Wooboi Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Centreville

Everything you need to know about Wooboi:

FOOD * Our chicken was prepared fresh while we waited. The portions were huge! Our chicken "tenders" were almost the size of whole, large chicken breasts.

The flavor was really good, and the spice levels were different enough to notice. I would definitely say that their "Hangry" competitor had more heat at each level. So Wooboi is more approachable for the average palette, but a disappointment for those of us who really enjoy the heat. (Wooboi's "Code Red" was equivalent to "mild" elsewhere.)

The chicken was very greasy, and the breading was peeling off, so it was a very messy dish to eat with your hands. They didn't provide silverware, so we actually got our own forks and knives.

The waffle fries were amazing, and seasoned with a little spice. The garlic rice was just rice cooked with roasted garlic. It was very garlic-y, and not much other flavor (needed salt). It sort of became a beige mush. We didn't eat it.

The toast at the bottom of the box was grilled crisp with garlic butter. I would have loved it if it hadn't been soaked in the fry oil that dripped off the chicken.

The pickles were good, and made a nice contrast to the rest of the entree.

Bottled drinks are available, but no fountain drinks.

SAUCES: ** Sadly, the sauce selection was not on par with the food itself. The "comeback sauce" was moderately good (their signature sauce), offered a creamy contrast to the spicy chicken, and added some nice flavor.

The barbecue sauce is apparently provided by a local craftsman. It wasn't to my liking. It was loosely based off a Kansas City style sauce, but lighter in color, thicker in texture (like applesauce), more acidic, less smoky, and less sweet.

Mumbo sauce is a very sweet brown sauce (almost a barbecue sauce). Kind of a Caribbean BBQ style sauce.

Zard sauce wasn't actually spicy, even though it was labeled so.

The Somi sauce was actually very good! I liked the brighter flavor against the greasy chicken.

SERVICE: * The staff were very friendly and attentive. We were there on opening day, and it was evident that most of the staff were new, but they did a great job overall. They also helpfully explained everything to us, including the BBQ sauce's handmade history. No utensils or napkins were provided.

ATMOSPHERE: ** For a brand-new restaurant, it was surprisingly sterile and cold. The colors were bright white, black, and a few red accents. The lobby feels awkward and cramped. (There were 6 of us waiting for food.)

There is no dining room (carryout only). And there was almost no seating in the lobby, so you'll probably have to stand a while waiting for your food (a little over 10 minutes in our case). Also, there was no music playing, so you felt like it was awkward to have a conversation while you waited because everyone would listen in whether they wanted to or not.

There was no public restroom.

RIVALRY: Wooboi proudly declares their inception in 2018. Since I am much more familiar with a "hangry" competitor's restaurant, which was founded a few years after Wooboi, I asked how the spice levels compared to the other establishment. I was gifted with a discussion of how Wooboi was the original and that other place had copied their idea. I can say that many items bear some resemblance, however the two restaurants have significant differences. You might easily find yourself preferring one over the other. I would place these two restaurants in the same category, but there are so many differences that would never have assumed that one was a copy...

I've been here three times over the past two weeks, and am in love with everything here. The food tastes great, and they aren't kidding when they say "hotter than you think". I'm someone who doesn't usually shy away from spicy things, but a level three gave me a proper case of the vapors and definitely had taking a pause to wipe my brow. The chicken is so juicy and full of flavor, I can't recommend it enough.

There are a few other things on the menu that might seem unusual, but are fantastic. The Skinny is Wooboi's take on the classic chicken and rice combination, but has quickly become my newest obsession. It's grilled chicken, on their delicious garlic rice, lettuce, cucumbers and their somi sauce and it's fantastic. It's so full of flavor, and incredibly filling. They also have a burrito, which may seem out of place but knocks it out of the park when it comes to being delicious.

The staff is also incredibly friendly. Every time I've ordered my food they are attentive and fast. I usually order online and pickup which is always ready quickly and fresh, but when I didn't I sat in the restaurant and managed to strike up a conversation with the gentleman behind the counter. He was incredibly friendly, and even gave me a few items to sample. He fried up a wing for me which was fantastic (again, crispy exterior and a juicy interior) and even sent me home with some banana pudding which was absolutely divine.

To summarize my post: everything I've tried from this location is great. It's a little small inside and I don't think it really accommodates eating in the establishment, but for picking up this place is amazing (there are some seats outside you might be lucky enough to snag). The food is fantastic and everything I've had has been high quality and delicious. I used to frequent the Herndon location, but don't find myself out that way much anymore so I'm very excited for this...

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting the newly opened Wooboi Hot Chicken location in Fairfax, and I couldn't be more excited! As a huge fan of their burgers, I was thrilled to see them finally come to Fairfax. From the moment I walked in, I felt warmly welcomed by the staff, setting the tone for a fantastic dining experience.

The customer service at the Fairfax location was exceptional. The staff greeted me with genuine smiles and were eager to help me navigate the menu. Their friendliness and attentiveness made me feel right at home. It was clear that they valued each customer and were committed to providing a top-notch dining experience.

Now, onto the food. I ordered the Sando chicken sandwich, and it was absolutely delicious. The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and packed with a flavorful punch that left me craving more. I also highly recommend trying the comeback sauce with the Sando.

Overall, my visit to Wooboi Hot Chicken in Fairfax was fantastic. The stellar customer service and mouth-watering food have certainly made me a...