HCK Hot Chicken — Restaurant in Virginia

My family ate here for the first time today after seeing so many great reviews & lots of social media posts. When I walked up to the counter I was greeted by a very polite & professional young man who asked me how I was doing & seemed genuinely happy to serve me. I informed him we had never ate there before, but were excited to try it for the first time. The young man described the entire menu in detail, the style of the chicken, the heat levels, how you can get the sauces on the side, chicken dipped or not dipped. After his explanation we had no questions, as he covered everything with enthusiasm. He also explained how the business was minority owned & veteran-owned & asked us how we heard about them. He told us to check out some of their Tik Tok posts & other social media outlets if we liked them & wanted to spread the word. We ordered tenders, chicken & waffles, a Nashville hot sandwich, fries, & fried pickles. The food was made to order with everything being freshly made & served hot. Another young man brought our food to our table, asked if we needed anything & told us he hoped we enjoyed our meal & to let him know if we needed anything at all during our visit. This level of service was given to every customer in the place! The food was amazing, the chicken is tender & juicy with crispy breading on the outside. Literally some of the best quality chicken I can recall having in a very long time. The fried pickles were to die for & the krinkle cut fries were super crispy & well seasoned. I got the after burner sauce on my sandwich, which was delicious & spicy, but I actually preferred the sweet/hot taste of the base sauce that was on our tenders. The waffles were light & fluffy & my husband commented that he'd never had a waffle so fresh & delicious in his entire life. This place knows how to do chicken & waffles, which is rare around these parts. All around, it was a really wonderful dining experience. My family always tries to support small business as much as possible, especially when they are minority-owned, & this small business gets it right! Definitely not an easy task to open a business during a global pandemic, but this place did it & the quality & service are top-knotch. And don't listen to the fuddy-duddy complaining about the music. I was absolutely jammin' to Color Me Badds "I Wanna Sex You Up" while enjoying my crispy, hot, juicy chicken & wasn't the least bit offended despite being with children. Not every business has to cater to every person's individual needs & tastes. And as for the prices, they reflect the quality; honestly, I would have paid more for such an amazing meal if I had to. Thanks Hot Chikn Kitchn for a delicious meal. Your employees on shift today (Tuesday, August 31st) are truly great ambassadors to your brand. Will...

I had the pleasure of dining at HCK hot fried chicken restaurant recently, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience that left my taste buds dancing with delight. From the moment I stepped inside the vibrant and inviting atmosphere of the restaurant, I knew I was in for a treat.

The star of the show, without a doubt, was the hot crispy fried chicken that graced my plate. It was a masterpiece of culinary artistry, a harmonious symphony of flavors and textures that showcased the skill and passion of the chefs. The moment I took my first bite, I was greeted with the most satisfying crunch as my teeth sank into the perfectly fried crust. But what truly set this fried chicken apart was what came next – the succulent, tender meat that practically melted in my mouth. Each piece was a testament to the restaurant's dedication to quality and their commitment to delivering an unforgettable dining experience.

The secret to the chicken's excellence was clearly not just in the execution, but also in the care taken with the ingredients. The chicken was clearly of exceptional quality, and it was evident that the chefs took great care in selecting and preparing each piece. The seasoning was an exquisite blend of herbs and spices that created a symphony of flavors – a balance of savory and subtly spicy notes that had me reaching for another piece before I'd even finished the first.

But it wasn't just the food that made this restaurant stand out. The ambiance was equally remarkable. The restaurant's bright and welcoming decor created an atmosphere that was both stylish and comfortable. The well-lit space was adorned with cheerful accents, and the lively chatter of other diners added to the sense of camaraderie and shared enjoyment. It was the kind of place where you could savor a meal on your own, relishing in the moment, or gather with friends and family for a memorable celebration.

The service was exceptional as well. The staff were friendly, attentive, and clearly passionate about the cuisine they served. Their recommendations were spot-on, and they were more than happy to answer any questions I had about the menu. It's clear that they took great pride in their work, and their enthusiasm added an extra layer of enjoyment to the entire experience.

In conclusion, my visit was an absolute delight from start to finish. The hot crispy fried chicken was a revelation – a true masterpiece that combined expert craftsmanship, quality ingredients, and a perfect balance of flavors. The restaurant itself was a bright and welcoming oasis, providing the ideal setting for a meal that was nothing short of extraordinary. If you're a fan of fried chicken or simply appreciate outstanding dining experiences, this restaurant should be at the top of your...

Husband got the loaded fries, I got the hot chicken sandwich with the after burn sauce. Holy cow. Food was amazing!! Let me say this if you’re wondering how to gauge your spice level. I eat takis, jalepenos, I put hot sauce on everything, you name it. The after burn sauce was MUCH spicier than I thought it was going to be. I had to stop in between bites. So if you love spicy food start at the after burn flavor😂 i don’t even want to know what the spicier ones taste like. This one was a good heat level and if it was any more spicy I don’t think I could have finished it. It was a perfect amount of enjoyable and spice. The spice was a lot. Also let me just say the fries are SOOOO good!! Perfect crispness and fluffiness inside. Absolutely perfect. The good sauce is great, but I was still missing ranch. I should’ve asked for some.

Now here is why I am taking a star off. First, it was HOT inside. Like there was no AC or something. Maybe it was broken for the time we came, things happen. But on a 95 degree day while eating spicy food and having a toddler with us it was miserably hot inside. Also, when we came in we weren’t greeted. People saw us and we’re just walking in and out of the kitchen and never said hi just a second or how are you or welcome in, nothing it was a little odd. None of the staff was very friendly which is off considering from what I have read in most of these reviews. They aren’t mean by any means, just kind of indifferent to being there and no smiles. I do agree with other comments saying that the music was alittle too loud.

Lastly- a big issue here. We sat in a booth with our 19 month old, and yes overall this is our fault for not catching him immediately, but things happen too fast sometimes with toddlers to stop them. He stood up in the booth and pressed on the plexi glass and it fell on someone sitting in the next booth. It was not reinforced by any type of glue or anything it was just loosely held between whatever metal was holding it up. Mind you he is only 19 months he really wasn’t constantly banging or putting his weight on it it was just his hand pressing it once. Management if you’re reading this please consider some type of glue or reinforcement! Thankfully the other person was totally fine.

Overall this place is a hidden gem. I would eat here again and recommend...