Original Clyde's Hot Chicken

Food is just okay. Chicken is a little dry, and while the breading is good the chicken itself doesn't seem particularly well seasoned. I will say though, while the staff is a bit slow, it's not as though they're just standing around on their phones or something, they really seemed to be doing their best. Maybe I was fortunate but the woman who served me was very nice. But overall, a pretty average experience.

Updated review as of 6/14/2025 - was 5 stars...now 1. Waited almost 30 minutes and had to get a refund. That is an absurd amount of time for chicken stripe. There was 1 car in the drive thru and no one else in the store when we went. No excuse was given for the excessive amount of time. Sad to see this place go downhill so fast. First time here, and it was GREAT!! We got the 2 strip meal (original heat) with the mac and cheese. Chicken was fresh, juicy, and flavorful. The real star though was the mac n cheese...sooooo good! Store was clean and the staff was welcoming. Will make sure to come back when we are in the area.

I was in the area and stopped in for a quick lunch. very few customers when I went around 2pm. the cashier was friendly and helpful. I kind of had high hopes for this place but unfortunately the chicken wasn't to my liking. I got the Clyde's Original combo with waffle fries and a drink, with a house sauce on the side. the chicken looked and tasted dry, and the seasoning was mostly this bitter heat that I didn't understand in my mouth. waffle fries were perfectly crispy, a tad underseasoned. house sauce didn't feel balanced, more sour/vinegary than I liked. I don't think I would go out of my way to come back but I'm definitely not completely against giving this place another try in the distant future.

Been to the Montclair ca location several times and never had an issue. But for some reason on the date of Oct 14 2025 there were two employees. A cook and a cashier. The Cashier was not very knowledgeable, and couldn't really answer questions I had about certain food. So now to the issue..I was a little pressed for time. For my order to be prepared and finished took over 21 minutes! My wife actually had to get up and stand up to get the cashier's attention. Once she saw my wife, she told my wife the food was almost done. I almost decided to ask for a refund and leave without food.

I ordered the chicken bites, macaroni salad, fries, and a vanilla milk shake. Firstly, the service was super slow. I really liked the fries, they were crispy. The macaroni salad was gross tho. I think the chicken was tiny and overall, not worth the price. I don't think I'll be visiting it again. that's a shame cus the employees are pretty nice.

Came in yesterday ordered some food… food was just OK as far as the chicken sandwich… kind of felt a little bit over Fried????.. called a couple days later to put in a phone order and they don’t even pick up the phone… walked in the restaurant call the store and the phone wasn’t working… and the guy at the counter was like sorry????? Wow…. Btw… went to howling Rays, but their chicken sandwich by itself cost $14 but it was twice as big and twice as juicy now I get it

My absolute favorite chicken place and I can't go anywhere else now because they do not compare. The food is always fresh and delicious, the prices aren't cheap but the portions are good. I recommend ordering online because they do make everything fresh and so it takes a while to wait unless you order ahead. The soda machine hasn't been working recently but the seating area and bathrooms are clean.

Super cute little spot for some hot chicken. The chicken was not as spicy as I had hoped but it was still tasty and juicy. Fries were good and definitely will want to try the waffles next time. Sadly the time we went they had ran out. Definitely a must try place!

I like this location more off the bat. It has ample space and better access situation than the Fullerton location has. It's not Fullerton's fault though; they had to make do with the space they had. The food is great still. I even got a chance to try the tenders here. They were pretty damn good. I still Dave's has the best in the hot chicken market, but Clyde's were very close. Sure, they were smaller than Dave's, but they made up for it by including an extra one for me. That's a badass move from the staff, which they say is the standard because they know the strips come in a bit on the small side. For what it's worth, I think this is the Clyde's I'll be frequenting because of the spacing and atmosphere, but also just because of the distance and same quality menu.

One of my favorite places to get chicken strips. They have four levels of heat for your comfort. I tried the Hot As Cluck level and it had a kick to it. I like that it's a dry rub instead of sauce drenched chicken strips. Shout out the the amazing staff for a wonderful experience. I appreciate my food being done when it is ordered. You can really taste the quality.

I got the 12 pc wings and it was packed with flavor. It was spicy, sweet, and well seasoned. The wings were also really juicy. I asked for pickles on top and they were the fat juicy kind that you can find at Disneyland. Overall, I would come back for the food but be aware that it's fried made to order so it takes about 20min. Or they have online ordering so maybe I'll do that next time. They also have all day breakfast.

SO good! The spice levels hurt in a good way; we like to dabble with the different levels depending on how we're feeling that day, but the favorite is the original, especially with the chicken strips or sandwich. Great spot for fans of seasoning and spice!

Had the Clyde's Original Chicken sandwich. Was really tasty but I'd probably go up on the heat level to the next one up from original. Staff was friendly but we almost drove by the place. They have a black sign against a black wall and we couldn't read it at all. By the time we were done with our dinner, it was dark outside but the sign still wasn't lighted. They might get more customers if people could read the name of the place!

Lunchtime seen this spot decided to check them out so glade I did There chicken tenders are soooo delicious Just be have patience tho it took 20 minutes to get my food

First time trying this establishment. Food is everything I expected. I used the drive thru and that proved to be easy and efficient. I am definitely coming back.

Alright, folks, let me give you the lowdown on Clyde's Hot Chicken - it's a game-changer! First off, the vibe is spot on - think laid-back with just the right amount of spice in the air. Now, onto the star of the show - the chicken. Holy smokes, talk about flavor explosion! Whether you're a heat-seeker or prefer to play it safe, Clyde's has got you covered with their range of spice levels. And let's not forget about the sides - crispy fries, creamy coleslaw, you name it - they're all legit. Plus, the portions are generous, so you're leaving with a happy belly every time. Oh, and did I mention the staff? Super friendly and always down for a chat. Bottom line: Clyde's Hot Chicken is where it's at if you're craving some serious flavor and good vibes. Five stars all the way!

This place is horrible. I was the only one in line in the drive thru and waited 25 minutes for a kids grilled cheese! To top it off the grilled cheese sucked! You would think they would add more cheese and not use stale bread. Do not recommend

The cashier was super friendly and helped us select our entrees and even described the sauces in depth to us . Food was fresh , hot and delicious! It even looked pretty . The dining area was clean also . Prices were on the higher side , total came out to $35 for 1 combo & 1 entree .

The only food that's good there is the waffles and the Mac and cheese everything else is not that good fries were hard as a rock buns were hard coleslaw was dry no flavor the chicken taste old it wasn't fresh I spent $64 dollars and it wasn't worth it the food is overpriced no wonder business is slow there I rather go to canes if you're thinking of trying this I don't recommend it don't waste your money

Let me tell you, my husband and I have tried MANY hot chicken places and Clyde's is hands down, our favorite! Difference between Clyde's and other hot chicken? It's the flavor. Most hot chicken places focus on heat and in the process, fail to authenticate a unique flavor. With Clyde's, you can taste the brown sugar and the spices with every bite. Don't get me wrong. Clyde delivers heat, but somehow, they can balance flavor as well. I personally am not big on heat so I love Clyde's Original. It has a tiny bit of a kick and packed with flavor. I did make the mistake of eating a piece of the 1930 and oh my geee, it was pretty hot!! This is our go to and highly recommend!

Holy inflation, Batman! The family pack is $50 now! Last year, it was $32... That used to be a semi-affordable option for us, but now, this might be the last time we come here. A few months ago, it went up to $42. We gritted our teeth, but we still came. Personally, I feel like $50 is way too much for a few chicken strips and french fries. Plus, they tend to run out of things. Today, they're out of mac n cheese. Last time, they didn't have any sauce! The food is generally decent, but about a third of the time, parts of the chicken are too hard to eat. At these prices, these need to get it right every single time. Also, when they're out of something, they should put a sign out before you enter the drive-thru. We would never have bought the family meal (or anything, really) with no sauce. The spice level is also off sometimes. We have tried all of them, and we prefer the original, but today we were given hot as cluck. It's not a huge deal to me, but my kids and husband have a harder time with that. For these prices, reviews are not going to be very forgiving of mistakes, nor should they be.

The food is always great and the service is great! I only gave 4 stars bc of the lack of employees the wait does tend to get long, but it's understandable and they are typically super apologetic and kind!

Food took a while but was okay. Like any other Nashville chicken place. But the soda fountain was covered in mold. Super gross

Huge chicken strips and really good portions for the Sandwiches. Not too spicy but not bland either. Very well seasoned. Who ever was in the drive thru when i went on 8/9 around 7is. Thank You. You were really kind and polite. We had 2 orders and they were just a tad bit complicated due to a picky eater. But you were patient and got the order perfectly. We'll be regulars for sure.

The service was great but the food was gross. The place smells of oil and not the good kind. The food tasted how it smelled. I asked for extra sauce and she handed me expired sauce. I can't imagine how their chicken is Handled if they don't even check the date on their sauce. Will not be coming back.

The food is always a hit when me and my husband come whenever we come there is a small line but we don't mind as long as it's hot and fresh as soon as we get it. The customer service is excellent whenever they are out of something the cashier will let us know nicely and ask if we want anything else or anything which is really refreshing coming from a fast food place. It's not the fastest but it's worth it every time

Let's start off with the customer service the girl that's a Cashier that's currently injured with crutches was extremely rude and not willing to help me in a timely matter when there was other people able to assist me it came across like that I was bothering her or inconveniencing her from taking drive-through orders second of all the food is over priced and not delicious. If I'm going to pay $16 for chicken and waffles I expect it to be delicious I was extremely dissatisfied

Went there for the first time yesterday and the food was very good but very pricey we got two 4 piece chicken combos and it was very expensive but the chicken strips had a good favor a good chili heat balance and it tasted really fresh and hot I want to go back but I don't think I could afford it on a regular basis

This chicken spot is good. I've heard that people don't really like their fried or bread . I came for Chicken not bread or sauce. And I was not disappointed. This chickens flavor is really good and has a hint of sweetness like brown sugar ? I've never been inside so I don't know what that's like. The drive thru does take some time but nothing to get upset over. I've had Dave's hot chicken and although their spiciest is hotter than Clyde's, Clyde's hottest spice has better flavor (while still holding a nice kick) Dave's still tasted like chicken (gamey) while Clyde's was all flavor and seasoning. Service is alright but it's a fast food drive thru , what do you expect. Order , get your chicken and be on your marry way.

I have been coming here since they opened and have NEVER been disappointed! They are better than the competitors out there if you know what chicken place I'm talking about , they can't touch how good the seasoning is on the hot as cluck! I would eat here everyday if I could! Never had a problem with customer service everybody so nice when they serve the food

It was 90 degrees outside and a friend and I decided to get some hot chicken.. crazy right?! Clyde's is currently recommending take-out or their drive-thru as opposed to dine in, so we decided to walk in and grab our chicken to go. Otherwise, this location has a decent sized indoor and outdoor seating area. We ordered the "Clyde's Original" chicken sandwich ($8.99), 3 pieces of chicken strips ($11.99), and a side of waffle fries ($3.49). There are 5 levels of heat you can choose from: 1) Naked (which is no heat); 2) Original; 3) Hot as Cluck; 4) 1930!; and 5) Millionaire. We decided on 'Hot as Cluck' for both our chicken entrees. The customer service was standard and our order took about 10 minutes to be prepared. The food was good, but definitely not the best hot chicken I've ever had. The "Clyde's Original" was a standard chicken sandwich complete with a hot fried chicken breast, dill pickles, and coleslaw all atop of a brioche bun. It was pretty average and didn't have much heat in my opinion, but what I really enjoyed most was the chicken strips! The chicken strips were definitely spicy and I loved the lightly crisp and flavorful breading. I'd give Clyde's 3.75 Stars for the food, but rounding up to 4 Stars because I enjoyed the chicken strips. I also really liked the slice of white bread that came with the strips. The bread tasted more "artisan" as opposed to just a floppy piece of boring white bread. The fries were also good, but definitely best when enjoyed hot. While Clyde's is not a place I'd drive out of my way for, it's still a good place to grab some hot chicken if you find yourself in the Montclair area and craving it!

I have never been here before so I decided to check it out and I must say this place is really good everything was super fresh hot and all the food was like perfectly seasoned .I honestly was impressed I definitely will be back.

I really like the chicken seasoning but their service is slow and it's not very clean.

Bomb ass chicken sandwich especially the hottest sauce on it they not playing around that thing is hot

I paid 3.99 for Cole slaw and received a very small container half full . Picture attached. I will never go back. Clyde's suck the big one.

Chicken sandwich, chicken tenders and fries were delicious. The sauce was very good. The original was still spicy but nice. Only reason for 4 starts was how long the food took. Also, music was loud so could barely hear the worker.

Way better than Chik fil A...!!! Great tasting chicken..!!! Waited a little while but it was worth the wait...

This review is specifically for the location is specific to upland. Horrible service. Order 2 2 Tender Lovins and fries galore. It took over an hour 20 min to prepare. After waiting all that time, found out that the girl at the register took down one order....so I got 1/2 the food I ordered. I was there 11 am sharp when they open and was told that they are out of chicken and fries, and that the manager was getting more. I would never go back.....very unprofessional and slow. They were so slow. Not worth the wait.

Stopped by for a quick snack went with an order of chicken bites and it definitely did not disappoint crunchy outside juicy inside staff was super nice. Will definitely be back to try a sandwich and I recommend the Clydes's original heat level hot and sweet.

This place is horrible. Went to drive tru and ordered 1 item, there was only 1 customer already waiting in drive thru and only 1 customer eating inside. We waited over 15, and it didn't look like they ordered much. We pull up to the window and almost 10 minutes go by and no one is asking me for a payment or anything. We ended up just driving off and not getting our food. How does it take them over 25 min when they have barely 2 customers? Thought I would try it out but apparently there struggling to serve the very few customers they have there, what a joke

The chicken was great here! Juicy and crispy, good fries and seasonings. Prices and portions are fair and the service friendly. Good option if you are craving fried chicken in the area!

I have always been a Die Hard Chick-fil-A, but CFA is so far since we live in Claremont, CA. I gotta go to Chino Hills to get that, but ever since Original Clyde' Hot Chicken opened up in Montclair, I always go here when I need a Southern Spicy Chicken Sandwitch with Waffle Fries. Clyde's Hot Chicken is a Low-key eatery specializing in fried chicken offerings including burgers, strips, wings & wraps. There chicken is ABF ANTIBIOTIC FREE (ABF), WITH NO ADDED FILLERS OR HORMONES. Simply delicious, you can tell right away when you sink your teeth into it. Choose drive thru, dine in or order for pick up. They have several levels of Heat sauces, so if you haven't been here before, here is my TIP: just go with Original Clydes. If you don't want any spice- go Naked, if you want a little over Original- get HOT AS CLUCK, if you wanna die go with 1930. LOL!!!

This place has an amazing Clyde's original to the point were I come weekly. Todays morning experience Sunday 11:05am I drove up for the "early bird" breakfast chicken sandwich and they told me I'd have to wait 20 minutes for the chicken. Now I know don't come here if you're hungry for breakfast because the early bird isn't that early.

One of the best chicken sammichies I've had in a while, flavor was there. And portion was nice. Service was great too, staff friendly, and they serve beer too! What more could you want? Wasn't a huge fan of their waffle fries, definitely will try their crinkle cut fries, and want to try the other sides.

Visit Clyde's on a regular basis . Friendly staff - but the place is filthy !!!! Picnic tables have old food between the boards , door handles to the entrances are black with dirt and grease . We brought the concern to the employee who was cleaning the tables 45 minutes ago . Nothing On the website, the boast about cleanliness- maybe they should inspect the location before making the statement ! Definitely a fail !!

Food is good but staff is lazy. They always run out of Mac and cheese and waffles 2-3 hours before closing time. They just don't want to make it more for some reason. It's getting worse every time I came. They even ran out of Clyde's sauce one day. I didn't even order anything that day I just left. I came again today and there's a huge line and they still ran out of waffles and Mac and cheese.

Absolutely hate how long they take! Took us 35min to get our food in the drive thru. No other cars in front us. Two employees were just leaning on the counters chatting up a storm. There was no other customers inside I'm sure it could've been much faster if one of them was helping. However we absolutely will not be going back and will definitely be making a report to the health department because of rats! Lots of rats and mice in the drive thru. It was disgusting. They had traps all lined up in the drive thru and a big black rat trap box that did nothing. They were literally running in and out of that box like nothing. It was so gross how many we saw in the minute that we ordered our food. And we kept seeing them the entire 35min we waited. Disgusting!

One of my favorite spots to go to for hot chicken sandwiches! FYI you have to eat the chicken fresh or it won't taste good. It tastes heavenly when you eat the food right after you get it. But if you to-go and bring it home, it's not the same at all. We got two chicken sandwiches, crinkle cut fries, chicken tenders and sweet tea. If you like spicy then I recommend to get the hot as cluck spice level (its not super spicy). That level tastes the best to me, it's most flavorful. Love the seasoning they use for their chicken sandwiches and tenders here, it's really good, and so is the dipping sauce. I also appreciate how they give you a good amount of dipping sauce with your order.

Upcharging for sauce-c'mon? Might want to at least change your drive thru sign. Too bad-great product annnd the delivery/service seems like it continues to drop off.

Their sign is so big and bright, which is so hard to miss!! It's on my list for a while, now let's try it out! Food: -1 They have the southern style fried chicken, not crispy ones. We ordered the original spicy, it's very mild spicy. The fried chicken sandwich is ok, but not as much flavor as Popeye's . The size is good though. I love the chicken strips a lot, very tender, meat is not juicy but definitely not dry. I will order this again for sure. The sauce is everything!!!! It has a little spicy taste, it makes everything taste good. Fries are ok, our get cold when we got home, so it's kind of chewy. The Mac and cheese salad is just ok, not too much flavor. [Price] We ordered the family style, which is a really good value, better than small combo. Overall, I love the chicken strips and the sauce, I would like to try the fries again.

9/10 chicken sammich not too much or too little amount of chicken in the sandwich. The bread was so crispy and yummy too especially with the coleslaw in it!!! Thank you so much coming back!

Clyde's has been a hit the few times I came by and I just love their food. Service has been friendly and food is out in a timely manner. However the only thing preventing this from 5 stars if the price. Absolutely outrageous to spend this much money on the portions, if the food wasn't so good I would have stopped coming a long time ago.

Clyde's has consistently upgraded their service. I've made multiple visits since my last review and every time, the chicken shows up quick. A huge change. Clyde's, you did it!

I have to say I'm extremely disappointed with my experience here. It will have to be my first and last. I read amazing reviews and saw that the owners also stated that everything is made fresh so be ready to wait which I had no problem doing. I went inside prepared to wait at least 30 minutes, my food took about 20 and when I left and got to my car ... my fries were literally COLD... I went back inside and apologized after requesting fresh fries so that I can have a good experience here... after I was responded with extreme attitude... I had to wait another 10 minutes for New fries and they WERE STILL COLD when i got them... I asked employee to touch them to make sure that I wasn't going crazy and after she touched him she just turned around, didn't say anything to me and then yell to the cook that I wanted fresh fries. By the time I got back to my car with fresh fries my sandwich was now cold and I just gave up.

Was not a fan of the food, it sounds amazing and then just doesn't really hit the spot but that can, of course, be different for everyone. Service was excellent at this location and very clean!

RUDEST EMPLOYEES EVER This restaurant looks like it's falling apart inside and out and it is beyond FILTHY. Customer service is HORRIBLE. An almost 45 minute wait for a sandwich and chicken and waffles is RIDICULOUS. And who in their right mind thinks that powdered sugar would taste good on top of chicken strips?! Another Clyde's i went to didn't put powdered sugar on that order and it was way better. But Montclair is like a totally different restaurant than other Clyde's. I'm EMBARRASSED that i recommended this place to my friend that i was visiting while out there. All Clyde's restaurants should be the same! Do better and you can start by replacing the bad employees with better ones.

Clyde's Hot Chicken is a fantastic spot for anyone in the mood for some delicious and fresh chicken. Their menu is straightforward, and the food is made with care and attention to detail. The bread and pickles are the perfect accompaniments to the hot and crispy chicken, and they add a nice balance of flavor to every bite. One thing that stands out about Clyde's Hot Chicken is their drive-thru service. It's quick and convenient, making it a great option for anyone who wants to grab a quick bite on the go. Despite being a drive-thru, the food is always fresh and of high quality, which is a testament to the kitchen's dedication to quality. The customer service at Clyde's Hot Chicken is excellent. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to help. Whether you're a regular or a first-time visitor, you'll feel welcomed and appreciated. Overall, Clyde's Hot Chicken is a must-try for anyone who loves fresh and delicious chicken. With tasty bread and pickles, a convenient drive-thru, and excellent customer service, it's no wonder why this spot has become a local favorite. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by and give it a try!