Babe’s Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Zone 1

First Impressions:

Walking into Babe’s Hot Chicken, I was prepared for heat, flavor, and flair. Instead, I got chaos in a bucket—literally and figuratively.

🧾 What Was Ordered: • 5 Star Chicken Bucket – Rs 1,050 • Tenders (5 pcs) – Rs 1,799 • Loaded Fries – Rs 1,500 • Classic Dip – Rs 250 • Reaper Dip – Rs 250 • Water (2x) – Rs 200 • Tasty Trade 1 – Rs 1,099

Subtotal: Rs 6,148 Discount (20%): -Rs 1,229.6 GST (5%): Rs 307.4 POS Charges: Rs 1 Total: Rs 5,226.80

Let me be brutally honest—every item tasted like it had been engineered in a laboratory of mediocrity. • Tenders (5 pcs) at Rs 1,799 is daylight robbery. Dry, stringy, and coated in a spice mix that lacked depth or any creative punch. • Loaded Fries for Rs 1,500? That’s gourmet-level pricing for something that could pass as soggy leftovers from a school cafeteria. • Chicken Bucket was a bucketful of disappointment—oily, lukewarm, and under-seasoned. • Dips (Classic and Reaper) were uninspired. The Reaper had no heat, no flavor arc, just a clumsy punch of vinegar and salt. • Tasty Trade 1? Ironically named—there was nothing tasty, and certainly no trade-off worth Rs 1,099. • Even the water felt like a scam at Rs 100 a bottle.

Value for Money:

Rs 5,200+ for what? A trainwreck of textures, flavors, and portion sizes. They tried to pull off Nashville-inspired hot chicken, but what arrived at the table was closer to a confused identity crisis soaked in grease. Even with a 20% discount, I walked out feeling robbed.

Service:

“Emaan” noted for special instructions, and yet nothing came as requested. The staff, though polite, looked dazed and overwhelmed. Orders arrived late and lukewarm. The dining experience was marred by inattentiveness and a clear lack of training.

Verdict:

Babe’s Hot Chicken is a masterclass in how to not run a fast food restaurant. From the pricing to the flavorless food, and service that would make a vending machine seem more efficient—this was a horror show with zero redeeming qualities.

⭐ 0.5/5 — Avoid like undercooked chicken. This place is not just overrated—it’s a bold insult to the very concept of...

So this place was pretty hyped so we decided to give them a try.

Food was pretty good. Their chicken tenders were very flavorful. Their seasoning game is on point. Mac and Cheese could have been better in terms of quantity but the taste was still amazing. Sauces could be a little bigger or atleast they can communicate that the free sauces are really small so we can order extra. There were a lot of people waiting for seats and getting takeaways it was nice to see a new business doing well.

However, there were two main problems here.

First was availability of items. Babe's has a very modest menu. Nothing wrong with that. However, half of the menu wasn't available. They didn't have burgers, they didn't have shakes, they didn't have Mac and Cheese (ran out right after we had ours brought to the table), they didn't have the reaper sauce and all of this ran out before 7 PM which is pretty disappointing. Nevertheless, this is a new business I expect them to get better at this pretty soon.

But, the bigger problem, the part that compelled me to write a long review was the owner's behavior. We were sitting inside the restaurant which is a pretty small area and we were seated between the cashier (the owner) and the kitchen and the experience of sitting there was horrible. She was constantly yelling at her staff, disrespecting them, telling them things like "tum logon ko mai baad mai seedha karti hun sabar karo", talking rudely to a packaging merchant that was there to design their boxes or something. And, all of this was happening in front of 6-8 customers which made the whole experience of eating there really uncomfortable as we had to sit there and pretend we couldn't hear it. I loved the place and the idea of having a place dedicated to chicken tenders but she needs to work on her business etiquette and treat staff with some respect.

Running a restaurant is stressful and its something I could never do so hats off to her. But, speaking to her team respectfully at least in front of customers is not...

Today, I had the opportunity to visit Babe's Hot Chicken in Islamabad, and while the food left a positive impression, the overall experience was marred by several issues that detracted from my enjoyment.

Starting with the food, I must say that the chicken was delicious. The spices were perfectly balanced, creating a delightful kick that paired well with the tender, juicy meat. Each dish was well presented, showcasing the care that the kitchen staff put into their craft. The sides complemented the main dish beautifully, adding to the overall satisfaction of the meal.

However, the ambiance of the restaurant left much to be desired. The setting was quite chaotic and poorly organized, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the meal. The biggest drawback was the staff, particularly the individual managing the front desk and the billing system. Their demeanor was unwelcoming, and they seemed ill-prepared to handle customer inquiries or concerns. Rather than feeling like a valued guest, I felt somewhat dismissed.

Additionally, the music was excessively loud, which further contributed to the disarray of the dining experience. It was challenging to engage in conversation or even fully enjoy the flavorful food when competing with the overwhelming volume. A more balanced sound level would have greatly enhanced the overall atmosphere.

Well Babe's Hot Chicken serves up some tasty dishes that are visually appealing, the unprofessional staff and disruptive environment significantly detracted from my visit. I hope the management takes these issues into consideration, as the food has great potential to shine in a more conducive setting. With some improvements, this restaurant could easily become a go-to spot for hot chicken lovers...