Hot Chicken Takeover

I went to lunch here and it was amazing! Kaitlyn was so friendly and welcoming had a great conversation and helped me with food recommendations . Having lived in Nashville for years it was a nice supremely to find a hot chicken place up north with just the right amount of spice . Its also located in the market which is a great space ! I will definitely be back thanks for the great food and service !

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.

AMAZING hot chicken just like the kind I'd eat in Nashville! Great fries as well in a cool atmosphere. Definitely my favorite place to eat in North Market and maybe in all of Columbus. Love that they let you split flavors! Definitely recommend everyone check this place out.

Best Chicken and waffles ive ever had. Wings were so hot and fresh. Waffles had funnel cake flavor to them

Was told coming to the North Market while visiting Columbus was a must since there's so many merchants and restaurants to choose from. Of those, they recommended Hot Chicken Takeover, so I gave it a try. I've had Nashville's hot chicken before, so wasn't sure how authentic this would be. It was almost closing time at 3p, so there were only a few people at the approx. 6 tables inside. If it's ever crowded, you can sit at the common upstairs eating area above the market. Cashier was polite and helpful in placing my order. At the end, they take your name and call your name when your order is ready. Ordered the 4 drums with hot heat and a side of Ma's Mac. Also, ordered a side of waffles and the banana pudding for dessert. Food was ready within 5-10 minutes and was extremely fresh. Chicken and waffles were still piping hot and steaming when they came out. Chicken was served on a few slices of bread and pickles on top. Chicken was amazing and much better than I could've imagined. This was the real deal. It was extremely crispy on the outside while still extremely juicy on the inside. The heat was there, but not overbearing where it overtakes the actual seasoning. I will try the Holy heat next time to see if that's too much heat. The waffles were just as good. It was 3 small triangles slightly dusted in powdered sugar. They were very crisp with a sweet flavor, but not so much that it tasted like a dessert. They went well with the chicken like a chicken and waffles meal. The banana pudding was very good. I couldn't pinpoint it, but it had a specific sweet flavor that was different than the sweet pudding or custard. It's served in a cup with layers of pudding, custard, banana, whipped cream, and topped with crumbles. I mixed it all up for a nice mix of flavors and textures. Highly recommend going to Hot Chicken Takeover and not just for one thing. Chicken was amazing which you can customize to your heat tolerance. Waffles were a good side item that complements the chicken. Lastly, the banana pudding was a great dessert to finish the meal.