The Best Places to get it in Nashville
Spicy, hot, a little sweet…Nashville’s infamous Hot Chicken continues to thrive and is hotter than ever (no pun intended). There are several ways to cook chicken, but if you’re southern, fried never goes out of style. According to BBC Travel, Southerners have been frying chicken since the 17th century. Seems they know what they’re doing.
The tradition continues with the wildly popular Nashville Hot Chicken. Hot Chicken is a hunk of fried chicken, crisped up with a little cayenne and hot sauce in the coating, then made even spicier as it’s topped with a spicy sauce after being fried. Traditionally, the crunchy chicken piece is placed on top of a slice of good old-fashioned white bread and topped off with some pickle slices. Nashville Hot Chicken isn’t complicated yet will leave your mouth full of flavor and wanting more. In this article we’ll take a look at 11 of the best places to grab some Nashville Hot Chicken in the town that made it famous. We’ll start with a good one, but you’ll have to read on to get to the best Hot Chicken joint in town.
Scoreboard Bar and Grill
Let’s start with Scoreboard Bar & Grill. Located at 2408 Music Valley Drive in Nashville. Scoreboard is one of Nashville’s longest-running sports bars; however, their fans run to them for much more than sports. They’re best known for plenty of live music and of course, Nashville Hot Chicken.
Some say Scoreboard’s secret is the generous pour of sauce over the chicken before it’s served. If a little sauce is good, more is probably even better. Scoreboard has been featured on Food Network’s “Heat Seekers”, a show hosted by celebrity chefs, aimed at finding the spiciest foods in the country. That should give you an idea of how “hot” Scoreboard’s Hot Chicken is. If you like heat, Scoreboard Bar and Grill can bring it.
Their Hot Chicken sauces are cleverly named, “Sissy, Mild, Medium, Hot, Satan’s Tongue, and Hiroshima.” If that’s not enough, how about a little Napalm sauce on your basket of wings? The entire menu is impressive with BBQ choices, salads, burgers, and appetizers. Go for some of the hottest Nashville Hot Chicken in town and come back for foot-stompin’ music and an extensive menu.
Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken and Fish
What makes Nashville’s hot chicken unique from other southern fried chicken is the heat. What Nashville loves about Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish is their wide variety of heat choices. They range from non-spicy to extra hot, which is described as possibly having the devil himself in the mix. Eat at your own risk.
Bolton’s has a sweet story as a family-owned business. It’s considered a Nashville institution and was started by the late Bolton Polk who passed down family recipes that continue to be passed down from one generation to another. Today, you’ll find Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish not only in Nashville but also in Los Angeles. The tradition continues and fans of Bolton’s couldn’t be happier. The menu is a no-frills, straight up and simple chicken and fish selection. Choose your cut, type, and quantity, then choose your heat. They also offer traditional sides like corn on the cob, French fries, potato salad, green beans, and baked beans. Nashville Hot Chicken connoisseurs will appreciate the chicken served on soft white bread with signature pickles on top.
Party Fowl
It’s no wonder Nashville’s Party Fowl has spread like wildfire to other areas. They now have nine other restaurants in different areas and states. The secret? They specialize in Nashville Hot Chicken, of course. Nick Jacobson and Austin Smith are the proud owners of Party Fowl and opened the place with the intention of supplying guests with everything great that Nashville has to offer in the food category. That means you’ll find not only some of the best Hot Chicken with a variety of heat levels (including one called Poultrygeist), but also boozy slushies and other southern style cocktails.
All in all, Party Fowl wants its guests to feel they’ve enjoyed a Nashville experience, not just a restaurant. And once you step inside, you’ll see what they mean. The atmosphere is cozy and hip with wall-to-wall large-screen TVs, a full bar, and plenty of live music since you are in Music City after all. There’s a rustic vibe yet a modern edge to the place as well. And to wash down that Hot Chicken you’ll have 20 local beers to choose from.
Chauhan Ale & Masala House
A unique, rare experience is what you’ll find at Chauhan Ale & Masala House. You may recognize the name, Chauhan because of the popular chef and personality, Maneet Chauhan who has appeared on Celebrity Chef, The View, Iron Chef America, and the Today Show. She is also the co-owner and executive chef of this fabulous establishment. The place has received accolades and awards, too many to mention. It’s a true “foodie” must-see and taste.
Maneet has combined her love for Indian food with traditional dishes and also offers guests dishes they may otherwise never experience. And yes, the very American Nashville Hot Chicken is on the menu – just not in the way you would usually expect. Rather than Hot Chicken on a slice of bread, experience it as Nashville Hot Chicken Pakoras. It includes chicken, chow chow, ghost pepper aioli, and raita ranch. A little different and a lot of a taste bud explosion. If you aren’t sure what chow chow and Raita ranch are, all the better. Take a chance and try an old favorite with a very new twist.
Pepperfire
Our next Nashville Hot Chicken stop is at Pepperfire Hot Chicken, located at 5104 C Centennial Blvd in Nashville. Their slogan is “Bringing the Heat Since 2010”, and they do indeed. As the story goes, Isaac Beard was madly in love with Nashville Hot Chicken and he decided to try his hand at making his own. Turns out it was and is pretty delish, so he opened a small chicken shack (literally a shack) and started selling his chicken. It’s now grown into a household name.
What everyone loves and respects about Pepperfire is that they cherish the history of Nashville Hot Chicken and where it all started. They don’t try to claim to be the one and only, but instead claim to be undying fans who have committed to keeping Nashville Hot Chicken close to its roots in location and in taste.
At Pepperfire you’ll enjoy the authentic Nashville Hot Chicken recipe in all of its glory. They were one of the first, however, to offer a full bun rather than a slice of white bread to help messy hands get a little less messy while eating the fiery sandwich. Although purists were a bit up in arms about it, even the locals now appreciate the bun and how it simply holds onto the Hot Chicken so they can oh so gracefully get it into their mouths.
Subculture Urban Cuisine & Café
Located at 5737 Nolensville Pk in Nashville, is an elegant restaurant with an American menu of street food, sandwiches, and other goodies, called Subculture Urban Cuisine & Café. On that menu is Nashville Hot Chicken that’s served on a homemade biscuit. The biscuits are made fresh daily. Can you get any more southern than that? Here’s what makes Subculture especially unique: they care about where your food comes from. Nashville Hot Chicken may be a deep-fried chicken, but at Subculture any meat you choose is raised locally without antibiotics. Not only that, but they strive to bring guests as much organic food as possible. Over 90% of their ingredients are organic.
High-quality ingredients, creativity, and incredible flavors are what keep Subculture’s customers coming back for more. The Nashville Hot Chicken, as mentioned, which is served on a fluffy homemade biscuit, is a boneless chicken thigh with a crispy fried skin, covered in the traditional Hot Chicken sauce, which is offered in five temperature options, including not hot, mild, medium, hot, and stupid hot. They also have amazing empanadas, salads, and other entrees. Oh, and if you’d like another form of Nashville Hot Chicken, check out their chicken and waffles.
Slow Burn Hot Chicken
If you like to feel the burn, try Slow Burn Hot Chicken. It’s located in Hendersonville, a suburb of Nashville, and too good not to add to the list. It’s rather modest, located in quiet strip mall, but don’t let that fool you. Step inside to a down-home, casual, soul food, southern style joint. The secret to their amazing slow-burning Nashville Hot Chicken is how they offer it in both a grilled or fried option, which is unusual for Nashville Hot Chicken but greatly appreciated by many, and their extensive list of heat choices. There are ten to be exact and “Slow Burn” is just one of the many heat levels on the menu.
You won’t find fancy dining at Slow Burn Hot Chicken. What you will find is some of the friendliest service in the Nashville area, southern hospitality, and food that reminds you of what grandma used to make. Collard greens, homemade mac & cheese, biscuits, and for dessert – banana pudding, all offered in the dining area, or order ahead and drive-thru to bring it home. The Hot Chicken comes in a traditional form on a slab of white bread, and also in other forms, such as the Hot Chicken bowl. The place is known for the incredibly friendly staff that seems to actually care about the fact that you chose their restaurant, and they’ll make sure you’ll want to come back.
400 Degrees Nashville Hot Chicken
Another Nashville Hot Chicken scene that was influenced by a strong respect for the original, Prince’s chicken, is 400 Degrees. Owner Aqui Hines prides herself on never changing the original recipe she fell in love with, and for purists, that’s music to their ears. Featured on Travel Channels’ Food Paradise, Aqui explains that through trial and error she replicated Prince’s recipe out of a yearning for that Hot Chicken after hours when Prince’s Hot Chicken was closed. Flattery at its finest. You’ll find the cozy establishment as well as the charming and friendly Aqui Hines at 3704 Clarksville Pike in Nashville.
You won’t find any measuring tools at 400 Degrees. One thing that makes them a little different is that they fry the bird first, then coat it in the spicy sauce. The thicker the coating the hotter the chicken. You can ask for any heat from 100 to 400 degrees and they’ll eyeball the coating to the right level. This iconic chicken joint is counter service and then you take it to your table and enjoy the Hot Chicken on top of the traditional white bread. 400 Degrees even offers t-shirts with the arms cut off to use as a bib so you can go to town on your Hot Chicken without messing up your own clothes. Finger licking is acceptable.
Biscuit Love
Though Biscuit Love, located at three places in Nashville, and also Franklin Tennessee and Vestavia Hills, Alabama, is all about the biscuit, they make an incredible Nashville Hot Chicken. The menu isn’t extravagant or large but it is unique and delicious. On one side you have offerings that come on a biscuit and on the other side you have items to order with no biscuit. For Nashville Hot Chicken fans, you’ll want to order the “Princess.”
The Princess at Biscuit Love is Hot Chicken as a boneless thigh, served with pickles, mustard, and honey, on top of a homemade buttermilk biscuit. Is your mouth watering yet? It’s truly a must have. Although the version of Nashville Hot Chicken at Biscuit Love strays slightly from the original form, it tips its hat to the traditional style by not going too crazy or trying too hard to be different. The changes are slight, creative, and respectful, and it works.
They also have many other yummy menu choices, including stuff for the kiddos. Biscuit love has won awards and been featured on some fun shows, but what they really care about is their community. They strive to bring their customers the highest quality ingredients, locally sourced when possible, and to make everyone feel at home when they walk in the door. Go for the Hot Chicken and stay for the comfort.
Hattie B’s Nashville Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s now has 10 locations – it’s that good. In Nashville you’ll find this gem at 112 19th Ave S. The secret to Hattie B’s success is to focus on what they do best and keep perfecting it. Executive chef Brian Morris of Hattie B’s Hot Chicken told Bham Now, “We think we do a really good job at what we do. We’re constantly refining and working to perfect our practice. The nice thing about having a small menu and not rolling out specials or limited time offers all the time is that we get to spend our time making what we do better.” Hattie B’s fans agree.
The Nashville Hot Chicken on the menu is the classic style and offered at six heat levels. Try southern, mild, medium, hot, damn hot, and shut the cluck up. Hattie’s suggests your mouth may start to burn just looking at the latter. Sounds fun. You can also indulge in the south’s finest delights, such as southern greens, baked beans, banana pudding, and peach cobbler. Wash it all down with a gallon of sweet tea or a pitcher of beer.
When people go out to eat, they’re usually looking for more than great food. They want a great atmosphere as well. Hattie B’s has that too. They say the smell of the chicken will bring you in the door but the friendly staff will make you want to stay and then come back again.
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Yes, the best was saved for last. Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville should be renamed King’s. It’s where Nashville Hot Chicken Started and the place still reigns on its throne. Hot chicken connoisseurs have a difficult time straying and trying something new. The Hot Chicken is devine and the Prince’s story is just as hot.
It is said that during the Great Depression, Thorton Prince had a reputation of shall we say, sewing his wild oats on a nightly basis. Unfortunately, his girlfriend didn’t find his wild ways amusing. To get revenge one day, she made Thorton a plate of very spicy fried chicken, with the intention of causing him to double over in pain. Instead, Mr. Prince loved it and happily devoured the chicken. The poor gal just couldn’t win.
Thorton Prince had seconds and then set out to perfect the Nashville Hot Chicken recipe we all enjoy today. That was 100 years ago, and today, it’s Thorton’s niece, Ms. Andre Prince Jeffries who keeps the Prince’s Hot Chicken name alive and the recipe authentic. Though many restaurants replicate it and some change it drastically, there is only one original, and if you’ve never had Hot Chicken, you must begin with Prince’s Hot Chicken in Nashville, Tennessee.
