Zalim Hot Chicken & Burgers — Restaurant in Englewood

I ordered takeout from here and was quite excited as I saw them featured in devour power. I got the loaded beef fries and ordered EXTRA FRIES paying an additional few bucks. When it came out to over 20 bucks I expected a mountain of delicious fries with those three full beef patties just as I saw in the devour power video. The reason I elected for extra fries is because I worked at restaurants before and know they are a cheap ingredient. It costs restaurants next to nothing to add an extra bit of fries with an order. For a place to be this stingy is very telling. There were supposed to be three full beef patties on a mountain of fries just as shown in the promo video that got me through those doors. I did leave an additional star because the fries themselves were good quality but that means nothing if I spent 20 bucks and get a child’s portion. I’m not buying this nonsense anymore about inflation. Fries are cheap to make, I know this through experience working at restaurants they could have piled double the amount for that much money and this review would be much different instead I feel ripped off and I was still hungry. You want to skimp on the meat alright, but being lazy with the fries shows you don’t care. I guess good job on the quality of the fries? Doesn’t really mean much if it is a rip off and not a real meal. Very disappointed highly suggest skipping this place especially given the area in Englewood you got a ton of great options just pass by and know that the promo videos in devour power are nothing close to what us regular average joe customers get I am not okay with that. I see this place has raving reviews but I can only speak on my experience. Maybe I came on a bad day where the guy didn’t feel like giving a real portion but I don’t really care what other reviews say or what problems the staff may have been having I WANT...

Normally I would never leave a review like this. This place should have been delicious.

Let me start with: we love spice. My husband and I have spice tolerances that make most people we know cry, and we happily eat food like this. We ordered the hot chicken sandwich at Zalim hot level, and there is no possible way this restaurant serves their food as spicy as our sandwich was. The sandwich was borderline inedible. We ate it, because like I said we have very high tolerances and felt we were able to take the burn and were hungry, but it was so spicy that it made my husband and me physically ill for the rest of the day. The type of spicy where you seriously wonder if you have given yourself an ulcer by eating it.

The chicken was well cooked but had thick pockets of deep red spice in the grooves of the breading that weren't consistently spread throughout. At one point we wondered if the restaurant served this as a joke? Maybe they meant to coat the chicken once and accidentally coated it 10 times too many? My husband is Indian and I am Middle Eastern, and this was the most inappropriately spiced meal we have ever ordered from a restaurant. It's disappointing because I think that if they'd properly used this spice mixture it would've been delicious.

Because we love spice and honestly are the type of people who would go for this meal after reading a review like this, I want to emphasize: I'm fairly certain what they gave us cannot be what they normally serve as Zalim hot level spice. We DID eat it. It wasn't pleasant on the tongue but we are still able to tolerate overly spicy taste no problem. It was severely unpleasant on our stomachs and made us ill, and we wouldn't ever serve or recommend what we ate even to our family from India.

2 stars because it had potential...

Zalim Hot Chicken & Burger – A HALAL Fiery Flavor Explosion You’ll Crave Again!

If you’re in the mood for bold flavors, tender chicken, and a sauce that’ll haunt your dreams (in the best way possible), then Zalim Hot Chicken & Burger is your next must-visit spot.

From the moment I walked in, I could tell this place takes pride in everything they do. The restaurant was spotless — not a napkin out of place, with a clean, modern vibe that makes you want to sit and stay a while. The staff greeted me with genuine smiles and warmth, and throughout the meal, they remained incredibly polite, attentive, and quick to help with anything we needed.

Now, let’s talk food — wow. The hot chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside while staying juicy and tender on the inside. You can tell they know their chicken. The spice level had a beautiful kick, but the real star of the show was that special sauce. Honestly, it’s to die for. Creamy, tangy, with just the right hint of heat and sweetness — it tied the whole dish together. I’d put that sauce on everything if I could.

The burger? Equally impressive. Well-seasoned, generous in portion, and packed with flavor. Every bite felt indulgent but never overwhelming. Add some crispy fries on the side and you’ve got yourself a full-on flavor fest.

Whether you’re craving something spicy, comforting, or just flat-out delicious, Zalim Hot Chicken & Burger delivers on all fronts. Great food, amazing sauce, super clean environment, and some of the kindest staff you’ll meet — what more can you ask for?

10/10. Will be going...