The Best Places to Try Nashville Hot Chicken

Nashville hot chicken has been a tradition in Nashville Tennessee for decades. What makes it especially different from regular chicken is the cayenne pepper. Here are the best places to get Nashville hot chicken.

Prince’s Hot Chick Shack

First of all, let’s start with the basics of hot chicken. This is a type of fried chicken that is usually a breast, thigh, or wing that has been marinated in a blend of seasoning and water. It is then flowered and fried and covered with a paste or a sauce that has been spiced up with cayenne pepper. This delicious culinary creation stems from the African-American communities in the south. Usually, it is served on top of white bread with pickle chips.

Many believe that the king of hot chicken is Thorton Prince, the founder of Prince’s Hot Chicken. Almost 100 years ago, the legend has it that Prince was given a plate of sizzling, hot chicken by a lover scorned. And instead of burning his mouth on that spicy chicken, he asked for seconds. Prince then perfected the recipe for the hot chicken and opened his famous hot chicken shack. Some consider this to be the original and the best hot chicken in Nashville. It is almost considered the gold standard for hot chicken.

This is the perfect stop along your visit to Nashville if you like the spicy life. Some famous people have stopped here over the years, including Jerry Seinfeld. There are locations all over Nashville so you can find the closest one to you. If you’re really hungry, you can get up to 100 wings. That’s enough to feed a small army. While you are there get a side of baked beans, coleslaw, mac & cheese, or potato salad. Wash it all down with a beer on the cheap for only five 

Additionally, other options for chicken include sandwiches like the Andre chicken sandwich which is a boneless breast with slaw and pickles and you can choose your sauce. If you like fried chicken, you’re bound to love Prince’s hot chicken.

Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish

If you decide to go on a hot chicken tour your next stop should be Bolton Spicy Chicken and Fish. The restaurant was created by Bolton Polk in the 90s. Their hot chicken is so good that there is a second location and a successful pop-up business in Los Angeles. The recipe was handed down through the family for generations and they serve a perfected variation of this recipe in their restaurants.

One of our favorite things about Bolton’s is that you don’t have to have it very spicy. They want to be able to appeal to all ages and taste buds. If you decide you want it not spicy, no problem. Order the chicken plain. Maybe you’re more into a mild or medium spice, and that’s okay too! And then, of course, there is extra hot as well if you’re really looking to fry your mouth. And just like at Prince’s, you can get a side of fries, potato salad, string beans, baked beans, or corn on the cob. These are essential southern-style sides.

Hattie B’s Chicken

Lastly, we are going to talk about Hattie B’s Chicken. This is probably one of the most popular places in Nashville for some Nashville hot chicken. Hattie B’s has locations over the southern U.S. Including Nashville, Atlanta, Memphis, Las Vegas, and Dallas. It is safe to say that their hot chicken is pretty popular.

Starting with the very famous menu, you can get your chicken with bones or without bones. You are also able to order no heat as well. Some of the sides are a little bit different here. You can order something called dirty bird fries which are crinkle-cut french fries, pimento mac & cheese, dark meat tender bites, and a special sauce. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, perhaps you’re more in the mood for the traditional southern sides. You can get southern greens, redskin potato salad, or baked beans.

Hattie B’s really knows how to capitalize on their amazing chicken. You can shop their store and get hoodies, T-shirts, or beer koozies with Hattie B’s logo. And if you are not close to any of their locations, you can even order hot chicken to be delivered and sent to your home. If this doesn’t convince you to start looking at some Nashville apartments for rent, we don’t know what will.

Hot chicken isn’t the only food you can get in Nashville, but it is one of the most popular. You can probably get hot chicken from many other places around town as well. However, we have done our research and these are the top three you should add to your list when you’re in Nashville.