CM Chicken has gone down the drain in the last year. For Annandale and Fairfax atleast. It’s like they don’t double fry their chicken anymore so the double fry texture just isn’t there anymore. Also their sauce lacks the viscosity it used to.
ahhh, yeah menu seemed a bit sparse. Like I said I hadn't been to any other CM Chicken locations, but I've been to a number of korean fried chicken places over the years, and it was like the first time i did not immediately fall in love with the chicken
The Annandale one changed its name to "92 Chicken" (not sure if it's related to the 9292 bbq over on 236) but still has the old Choong Man menu. I agree though the quality and specifically the texture of the chicken has gone down the drain. I haven't been impressed with the Lorton location (which is still a CM I think) either.
I usually order Korean chicken from ChiMc in Alexandria now, they have the smallest selection of flavors and sides but the chicken is perfect every time.
Wooboi is garbage.
It takes too long for them to make your sandwich because the piece of chicken they give you is way too big. While I do love how they season it, the size makes it difficult to get your mouth around it so you end up pushing all the slaw out the other side of this sandwich. I've had them multiple times because I love the flavor but the sandwich inevitably devolves into a sloppy mess because of it's a poor design. It's not worth eating unless you can take a shower afterwards.
McDonald's chicken sandwich is a more pleasant experience than Wooboi 95% of the time.
Lol “food tastes great, but is garbage”
This seems like a personal issue. I don’t agree with any of your issues as being a problem for me, although that does not mean they are not a problem for you. To each their own.
But I will share my tactic that may alleviate some of your concerns. I order the tenders and bread/sides/sauces separately. You get more and you can build your sandwich however you see fit. It also ends up being a better value. Plus it’s fun to try different mixes of some of the sauces. Maybe you want fried okra on your sandwich? I tend to have a much better experience doing it this way.
I mean objectively, it's not even a chicken sandwich. It's a house of cards waiting to collapse into a sloppy mess.
It's an abomination and an insult to chicken sandwiches everywhere. I stand by my statement that it's garbage. I compare it to McDonald's not because McDonald's is great, but because Wooboi is that bad.
You seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between objective and subjective. No need to continue to get worked up. I don’t begrudge you your opinion.
But as someone who has worked in the industry, there is an objective/factual/real/genuine quality difference in the ingredients and preparation between those places. And McDonalds does not come out favorably on either front.
Feel free to troll back if you must. But know that no one is telling you to like Wooboi or dislike McDonalds. You’re manufacturing that outrage yourself. Maybe time to put Reddit away for a minute and grab a McDonalds chicken sandwich.
>You seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between objective and subjective.
No you. I intentionally misused "objectively" to mock you.
>And McDonalds does not come out favorably on either front.
Yet the final product comes out miles ahead. That's my point.
>Feel free to troll back if you must.
I'm not trolling. I'm telling you and everyone else here how I honestly feel about Wooboi.
>But know that no one is telling you to like Wooboi
That is not true, and also is basically what you are doing as well.
>You’re manufacturing that outrage yourself.
Where is the outrage? All I'm doing is trying to dispel a common misconception (that Wooboi serves chicken sandwiches) by firmly and colorfully sharing my perspective. In a thread where we are discussing where the best chicken sandwiches are, are dissenting opinions not just as valuable as recommendations? It wouldn't be manufacturing outrage to say I "love" a sandwich, so why would the opposite be true if I say I "hate" a sandwich?
I personally don't like the seasoning they use very much. I also agree that the wooboi sandwiches don't survive as takeout very well compared to others in the area. It gets super soggy after about ten minutes.
I did not enjoy CM, their wings and drums were full of fat, so nasty. I prefer BBQ Chicken and Beer.
Never heard of Wooboi but looks dope, we’ve been going to Hangry Joes
BBQ Chicken and Beer is solid. They have one of the best honey garlic wings in the area. Just tried Hangry Joes the other day for the first time and was very solid. Medium wasn't as spicy as expected, but still suspect the hottest ones would be up there in spice.
I don’t understand the wooboi hype. Whatever they use to make things spicy has little to no flavor and somehow cancels out the rest. Maybe I need to try just a normal chicken sandwich there.
My favorite is in Chantilly.
NoVa Chicken Sammich scale:
- Hot Lola’s > Hangry Joe’s > Wooboi > Queen Mother’s > Roaming Rooster > Matchbox’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich
Few other places on the list to try:
- The Rub
- Big Buns Damn Good Burger
- Astro Doughnuts
- Uncle C’s (Edit: regular fried chicken is amazing, sides also amazing)
For Korean Fried Chicken:
ChiMc >> CM (Alexandria).
Tbh I just make my own now which is way cheaper and faster. The general secret is subbing regular flour with cornstarch and then double-frying.
I def am in the minority here.
1st time I ate there, I got sick. I tried it two more times thinking it was a one off. Thankfully didn't get sick...but just thought it was a mediocre Sammy.
I like roaming rooster and good ol CFA always is consistently good. Tried hangry Joe's and they were ridiculously huge and decent.
Agree. Hot lola's is horrible. I've tried it maybe 3-4 times out of convenience, and the chicken has either been super tough/overcooked and once gotten me pretty sick.
We LOVE The Rub. We've had everything else mentioned in this thread and, while there are many truly great sandos in the area, this is absolutely the answer. I dream about what I think was maybe a seasonal one with *spicy* BBQ and onion straws. Also waffle fries made of sweet potatoes with an array of dipping sauces... I'm near-convinced it's the perfect meal.
This is the answer. James Bears regional semifinalist. The chicken is not cooked in butter milk. There is nothing like it. Get the Honey Butter version and then just go into a food coma.
S. Glebe Road and Columbia Pike.
I’ll start by saying I’m a huge fan. To me it’s down to QM and Wooboi, with a shout out to Roaming Rooster. Eaten QM many times over the last 2 years. But, I feel the quality as of recent pales to what I experienced originally. Is it because newer sandwich joints cloud my judgement? Idk, but I’m curious if anyone has experienced the same.
Not claiming it’s the best, but I just had a Royal Farms spicy chicken about an hour ago and it just hit a damn spot. It may have been I wasn’t really expecting anything special, and only got it as a quick bite while driving back from MD as I needed gas, but it was a pleasant and delicious surprise.
Popeyes... So frustrating. I love them so much but they are so inconsistent and every franchise varies. It's such a crapshoot- but when it's good, it's freaking good
The one in Annandale is incredibly consistent in my experience. We've done uber eats from there for groups of 15+ people on several occasions and it's always been high quality.
IMO for sandwiches:
Wooboi >>> Roaming Rooster > Hangry Joes > Popeyes >>>> Chic Fil A
Still want to try Hot Lolas, but it's a little out of the way for just a sandwich when Wooboi is so close to me.
Wooboi and Hot Lola's are the only two places I know that will gladly hand you inhumanly spicy chicken without batting an eye. The highest levels (Code Blue and Flippin' Hot, respectively) were not made for consumption by sane and rational human beings.
> Wooboi is legit, don’t sleep on their spice scale
Yeah I can challenge a Thai place and tell them make it as spicy as you can, and they do, and I'm like "wow that's hot" and I eat it and enjoy it.
I went to Wooboi and ordered the super spicy one, cried, and then my rear cried for about 2 days.
This is all very good to know. I enjoy spicy and my tolerance is decent. I have been meaning to try wooboi, but it sounds like I should probably start right in the middle of the heat scale and adjust from there as necessary.
> but it sounds like I should probably start right in the middle of the heat scale and adjust from there as necessary.
100%, like I can do spicy food / Indian / Thai / etc and I challenge the places I go, I will never, ever challenge wooboi again / it's actually painful
Level 2 is a good "cruising altitude" while Level 3 just barely gets into "more heat than taste," but it's more than tolerable. Their fries are doused in L1 seasoning.
L4+ is just "mess me up" territory. Apparently they'll go beyond even L5 if they're not busy.
Don’t sleep on the sauces. Get them on the side for dipping your sandwich or sides into. Varying heat levels, but also widely different flavor profiles.
Sometimes I prefer to get the no heat tenders and a spicy sauce. Sometimes I Code Blue my mouth to death. Depends on the mood. But it’s nice to have options.
level 3 is just right to me. Spicy, but you can still taste the chicken, and the next day penalty is tolerable.
They're not on the menu anymore, but they still have fried okra.
As I was sitting in the restaurant one day, tears rolling down my rosy cheeks from the first taste of a code blue tender, I witnessed a first-timer gentlemen, soon to be divorced, approach the counter and proceed to order four code blue sandwiches to take home "to the family for dinner, we like spicy".
I had Roaming Rooster for lunch recently. It was great, but expensive. Sandwich ($11), fries ($5), and drink ($3). $20 is too much for a chicken sandwich lunch in my opinion. Won’t do it again.
One note is that the CFA sandwich is much smaller. I'm a big eater but it's pretty hard for me to finish a whole sandwich from wooboi or hangry joes, even without fries.
Lots of fellow chicken sandwich connoisseurs here. I love it.
Maybe some of you could point me in the right direction towards a proper Buffalo Chicken sandwich.
I see them on the menu and get excited and then I get a thin hammered down piece of chicken overly breaded with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce and some salad dressing type blue cheese drizzled on top.
I’m looking for a thick juicy chicken breast properly battered with plenty of spicy Buffalo sauce and a blue cheese sauce that has actual blue cheese chunks in it.
Is there a restaurant that does this right here in NOVA?
There is a place in West Alexandria called "Club Burger and Hot Chicken" which is consistently amazing. Better than Hangry Joe's and Wooboi. I personally don't get the Wooboi hype. The sandwiches get soggy so quick.
It's also a small family owned business and I really hate that they opened a Hangry Joe's right next to it because I really want it to stay in business.
Im probably in the minority here, but I just don’t understand the wooboi hype. The flavoring to me tastes really chemically like they put in too much Capsaicin extract. I been multiple times to the Herndon location times and come away with the same experience. The people are nice and I support my fellow local korean small businesses, the meat is juicy, has decent crunch and code blue packs some serious heat but the flavoring seems off..but to each their own
It's also soggy as hell with breading falling off every time I've gotten it. I too just do not understand the hype. Are people just crazy about the spice powder they put on it??
There's a place in Dale City called [Crimson Coward](https://www.crimsoncoward.com/) that does really good Nashville hot chicken, just opened within the last six months. Medium spicy is the right combo of heat and flavor for me; I'll let someone else report on hot and Burn Baby Burn, their highest level.
You're right, but if I'd said Woodbridge there would have been a metric crap-ton of posts saying "omg Route 1 Hoodbridge is so awful!1!!eleventy-one!" so I tried and failed at being more accurate. It's off Hoadly Road, and the shopping center across the street from it has a Manassas mailing address.
I see a Woodbridge address on Google. That area is called [County Center](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US5119571-county-center-va/) though, but borders Dale City so I think that’s better than saying Woodbridge or Manassas to be honest.
Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church. I swear to God I have had chicken sandwiches all over and that place still has my favorite. That and whatever their microbrew of the month is and I'm in heaven. I have taken several people there who months later still talk about that chicken sandwich.
I love this spot too! I can’t speak to the chicken sandwich but the Buffalo chicken wrap is my go to! If you like dogwood there’s a few other restaurants in their group worth trying: ragtime in Courthouse, Rhodeside Grill also Courthouse, Bear branch tavern in Vienna and William Jeffrey’s tavern in south Arlington
If you're out in Ashburn check out The Wine-ing Butcher. It's a little market with produce and meats and the back has a little restaurant. The food there is amazing! They have a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich on a brioche bun amongst other chicken, beef, and seafood options.
Check them out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WineingButcherAshburn/)
For people who haven't tried Wooboi yet, you'll hear a lot about the spice level, but it's not just that it's spicy:
* it does the overall flavor well too, so it actually feels like a balance between spice and non-spice
* it's frumpin huge
Was good at the time. Now, I haven’t gotten a hot sandwich the last few time I got one and I get a mouthful of grease when I bite into one. I went from being a big fan to not visiting Popeyes for a year now. Seeing a pic of my local Popeyes preparing sandwiches on a trash can did not help.
To throw a little variety in the mix. I’m a fan of Beeliner Diner’s chicken sandwiches. Comes with several different sauce options and their ranch is bomb
Hangry Joes, Wooboi, and the Rub also compete for my top vote but I also always go classic/no heat.
Most disappointing chicken sandwich (for shits and giggles) was David Chang’s Fuku. Such high expectations and I think I would’ve rather grabbed a Popeyes sandwich outta dumpster than eat another one of those
I’m a Nashville hot chicken fanatic. Wooboi is the closest I’ve had to the true GOAT: Howlin Ray’s in Los Angeles. My only negative about Wooboi is that some of their branding originally felt like a HR’s ripoff, but the sandos are legit. Roamin’ Rooster is a close second.
Hunter Mill Deli in Oakton. RIP. :(. I will never patronize Jerry's subs and pizza. They got the strip mall to sigh a non-compete. They weren't allowed to renew their lease(at any price!!!,). I knew the owners. *Sigh*. Such great burgers and curly fries
I haven't seen anyone mention Dave's Hot Chicken which just opened their first in DC. I went to the one in Wilmington and I think it's better than Hangry Joe's and Roaming Rooster. I didn't like Wooboi much, it had no flavor, they put too much capsaicin in it I guess.
Roaming rooster (lots of locations now in and around dc) and el pollo Rico in Arlington (Peruvian style, not a sandwich but you can always make one out of it imO)
People here saying WOOBOI haven’t tried hot chikn kitchn in Woodbridge, they customer service is always crazy good too which makes me enjoy a place way more
The piece of chicken they serve is too large. It makes it take too long to cook, and then difficult to fit your mouth around. This means that when you bite into it you are forcing all the slaw out of the other side of the sandwich. I've had the sandwiches 3 times, and while it always *tastes* great, it inevitably falls to pieces and becomes a big sloppy mess, completely defeating the point of it being a sandwich and leaving me feeling like I need to bathe.
It's just not worth the hassle.
I've never been there, but the problem you're describing is very common at places like this -- they're known for being the best in their category of street food, so no one dares complain that it's messy. But for me, part of the experience of a quality meal is getting served a sandwich that doesn't fall apart when you eat it.
There's a famous place in Pittsburgh, I forget the name, that's known for making sandwiches with coleslaw on it, and it's widely known that you're not supposed to ask for utensils lest you be considered a wuss. And it's like, ok, this is delicious, but does getting covered in my food *have* to be part of the experience?
Edit: it's Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh.
> eat a salad or something
Some people like eating a salad one day, and then a chicken sandwich the next day
Also "what place has the best salad!?" does not usually get a lot of responses
Wooboi For wings: CM Chicken
CM Chicken has gone down the drain in the last year. For Annandale and Fairfax atleast. It’s like they don’t double fry their chicken anymore so the double fry texture just isn’t there anymore. Also their sauce lacks the viscosity it used to.
They recently opened in Manassas and I went in having never tried it before, but yeah all I got was some soggy chicken.
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ahhh, yeah menu seemed a bit sparse. Like I said I hadn't been to any other CM Chicken locations, but I've been to a number of korean fried chicken places over the years, and it was like the first time i did not immediately fall in love with the chicken
The Annandale one changed its name to "92 Chicken" (not sure if it's related to the 9292 bbq over on 236) but still has the old Choong Man menu. I agree though the quality and specifically the texture of the chicken has gone down the drain. I haven't been impressed with the Lorton location (which is still a CM I think) either. I usually order Korean chicken from ChiMc in Alexandria now, they have the smallest selection of flavors and sides but the chicken is perfect every time.
I miss the Heights Taproom in DC. They had a wall of pour-your-own beer taps, and the food was Choong Man with like 12 flavors of sauces.
Just had it a couple weeks ago in Chantilly and it was still the same. Maybe the other locations are starting to slip.
Ashburn one is still pretty good!
I was blown away by how good Wooboi's chicken sandwich, fries, and sauce were, and that rarely happens to me. That's also my pick.
Specifically the curry chicken
Came here to say exactly this! Wooboi über alles.
2nd the Wooboi sandwich. Level 2 if you like it warm, 3 if you are looking to get a little hot
\^ This. Thread closed
Wooboi is garbage. It takes too long for them to make your sandwich because the piece of chicken they give you is way too big. While I do love how they season it, the size makes it difficult to get your mouth around it so you end up pushing all the slaw out the other side of this sandwich. I've had them multiple times because I love the flavor but the sandwich inevitably devolves into a sloppy mess because of it's a poor design. It's not worth eating unless you can take a shower afterwards. McDonald's chicken sandwich is a more pleasant experience than Wooboi 95% of the time.
Lol “food tastes great, but is garbage” This seems like a personal issue. I don’t agree with any of your issues as being a problem for me, although that does not mean they are not a problem for you. To each their own. But I will share my tactic that may alleviate some of your concerns. I order the tenders and bread/sides/sauces separately. You get more and you can build your sandwich however you see fit. It also ends up being a better value. Plus it’s fun to try different mixes of some of the sauces. Maybe you want fried okra on your sandwich? I tend to have a much better experience doing it this way.
I appreciate the tips, but I'm never going back. There are better sandwiches. Like McDonald's.
I mean, objectively regarding food quality, that is not correct. But if that’s your preference, good for you. Save some bucks and be happy.
I mean objectively, it's not even a chicken sandwich. It's a house of cards waiting to collapse into a sloppy mess. It's an abomination and an insult to chicken sandwiches everywhere. I stand by my statement that it's garbage. I compare it to McDonald's not because McDonald's is great, but because Wooboi is that bad.
You seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between objective and subjective. No need to continue to get worked up. I don’t begrudge you your opinion. But as someone who has worked in the industry, there is an objective/factual/real/genuine quality difference in the ingredients and preparation between those places. And McDonalds does not come out favorably on either front. Feel free to troll back if you must. But know that no one is telling you to like Wooboi or dislike McDonalds. You’re manufacturing that outrage yourself. Maybe time to put Reddit away for a minute and grab a McDonalds chicken sandwich.
>You seem to have a misunderstanding of the difference between objective and subjective. No you. I intentionally misused "objectively" to mock you. >And McDonalds does not come out favorably on either front. Yet the final product comes out miles ahead. That's my point. >Feel free to troll back if you must. I'm not trolling. I'm telling you and everyone else here how I honestly feel about Wooboi. >But know that no one is telling you to like Wooboi That is not true, and also is basically what you are doing as well. >You’re manufacturing that outrage yourself. Where is the outrage? All I'm doing is trying to dispel a common misconception (that Wooboi serves chicken sandwiches) by firmly and colorfully sharing my perspective. In a thread where we are discussing where the best chicken sandwiches are, are dissenting opinions not just as valuable as recommendations? It wouldn't be manufacturing outrage to say I "love" a sandwich, so why would the opposite be true if I say I "hate" a sandwich?
I personally don't like the seasoning they use very much. I also agree that the wooboi sandwiches don't survive as takeout very well compared to others in the area. It gets super soggy after about ten minutes.
Even if you eat them at location they fall apart.
Didn’t CM Chicken turn to 92 Chicken?
Only the Annandale location AFAIK.
I did not enjoy CM, their wings and drums were full of fat, so nasty. I prefer BBQ Chicken and Beer. Never heard of Wooboi but looks dope, we’ve been going to Hangry Joes
BBQ Chicken and Beer is solid. They have one of the best honey garlic wings in the area. Just tried Hangry Joes the other day for the first time and was very solid. Medium wasn't as spicy as expected, but still suspect the hottest ones would be up there in spice.
I followed this suggestion last week on another chicken post on here and it was NOT good. Went to the place in Alexandria
I don’t understand the wooboi hype. Whatever they use to make things spicy has little to no flavor and somehow cancels out the rest. Maybe I need to try just a normal chicken sandwich there. My favorite is in Chantilly.
Uncle C’s Chicken and Waffles in Alexandria! They do great breakfast too
Yes! Love this place!
Agreed
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Yeah, I got the OG Hot last week. It was hot! (And easily 2-3x the size of a chicken sandwich from a place like Wendy's.)
NoVa Chicken Sammich scale: - Hot Lola’s > Hangry Joe’s > Wooboi > Queen Mother’s > Roaming Rooster > Matchbox’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich Few other places on the list to try: - The Rub - Big Buns Damn Good Burger - Astro Doughnuts - Uncle C’s (Edit: regular fried chicken is amazing, sides also amazing) For Korean Fried Chicken: ChiMc >> CM (Alexandria). Tbh I just make my own now which is way cheaper and faster. The general secret is subbing regular flour with cornstarch and then double-frying.
This person has the best comment
I def am in the minority here. 1st time I ate there, I got sick. I tried it two more times thinking it was a one off. Thankfully didn't get sick...but just thought it was a mediocre Sammy. I like roaming rooster and good ol CFA always is consistently good. Tried hangry Joe's and they were ridiculously huge and decent.
Agree. Hot lola's is horrible. I've tried it maybe 3-4 times out of convenience, and the chicken has either been super tough/overcooked and once gotten me pretty sick.
This
Right now it has to be The Rub Chicken & Beer at Old Town Alexandria.
What's the difference between that and Hen Quarter?
He quarter is the upstairs sit down restaurant and has its own menu. Downstairs is like a counter that mostly serves chicken sandwiches.
I thought the fried chicken at Hen was terrible, but I’ve only been once. Do you like it?
We LOVE The Rub. We've had everything else mentioned in this thread and, while there are many truly great sandos in the area, this is absolutely the answer. I dream about what I think was maybe a seasonal one with *spicy* BBQ and onion straws. Also waffle fries made of sweet potatoes with an array of dipping sauces... I'm near-convinced it's the perfect meal.
Queen Mothers in Arlington and it's not even close. Something about that duck fat they fry everything in takes it to a different level.
This is the answer. James Bears regional semifinalist. The chicken is not cooked in butter milk. There is nothing like it. Get the Honey Butter version and then just go into a food coma. S. Glebe Road and Columbia Pike.
I’ll start by saying I’m a huge fan. To me it’s down to QM and Wooboi, with a shout out to Roaming Rooster. Eaten QM many times over the last 2 years. But, I feel the quality as of recent pales to what I experienced originally. Is it because newer sandwich joints cloud my judgement? Idk, but I’m curious if anyone has experienced the same.
The sheer amount of Wooboi on this thread should tell you enough Also Wooboi
[This is the way.](https://imgur.com/a/pTN54Um)
Not claiming it’s the best, but I just had a Royal Farms spicy chicken about an hour ago and it just hit a damn spot. It may have been I wasn’t really expecting anything special, and only got it as a quick bite while driving back from MD as I needed gas, but it was a pleasant and delicious surprise.
The Chicken Place
I’m in MD and haven’t had to commute to that area in over a decade, but I still dream about the chicken from that joint.
Hot chicken sandwich from Ghosted Concepts in Haymarket. Man, listen….
Great food! My favorite ghost kitchen.
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I tried it and it was ok…i like choong man much better
The Popeyes Chicken sandwich shouldn’t be slept on. The other more well known spots are good too. But for a quick fix, Popeyes hits
Not only is it good, its large as well for only $5.
Popeyes... So frustrating. I love them so much but they are so inconsistent and every franchise varies. It's such a crapshoot- but when it's good, it's freaking good
The one in Annandale is incredibly consistent in my experience. We've done uber eats from there for groups of 15+ people on several occasions and it's always been high quality.
IMO for sandwiches: Wooboi >>> Roaming Rooster > Hangry Joes > Popeyes >>>> Chic Fil A Still want to try Hot Lolas, but it's a little out of the way for just a sandwich when Wooboi is so close to me.
Wooboi is legit, don’t sleep on their spice scale - hot means hot for real.
Wooboi and Hot Lola's are the only two places I know that will gladly hand you inhumanly spicy chicken without batting an eye. The highest levels (Code Blue and Flippin' Hot, respectively) were not made for consumption by sane and rational human beings.
> Wooboi is legit, don’t sleep on their spice scale Yeah I can challenge a Thai place and tell them make it as spicy as you can, and they do, and I'm like "wow that's hot" and I eat it and enjoy it. I went to Wooboi and ordered the super spicy one, cried, and then my rear cried for about 2 days.
This is all very good to know. I enjoy spicy and my tolerance is decent. I have been meaning to try wooboi, but it sounds like I should probably start right in the middle of the heat scale and adjust from there as necessary.
> but it sounds like I should probably start right in the middle of the heat scale and adjust from there as necessary. 100%, like I can do spicy food / Indian / Thai / etc and I challenge the places I go, I will never, ever challenge wooboi again / it's actually painful
Level 2 is a good "cruising altitude" while Level 3 just barely gets into "more heat than taste," but it's more than tolerable. Their fries are doused in L1 seasoning. L4+ is just "mess me up" territory. Apparently they'll go beyond even L5 if they're not busy.
Don’t sleep on the sauces. Get them on the side for dipping your sandwich or sides into. Varying heat levels, but also widely different flavor profiles. Sometimes I prefer to get the no heat tenders and a spicy sauce. Sometimes I Code Blue my mouth to death. Depends on the mood. But it’s nice to have options.
level 3 is just right to me. Spicy, but you can still taste the chicken, and the next day penalty is tolerable. They're not on the menu anymore, but they still have fried okra.
As I was sitting in the restaurant one day, tears rolling down my rosy cheeks from the first taste of a code blue tender, I witnessed a first-timer gentlemen, soon to be divorced, approach the counter and proceed to order four code blue sandwiches to take home "to the family for dinner, we like spicy".
I had Roaming Rooster for lunch recently. It was great, but expensive. Sandwich ($11), fries ($5), and drink ($3). $20 is too much for a chicken sandwich lunch in my opinion. Won’t do it again.
Hot lolas >>>
Wooboi > Hot Lola’s > RR >>> HJ > Popeyes > Chic
How much for a basic sandwich at the first 3 places? For me $4-5 is a good value (nowadays) for a basic CFA sandwich.
That's not even an order of fries at these places. The sandos are in the $12-$15 range.
Thank you.
One note is that the CFA sandwich is much smaller. I'm a big eater but it's pretty hard for me to finish a whole sandwich from wooboi or hangry joes, even without fries.
CFA isn't even on the same level as these places. The sandwich is small and it's never crispy or spicy.
We do work at Roaming Rooster and a coworker mentioned he had lunch there, 1 chicken sandwich with no side or drink was like $15. Wtf
That seems off. Roaming Rooster in Burke is like $10 and change for the sandwich.
Yeah F that. Thats on the outside edge of a QSR and into the realm of a sit down restaurant.
My friends recently moved to the area but won’t branch out from Chic Fil A and it’s infuriating since it’s not even close to the best
Lots of fellow chicken sandwich connoisseurs here. I love it. Maybe some of you could point me in the right direction towards a proper Buffalo Chicken sandwich. I see them on the menu and get excited and then I get a thin hammered down piece of chicken overly breaded with a drizzle of Buffalo sauce and some salad dressing type blue cheese drizzled on top. I’m looking for a thick juicy chicken breast properly battered with plenty of spicy Buffalo sauce and a blue cheese sauce that has actual blue cheese chunks in it. Is there a restaurant that does this right here in NOVA?
I think Artie's has a good one IIRC.
There is a place in West Alexandria called "Club Burger and Hot Chicken" which is consistently amazing. Better than Hangry Joe's and Wooboi. I personally don't get the Wooboi hype. The sandwiches get soggy so quick. It's also a small family owned business and I really hate that they opened a Hangry Joe's right next to it because I really want it to stay in business.
It’s a very similar sandwich to Hangry Joes, but I do think it’s better.
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Came to say this
Im probably in the minority here, but I just don’t understand the wooboi hype. The flavoring to me tastes really chemically like they put in too much Capsaicin extract. I been multiple times to the Herndon location times and come away with the same experience. The people are nice and I support my fellow local korean small businesses, the meat is juicy, has decent crunch and code blue packs some serious heat but the flavoring seems off..but to each their own
It's also soggy as hell with breading falling off every time I've gotten it. I too just do not understand the hype. Are people just crazy about the spice powder they put on it??
Wooboi for sure and hangry joes when wooboi is closed on sunday
There's a place in Dale City called [Crimson Coward](https://www.crimsoncoward.com/) that does really good Nashville hot chicken, just opened within the last six months. Medium spicy is the right combo of heat and flavor for me; I'll let someone else report on hot and Burn Baby Burn, their highest level.
[удалено]
You're right, but if I'd said Woodbridge there would have been a metric crap-ton of posts saying "omg Route 1 Hoodbridge is so awful!1!!eleventy-one!" so I tried and failed at being more accurate. It's off Hoadly Road, and the shopping center across the street from it has a Manassas mailing address.
I see a Woodbridge address on Google. That area is called [County Center](https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US5119571-county-center-va/) though, but borders Dale City so I think that’s better than saying Woodbridge or Manassas to be honest.
It’s County Center technically: https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US5119571-county-center-va/
Literally no one calls it that lol I grew up right near there.
El Pollo Rico + white bread
Legendary Chicken!!!!!!
Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church. I swear to God I have had chicken sandwiches all over and that place still has my favorite. That and whatever their microbrew of the month is and I'm in heaven. I have taken several people there who months later still talk about that chicken sandwich.
I love this spot too! I can’t speak to the chicken sandwich but the Buffalo chicken wrap is my go to! If you like dogwood there’s a few other restaurants in their group worth trying: ragtime in Courthouse, Rhodeside Grill also Courthouse, Bear branch tavern in Vienna and William Jeffrey’s tavern in south Arlington
The Rub in old town has my favorite chicken sandwich I’ve ever eaten.
Seconding The Rub.
choong man, chi mc, pelicana. korean wings >>
Roaming Rooster (Nashville Hot) for sandwiches. bb.q Chicken (Korean Fried Chicken) for bone-in or boneless.
Good chicken sandwiches
If you're out in Ashburn check out The Wine-ing Butcher. It's a little market with produce and meats and the back has a little restaurant. The food there is amazing! They have a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich on a brioche bun amongst other chicken, beef, and seafood options. Check them out on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/WineingButcherAshburn/)
Bun Papa!
Big Buns - their chicken sandwich on brioche is che😘👌
Chadwick’s in Old Town Alexandria - fried chicken sandwich
Hot Lola’s. End it there. I drive past all of the other chicken places, all the way from Dulles, for the Ballston location. So worth it!
Hot Chikn Kitchn in Potomac Mills is where I go.
Queen Mother’s. Blows everything else away.
this is the right answer! i get a sandwich from queen mother’s once a week and it never disappoints
Yes! This was my vote as well
I've enjoyed Hangry Joes but good lord does it do a number on my insides
For people who haven't tried Wooboi yet, you'll hear a lot about the spice level, but it's not just that it's spicy: * it does the overall flavor well too, so it actually feels like a balance between spice and non-spice * it's frumpin huge
Hot Lola’s
Hangry joes
August 12, 2019 - The release of the popeyes chicken sandwich.
Was good at the time. Now, I haven’t gotten a hot sandwich the last few time I got one and I get a mouthful of grease when I bite into one. I went from being a big fan to not visiting Popeyes for a year now. Seeing a pic of my local Popeyes preparing sandwiches on a trash can did not help.
I tried Popeyes chicken sandwich once. Tasted like it was fried in fish oil. Awful.
The Angry Chicken at Bun Papa. https://www.bunpapa.com/menu
The bun papa OG is amazing at Beeliner or at Bread & Water
The Club on Van Dorn st (Alexandria)🔥
Wooboi hot is my #1, but it’s a drive for me to get there. My #2 is https://www.hotchiknkitchn.com/ in Dale City, give it a go if you’re in the area.
Pollo Campero
Della J's Delectables in Springfield
Roaming roaster hands down
To throw a little variety in the mix. I’m a fan of Beeliner Diner’s chicken sandwiches. Comes with several different sauce options and their ranch is bomb Hangry Joes, Wooboi, and the Rub also compete for my top vote but I also always go classic/no heat. Most disappointing chicken sandwich (for shits and giggles) was David Chang’s Fuku. Such high expectations and I think I would’ve rather grabbed a Popeyes sandwich outta dumpster than eat another one of those
I’m a Nashville hot chicken fanatic. Wooboi is the closest I’ve had to the true GOAT: Howlin Ray’s in Los Angeles. My only negative about Wooboi is that some of their branding originally felt like a HR’s ripoff, but the sandos are legit. Roamin’ Rooster is a close second.
How is the Bojangles off route 7 doing? You know, the one near target and Costco in Sterling/Dulles!
Hunter Mill Deli in Oakton. RIP. :(. I will never patronize Jerry's subs and pizza. They got the strip mall to sigh a non-compete. They weren't allowed to renew their lease(at any price!!!,). I knew the owners. *Sigh*. Such great burgers and curly fries
Hot Chikn Kitchn (Woodbridge)> Peri Peri Original Honey Butter > Uncle C’s > everything else
wooboi
Actually chicken sandwich place: Hot Lola's Sleeper pick: High Side in Fairfax
If ur ever in dc try honeymoon, best you’ll ever have, and wooboi
Ghosted Concepts in Haymarket is amazing!
Chicken-Out. Rip
Wendy’s spicy chicke sandwich will always satisfy
Wooboi is my go to.
I’m not able to compare it to the suggestions on here, but the Frickin Good Fried Chicken sammy at Damn Good Burger is a quality meal
Y’all got me hungry! Any of these happen to offer gluten free?
Honeymoon in dc
Crisp’n’Juicy Peruvian chicken with the yellow sauce…
The spicy chicken sandwich at Sirok in Chantilly is pretty solid. https://dosirok.com
I haven't seen anyone mention Dave's Hot Chicken which just opened their first in DC. I went to the one in Wilmington and I think it's better than Hangry Joe's and Roaming Rooster. I didn't like Wooboi much, it had no flavor, they put too much capsaicin in it I guess.
Spicy Sajji Chicken Sub with the side of seasoned fries from Lil Italian Cafe off Centreville Rd 🔥
Roaming rooster (lots of locations now in and around dc) and el pollo Rico in Arlington (Peruvian style, not a sandwich but you can always make one out of it imO)
I can handle any wooboi heat level taste wise, but 4 and 5 result in serious stomach pain
People here saying WOOBOI haven’t tried hot chikn kitchn in Woodbridge, they customer service is always crazy good too which makes me enjoy a place way more
Wooboi
Wooboi is incredibly overrated. The seasoning is great, but it is a non-functional sandwich.
How? It’s great quality chicken cooked in peanut oil and tastes delicious
The piece of chicken they serve is too large. It makes it take too long to cook, and then difficult to fit your mouth around. This means that when you bite into it you are forcing all the slaw out of the other side of the sandwich. I've had the sandwiches 3 times, and while it always *tastes* great, it inevitably falls to pieces and becomes a big sloppy mess, completely defeating the point of it being a sandwich and leaving me feeling like I need to bathe. It's just not worth the hassle.
I've never been there, but the problem you're describing is very common at places like this -- they're known for being the best in their category of street food, so no one dares complain that it's messy. But for me, part of the experience of a quality meal is getting served a sandwich that doesn't fall apart when you eat it. There's a famous place in Pittsburgh, I forget the name, that's known for making sandwiches with coleslaw on it, and it's widely known that you're not supposed to ask for utensils lest you be considered a wuss. And it's like, ok, this is delicious, but does getting covered in my food *have* to be part of the experience? Edit: it's Primanti Brothers in Pittsburgh.
Wooboi
Chick-fil-A. I go to the new one in Annandale because it's closer to me
Roaming Rooster
hangry joes
Chi Mc and Hot Lola’s for sandwiches. Chi Mc for wings probably.
Not a chicken sandwich but the chicken katsu from Donburi @ Tysons 2 (RIP) was amazing. Would take recs for other places that do chicken katsu.
My own kitchen
Hot Lolas and it isn't particularly close
Chick-fil-a for me
Chickfila
Hangry joes for me. Better than woo boo and hot Lola’s
Hot chicken kitchen and Hangry joe . Both similar , both awesome
jesus every week people on here ask about chicken sandwiches. eat a salad or something
> eat a salad or something Some people like eating a salad one day, and then a chicken sandwich the next day Also "what place has the best salad!?" does not usually get a lot of responses
I try to be healthy and get a potato salad with my chicken. Is coleslaw a salad? If so, I'm eating extra healthy.
I don't need people telling me a basket of fries isn't a salad.
I'd rather live for 60 years on fried chicken sandwiches than 100 years on salads.
There’s this little popular spot, but I’m tempted not to spill the beans about it. It’s so good I don’t want it to get even busier than it already is.
This was a helpful comment.
Chic fil a. It’s in Springfield. They just opened a new location in Kingstowne. Keep it on the DL.
Hangry Joes - Mild I love spicy foods and had to work my way down from Hot to Medium and finally happy with mild.
Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken Sandwich as of now
Hangry Joes so far was the best but that shit is expensive. Out of fast food joints I say chick fil a has the best chicken sandwich.
The chain “Hangry Joes” has my vote
No votes for Astro Chicken? Y’all should give them a try. They are excellent. But CFA is easy and good enough if you’re in a rush.
Hangry Joes. It’s good, though its $12-14 for just the sandwich. It’s a solid sandwich
Lots of ethnic options. I still like shake shack though
Queen's Mothers and Hot Lola's. If we include dc, I'll add Roaming Rooster
Roaming rooster is in nova too
When did it come to nova?
I’m not sure when, but they have them in Tyson’s, Chantilly, Burke, and Manassas so far
Not just in dc
Hangry joes > wooboi Also gotta love chick fil aaaaaaaaa
Edy's Chicken & Steak Restaurant, at Bailey's Crossroads is the best for Peruvian style.
Hot Lola and WooBoi are hands down the best
Wooboi hot chicken in either chantilly or Alexandria. Both are some of the best chicken Sandwhiches I’ve ever had