You ask for spicy and they make it happen! The owner is also super wholesome and loves his community.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Fries
Dave C
I have one word for that fish sandwich.WOW!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nadav M.
The Bay Area seems to have nice places to have a good chicken sandwich. This is one of the nice places I've tried. The inside seemed a bit empty but lovely with the 'All you need is hot chicken'. Service was clunky but thorough. Waiting time was fine. I did notice that their fry selection is not too extensive. I went with waffle fries and the regular hot chicken sandwich, I believe medium was the spice level. I can recall there were layers of sweetness. The coleslaw was sweet to me, not sure if it was the pickles as well. The flavour was nice. The spice was potent but not extreme; very comfortable while I watched people pass by. Waffle fries were crispy and fresh. The sauce was more on the sweet side but a good layer of flavour. Water and utensils are self served by the doorway. Right in the middle of downtown Oakland. Easily accessible with public transport.
Jeanette B.
We were craving a good chicken sandwich with coleslaw and this was perfect. I got mild and it was spicy but not too much, my husband got hot and thought it was very spicy, but the coleslaw helped. The comeback sauce was so good!! We got extra for our waffle fries and to put on our sandwiches. Also not sure if they make their pickles in house cause they were delicious. We were passing by Oakland so if we are ever around again, we would definitely try them again! Thank you!!
Hyun Kim
Instagram directed me to this place. My gf and I got there at 2pm and only a group of 4 was sitting inside. So no wait for us. Well they have a hot fish sandwich which looked so good, but I saw it was catfish only and not a fan of that. My gf decided to try it and I got a regular chicken sandwich. We both got the medium spice lvl. Spice lvl was just hot enough to still have taste and wake those sinuses up.The chicken sandwich was breaded very evenly and so good. A little pricey since it was $18 and you don't even get fries or anything else with it. Well the fish sando was such a letdown. Had way too much breading on it. Was almost half breading and half fish. They give you an extremely big filet though.On the ride home about 15mins after we left the restuarant my gf had gotten food poisoining and was not feeling well. Get the chicken sando, but steer clear of the catfish.
Instagram directed me to this place. My gf and I got there at 2pm and only a group of 4 was sitting inside. So no wait for us. Well they have a hot fish sandwich which looked so good, but I saw it was catfish only and not a fan of that. My gf decided to try it and I got a regular chicken sandwich. We both got the medium spice lvl. Spice lvl was just hot enough to still have taste and wake those sinuses up. The chicken sandwich was breaded very evenly and so good. A little pricey since it was $18 and you don't even get fries or anything else with it. Well the fish sando was such a letdown. Had way too much breading on it. Was almost half breading and half fish. They give you an extremely big filet though. On the ride home about 15mins after we left the restuarant my gf had gotten food poisoining and was not feeling well. Get the chicken sando, but steer clear of the catfish.
Jim D.
Dear Hotbird, I love you. You make me feel things about chicken that I never knew I can feel. Your food makes Taylor Swift look like a basic bitch. I pretty high right now so that makes perfect sense. I love you.
Dean Sofer
The fish and chicken sandwiches didn't match the temperature of the almond samples. The fish is kinda oily and ends up with a similar consistency to McDonald's and the chicken isn't really flat or overflowing so your last few bites are gonna be sans chicken. I do like the crunchy batter but if I were in the neighborhood again I'd probably try someplace new.
Food: 3
Bianca Hankins
Me and hubby went here round 8pm on a sunday night. The girl at the counter was quick to take our order and was patient. We got Strawberry lemonade sodas, a medium spice, fish sandwhich & the fish & Chips with Mild Spice.The sodas were nothing special. Pretty much just Sparkling water with Strawberry Puree, which the girl was nice enough to let us know we should stir before drinking. The Fish was 100% worth it. They were nice meaty pieces of Catfish, freshly fried with the perfect sweet heat. The apple vinegar slaw was refreshingly crisp and what I believe was maybe a Chipoltle Aioli that came with my Waffle fries was also super good on the fish. Definitely worth the hype. Food took about 20 minutes to come out and there was only a few of us there so be ready for a bit of a wait but I definitely recommend trying it out.Parking: It's Oakland typical parking. Gotta circle a bit to find a spot and don't leave valuables exposed in your car.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Waffle Fries, Nashville Fish & Chips, Fish Sandwich, Mild
Brittani K.
Hot Bird is consistent when I'm in the mood for a chicken sandwich or chicken tenders. I usually go for the medium spice level, just enough flavor without going overboard on the heat. The place is always clean, creating the perfect vibe for a satisfying meal. Ordering online is a breeze, and they've got it down - my food is always ready when I get there and I usually receive a text. No complaints about the customer service; it's straightforward and solid.The 3-piece tender meal - it's a really great deal. The chicken is reliably juicy, it includes toast, salad/slaw, and a and sauces, the complete the experience. Another option I've tried is the chicken sandwich which is a decent size and very fulfilling. Every bite is a flavor-packed delight, making it a standout on the menu. I definitely will be coming back!
I ordered burnin tenders and an extreme chicken sandwich, made it through the sandwich but the burnin tenders destroyed my mind it was so hot it can put somebody in the hospital beware. That was a helluva experience sheeeeeeesh.P.s Might not finish the tenders.
We stopped here before a weeknight concert at the Fox and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a simple menu plus beer, wine, and some soju cocktails. Perfect for a pre-show bite. The inside was very quiet and service was quick.It's nice that you can choose the spice level (and maybe get on the wall of fame if you're brave enough!). It gets pretty serious even for people who like spiciness.We got the tenders and a chicken sandwich. Both brought the heat and the breading was perfectly crisp. Not greasy, not soggy. The sauces (esp the Come Back Sauce) were a great compliment. The slaw was tangy and sweet. I'd love to try more of their stuff!
Sen
I used to really enjoy this place. It's a bit pricey but the taste and portion of chicken almost justified the price. Unfortunately, the last time I went the chicken tenders seemed much smaller. At this point, it's not worth
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders Plate
Karen P.
Ok so this place. Wow... first things first their chicken sandwiches are delish. They have spice levels none, mild, hot, extra hot, & burning. The first time I went here I got the extra hot thinking it wasn't going to be. Well I didn't get a chance to enjoy it because I took a bite out of my husbands burning chicken and it hurt. It hurt. I did end up eating my extra hot sandwich but not without difficulty.The second time we went we ate inside, it was a nice place a little empty, the guy at the register was super nice. Husband immediately noticed they had a burning wall of fame... He had already eaten the burning and he wanted to be up on the wall so he did it again. He's on the wall now. This second time I ate the mild. It was good. Not too hot, I'm just not used to eating spicy anymore :(If you're feeling adventurous and want a hot challenge go here and do their burning challenge. I will say tho if you're not used to eating spicy don't do the challenge and don't get extra hot. They will burn and hurt. But they're good lol.They have other stuff besides the chicken sandwich but I go there for that.No pictures because I forgot.
Jon Gab
Ordered through ubereats. Firstly, if you get the chicken sando to be delivered, I highly recommend getting the coleslaw on the side. Gotta keep that thing crispyI've been trying to find the best fried chicken sando in Oakland and this one is in the top 3, possibly #1. Big pieces of chicken, juicy breast meat, no fat or cartilage, great coating, well fried, and the coleslaw is super light and SUPER thinly sliced which was a tremendous move. Only thing I'll say is I'm glad I ordered an extra sauce, it didn't have a ton but one 50 cent extra sauce was enough for 2 sandos. I'm kind of a baby with spice, I got the mild but even that had nice undertone of spice and looked and tasted really seasoned.If I was trying to give a portnoy style rating, I'd give these things a 9.2/10Pretty incredible sando, traveled well, possibly the best one in Oakland, definitely try it.
You ask for spicy and they make it happen! The owner is also super wholesome and loves his community.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich, Fries
I have one word for that fish sandwich.WOW!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Bay Area seems to have nice places to have a good chicken sandwich. This is one of the nice places I've tried. The inside seemed a bit empty but lovely with the 'All you need is hot chicken'. Service was clunky but thorough. Waiting time was fine. I did notice that their fry selection is not too extensive. I went with waffle fries and the regular hot chicken sandwich, I believe medium was the spice level. I can recall there were layers of sweetness. The coleslaw was sweet to me, not sure if it was the pickles as well. The flavour was nice. The spice was potent but not extreme; very comfortable while I watched people pass by. Waffle fries were crispy and fresh. The sauce was more on the sweet side but a good layer of flavour. Water and utensils are self served by the doorway. Right in the middle of downtown Oakland. Easily accessible with public transport.
We were craving a good chicken sandwich with coleslaw and this was perfect. I got mild and it was spicy but not too much, my husband got hot and thought it was very spicy, but the coleslaw helped. The comeback sauce was so good!! We got extra for our waffle fries and to put on our sandwiches. Also not sure if they make their pickles in house cause they were delicious. We were passing by Oakland so if we are ever around again, we would definitely try them again! Thank you!!
Instagram directed me to this place. My gf and I got there at 2pm and only a group of 4 was sitting inside. So no wait for us. Well they have a hot fish sandwich which looked so good, but I saw it was catfish only and not a fan of that. My gf decided to try it and I got a regular chicken sandwich. We both got the medium spice lvl. Spice lvl was just hot enough to still have taste and wake those sinuses up.The chicken sandwich was breaded very evenly and so good. A little pricey since it was $18 and you don't even get fries or anything else with it. Well the fish sando was such a letdown. Had way too much breading on it. Was almost half breading and half fish. They give you an extremely big filet though.On the ride home about 15mins after we left the restuarant my gf had gotten food poisoining and was not feeling well. Get the chicken sando, but steer clear of the catfish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Waffle Fries, Chicken Sandwich
Instagram directed me to this place. My gf and I got there at 2pm and only a group of 4 was sitting inside. So no wait for us. Well they have a hot fish sandwich which looked so good, but I saw it was catfish only and not a fan of that. My gf decided to try it and I got a regular chicken sandwich. We both got the medium spice lvl. Spice lvl was just hot enough to still have taste and wake those sinuses up. The chicken sandwich was breaded very evenly and so good. A little pricey since it was $18 and you don't even get fries or anything else with it. Well the fish sando was such a letdown. Had way too much breading on it. Was almost half breading and half fish. They give you an extremely big filet though. On the ride home about 15mins after we left the restuarant my gf had gotten food poisoining and was not feeling well. Get the chicken sando, but steer clear of the catfish.
Dear Hotbird, I love you. You make me feel things about chicken that I never knew I can feel. Your food makes Taylor Swift look like a basic bitch. I pretty high right now so that makes perfect sense. I love you.
The fish and chicken sandwiches didn't match the temperature of the almond samples. The fish is kinda oily and ends up with a similar consistency to McDonald's and the chicken isn't really flat or overflowing so your last few bites are gonna be sans chicken. I do like the crunchy batter but if I were in the neighborhood again I'd probably try someplace new.
Food: 3
Me and hubby went here round 8pm on a sunday night. The girl at the counter was quick to take our order and was patient. We got Strawberry lemonade sodas, a medium spice, fish sandwhich & the fish & Chips with Mild Spice.The sodas were nothing special. Pretty much just Sparkling water with Strawberry Puree, which the girl was nice enough to let us know we should stir before drinking. The Fish was 100% worth it. They were nice meaty pieces of Catfish, freshly fried with the perfect sweet heat. The apple vinegar slaw was refreshingly crisp and what I believe was maybe a Chipoltle Aioli that came with my Waffle fries was also super good on the fish. Definitely worth the hype. Food took about 20 minutes to come out and there was only a few of us there so be ready for a bit of a wait but I definitely recommend trying it out.Parking: It's Oakland typical parking. Gotta circle a bit to find a spot and don't leave valuables exposed in your car.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Waffle Fries, Nashville Fish & Chips, Fish Sandwich, Mild
Hot Bird is consistent when I'm in the mood for a chicken sandwich or chicken tenders. I usually go for the medium spice level, just enough flavor without going overboard on the heat. The place is always clean, creating the perfect vibe for a satisfying meal. Ordering online is a breeze, and they've got it down - my food is always ready when I get there and I usually receive a text. No complaints about the customer service; it's straightforward and solid.The 3-piece tender meal - it's a really great deal. The chicken is reliably juicy, it includes toast, salad/slaw, and a and sauces, the complete the experience. Another option I've tried is the chicken sandwich which is a decent size and very fulfilling. Every bite is a flavor-packed delight, making it a standout on the menu. I definitely will be coming back!
Restaurantji Recommends
I ordered burnin tenders and an extreme chicken sandwich, made it through the sandwich but the burnin tenders destroyed my mind it was so hot it can put somebody in the hospital beware. That was a helluva experience sheeeeeeesh.P.s Might not finish the tenders.
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Waffle Fries, Chicken Sandwich, Mild
We stopped here before a weeknight concert at the Fox and I was pleasantly surprised. It's a simple menu plus beer, wine, and some soju cocktails. Perfect for a pre-show bite. The inside was very quiet and service was quick.It's nice that you can choose the spice level (and maybe get on the wall of fame if you're brave enough!). It gets pretty serious even for people who like spiciness.We got the tenders and a chicken sandwich. Both brought the heat and the breading was perfectly crisp. Not greasy, not soggy. The sauces (esp the Come Back Sauce) were a great compliment. The slaw was tangy and sweet. I'd love to try more of their stuff!
I used to really enjoy this place. It's a bit pricey but the taste and portion of chicken almost justified the price. Unfortunately, the last time I went the chicken tenders seemed much smaller. At this point, it's not worth
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Tenders Plate
Ok so this place. Wow... first things first their chicken sandwiches are delish. They have spice levels none, mild, hot, extra hot, & burning. The first time I went here I got the extra hot thinking it wasn't going to be. Well I didn't get a chance to enjoy it because I took a bite out of my husbands burning chicken and it hurt. It hurt. I did end up eating my extra hot sandwich but not without difficulty.The second time we went we ate inside, it was a nice place a little empty, the guy at the register was super nice. Husband immediately noticed they had a burning wall of fame... He had already eaten the burning and he wanted to be up on the wall so he did it again. He's on the wall now. This second time I ate the mild. It was good. Not too hot, I'm just not used to eating spicy anymore :(If you're feeling adventurous and want a hot challenge go here and do their burning challenge. I will say tho if you're not used to eating spicy don't do the challenge and don't get extra hot. They will burn and hurt. But they're good lol.They have other stuff besides the chicken sandwich but I go there for that.No pictures because I forgot.
Ordered through ubereats. Firstly, if you get the chicken sando to be delivered, I highly recommend getting the coleslaw on the side. Gotta keep that thing crispyI've been trying to find the best fried chicken sando in Oakland and this one is in the top 3, possibly #1. Big pieces of chicken, juicy breast meat, no fat or cartilage, great coating, well fried, and the coleslaw is super light and SUPER thinly sliced which was a tremendous move. Only thing I'll say is I'm glad I ordered an extra sauce, it didn't have a ton but one 50 cent extra sauce was enough for 2 sandos. I'm kind of a baby with spice, I got the mild but even that had nice undertone of spice and looked and tasted really seasoned.If I was trying to give a portnoy style rating, I'd give these things a 9.2/10Pretty incredible sando, traveled well, possibly the best one in Oakland, definitely try it.
Food: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Sandwich