piled high with crinkle-cut fries, lots of sauces, chopped up chicken tenders and a sprinkling of cilantro. This was a tasty bowl! I would say the Alabama white bbq sauce overwhelmed the cheese sauce for me, so I would've liked less of that and more of the cheese sauce. The spice on the chicken was good. I like some good spice, and I think the medium had a nice kick, but not a suffering burn. The taste of the chicken, to me, was more like buffalo chicken than Nashville chicken. It had that vinegar tang from hot sauce instead of the slightly sweet spice rub. not a complaint, just an observation. I also had a peachy sweet tea, which, as a southerner, I thought was pretty spot on, but I was disheartened to see about half an inch of empty cup when they handed me my meal. I saw on the menu they had a buttermilk mac and cheese that sounded really interesting. I don't know if it would be feasible for the restaurant, but a dish like the Cheat Day fries with the mac and cheese instead would be amazing, right??? I love sitting in Revival during a busy rush. Great people watching!

Best hot chicken sando in Chicago! We tried both of them at Revival Food Hall before heading to The Nederlander for a fun musical, and they hit the spot. Both of the glazes, the honey butter and harissa, were amazing. The watermelon sugar drink was the perfect accompaniment. If you like crinkle cut fries, you'll love theirs. I know where to go next time I'm craving hot chicken!

I got the cheat day fries the first time I tried this place and while they were good, they are bathed in sauce, too much sauce to the point where the fries are totally soggy. So if soggy fries is your thing then this is your dish. Second time around I got fries and they were good. Third time I got fries and mac and cheese. The fries weren't salted or hot and the mac and cheese was warm at best. This it's important because my order wasn't ready when I arrived, which means that my food should have been hot by the time I got back to my office across the street.

Ordered the Nashville hot tenders with the hot spicy level. While I was expecting these tenders to have more heat, they were still good. I enjoy spicy food so had I known that the hot spice level to me personally wasn't very spicy. I would've kicked it up to the top one.

Carry-out hot chicken in Revival Hall is tasty, but so saucy that the breading is falling off. I guess I'm spoiled by the hot crispy Korean chicken we have in Northern Virginia like Wooboi and Chong Man. Busy, but service was quick.

I don't know...when I looked on Instagram and saw the "commercial", I was so excited. couldn't wait to go and try this chicken sandwich. I looked better than Popeyes. well I finally went and it was just meh. Even my teenage boys were not impressed. It was like a fried chicken sand with hot sauce. I tried to get the fries, but they said they were no longer making for the day. Whattt?? Soooo... you didn't run out..you're just no longer making it for the remainder of the day? Who does this? Nahhhh. I shall not return.

Service was quick. Ordered the Popeye's Ain't Sh*t sandwich at medium heat which was phenomenal. The chicken was a generously portioned, was well-battered & crunchy, and that sauce... I'll be thinking about it over from SF. Was surprised to see the low reviews on this place, but all-in-all this was probably my favorite food stop in Chicago and I only ordered the sandwich to be fair. Will be back for my next visit!

I ordered the chicken tenders with the medium sauce & side of fries. This chicken was seasoned wonderfully & tenders were soooo tender. The fries had a crispy & good as well.

On 5-24, I ordered lunch (via DoorDash) for my co-worker and I. I placed an order for 1 Popeye's Ain't Sh1t sandwich, 1 Nashville Hot Tenders and 2 Crinkle Cut Fries. When the Dasher arrived, she only had the Tenders (and those were cold). The Dasher said that the restuarant was VERY busy and the restaurant said that I did not order the sandwich and fries. This was my first time trying Hot Chi and it will be my last.