The Hottest Spots Around Town for Nashville Hot Chicken
While it’s been on the rise, Music City’s best kept secret is still somewhat under wraps. Want a little spoiler alert? Well, Nashvillians like their chicken and they like it hot.
The city of Nashville is known for a lot of things: music, coffee, barbecue. While it’s been on the rise, Music City’s best kept secret is still somewhat under wraps. Want a little spoiler alert? Well, Nashvillians like their chicken and they like it hot.
Born and bred right here in the riverside city, hot chicken has become a staple to the Nashville lifestyle. It’s an incredibly popular dish all year round, served up just right with a side of white bread and pickles. We know your taste buds are screaming and your mouth is watering, so we’ve got you covered on the best places to check out for some authentic Nashville hot chicken.
Here are just a few of the hottest spots around town to grab a bite of this Southern delicacy:
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken // 112 19th Ave S / hattieb.com
If you ask any true Nashville resident where they chow down on their chicken, nine times out of ten they’ll tell you Hattie B’s is where it’s at. Customers have their choice of heat level, starting at the no-spiced Southern to the burning sensation of Shut the Cluck Up! !! (Yes, the restaurant uses three exclamation points themselves—even they know how intense the flavor can get.) Featuring sides like pimento mac & cheese and homemade cole slaw to give your mouth a breather, Hattie B’s definitely knows their way around the hometown recipe.
Prince’s Hot Chicken // 123 Ewing Dr
You didn’t hear it from us, but rumors are that Prince’s Hot Chicken created the original recipe for the dish. Long story short, revenge paid off in a different way for Prince with the discovery of this new style of chicken. Years later, this hidden gem booms the hot chicken business for locals and visitors alike. People come from all around to taste-test the lip-numbing meal, wishing they had only brought milk to cool down their taste buds. Cooling agents aside, Prince’s serves up some dang-good homemade chicken and ain’t nobody going to disagree with that.
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish // 624 Main St / boltonsspicy.com
Across the bridge over in East Nashville lies a place where the locals have come to know and love hot chicken. Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish sticks to a drier rub to spice up the Nashville dish, but the flavor is insane nonetheless. The restaurant’s simple Southern décor on the inside allows customers to soak up the flame-tasting feast that makes Bolton’s a staple in any Nashvillian’s diet.
Party Fowl // 719 8th Ave S / partyfowlnashville.com
Providing the best of Nashville’s live music and local brews in a fun and exciting atmosphere is just step one of Party Fowl’s motif. When they opened up shop in 2014, they brought the hot chicken game to a new level by incorporating the delicacy into other meals. From nachos and po’ boys to serving it up with beignets, Party Fowl broke the limits of what hot chicken could do. Also, pairing a cold one with the Nashville treat isn’t a bad idea either.
400 Degrees Hot Chicken // 319 Peabody Street / 400degreeshotchicken.com
Inspired by her love of hot chicken, the owner of 400 Degrees wanted to make up her own recipe for all to enjoy. Using a temperature scale from 0 to 400 degrees, customers can take their pick at their heat level before biting into the juicy goodness that is their hot chicken. Eaters can order the chicken alone or add a side of baked beans or French fries to the plate. Don’t forget to leave room for that rich chess pie!
