Our Story

About Hangry Joe's

The story behind hangry joes — Brooklyn's most talked-about hot chicken destination. Born from hunger, built on fire, and driven by a love for bold, unapologetic flavor.

Hangry Joe's hot chicken restaurant kitchen in Brooklyn

2019 Est. Brooklyn

The Beginning

Where Hangry Joe's
All Began

Hangry joes didn't start with a business plan — it started with a craving. Founder Joe Maldonado grew up eating Nashville-style hot chicken on road trips through the South, and he couldn't shake the feeling that Brooklyn deserved its own version of that fire.

In 2019, from a tiny prep kitchen on West 8th Street, Joe started selling hot chicken sandwiches out of a folding table. Word spread fast. The line wrapped around the block within weeks. What began as a passion project quickly became Brooklyn's most talked-about food obsession.

"We cook every piece of chicken like it's going to the person we love most. That's the hangry joe's standard — nothing less."

Today, Hangry Joe's serves hundreds of guests every day from its full-service location at 2875 W 8th St, Brooklyn. The menu has grown, but the mission hasn't changed: real heat, real flavor, zero compromise.

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What Drives Us

Our Mission &
Core Values

We exist to serve bold food to bold people — with heat that hits different and flavors that keep you coming back.

Unapologetic Heat

We don't water down spice to please the masses. Our heat levels are real, earned, and respected.

Made With Love

Every sandwich, every bowl, every tender is prepared with care by people who genuinely love food.

Fresh Ingredients

No frozen shortcuts. We source fresh, quality ingredients every single day — because you can taste the difference.

Community First

We're a Brooklyn institution. We hire local, source local, and give back to the neighborhood that built us.

50K+ Customers Served

6 Heat Levels

5★ Avg. Rating

hangry joe's hot chicken plated fresh in Brooklyn

How We Got Here

The Hangry Joe's Journey

From a folding table in Brooklyn to a full-house restaurant loved by thousands — here's the story of how hangry joes became a neighborhood legend.

2019

The Pop-Up That Started It All

Joe Maldonado sets up a folding table outside a friend's garage in Coney Island and starts selling hot chicken sandwiches to the neighborhood. Lines form within the first week. The legend begins.

2020

First Brick-and-Mortar Location

Despite a challenging year globally, Hangry Joe's signs a lease at 2875 W 8th St, Brooklyn. The community shows up in force for the grand opening. We serve over 400 sandwiches on day one.

2021

Menu Expansion & Viral Moment

We launch our now-famous Nashville Bowls and Chicken Tenders lineup. A food blogger's video of our Inferno-level sandwich goes viral, reaching over 2 million views and putting Hangry Joe's on the national map.

2022

Catering Program Launch

Hangry Joe's launches its full catering operation, bringing the heat to corporate events, private parties, and community festivals across Brooklyn and greater NYC. We cater 150+ events in year one.

2023

Full Dining Room Renovation

We close for two weeks and reopen with a fully renovated dining room, expanded kitchen, and a brand new dessert menu. The wait was worth it. NYC Eater names us one of Brooklyn's top 10 restaurants of the year.

2024–Now

What's Next for Hangry Joe's

We're still hungry. With a loyal community behind us and fire in our kitchen, Hangry Joe's continues to push flavor boundaries. New menu items, community events, and a commitment to staying Brooklyn's boldest chicken spot — always.

The People Behind the Heat

Meet the Team

Every great meal starts with great people. The Hangry Joe's crew brings heart, hustle, and serious skill to everything we do.

Joe Maldonado

Founder & Head Chef

The original hangry one. Joe's obsession with Southern hot chicken turned a street-corner hustle into Brooklyn's boldest food institution. His spice blends are a closely guarded secret.

Maria Chen

Operations Manager

Maria keeps the whole machine running. From supplier relationships to service flow, she makes sure every customer experience at Hangry Joe's is seamless and satisfying.

Andre Williams

Sous Chef

Andre trained at culinary school in Nashville before joining the Hangry Joe's team. He's the mastermind behind our seasonal specials and the keeper of our frying technique.

Priya Nair

Customer Experience Lead

Priya is the reason guests feel like family the moment they walk through our door. She manages our front-of-house team with warmth, energy, and a smile even on the busiest nights.

Love what we do? Come join the team — we're always looking for passionate people who love food as much as we do.

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