Nashville Hot Chicken is a must-try when visiting Music City. Its story dates back to the Great Depression, and started with a man named Thornton Prince III. He was a fun-loving man about town who earned a reputation of being quite the ladies’ man. One night a scorned lover suspected him of being unfaithful, so, using Prince’s love of fried chicken, she set out for revenge.
She added a devilish amount of peppers and spices to a chicken dish, thinking it would be almost inedible and burn his tongue. However, much to her dismay, Prince loved it — he even asked for seconds.
Since then, hot chicken has been a Nashville staple. Several restaurants feature versions of the fiery bird; here are four hot chicken joints to help you on your quest to find your favorite.
Yes, THAT Prince. He loved the hot chicken his lady served him so much that he perfected the recipe and opened the original hot chicken restaurant in 1945 — putting the dish on the map. There are six heat levels ranging from Plain to XXXHot (which is not for the faint of heart).
In addition to the chicken, Prince’s has a variety of delicious traditional sides like potato salad, coleslaw and pickles. This Nashville staple now has two locations, making it even easier to stop in and give it a try.
Hattie B’s is a more modern take on Nashville Hot Chicken. Even with four locations around the metro area, the lines can be long, so make sure you build in extra time to enjoy the hotness. When ordering chicken, you’ll be asked to choose from one of six heat levels — from Southern (no heat) to Shut the Cluck Up!!!. Make sure you leave room for the famous banana pudding.
Besides the chicken, other favorites include the pimento mac and cheese, southern greens and the black-eyed pea salad. There’s also a killer chicken sandwich and a variety of local beers to wash it all down.
Bolton’s uses a dry rub on its hot chicken, which is different than the oil-based rubs in most recipes, making it a unique and delicious stop on your tour. You can choose from six spice levels, but ordering the hottest might get you a doubtful look (our team voted it the hottest out of the four places we visited). It’s so hot that warnings are posted by the cash register. Pro tip: After eating, wash your hands before touching your face.
All chickened out? Bolton’s also serves mouth-watering fish at the spice level of your choosing. Plus, there’s pork and a variety of traditional sides like beans, greens, corn on the cob, and slaw.
Pepperfire started in 2010 by self-proclaimed “hot chicken evangelist” Isaac Beard. Pepperfire offers seven levels of spice and menu items you won’t see anywhere else, such as the AppleJack — a deep-fried grilled cheese topped with three chicken tenders (made to your spice preference) and covered in baked apples. But have no fear, Pepperfire has more traditional hot chicken items (tenders, wings, quarter chicken and half chicken), and dishes that incorporate waffles and unique sides like fried okra.
Head to the original Party Fowl location in downtown Nashville in The Gulch neighborhood at the corner of 8th and Division Street. The 4,000-square-foot facility has plenty of room for locals and visitors alike as well as an extended bar area, 13 large-screen TVs and convertible open-air dining with garage doors on all sides. Order your hot chicken on the bone as a half bird or as a sandwich, alongside beighnets, in a quesadilla, po'boy, Cuban sandwich or double-breaded hot chicken. They also have other offerings like burgers, salads and shepherd's pie with smoked chicken.
You'll love the explosive flavor of Helen's Hot Chicken. Starting as a small trailer operation, Helen's has grown to a brick-and-mortar on Jefferson Street in downtown Nashville. Choose your heat from plain, mild, hot and Hella on chicken, catfish, wings, shrimp and whiting fish, alongside waffles, fried okra, Cole slaw or baked beans. One bite will make you want to come back for more.
Pose in front of the hot chicken wing mural at 400 Degrees Hot Chicken before stepping inside to try the crunchy and deliciously hot chicken served up Tuesdays - Saturdays. You can get 400 Degrees at Nashville International Airport in Terminal C or on Clarksville Pike. Get classic hot chicken tenders, wings or a breast quarter as well as hot pork chops, shrimp and catfish. Enjoy sides like spicy fries that pack a punch, baked beans or potato salad.
Lilly's Hot Chicken serves you juicy and crispy chicken with their secret blend of spices just the way you want. Entrees include leg quarters, a Cornish hen fried whole, fish sandwich, chicken tenders and specialties like Jazzy Fries with mild tenders and drizzled with homemade ranch and sprinkled with lemon pepper and sweet heat and the Mac Attack which features chicken tender bites served on mac and cheese and drizzled with ranch. Order fries, collard greens or mac and cheese as your side, but save room for dessert. The peach cobbler is a must.
The family-owned Red's Hot Chicken serves tasty hot chicken in a variety of unique ways. For instance, you have to try the hot chicken mac and cheese crunchwrap which features hot chicken, pimento mac and cheese, bacon, pickles and drizzled in comeback sauce that's all wrapped in a toasted tortilla. Or, how about the hot chicken mac and cheese bowl that is classic comfort food? Grab the snack box and dig into the two buttermilk fried chicken tenders or one boneless thigh made to your spice level (Southern to Nashville Fire) topped with pickles and served with a side like mustard potato salad, Cole slaw or pimento mac and cheese.
No matter your heat tolerance, each Nashville hot chicken restaurant is bound to have something you’ll love. Stop in and grab a couple tenders during your travels or make a whole day searching for your favorite haunt. Make sure to ask for seconds — Thornton Prince III would have wanted it that way.
For more on Nashville’s food scene, check out this article on Music City’s award-winning cuisine.
