The Hangar Bay Café and Gallery

They have the best fried chicken I think we have ever had. I was amazed to find somewhere that had two amazing comforts foods in one place: Ramen & fried chicken. Everything was fresh and hot. We ordered a little bit of everything since it was our first visit. The chicken was juicy and the skin was seasoned to perfection (i usually don't eat the skin). The red Cajun dipping sauce was amazingly spicy. Make sure to get the sweet tea, it's like lemon brisk. The veggie Ramen was salty and savory with crispy tofu and tons of veg. My kids had Ramen with pork and seasoned eggs and the chicken base was light. Even their fries were great. To top it off we ordered the fried honey biscuits. They were fluffy inside and the honey on top was perfect. I threw some chicken in one and it might be a new thing. We will def be back!

While the fusion of Cajun and Japanese food is pretty unique, nothing we had here was particularly impressive. The Bayou Ramen and Gyoza puffs were the best out of everything we tried. The fried chicken was too salty. Service was friendly and prices were reasonable. Probably won't be back.

I always have an incredible dining experience here! The fried chicken was absolutely amazing—crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. It paired perfectly with the shrimp and grits, which were deliciously creamy and packed with savory goodness. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the whole dish had such a comforting vibe to it. It isn't your traditional bowl but that of a fried grit and cheese cake with a tomato based sauce poured over and topped with fresh shrimp. What made the experience even better was the owner, who was so friendly and took the time to chat with us. We had a great conversation about our shared backgrounds in naval aviation, and it was awesome to connect over that. It’s always a pleasure when you get such a personal touch in a restaurant. I’ll definitely be back for more of that fried chicken and shrimp and grits—highly recommend this spot!

The food was awesome. Very friendly staff. It was awesome seeing the mix of culture. My son had the fried chicken and French fries. Seasoning was on point. We also had the bayou ramen. Absolutely amazing. I had the pulled pork with slaw on top sandwich. Also delicious. Definitely recommend and happy to see it still there after all these years !

Fried chicken & ramen were delicious!! Came right after spending some time at the beach and it was the perfect dinner.

Decided to get take out from Hangar Bay due to it being listed as the best fried chicken in 2022. The cashier was friendly and helpful. They had good chicken, but it was fried a bit too long. The shrimp were very good. I asked for cheese fries, but they used white cheese, not nacho, which was the same for the fried macaroni and cheese. The place seemed quaint, but there was a big cockroach on the floor by the bathroom door.

Fried mac n cheese was So good! The ramen is always on point, and the fried batter used for chicken and shrimp is seasoned well and crispy. Not big fan or dessert, but kids liked it. The biscuits are Amazing! A must try with many options that won't disappoint.

Came here after reading great reviews about fried chicken. It was excellent fried chicken. Reasonable price. thigh, Wing, breast, leg for $10.00. (recent price increase). Friend, a vegetarian had vegan ramen dish which he said was best he ever had. Heavy USN presence and decor. Probably will return to try asian menu.

Came here because they made Yelp's top 50 fried chicken spots in the US & Canada, and I totally see why! The chicken was crispy and delicious. We also ordered the ramen, which was very yummy and flavorful. The spot is decorated with photos of Japan and navy-inspired. I got to speak with manager, Bri, who was so kind and personable with a great attitude! She explained the history of the restaurant well.

This used to be my favorite ramen spot at the beach. It was consistently delicious, but now I find it to be hit or miss (mostly with the chicken). Service is cordial and prompt. However, when I asked for my chicken to be changed because of the amount of dripping oil, I heard some slick comments in Spanish coming from the kitchen. I speak Spanish. I did address it on the spot and hopefully that's a learning lesson for them. I do love that to make a ramen bowl XL is only three dollars. Perfect for leftovers. I also love that they have a plenty of seating and pick up options. The noise level is also great because you can have a conversation. Today's rare encounter won't stop me from coming back.

Great ramen here along with grit puppies, fried biscuits, as well as fried mac & cheese, baked beans and a unique coleslaw. I also love the fish and shrimp. If you've got room very good desserts as well. We live 40 minutes from here or I'd go a lot more often.

The theme brought a lot of memories back, especially being a retired Japan/Westpac sailor. Had orders of Gizzards and Livers and were very nice and liked the option of fried crisp or soft. I also order my favorite ramen (after nearly 10 years in Japan) Tonkatsu. This broth is prepared by boiling the pork bones in water for up to eighteen hours, at which point the soup becomes cloudy in appearance. In this case of your broth (which any ramen aficionado knows) was like au jus or beef consommé or just plain beef broth. Very disappointing and expected more from a place that is touted for its ramen? Service is your next issue, food was prepared in record time given the lunch crowd and should be recognized, given the time to prepare ramen dishes. But the young Asian girl taking orders? I would fire her, yesterday. What a terrible first impression. She never smiled and looked like she just hated the world. Her attitude is unfair to your food.

Everything is fantastic and it is very friendly atmosphere fried chicken is fresh and crispy..but I really go for the chicken livers fresh and hot..

Decided to get take out from Hangar Bay due to it being listed as the best fried chicken in 2022. The cashier was friendly and helpful. They had good chicken, but it was fried a bit too long. The shrimp were very good. I asked for cheese fries, but they used white cheese, not nacho, which was the same for the fried macaroni and cheese. The place seemed quaint, but there was a big cockroach on the floor by the bathroom door.

Outstanding fried chicken. Crispy, moist and delicious. The owner is very nice. Will be back soon.

Had to stop by after review in paper. The food was outstanding and the ambiance was fantastic. A must for veterans. Owner Chris Straw is a class act, personable and very welcoming. We will be back to get thru rest of menu. Ramen will be next visit. Love this place! You won't be disappointed!

Great place to stop after a day at Kathryn Hannah Park. Great Seafood and noodle dishes, bowls and Ramen.

This place is such a hole in the wall! It's tastefully decorated with military adjacent regalia and theming. I'm assuming they're trying to make it an Okinawa military base theme. They sell ramen, seafood and sandwiches. The recommendations here are the ramen and fried chicken. All the ramen is a fusion style which is pretty cool and you can customize. After you order they have a small sitting area in the back that looks like you're eating in a submarine and they have pictures decorating the walls, even the table has images pasted on them Food comes out relatively fast, unless they're cooking it right then. There was a 20min wait for chicken today, but they knew ahead of time and told me as I was getting it if I wanted to switch to white meat. They're very accommodating. There was a constant flow of people either for take out or done in, so I can see it as quite popular around the navy base. The chicken was a bit on the saltier side, but it was well seasoned. You don't really need sauce for it, and they encourage that by charging 75 cents extra for the sauce. Trust me, you don't need it. The gyoza puffs was a huge question for me since I had no idea what that was. It basically is Americanized gyoza filling inside a pastry puff that was deep fried. It was very interesting. Think of it as a Japanese style beef Wellington. Overall, it's somewhere you have to try out at least once. And DO sit in and dine. It's has quite the Atmosphere and wonderful decor.

Best fried chicken and ramen! I forgot to get pictures the Cajun ramen is so yummy ! The fried chicken best in town. Quick friendly service and unique atmosphere. Love this place!

I went to the restaurant at 12 noon on a Saturday to get their delicious hot fried chicken, 2 breast, 2 wings, which is what I have gotten the last few times that I went there. When I walked in the restaurant I smelt old grease, and that should have been my sign to walk out, but I have always gotten fresh, great seasoned fried chicken. The young lady took my order and gave me my food very quick. The box felt warm, the chicken was warm, but when I got home and pulled the chicken apart, it was dried out like it had been sitting along time under heater. I would give the place another chance, but I already had after meeting the rude, arrogant owner. The employees, young ladies, are always super nice, but I'm going to have to call it after this experience of smelling old grease, and getting dried out old chicken.

I was seriously not expecting to enjoy Hangar Bay as much as I did! It's a really small, nondescript place but it's one of those places that's all about the food! I'm not a ramen person typically, but I had the bayou and LOVED IT!! I'm sensitive to heat so was worried about the 2 rating but the woman at the counter was really helpful and accurately described it as not too spicy (just a slight heat to it). The portions are also huge and I had more than enough left to have a hearty lunch the next day.

Fried chicken AND ramen?! Uhhh, YES, PLEASE. Hangar Bay has become a staple in my family. My parents live closer, so they get to go more than I can, but every visit is better than the last. The food keeps getting better and better. I usually swap between the classic tonkatsu or the Bayou ramen. Now and then, when I'm feeling spicy, I go for the hellfire bowl. The staff is always so friendly and I love looking at the military items along the walls and throughout the restaurant. I highly recommend it!

I recently ordered delivery for Hangar Bay Cafe after reading a blog post naming this place the best fried chicken in not just Jacksonville, but all of Florida! I had to try it. I ordered way too much food, but the prices were so good and the food looked so good I couldn't resist. We ordered 8 pc fried chicken, fried biscuits, fried gizzards, fries, Asian slaw, and Bourbon baked beans. Everything was fantastic, but I LOVED the fried gizzards. The seasoning on the chicken and the gizzards was on point, savory and crunchy. I also recommend the fire starter sauce which tastes very similar to Korean fried chicken spicy sauce. I may have found my new favorite fried chicken spot in Jacksonville, and I am itching to try the ramen next time I eat at Hanger Bay Cafe

The temperature was in the 30s which meant I was committed to being an indoor Kat for the day. I wanted a lunch that would warm me up and add to my cozy day, so I ordered Hanger Bay. It was the perfect choice and enough to enjoy for dinner too! I ordered (pictured): Tonkotsu Ramen- the pork was sooo tender & flavorful 2 pc side of fried chicken (dark/ leg & thigh)- I was pleasantly surprised at how well this traveled- breading still crispy and meat so juicy

I ordered the spiciest ramen, the fireball ramen, and it was darn spicy! Whew, it was hot! I think I'm going to stick to the traditional ramen next time. Fried chicken was real good. The restaurant is full of Navy decorative reminders of past service. Real nice touch.

I've been meaning to try this place for 2 years now and finally made the trip to Mayport. Unfortunately, I had such a bad experience when ordering I walked straight out. Below is the interaction: Staff: If you're getting chicken it's going to be a minimum of 30 minutes. Me: So as long as I don't order fried chicken I'm good? Staff: All Chicken! Me: Including in Ramen? Staff: Ramen? Now I'm confused... if you're going to get fried chicken it's going to be 30 minutes. Me: .... Staff: *looks at my wife* where'd you get this one at?? *rolls eyes and points at me* Me: *starts walking out of the store* Staff: Sorry come back, let's start over! Me: No, you're rude, I needed clarification because there is spicy chicken meatballs and chicken strips on the add menu for Ramen! And I said just the fried chicken??? at the beginning. I've never walked out of a restaurant in my life when ordering food until today. My wife did say I'm sorry to me and that the lady was in fact rude... and confused.

If you haven't tried this place yet, you're definitely missing out! We live a far ways from this restaurant, but if we are in the area, we always stop by here! The restaurant itself is very unique and when you walk inside, there are a bunch of neat and cool military memorabilia all throughout. The staff are always friendly and service is also fast too! I do like the fusion of fried chicken and ramen because what is a better combination than that? Their fried chicken has got to be one of the best fried chicken around Jacksonville! So meaty, juicy, tender, and the skin is fried to a perfectly, golden crisp. This is what I think of when someone asks what good Southern fried chicken. I love me some Publix fried chicken but it does not compare to Hangar Bay's fried chicken. They knocked it out of the ballpark here. Wait until you try their French fries! I am a French fry snob (I get it from my dad) and their French fries are so freaking good! My dad and mom visited me one time and we took them here. I kid you not, they ordered two containers of French fries to go! This was after eating a basket of fries at the table! The fries are very crispy, super potato-ey, not too greasy, with the distinct golden, oil sheen. They season the fries perfectly too! My absolute favorite item there besides the fries are the fried biscuits! They are so fluffy, decadent, and drenched a good amount of honey butter glaze. Whataburger who??? The biscuits are of a decent size as well and I keep wanting more and more after each bite. They come out warm so you can taste all of that honey butter goodness in each and every surface of the biscuit. The ramen is decent. I've had better ramen, but it's still pretty good for the prices and portion sizes. I do like that you can customize your bowl and how spicy you want it. I always get the hellfire ramen with extra spice and they do it right every time! I do love how they cook their noodles too, al dente and there's plenty of toppings and meat as well! I do like that they offer different combinations, so there are may options to choose from. I just wish we lived closer but maybe it's for the best because I would be here all the time! Definitely check this place out! You won't regret it!

The best fried chicken I've had in a long time. The loaded fries with the spicy pork is AUHMAZING!!! The puff balls are also soooo good. I never have no complaints ever. If yur wanting something delicious check them out. I can't wait to try the Ramen next time !

Finally, I was able to Observe and Absorb what all the fuss was about, regarding "Hanger Bay Cafe and Gallery." The establishment is owned by a retired Naval Officer, which explains why the ambiance felt like I was taken back into time zone during my Army tour overseas. The setvice was great and that World Famous Fried Chicken was absolutely % Devine. My aunt ordered their Fried Shrimp, which were perfectly seasoned and Crisp/Crunchy To The Bite. Overall, it was a Pleasurable Dining Experience That Didn't Disappoint My Taste Buds and I Highly Recommend Visiting... #Foodie #ParticularPalette #YouCanThankMeLater #TQ'SEXCURSIONANDEATERIES

Full confession, it took me far to long to try them! But~ I loved every bite! John and I split a 4 piece fried chicken plate (mixed) added fries- the girl said to get a large but next time I'll probably got with a small or try the fried mac n cheese. We also tried the fried biscuits- um, if you haven't tried them- you must! They are like nothing I have ever had. Biscuit yes, but fried and with butter and honey~ so good. I actually took them home and enjoyed one with some preserves. I did enjoy the Navy Museum vibe- and it isn't done tacky! Small but mighty. Go Navy!

Great fried chicken and steamed edamame. Neat email dining room decorated like a USN ship mess hall. Counter service fast casual.

The worst food ever! The money spent, presentation and taste was not for human consumption. I ordered Fried Shrimp with a side of Bourbon Baked Beans and Chicken Strips. They fried the chicken and shrimp in the same grease! YUK....and that was the taste YUK along with the grease being old. Not to mention the chicken was rubbery and the shrimp was old. This was my first visit and certainly my last. I'll take diet and starvation for $100 Alex!!!

This is one of the best kept secrets in Mayport area. The food is delicious and the staff so nice. Hungry for Ramen you gotta check them out. Want some delicious Southern Fried Chicken you gotta check them out! Love the Military and Asian Mix of art work-on the wall! If haven't been you need to check them out!

During my first visit, I wanted to try the Vegan ramen option which is perfect for anyone with plant-based January goals. The miso (soybean) base was salty and yummy, and the noodles take center stage with the perfect amount of chewy and slurpy. No frills ordering or seating area, though brightly colored and welcoming with much military memorabilia. Quick and friendly ordering process and turnaround for meals. Can't wait to try the fried chicken... in February. Ha!

I still believe this is the best ramen and fried chicken in Jacksonville! The service is excellent and Chris, the owner has done a great job with the decorating. It's interior is 100% United States Navy inspired and there is also a giant metal rooster outside to greet you! I bring all of our out of town guests here and my husband and I come at least once a month. My favorite is the traditional pork ramen with added shrimp. We love the fries and liver too. I gave Hangar Bay Cafe & Gallery 5 stars five years ago and I still stand by that and would have to say it's even better now than it was then!

Excellent choice for Ramen in the Mayport area. Ramen is consistently good & you can even order fried chicken as a side! Staff is friendly & wait time is short. We've not ordered anything that we were disappointed with so far.

Excellent fried chicken. Seasoned well, hot and tender. I especially like their fried chicken breast. One of the few places that serves moist and tender fried chicken breast. Service was excellent. Very friendly employees. Fried shrimp was a no for me. Not seasoned well and a bit over cooked.

I had heard about Hangar Bay but wasn't planning on going on this day but when the place we went to turned out to be closed Hangar Bay was there to save the day. We ordered online for pick up and wow they have so much that sounded amazing so of course we ended up going a little overboard, but let's be honest. Can you really go overboard when I comes to great food? I think not. We ordered the Curry Ramen, Half Fried Chicken, Spicy Cajun Po'Boy, The Fried Mac & Cheese, and the Grit Puppies. Also before I get into the amazing food. Let me tell you this. All of this was just $45! I'll start first with the Spicy Cajun Po'Boy. When first looking at it I will say I was underwhelmed. Didn't look like it had a lot of shrimp and they seemed to have been cut up into small pieces but once I got into it it was very good. Shrimp cooked perfectly with just the right amount of spice. You're not going to find a better Shrimp Po'Boy for $10. Now on to the Curry Ramen. The Curry Pork Broth was so flavorful. and don't even get me started on the Roast Pork in the ramen. It was so tender. Just melts in your mouth. Will for sure get this ramen again but there are others I want to try as well. Plus at $11 you're not going to beat it. The Half Fried Chicken had some of the best seasoning in the batter. So good for sure some of the best I have ever had. My favorite piece was the thigh. It was perfectly cooked and so juicy. At $8.50 for a half chicken please keep it coming. Now the Fried Mac & Cheese is probably what shocked me the most. It was very good but let's be honest Fried Mac & Cheese is almost always going to be great. What blew me away was the size of these pieces of Fried Mac & Cheese. You get 4 hand sized triangles! At only $7 you could really make a meal out of it and still probably have about half of it left. Last was the Grit Puppies which are fried grit balls with Queso for dipping. For sure something I don't believe I have ever had but were pretty good none the less. I will say they were the most underwhelming thing we got but when everything is great thing has to take that spot and at $5 they are worth a try. Love Hangar Bay and will for sure be coming back. I will say really the only thing negative I can say is that you will need a nap after eating all this amazing food.

As usual Hangar Bay was on point, I decided instead of Ramen to get their fried chicken. I used to always wonder why people order fried chicken at a Ramen place, oh my God the fried chicken is so good! It's juicy and seasoned perfectly. I got the Asian slaw as a side, I was skeptical because I hate coleslaw but it was delicious! It's a ginger base and not mayonnaise, maybe that's the difference. My friend got the vegetable Ramen with the tofu, she loved it. She said the fried tofu was delicious, yes I know it's because of the soup base but she said it was delicious. They fry it up a little bit. She also ordered fried mac & cheese. She loved that too, but I'm used to bake mac & cheese and couldn't get into it, it's not my favorite; that's how life works sometimes. All in all Hangar Bay has the most delicious food and I highly recommend them for their Ramen and now for their chicken and Asian slaw!

Oh, WOW. If you're in the area, be sure to visit. The folks are beyond friendly and the food is amazing. Fortunately, I managed a few pics before we began to chow down! We enjoyed three different ramen bowls, fried okra, fried chicken, their specialty fries, and a sandwich. The food is served simply, fast, fresh and so, so delicious. If you're a ramen fan, they have four broth options. Ummmm. And you can customize your order. You can choose to dine in their small dining space or do take out. Either way, you're going to be glad you chose to try this place! Hangar Bay Cafe is family owned, and they also have a Thai restaurant in the community.

Every thing is delicious , always friendly staff that appreciate your business. Highly recommended

Happy 'snow' day to us!! Found this hole in the wall while getting hiking boots at the exchange. Comfort food at its best!! Definitely coming back!!

No bad things to say here! Service, ambiance and food were incredible. Great to come back to Florida and have some good fried food. And yes, the grits are fried!

Food was terrible. The meat was all fat and no good meaty parts. High sodium, low flavor.

They don't take reservations, so we got lucky! Had the whole back dining area to ourselves for a little bit. But we only took up half the room. Hehe Two tables connected (literally) seat 8. There were 4 sets of these. We were there for a birthday dinner for a friend. It wasn't really planned, it just fell together. Thanks for being so accommodating to our unexpectedly large party! I got the Tonkotsu Ramen Combo with fried chicken (leg and thigh). You can choose light or dark meat. And I had a Kirin beer ... to celebrate my friend Kirin ... i mean, Karen's birthday. Hehe I think we tried almost every appetizer they had. If you're looking for a healthy meal ... maybe try not to order all the fried stuff like we did. Hahaha oops.

Ramen taste was sort of bland noodles were tasty, broth tasted like it was made with a paste, the toppings weren't very complimentary, corn and shredded carrot? Eh.. tried the chicken it was good but still prefer Publix chicken or Popeyes.. for cheaper too.. I like my chicken a bit more crispy and breaded this one wasn't enough of a crunch and breading not sure how it's the best chicken in Jax I just don't see it, would recommend ramen and wings over at Domu it's just a lot better in my opinion. Also seating is limited if you're going during prime time/days. Wait for food was about 20 min for the ramen.

Ordered the chicken ramen and 4 piece dinner for my husband. At first I didn't notice but the ventilation was horrible. It smells like a fry vat throughout the small place. The smell is so overpowering that I couldn't eat my meal. I left my husband behind and had to walk out. The food was ok but couldn't enjoy it due to the non-ventilation. It's a small place to begin with, the door was open but it didn't help. Not a fan although the rating are positive.

Not sure what's going on but the last two times I have been here food quality has declined. Got fried chicken last night along with hellfire noodles. Chicken doesn't have the same crispy favorable taste. It was hard and cold. Noodles are missing something and not really spicy or tasty anymore.

Finger licking' good fried chicken, honey biscuits, and ramen. You order at the counter and seat yourself, and the staff brings the meal to your table. It's set up to look like the interior of a navy ship, very cool. However, the star here is really the meal, the ramen was so flavorful and a they give you a good helping of it. My husband ordered the fried chicken, and fried Mac n cheese.he raved about the chicken, but the fried Mac I wasn't crazy about. Biscuits were soo yummy, and nothing tasted frozen! Will definitely be coming back.

Haven't been here in a while but they are just as good as I remember, maybe even better. My hellfire ramen had just the right spice and the fried chicken was cooked perfectly. Crispy but not oily. Def a fave spot of ours.

My family and I have been coming here forever and it's the only place we go for ramen. The chicken is so flavorful and the ramen is great! The place is pretty small but it's unique and it's covered with pictures that the owner had taken while in the military. We have met the owner a few times and he's a really nice guy. He will tell you his military stories! Definitely a must try!

Veteran owned and decorated to make you feel like you're in the galley of a ship... I had to check it out. And now I'm here at least once a week! Their Ramen is the closest thing I've had to ramen in Japan and the fried chicken.......... oooohhhh the fried chicken... will make you wanna slap your grandma. Service is always great and friendly, even when they're slammed during lunch hours.

Excellent fried chicken & livers. Chicken was crisp, tender, juicy, flavorful & not greasy. Livers also cooked perfectly, they looked like they'd be dry, but actually not overcooked. The ramen was OK, would not get again. Wish they had more side options. Was also disappointed that the shrimp is not local considering they are in Mayport, which has the best shrimp. If in the area, I would go back & try the gizzards next time. Was surprised how small it is inside. The ventilation could be better. Service, friendly & accommodating.

This place is a military veteran owned restaurant. Supportting your local veterans businesses is a good way to go. I do love ramen restaurants. This one is in same area as the Naxy Commissary. So it is a convenient location for me. Their menu has lots of nice options. The drinks are self serve. They do have a military discount.

This place was great when it opened. Now it's trying to do too much. Chicken was not nearly as good as it has been and the service was awful. Missed part of the order, slow coming out of the kitchen, tables too crowded, bizarre ramen choices. The dining area is awful! Hanger Bay would be well served to move to a better location.

We were I. This side of town and looking for something new. My wife doesn't like seafood which really limited some of the options. We opted to try the Hanger Bay. Known for their Ramen and their fried chicken, I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted. Great news, I didn't have to choose! They have a combo that comes with ramen (I opted for the hellfire ramen), two pieces of fried chicken, and a beer. Talk about knocking out of the park. The ramen was delicious but that chicken was downright stupendous. Ive only found one place in North Florida that gives them a run for their money. The only problem I have is this is a 45 minute drive to get here from my home. Now that I know this chicken is That good I have to decide how far I'm willing to go for perfection.

We used to love going in and getting Ramen and fried chicken. The owner is friendly and has a good sense of humor. However, the people he has working for him are a little rude short with customers. Yes, I know what I want and do not take a long time to order. If you go don't go after 7, they close at 8 and get attitudes if it is after 7.