A monthly fried chicken pop-up in Columbus is gaining steady traction, and its chefs say the growing community support has them thinking seriously about a future brick-and-mortar restaurant.
Pigeon Mike’s is a collaborative concept from chefs Paige Wotring, Martin Ezell and Po Cambo, hosted inside Three Bites Bakery. The team has been popping up there since September 2025 and plans to continue for the foreseeable future, using the monthly format to experiment and refine their approach to fried chicken.
The concept grew out of a shared love of food and a desire to explore creative, unexpected ways to elevate the fried chicken sandwich. Each chef contributes a signature sandwich to the core menu, known simply as Numbers One, Two and Three, which have become fan favorites over the course of the pop-ups.
One of the most popular offerings is the “Four for Forty,” a sampler that includes all four chicken sandwiches alongside house chips. Those chips are crispy fried wontons tossed in a house-made nori seasoning, adding another layer of flavor that keeps customers coming back.
In addition to the core lineup, Pigeon Mike’s features a rotating monthly special, a one-off chicken sandwich available only at that specific pop-up. Looking ahead, the team plans to roll out a new chicken sandwich menu in February 2026, which will run for four months.
The next pop-up is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 11, at 5 p.m., with another event planned for February. The exact date will be announced on Instagram.
As the crowds continue to grow, so does the long-term vision. “We’ve been incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received from the community so far,” Wotring said. “Seeing the response and continued growth has been exciting, and opening a brick-and-mortar location is something we hope to pursue in the near future.”
