Hook Fish & Chicken — Restaurant in Cincinnati

PROS ➕ Healthy options ➕ Economical Lunch Special combo

CONS ➖ Restroom is unavailable for customers

Date visited: 10/17/2024

There’s something comforting about Hook Fish & Chicken, something honest. It’s one of those places where nothing’s new, nothing’s polished, and somehow, that’s what makes it feel real. Like every old mark and faded corner holds the stories of people who’ve come and gone. It feels like street food from another country, the kind of shop you’d go to because it just does things right.

I come at noon, like always, catching their Lunch Special. A few cars out front, a couple of familiar faces at the counter, and a man, Middle Eastern, I think, greets me with the most expressionless gesture. I go with combo number 1 like I always do.

The waiting area’s nearly empty, save for a handful of chairs meant for people passing through. Everyone here is quiet, purposeful. They’re here to grab their food and go, without any need for small talk. I find that I like this unspoken understanding; it gives the place a feeling of calm, almost like being surrounded by people who, like me, come here for the simplicity.

It only takes about 10 minutes for my order to arrive, hot and fragrant, and as soon as I open it, I know I’ll find exactly what I came for. The tilapia is golden-crisp on the outside and tender within, with just enough salt, lime, and pepper. No strange taste, just that fresh flavor that tells me they care about what they serve. The shrimp, too, has this touch of sweetness, tasting as if it came from the ocean straight to my plate. And the fries, perfectly seasoned and fried to a crisp, rivaling even McDonald’s.

I savor each bite, and only after I finish do I notice the free Coke on the side. A few sips cleanse my palate, refreshing me of the lingering fishy aftertaste of seafood.

Places like this remind me of what matters in a restaurant: food that’s fresh, cooked with care. I can never understand people who write off a place like this because of a clerk’s facial expression or attitude. To me, Hook Fish & Chicken has its own quiet charm, and every time I leave, I feel grateful that some things, at least,...

The fries smelled really bad like they used old smelly bad grease to cook with. they chicken also had a bad smell and made me and my kids very sick, I paid $ 60 for 40 wings and fries and the smell was horrible in the car while driving to the hotel room with no kitchen. And me and my kids thought it was okay to eat at the hotel while homeless and very hungry. After we ate, me and my kids was very sick 1 hour later throwing up and bad gas and diarrhea for 3 days. After i realized that me and my kids had eaten bad spoiled food, I told my kids that I'm sooo sorry with tears and guilt because I knew that something was terribly off with that chicken and fries that smelled very bad that I purchased and we ate it from being so hungry. I called to speak with a manager about our experience but he was never available to talk at the place. I will never go to the bad spoiled food place...

The best by far, bar none, of all of the Hook Fish & Chicken locations is the one on Colerain Ave.... don't waste your money at the others. The location is carry out only, and for myself - it is nearly an hour drive (that's one way), but it sure is worth it. The buffalo wings are alright to good. Like all of the other locations - the fries fall a little short of being really good. But, the onion rings are fantastic! The fish, especially the catfish (that's my personal preference)... the fish is phenomenal. And seriously, you might think, "It's pre-boxed, and only $3.99... how good can those cakes be?" Answer: "Really good, so grab one while you're there!" Take a drive to take a chance, and be blown away by the flavors of the best they have to offer......