Jake Harper
Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, and while many restaurants offer the dish today, Prince's Hot Chicken is widely regarded as the original. The story goes that in the 1930s, Thornton Prince's girlfriend, fed up with his late nights, doused his fried chicken in cayenne pepper. However, rather than being put off by the heat, Thornton loved it and soon opened a restaurant serving spicy chicken. Almost 100 years later, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is still going strong, with Thornton's great-niece, André Prince Jeffries, serving up the legendary dish that Nashvillians crave. Over the years, the restaurant has received numerous accolades, including being named Nashville's best place to get hot chicken by the Travel Channel show Food Paradise in 2013. However, it is unclear if the restaurant has received the prestigious Michelin star.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Originality | Prince's Hot Chicken is considered the original Nashville hot chicken |
| Awards | Named Nashville's best place to get hot chicken by the Travel Channel show Food Paradise; Named one of Nashville's four "don't-miss dining experiences" by Gourmet magazine; Named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards |
| Michelin Star | No explicit mention of a Michelin Star |
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What You'll Learn
Prince's Hot Chicken is Nashville's original hot chicken
Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, and while many restaurants offer the dish today, Prince's Hot Chicken is where it all started.
The story goes that in the 1930s, Thornton Prince's girlfriend was frustrated with his late nights out. To get her revenge, she made him his favourite fried chicken, but with a generous sprinkling of cayenne pepper. However, her plan backfired when, instead of being put off by the heat, Thornton loved it. He began replicating the spicy fried chicken and selling it from his home, before opening a small restaurant, the BBQ Chicken Shack, which became popular with the black community.
After moving to a new location near the Grand Ole Opry, the restaurant became popular with white people, too. Under Jim Crow, the Princes were not free to dine wherever and however they wanted, but they never told their customers where to sit or what door to use. The matter was handled by the customers themselves: black patrons sat at the front, and white patrons entered through the back and sat at the back.
The restaurant was frequented by Opry stars, and a separate room was built to accommodate them. Thornton Prince's brother, Will, took over when Thornton died, and his wife, Maude, ran the business after Will passed away. In 1980, Maude decided that Thornton's great-niece, André Prince Jeffries, should take over. Jeffries renamed the restaurant Prince's Hot Chicken Shack.
In December 2018, a car crashed into the strip mall housing a Prince's location, causing extensive damage and leading to the restaurant's indefinite closure. However, Jeffries still serves the legendary dish that Nashvillians crave, and Prince's Hot Chicken remains the gold standard for hot chicken.
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The history of Prince's Hot Chicken
Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, and Prince's Hot Chicken is considered the original. The story goes that in the 1930s, Thornton Prince came home late one night, and his girlfriend (or wife) was not happy. To get her revenge, she made him his favourite fried chicken, but with a lot of extra cayenne pepper. However, instead of the desired effect of Thornton being put off the food, he loved it and asked for seconds.
After this, Thornton perfected the recipe for Hot Chicken and opened a restaurant, Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, in 1935 or 1936. The restaurant was a success, and it became a favourite of Opry stars, who would head there after every performance. Due to the atmosphere of segregation, a separate room was built for white guests at the back of the building.
When Thornton Prince died, his brother Will took over the business, and then his wife Maude ran it after Will's death. In 1980, Maude decided that Thornton's great-niece, André Prince Jeffries, should take over the restaurant. Jeffries kept the name and the face of her uncle over the restaurant as a reminder of its history as a Black-owned business.
In 1988, the restaurant moved to its East Nashville location on Ewing Drive. In 2013, Prince's was named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards, and it has also been featured on several TV shows, including Food Paradise, Bizarre Foods America, and Man v. Food Nation.
Despite the many changes Nashville has gone through, Prince's has remained a legendary restaurant in the city, serving the same legendary dish that Nashvillians crave.
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Awards and recognition for Prince's Hot Chicken
Prince's Hot Chicken Shack is a restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, that is credited with popularizing the dish and inspiring similar restaurants. The business was started in 1945 by James Thornton Prince, and in 1980, ownership was passed on to his great-niece, André Prince Jeffries.
Over the years, Prince's Hot Chicken has received numerous accolades and recognition from various sources. Here are some of the awards and honours received by the legendary restaurant:
- In 2013, the James Beard Foundation Awards named Prince's Hot Chicken an American Classic. This prestigious award recognizes establishments that have timeless appeal and have made a significant impact on the American food scene.
- The Travel Channel's show "Food Paradise" named Prince's as Nashville's best place to get hot chicken. This episode, which aired on February 6, 2013, showcased the restaurant's delicious offerings.
- Prince's Hot Chicken has also made appearances on other notable television shows, including "Bizarre Foods America" in 2014 and "Man v. Food Nation" in 2011, showcasing their unique and mouthwatering dishes to a wider audience.
- Gourmet magazine recognised Prince's Hot Chicken as one of Nashville's four "don't-miss dining experiences." This endorsement highlights the restaurant as a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts visiting the city.
In addition to these awards, Prince's Hot Chicken has also been recognised for its role in the history of Nashville's famous hot chicken phenomenon. It is said that the dish originated at Prince's in the 1930s when Thornton Prince's girlfriend, frustrated with his late-night antics, doused his fried chicken in cayenne pepper. However, Thornton loved the spicy creation and opened a restaurant serving this unique dish around 1935. This story has become a part of Nashville's culinary folklore, solidifying Prince's Hot Chicken as a legendary establishment in the city's food culture.
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The impact of Prince's Hot Chicken on the Nashville community
Nashville is famous for its hot chicken, and Prince's Hot Chicken is considered the original. The recipe originated with the Prince family, who were members of the city's black community. In the 1930s, Thornton Prince's girlfriend doused his fried chicken in cayenne pepper to punish him for coming home late. However, he loved it, and he opened a restaurant serving spicy chicken around 1935.
The restaurant was a favourite of Opry stars, and a separate room was built for white guests, as the main dining room was for black guests. This was a radical inversion of Nashville's Jim Crow laws at the time. Nashville hot chicken remained an underground dish exclusive to the black community for decades, as white people in Tennessee did not want to be seen eating it in public.
Prince's Hot Chicken has been described as a legendary eatery and a pillar of the Nashville community. It has been credited with shaping Nashville's culinary narrative and building a sense of community. It has also been recognised for its cultural and culinary impact, with many restaurants across the city offering their take on hot chicken. Prince's has been described as the gold standard and the yardstick against which all others are measured.
The influence of Prince's extends beyond its walls, with the Nashville Hot Chicken Week festival, an annual celebration of heat and flavour, owing its existence to the trend started by Prince's. The restaurant has also received numerous accolades, including being named Nashville's best place to get hot chicken by the Travel Channel show Food Paradise in 2013. In 2013, they were also named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards, and in 2018, Eater named Prince's one of 38 essential places to dine in America.
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The future of Prince's Hot Chicken
Prince's Hot Chicken is a legendary family-owned restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, that has been serving its famous hot chicken for almost 100 years. The restaurant was started by Thornton Prince, who, according to legend, was served a fried chicken dish by his girlfriend, doused in cayenne pepper as revenge for his late nights out. However, instead of being put off by the spicy dish, Thornton loved it and decided to open a restaurant serving this unique chicken.
Over the years, Prince's Hot Chicken has become a beloved staple of Nashville's food scene, with many considering it the gold standard for hot chicken. The restaurant has received numerous accolades, including being named Nashville's best place to get hot chicken by the Travel Channel's Food Paradise and being awarded the title of American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards.
However, despite its long-standing success, Prince's Hot Chicken has faced challenges in recent years. In 2018, a car crashed into the strip mall housing one of the restaurant's locations, causing extensive damage and leading to a prolonged closure. The original Prince's BBQ Chicken Shack location also faced a fire that caused significant damage and left customers worried about the restaurant's future.
Despite these setbacks, the future of Prince's Hot Chicken looks bright. The restaurant has a strong following, with customers considering it a second home, and its signature dish has proliferated worldwide, with many other restaurants offering their take on Nashville hot chicken. Prince's Hot Chicken continues to be a must-visit destination for food lovers and has become synonymous with Nashville's culinary culture.
As Nashville's original hot chicken purveyor, Prince's has set the standard for this dish, and its influence can be seen in the many restaurants that have sprung up offering their variations. While the competition in the hot chicken space has increased, Prince's holds a special place in the hearts of Nashvillians and visitors alike, with its long history, unique story, and delicious food. The restaurant's current owner, André Prince Jeffries, regularly declines offers to open franchises, choosing to focus on the original location and its legacy.
Looking ahead, Prince's Hot Chicken seems poised to continue its legacy as a beloved Nashville institution. With its rich history, authentic flavours, and loyal customer base, the restaurant is well-positioned to adapt to changing times while staying true to its roots. As Nashville continues to grow and evolve, Prince's Hot Chicken will undoubtedly remain a destination for those seeking a taste of the city's famous hot chicken and a connection to its culinary past.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there is no evidence to suggest that Prince's Hot Chicken has won a Michelin star.
Prince's Hot Chicken is a legendary family-owned restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, that is known for its spicy fried chicken.
The story goes that in the 1930s, Thornton Prince's girlfriend was frustrated with his late nights out. Instead of lecturing him, she made him fried chicken with a generous amount of cayenne pepper. However, Thornton loved it and opened a restaurant serving spicy chicken around 1935.
Thornton Prince's great-niece, Ms. Andre Prince Jeffries, has been running the restaurant since 1980.
Yes, Prince's Hot Chicken has received several accolades. It has been featured on television shows such as Food Paradise, Bizarre Foods America, and Man v. Food Nation. Additionally, Gourmet magazine named it one of Nashville's four "don't-miss dining experiences". In 2013, they were also named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation Awards.
