Jake Harper
Nashville hot chicken is a way of life and a rite of passage for visitors to the city. The story goes that Nashville hot chicken was born out of a scorned lover's revenge—a woman added a punishing amount of spice to her partner's fried chicken, but instead of being put off, he loved it and shared it with family and friends. The original creators of this dish were the Prince family, who opened Prince's Hot Chicken over 70 years ago. Since then, many restaurants in Nashville have been serving up their own takes on hot chicken. Here are some of the best spots to get your fix.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Prince's Hot Chicken
According to legend, Nashville hot chicken was born out of revenge. A woman sought to punish her partner, Thornton Prince, for his philandering ways by loading up his favourite fried chicken dish with an extreme amount of spice. However, the plan backfired when he loved it, and he went on to share it with his family. Thus, Prince's Hot Chicken was born.
While some newer spots like 400 Degrees have since perfected the recipe, creating an even more intense spice crust, Prince's Hot Chicken remains a top choice for those seeking the roots of Nashville's famous hot chicken.
Black Stuff on Chicken: What and Why?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Hattie B's
Hattie B’s opened in 2012 and has since become one of the biggest names in Nashville hot chicken, with locations all over the globe. Hattie B’s is a trendy tourist favourite with three locations in Nashville alone. While purists bemoan the fact that this isn’t the authentic Nashville hot chicken experience, the recipes are delicious. The Shut the Cluck Up spice level is legit, and having a selection of sides, beers, and air conditioning while you wait does not suck.
Hattie B’s is one of the few traditionalists in town willing to share recipes. They use seasoned flour and spices such as cayenne, cumin, paprika, garlic, and onion, with different dried peppers—such as habanero or ghost pepper—in the mix depending on the eater’s spiciness preferences.
Nashville hot chicken is a highly perishable substance. You have to eat it as soon as it comes out of the pan or it loses much of its charm. In Nashville, hot chicken is a way of life—a rite of passage. Getting your hands on fluffy white bread, bone-in chicken, and a pickle to cut through the spice is a right of passage when you visit.
The origins of Nashville hot chicken are attributed to a scorned lover who finally had enough of her partner’s philandering, so she loaded up his favourite fried chicken dish with a punishing amount of spice. But instead of remorse, he loved it and went on to share it with his family. That person was none other than Thornton Prince, of Prince’s Hot Chicken fame.
In 2019, Prince’s Hot Chicken received a James Beard America’s Classic award. They have been in business for over 70 years and continue to serve Nashville hot chicken from their shack on the south side of town and inside Assembly Food Hall downtown.
Stock Secrets: How Many Cups in That Box?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Slow Burn
The food truck, previously located in East Nashville, Madison, and Hendersonville, now operates from a pickup and delivery-only space in Midtown Foods. The truck is known for its high-quality chicken, crisp skin, and juicy meat, allowing diners to experience the individual spices without an overwhelming burn.
Tray of Chicken Minis: How Many Are There?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Bolton's
One of Nashville's most famous purveyors of hot chicken, Bolton's is named after its late founder, Bolton Polk. The restaurant has been serving hot chicken for over 20 years. While the chicken is the main attraction, don't miss out on the hot fish sandwich or the Southern-style sides like baked beans and potato salad.
The restaurant moved from East Nashville to the Nations, bringing its famous hot chicken with it. While the original location was in a shack, the new Bolton's offers a more full-service restaurant experience. The spice blends at Bolton's are applied as a dry rub, and the chicken is deep-fried rather than pan-fried, resulting in a crunchy and juicy final product.
Despite this, Bolton's remains a top contender for the best Nashville hot chicken. The restaurant has maintained its popularity by consistently serving delicious, spicy chicken with a variety of authentic, multi-spice options.
Chicken Cooked but Tasting Raw: Why?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
400 Degrees
The levels of heat at 400 Degrees range from plain to pain: only the stoutest of palates would consider the maximum spice level of 400, but the 200 option also has an incredible kick. The chicken is dangerously searing, and you can order it in varying degrees—0, 100, 200, and the eponymous 400. The restaurant uses seasoned flour to get started, with spices including cayenne, cumin, paprika, garlic, and onion, with different dried peppers—such as habanero or ghost pepper—in the mix depending on the eater’s spiciness preferences.
Best Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds for Meat and Eggs
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
There are several places that are considered to serve the best Nashville hot chicken in Nashville. These include:
- Prince's Hot Chicken—the original hot chicken shack, now with several locations in Nashville.
- Bolton's—a classic East Nashville spot that has been serving hot chicken for over 20 years.
- Hattie B's—a trendy tourist favourite that has become one of the biggest names in Nashville hot chicken.
- 400 Degrees—a food truck and Clarksville Pike restaurant that serves deep-fried chicken with varying levels of spice.
Some other popular spots for Nashville hot chicken in the city include:
- Red's 615 Kitchen—specialising in hot fried chicken sandwiches with stellar sides.
- Brave Idiot—a food truck in East Nashville known for its high-quality chicken and friendly owner.
- Slow Burn—a spot in East Nashville's Cleveland Park neighbourhood with several different spice levels.
- Edley's—a Nashville classic with spiked milkshakes and a family-friendly atmosphere.
While not exactly franchises, there are several popular Nashville hot chicken restaurants with multiple locations:
- Big Al's—a down-home deli.
- Party Fowl—a full-service restaurant experience with a little bit of everything on the menu.
- Helen's Hot Chicken—known for its lighter breading and moderate heat level.
Nashville hot chicken comes in all shapes and sizes, and some unique dishes include:
- Hot chicken Cuban sandwich.
- Nashville hot deconstructed Cobb salad.
- Hot chicken apple fritters.
- Hot chicken doughnuts.
- Hot Chicken Mac and Cheese Crunchwrap.
