Nashville hot chicken is so popular that you can find it in cities all over America—but if you really want to taste the heat, eat the authentic version in Music City itself. A typical Nashville hot chicken plate consists of crispy fried chicken tossed in a hot-as-Hades spice blend, served on a slice of bread with pickles.
While several Nashville hot chicken restaurants have cropped up in recent years, folks generally attribute the original recipe to one family: The Princes. Legend has it that in the 1930s, Thornton Prince was popular with the ladies in Nashville—until he crossed the wrong woman.
One night, Prince stayed out until dawn, and when he came home, he expected breakfast. His woman at the time (whose name remains a mystery) thought she’d get back at him by serving him the spiciest chicken she could make. She expected Prince to complain, but her plan didn’t work—he loved the hot chicken and eventually served his own version at his family business, the BBQ Chicken Shack.
Over the past 80 years, the original restaurant has remained in the Prince family, now called Prince’s Chicken Shack. People disagree about which restaurant serves the best hot chicken in Nashville. But one thing is for sure—our guide will take you to the best Nashville hot chicken restaurants in the city, no matter which neighborhood you’re in.
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Related: Nashville’s Best Dim Sum
Best Nashville Hot Chicken Restaurants
Prince’s Hot Chicken
Address: 5055 Broadway Place, Stall # 2268, Nashville, TN 37203
If you’re looking for the best hot chicken in Downtown Nashville, we have great news—you can get Prince’s original recipe right on Broadway in the heart of downtown. Prince’s serves chicken ranging from “lite” on spice to “XXX hot.” Choose at your own risk.
What’s Special About It: It would be a shame to visit Nashville and miss out on the original hot chicken recipe. The Princes have passed down their signature spice blend through generations, giving you the chance to taste the real deal.
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish
Address: 624 Main St, Nashville, TN 37204
Boasting the hottest chicken in town, Bolton’s Spicy Chicken & Fish, an East Nashville mainstay, has been serving legendary hot chicken since the 1990s.
Surrounded by new construction, hip bars, and trendy restaurants in one of Nashville’s coolest neighborhoods, Bolton’s small, cinder block building stands out as the kind of place that has been there so long you just know it’s going to be great.
What’s Special About It: Swing by Bolton’s to get a taste of their unique hot fish—crispy fried whiting coated in their famous Nashville hot chicken spice. With a range of heat levels, you can find something palatable, whether you want to play it safe or take a chance.
Slow Burn Hot Chicken
Address: 495 Myatt Dr, Madison, TN 37115
Slow Burn offers two locations—one just north of the city in Madison and another in East Nashville. This restaurant’s name says it all. Their hot chicken delivers a slow burn with a little more spice building up with every bite.
What’s Special About It: Slow Burn caters to your taste preferences, offering “sprinkle” heat with just a little spice, or ultra-hot, “on fire” chicken. The restaurant also creates unique takes on hot chicken, such as the Hot Chicken Burrito, Hot Chicken Apple Fritter, and On Fire Egg Roll.
Party Fowl
Address: 719 8th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203
Party Fowl’s robust menu represents a more full-service restaurant experience than many other hot chicken establishments. The restaurant’s five locations across Tennessee include two in Nashville. Check out the original location near downtown on 8th avenue.
What’s Special About It: Party Fowl serves a traditional “Nashville hot”-style half bird along with several dishes starring the famous spicy chicken, such as street tacos, ‘po boys and Cuban sandwiches.
For the less adventurous in your party, the menu also contains an entire “not hot chicken” section with burgers and sandwiches as well as salads and gumbos.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Address: 112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
Although not the original hot chicken restaurant, Hattie B’s is arguably Nashville’s most popular purveyor of the city’s signature dish. Since opening in 2012, Hattie B’s helped put Nashville hot chicken on the map nationwide.
What’s Special About It: Hattie B’s provides a great first step for anyone unprepared to commit to a “mouth on fire” experience. While the popular restaurant serves up some spice, their spiciest chicken is still manageable for many customers.
Hattie B’s also cooks up incredible sides and desserts, including their popular banana pudding.
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* The original version of this article was first published on July 26, 2021.
