Hot Chicken Takeover

Ordering is kiosk-only. The lids were messy, and the floor felt very sticky, which made the space seem a bit neglected. I also noticed a large fridge being used in the back, which made me wonder how fresh the food really is. Chicken Tenders: came out hot and moist. Still, Hatty B’s holds the top spot for me. Pickles: Much sweeter than expected—if you like sweet pickles, you’ll enjoy them. Hush Puppies: These were a standout. Super crispy and well-seasoned. Fries: The wavy cut was fun, but they were pale, under-seasoned, and needed to be crispier. Mac & Cheese: Creamy and cheesy, just how it should be. But why was it served in prepackaged containers? Sauces The hot honey ranch was excellent. Their regular ranch and comeback sauce were also surprisingly good.

Nestled up in the rafters of the North Market, this joint is no-frills with great food. The hush-puppies are great. The chicken is well seasoned, crispy, and moist. I really enjoyed the Banana Pudding

This is a must-stop for me in Columbus. I look forward to it on every visit. Chicken is excellent, staff is friendly, and if you eat there you get free sweet tea. Perfection.

The food came highly recommended from a friend. From the get go I knew I was going to be disappointed when the bun was cold. Couldn’t even bother to toast the sandwich. Then the sandwich came with the toughest and stringiest chicken I have ever consumed in my life. Lastly some of my fries had a cold center. The only good thing about this sandwich was the spice mix which had so much potential. When the ranch dip for the fries steals the show we have a problem. Forget the restaurant, at this point even my friend has lost credibility to make recommendations for places to try. Extremely disappointed!

Very yummy. The lunch special (pictured, available M-W) is unbeatable. Order ahead online is prompt and efficient. This brand is very good across the board. This location is probably the worst, though. Seems they are overwhelmed, and it bleeds over to their customer experience. Often wait past quoted time to pick up food, and am not greeted when arriving or updated as to the status of my order. And am looked at with a blank stare or ignored until my order finally comes.

These reviews are outdated! I hadn’t been to HCTO in a few years and had been craving it. As soon as I walked in I could tell something had changed.. The place was in disarray, lights out everywhere, dirty tables, sticky floor and most noticeably - absent of customers. (Back in the day the line would be out the door) Then when ordering I noticed the menu was quite different. Only one person working the register and didn’t seem happy to be there. Food took a long to be ready (partially forgot half of my order) and the sizing was TINY! Chicken looked and tasted completely different. I knew something was off and as I ate did a little research and noticed the ownership has recently changed. I knew I wasn’t crazy! Finally, I realized that this was my last time ever eating HCTO and shed a tear.

We read every one star review for HCT and I can definitively say. 1. The chicken is crispy 2. The chicken pieces are a good size 3. The spice level for “holy” was tolerable to me, a novice spice eater. It did however leave my lips burning and make my ears ring a bit. 4. The Mac is an easy mac style, not a baked mac, but nevertheless having a strong cheese flavor and just the right amount of salt. I suggest you order drinks before checkout, because you will need something to cool the spice, and unless you’ve paid for drinks, you’ll be sipping on iced tap water. It’s a nice spot, inside the North Mall on the second floor and I would definitely go again. Oh, don’t be reluctant to park in the parking garage. The 20$ fee is repulsive at best, but the North Mall shops validate your parking and you can get the first hour free. We stayed for an hour and 5 minutes and paid just 1$. That’s a win to be only walking distance from the door.

Everything was burnt and cold and chicken sandwiches were so dry and tough. Mac and cheese used to be great now it’s boxed Kraft Mac.

Last night was my first experience at Hot Chicken takeover at the Gahanna location and I have to say it was a great experience. We arrived 20 minutes before closing even though they were out of a few items, which is to be expected, Sissy took real good care of us and made awesome suggestions of what we should try. ​The food was perfectly seasoned, ​hot and well worth the trip, but it was the professionalism of sissy and her crew that stood out even more than the delicious food! We will definitely be returning!

Pro: price, homemade ranch. Grow: needs a greeter or register person. Everyone works back kitchen. Tip: check in to Yelp for $5 off! I missed that deal, my lunch could have been $5 I was shocked by this deal, $10 for 3 spicy tendies, waffle fries, and a sweet tea! Not sure if these are the typical prices in Ohio but coming from California I was overwhelmed with joy! This restaurant is located on the second floor within the popular North Market. The restaurant is very spacious and you order yourself at the computer. There were no workers to greet me or guide me in the ordering process which did make it a bit awkward. Food: I loved everything! The "hot level" was not hot for me so I had to order the next heat level. The waitress was very nice and brought me the next heat level sauce at no extra charge! The heat level "holy" is perfect for those that enjoy a kick. The house ranch was my favorite! It paired the hot chicken perfectly and was flavorful. The waffle fries were crispy and generous. Sweet tea was delicious and I loved that they also have an unsweetened option, I did 75% unsweetened and 25% sweet. Overall, this was tasty and a great deal!

This place is really good! Exactly what I wanted. It's casual, quick, and delicious! The chicken is really flavorful and the fries are wonderful! I ordered the sliders, heat index warm spice, and a side of ranch which I poured over top the chicken. The ranch is homemade and so yum! The chicken spice was plenty for me, especially with the hot honey, but if you like a lot of spice I'd go a level or so up. It's a little pricey for what it is but you do get a lot of fries (they're a separate cost) and the sliders are a good size. My order came out really quickly. I think I spent $20 after all was said and done. It's located on the SECOND floor of North Market (my first time here so I wasn't sure). It has its own space with tables and chairs, unlike many of the other places in the market. I walked to the market but didn't notice any direct parking specifically for the market itself, so keep that in mind (there may be a garage nearby). Definitely give this place a shot!

Very good hot chicken. I didn't pay attention when I ordered the OG Chicken Sandwich and when it came I was shocked to see four pieces of bread. That's not a bad thing, I just didn't pay attention. I was able to deconstruct the sandwich and share with the extra bread. The Mac and cheese was really good. Sweet tea was stay as well. Nice spot upstairs at the North Market.

I was very pleased with my experience at Hot Chicken Takeover. We ordered the Jumbo Tender Sandwich and felt like I got a bang for my buck because it was huge. I tried the normal Southern flavor and enjoyed the tenderness of the chicken. My favorite part was the chipotle slaw that came on the side. We also got the warm OG Sandwich and the spice was very nice--nothing that stung, but enough to add a kick to each bite. I would also recommend their waffle fries with house ranch. I have a severe nut allergy and did not realize the waffle fries may come in contact with nuts (I found this out as I was writing this review) so make sure to ask if you have any dietary concerns. They seem to be good at gluten-free too. I would only take off 1/2 a star since the tables were pretty messy when we went.

This place has its own dedicated 2nd floor with ample seating, which speaks volumes to the popularity of the place. Fortunately there was no line when I went, and I ordered the 2 pc chicken tenders (warm spicy level which is their most popular) and creamy coleslaw for the side. Even the 2 pc chicken tenders come with the usual white bread and pickles which were fairly standard. You can request for ranch dipping sauce for the tenders which I did, at no additional charge. The chicken tenders were good but the batter is not that thick and flavorful, so the ranch sauce helped carry the chicken tender flavors a lot. The coleslaw is fairly creamy but tasted just like regular coleslaw, which is okay. Make sure to check in on Yelp for $5 off! Value is excellent and food comes out fast, so this is a great meal on the go, but don't expect it to be top notch hot chicken by any means.

I really wanted to like this. Probably deserves a 3.5! Service was great! Food is pricey, hott temperature is legit! And I love it HOTT! Wings were tasty but small. Lemonade was not good. Beans - pass. Ambiance was good, environment relaxed. I'd try it again if I'm in Columbus, again.

Stopped by Hot Chicken Takeover at the North Market Downtown location as they partnered up with the Yelp Gets Hot series Always great to explore new businesses or revisit place that I been to. The menu is pretty simple, just pick your meat, heat level, and sides. I actually never try their chicken sandwich before and they now also offer the jumbo tender sandwich. I got the Jumbo tender sandwich and it is good. When they said jumbo tender, it meant it And the sandwich included two tenders. I can hardly hold on to the sandwich without cutting it in half. The tender itself is super juicy inside with a crispy coating. Along with the pickled onions, slaw, pickle and the creamy chipotle sauce.

I have been to Hot Chicken Takeover so many times in different locations but never had the opportunity to try it at North Market. Finally came to for lunch on a Sunday and it was pretty quiet inside, very clean and plenty of space to seat and eat. Parking is available at Vine Street Garage and I believe all the vendors at North Market should be able to validate parking. Ok now for the food, I ordered the chicken sandwich but I opted for the Range dressing, because I just love HCT's ranch. I can have the ranch with everything. The sandwich came with 2 sliced of white bread on both sides, pickles and slaw. I have never had the sandwich before this event, and let me tell you, the sandwich is huge. You will make a mess, but it's worth it! It was delicious especially when you pair it with their sweet tea! As always the staff at any HCT are very friendly and prompt, this location was no exception. Good food and good service, can't beat that! Can't wait to visit HCT again!

As much as I have eaten at Hot Chicken Takeover over the years, I somehow never tried out the "OG" location in the North Market downtown area. For me, there have always been other more unique dining options at North Market to try instead of HCT (there are 2 HCT locations within 5 miles from my home). I finally had the chance to check out the downtown location, and I loved it. The staff here is friendly and accommodating - a hallmark of the staff that work at any of the HCT locations around Columbus. The chicken sandwich comes with 4 slices of bread, pickles, and slaw. It was delicious and very filling (if you complement the sandwich with sides, it can easily be two meals for one person). We also ended up getting the sweet tea (best in town), the baked beans, and the banana pudding. Parking in North Market is a hassle, especially now that North Market no longer has its parking lot. While the restaurant validates parking, I was told by the parking garage attendant that the validation was for $1 only, and I still had to pay $2 for a spot in the Vine St. parking garage. Minor inconvenience, and certainly a first world problem but I just wanted to make others aware.

First time in my many trips to Cbus. Fantastic! Had chicken over waffles with hot sauce. Great!

Not bad chicken, just not comparable to what you can get in the south. They also mixed up our orders and I received the mild instead of the medium. On the menu it says that the medium is spicier than the normal medium, which may be true in comparison to other local chicken joints, but to me it was less spicy than the average medium in the south. The mild is not spicy at all. That being said, the chicken is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, so it is cooked well. The mac and cheese was ok.

Good fried chicken for the Midwest but after living in the South for a few years, it is sadly not as good as I remember lol definitely recommend getting at least a little bit of spice or else it just doesnt hit right. The side of ranch is nice tho!

Staying at a nearby hotel for business, and after driving 5 hours from Erie, PA, I had no intention of going out again. Searching through Yelp and Doordash, I found a tasty-sounding menu at Hot Chicken Takeover. I can't comment on the service beyond "They followed instructions." Ditto, no comment on the ambiance. The food, though, that I can comment on. I ordered chicken tenders, medium spice. It was cooked perfectly, juicy, with just the right amount of spice. YMMV. It came with waffle fries that were hot and crunchy. What I did wrong was to get sucked into ordering fried pickle chips, because I love some good ones. As you might imagine by my tone here, they were not good. They could have been; they were fried nicely. The problem was they were entirely too salty. Inedibly salty for my taste. So order chicken and pass on the pickles.

10/10 taste spice good service w The waiter was super nice Stephanie H wad very kind and gave me 2 free wings

Really enjoyed the flavor profile of the hot chicken. Service was fast and friendly. Drumstick had great crunch. My only critique is that I expected more heat for their hottest level...more more a spice rub...

Biggest juiciest most flavorful tenders I've ever had. This was such a grand slam. Hopefully everyone gets the chance to experience this chicken heaven...

The chicken is excellent, I really enjoyed the mild rub. The beans tasted homemade and were decent. The banana pudding though...it was FANTASTIC!!

I have nothing but good things to say about Hot Chicken Takeover in the North Market! The food was really good, especially the fries! If you are a pickle lover, trust me and ask for extra pickles! The ranch is also really good but a little runny for what I like! I would also like to mention the service was outstanding! Two employees running the whole store by themselves and still managed to provide fast and excellent service!

I wish this restaurant concept was at our hometown instead of the other one we have. It is night and day difference. I always use yelp, especially when traveling to find the best places to eat and this was one of them. Inside the North Market, they have mostly the upper floor with seating. I had the warm chicken sandwich with mac and cheese. My husband ordered the hot sandwich with baked beans. It was very busy but definitely worth the wait. The chicken was tender and super juicy. Spice level was just right for me. Sides were on point with the mac as my favorite. My only complaint was the bread get soggy fast since the sauce is on it as well and was hard to eat but nothing utensils can't fix. We will be back if we are in the area again

This is a very dirty location, I couldn't stop looking at the floors & all our food was being served behind a dirty black curtain...the wait took incredibly long for 1 meal, I couldn't believe it. It wasn't busy by any means, it was a Tuesday night. I will not be back at this location or much if any. The prices are very expensive for what you get. I can eat at a restaurant for the same thing.

Kevin has such great customer service. The food was delicious. Thanks for making us feel so welcome

Better than that other chicken place down south. I know those might be fighting words but in my own opinion Hot Chicken Takeover is taking the chicken to a next level. The chicken is fried harder giving it a nice crispy texture and the spices in their sauces are more complex and robust. Columbus you really have a special place here and I see why the reviews are so high. Going into trying here I assumed the reviews my be inflated due to the lack of hot chicken in the area but I found it better than some of the more established places in this space. Keep up the good work! Would love to see one come to the Atlanta Area soon. I remember when I lived in Columbus talking about when Jenis ice cream would expand and now they are killing it down south. I have a feeling Hot Chicken Takeover would do the same too!

I wish I had a better update but guess what? The prices have now gone even HIGHER! It's hard to believe that a meal that cost $11.25 in December 2019 could now be a whopping $18.25 but that's the shameful reality here. Surely this must be because of those "difficult times" that their Yelp PR lady blamed earlier... Funny, it doesn't seem like the "difficult times" have affected Untamed Brands (who bought Hot Chicken Takeover in 2021) as they've been happily sharing news of their profits and growth in press releases...

Excellent chicken, hot is like a slow burn 6/10.. really nice heat. Great slaw. Mac n cheese is the greatest ever

was in the 'bus for something else and a Yelp search for hot dogs showed "Hot Chicken Takeover" as the first non-sponsered suggestion?!? I took the hamster hint and found myself a few blocks over in a differently sketchy part of town, wandered into the market and followed the signage topside to investigate further. while comparing notes on the menu and the self service terminal a young lady came out to help me decide on how much of what to get for the ride home before settling into a pleasant conversation about finance, bad magics, and the fuzzy bunny. as we're yucking it up the food guy comes out with my sack o' snacks: OG chick-san stupid-hot, a pot of baked beans, plus bañaña pudding... should maybe have asked for it deconstructed for ease of transport - not sure it would have mattered much as the breads didn't get all soaky-wet but did kinda stick to the lid (baby carrots and celery sticks kept me out of the box all the way home.) Sunday morning I had my sandwich straight out of the fridge for breakfast. I was hoping for an eye-opener but was mildly let down since the heat level hovered somewhere between Colonel Salty's and General Tso's... maybe this doesn't travel well or maybe there's just something wrong with me but I was expecting something more lava-ier when I asked for extra-hot. still, nice flavor and texture on the chicken (spicy warmth courtesy of Avery Island, Louisiana) and the baked beans were excellent. my lovely bride snagged the pudding so I can't say one way or the other on that but she was all dreamy eyed making happy sounds...

45 minute wait The wait caused me to miss a session that I wanted to go to at a conference across the street. Good food but the wait was too much for me.

We were checked in awaiting our jumbo chicken tender sandwich, spice level hot! Fries and a delicious sweet tea! The service was awesome, the manager brought me and my daughter multiple fresh cups of sweet tea, while dining.

We've been wanting to check HTC out for awhile but somehow hadn't made it in. I was glad that this Yelp event gave us an extra push and excuse to finally go and a nice reason the venture over the the North Market. The location is perfectly perched on the upstairs level of the North Market and is the perfect blend of branded decor with original fixtures from the market. It's bright, open, unassuming and filled with character! Everyone was super friendly, attentive and energetic from the order counter to the kitchen team. Not to mention, I saw every team member checking in on diners, tidying up and helping eachother. I've always been a big Motown fan and enjoyed the playlist while we waited. I was not expecting how much food would be served! The tender sandwich is a massive mound of extra crispy, juicy chicken, slaw, a large amount of pickles and 4 slices of bread! The chicken is cooked to absolute perfection and the slaw is a tangy ever so slightly sweet balancing act against the spice. I love a good buffalo wing, buffalo wrap and mild spice so I ordered the warm but be forewarned this is significantly hotter then mild and accurate to their claims I would say is hotter than most mediums so order accordingly. The tender sandwich is good although it is a bit difficult to eat even with the extra bread. Between the juicy chicken, spicy sauce, and the slaw, the sandwich simply would not stay together. The basic white bread kept dissolving and falling apart. Ultimately I sipped the soggy bread and ate the contents separately with a fork. I'd love to try it again IF they ever switched to a proper bun with a little more heft to hold the contents. My husband ordered the tenders with fries and a Cheerywine to wash it down. He loved it and raved about the incredible quality of the tenders especially in comparison to most others offered anywhere else. These are huge tenders.

Never had a bad meal or experience at a HCT! Good every single time! Soooo good! I'm glad they opened one in Grandview not far from me!

One of the best places to get an honest to goodness SPICY chicken sandwich! Don't try to be brave and get the hottest sandwhich they offer because this is not one of those places that exaggerate, it really is spicy! Super delicious and wet with spicy saucy sauce and HUGE. This is not something you take to go. Too big and messy. You definitely need to dine in over a table I wish one of these was in Cincinnati. Hopefully they will come down one day, but every time i go to Columbus i stop by here. And for a refreshing change their beverages are free! Go and check it out

I've been to quite a few hot chicken places around the country and this place was a miss this time. It had a great ambiance and atmosphere and the service was extremely friendly but the food is where it fell short. I usually get tenders and a sandwich when I visit a hot chicken place and here was no different. The sandwich comes with a jumbo tender on slices of white bread (not toasted) with pickles and slaw. The chicken on my sandwich was over cooked and dry. Seasoning was good however when I opened my box the bread was absolutely DRENCHED in the liquid from the slaw and pickles that I had to take it off because it was just sticking to the roof of my mouth. It was a soggy meal for sure. The fries looked like they were closing shop and I got what was left at the bottom. Again a soggy mess. Now for the tenders, I understand hot chicken is literally coated in seasoning but these tenders were just SALTY and I'm not even being petty at this point it was just hard to believe. This place had great reviews and idk if they were just having an off day or what but I left disappointed and felt like I wasted money. Try it for yourself you might have a different experience! Happy Eating!

Oh yum!!! Great hot chicken for that Nashville hot chicken fix!! I make a point to eat here when I'm visiting Columbus.. I haven't been able to find a restaurant similar in Florida

This is the go-to for my friends and I! The full chicken meal is such a good option for a group of 4/5 and their pickles always hit. I think that the spices have gotten a bit hotter, so where I used to order medium, I now order medium-mild, but it was an easy adjustment:) It's an easy to-go spot, so we don't often eat in-house.

For the month of April, HCT launched jumbo tenders and fries to celebrate their 8th birthday! So I got the tenders and my always go-to side dishes. The tenders were fried nicely but I wish there was more seasoning on the chicken.

Very great service and the food was amazing. I'm from Texas and this has been the best chicken I've had in Ohio . The people are amazing here and the chef as we say in Texas put his foot in that chicken. (That's a good thing by the way)... lol. Keep up the good work and amazing chicken .

service was awesome more than awesome kevin made sure we were not only comfortable but satisfied, and the food was absolutely remarkable, I would definitely return with other Hot chicken lovers. Thank You Kevin. Baker/Beauregard

While the have good chicken and sides, it missed the mark for me. The chicken and sauces weren't spicy enough and the coleslaw was heavy on the vinegar. Still, if you are in Columbus and looking for fried chicken go check them out.

I had the pleasure of experiencing exceptional customer service from Alex during my visit to Hot Chicken Take Off. From the moment I walked in, Alex's warm and welcoming demeanor made me feel right at home. Not only did he take the time to explain the menu with enthusiasm, but he also went above and beyond to ensure that my dietary preferences were accommodated. Throughout my meal, Alex checked in on me, ensuring that everything was to my satisfaction. His attention to detail and genuine interest in making my dining experience enjoyable truly stood out. It's evident that he takes pride in his work and cares deeply about customer satisfaction. Alex's professionalism, patience, and friendly attitude are a testament to his dedication to providing top-notch service. The combination of delicious food and his outstanding service has made this visit to Hot Chicken Take Off an unforgettable one. I would highly recommend Alex and Hot Chicken Take Off to anyone looking for a delightful dining experience.

Delicious as usual! We went this past Sunday for lunch and it wasn't as busy at it usually is. We got our food quickly and was able to find a spot inside the restaurant to sit and eat. The guy that took our order was super nice and had a great attitude!

I've loved htc in the past, however the last few times I have had it, it's been terrible. Once you have bad htc a few times, it's never the same. The Gahanna location is a total cluster-f-bomb. I waited 30 minutes for chicken that was sitting on the counter the whole time. I can get cold chicken elsewhere and save my money.

Food was just barely average and they forgot the bread pudding I ordered. They also packed to go order in a way that everything spilled everywhere. It was a mess. I called them and they did their best to fix it and gave me my next order free but I've never gone back to redeem it. I didn't think the food was good enough and I am worried that when I go to redeem free order they will have forgotten or there will be some issue so I'm just moving on. There's another hot chicken place in grandview that I have t had issues with.

I went to the North Market because I hadn't been for a while. This was my first experience with hot chicken takeover and I'm glad I stopped. I ordered the lil chick meal or the kids meal. It has 1 piece of chicken, bread a side and of course sweet tea. I'm usually not a tea fan but omg this tea was super sweet and refreshing! I even had seconds! Free tea with every meal is quite the offer. Their Mac n cheese was also very tasty, not the best I've had but up there. Their bread was just bread...I didn't eat it. Their chicken! Oh their chicken was crispy and spicy and a very good flavor. I'll be back at some point. :)

10/10 recommend. Packed with flavor will return at anytime just for this. Customer service was prompt as well

Great food delicious sides and yummy dessert The service was very fast and courteous.

We were up from Cincinnati for a Blue Jackets game and wanted to check out this place and I'm so glad we did. It's real deal, authentic Nashville hot chicken made fresh to order and it's fantastic! This is what every other hot chicken place is trying to be and every side we tasted was perfect! I cannot recommend this place enough.

For fast casual you can't find better fried chicken. Best fries ever. I could bathe in the ranch.

Hot Chicken Takeover is a staple of Columbus cuisine, I've never had a bad experience. My wife and I visited the Gahanna location for the first time today and the GM Stephanie and her team were awesome! Stephanie was kind and lighthearted, her service was as good as the chicken. Hot, crispy, great portions and high quality chicken breast. You can't go wrong when you order here, but if you have never had the Chicken and Waffles....its unreal. Thankful for Stephanie and her team!

Hot Chicken Takeover is great for hot chicken and southern sides. Their mac & cheese is also great. I've had it 3-5 times now and the service is consistent. When the restaurant is busy, the tables can sometimes need cleaning. Otherwise a solid choice.

We ordered the Chicken sandwich warm! It was slightly spicy, but at the level of a Chick-fil-A spicy sandwich. It's a pretty big sandwich and was delicious. The Mac n cheese are delicious and have a homemade taste to it. Located on the upper floor of the North Market!