These Are 8 Nashville, Tennessee’s Best Fried Chicken Spots Everyone Is Talking About
Nashville hot chicken is far more than just a meal—it’s a cultural tradition, a rite of passage, and the city’s most iconic culinary creation.
I learned this firsthand when I took my first bite and was hit with a wave of fire and flavor so intense it nearly brought tears to my eyes, equal parts pain and pure pleasure. At its heart, the dish is simple: perfectly crispy fried chicken coated in a fiery cayenne paste that lingers long after the last bite.
From century-old family recipes to inventive modern twists, hot chicken defines Music City. Let me share my favorite spots where the lines are long, the portions generous, and every bite unforgettable.
1. Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack
The legend that started it all! My first visit to Prince’s felt like a pilgrimage to holy ground. This family-owned institution has been serving their famous recipe since the 1930s – supposedly created when a scorned girlfriend tried to punish Thornton Prince with overly-spiced chicken that backfired deliciously.
What makes Prince’s special is their perfect balance of heat and flavor. The chicken maintains incredible juiciness beneath that signature crunchy coating. Even at medium heat, I found myself alternating between wiping my brow and reaching for more.
Pro tip: bring cash and patience because good things take time here. The wait is part of the experience, and that first bite makes you understand why Nashville hot chicken has conquered the world.
2. Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Waiting in Hattie B’s infamous line gave me time to watch the joy on customers’ faces as they bit into that first piece. When my turn finally came, I understood the hype immediately. Their chicken achieves that perfect crackly exterior while staying tender inside, with heat levels ranging from ‘Southern’ (no heat) to ‘Shut the Cluck Up’ (not for the faint-hearted).
Unlike some spots that focus solely on heat, Hattie B’s balances the burn with subtle sweetness and savory depth. Their sides deserve special mention too – those pimento mac and cheese and black-eyed pea salad complement the main attraction perfectly.
With multiple locations throughout Nashville, they’ve made hot chicken more accessible without sacrificing quality.
3. Red’s 615 Kitchen
Stumbling across Red’s 615 Kitchen felt like discovering a secret Nashville locals have been keeping. Their chicken tenders shocked me with their perfect texture – somehow managing to stay incredibly moist inside while maintaining that addictive crispy exterior that audibly crunches with each bite.
The sandwiches here are works of art. Perfectly fried chicken nestled between buttery buns with house-made pickles and special sauce that balances the heat beautifully. Owner Vicky Peeples brings Southern hospitality to every order.
What I love most about Red’s is how they’ve created their own lane in Nashville’s competitive hot chicken scene. Their signature spice blend has hints of something I couldn’t quite identify – a mystery that keeps me coming back for more investigation.
4. 400 Degrees
Owner Aqui Hines doesn’t mess around when it comes to heat levels at 400 Degrees. I learned this lesson when I foolishly ordered their hottest option and spent the next 20 minutes in delicious agony. The name isn’t just clever marketing – it references the temperature that creates their perfect deep-fried coating.
What distinguishes this spot is their cooking method that somehow locks in moisture while delivering that signature crunch. Their chicken has a deeper, more complex flavor profile than many competitors, with spices that build in intensity rather than just assault your taste buds.
Located in a no-frills setting, 400 Degrees proves that extraordinary food doesn’t need fancy surroundings. The chicken speaks for itself – loudly and clearly.
5. Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken & Fish
Bolton’s holds a special place in my heart as the spot where a Nashville local first took me for an authentic experience. This East Nashville institution serves chicken with a distinctively dry spice application that creates a completely different experience than the paste-based versions elsewhere.
The heat here sneaks up on you. My first few bites seemed manageable before the slow burn built to a glorious crescendo. Their fish options deserve equal praise – the spicy catfish might be the unsung hero of Nashville’s hot food scene.
Family-owned and fiercely independent, Bolton’s represents Nashville food culture at its most authentic. The no-nonsense service and bare-bones setting only enhance the experience, keeping the focus where it belongs – on that incredible chicken.
6. Pepperfire Hot Chicken
Pepperfire’s ‘Tender Royale’ changed my life. Picture this: hot chicken tenders atop deep-fried grilled cheese – a combination so decadent yet perfectly balanced that I still dream about it months later. Their Centennial Boulevard location has become my go-to recommendation for friends visiting Nashville.
Owner Isaac Beard has created something special with his distinctive approach to the spice blend. The heat builds gradually rather than overwhelming you immediately, allowing you to appreciate the complexity of flavors in each bite.
What keeps me coming back is their consistency. Whether dining in or taking out, the chicken always arrives with that perfect crackling exterior giving way to juicy meat underneath. Their apple pies make an unexpectedly perfect cooling counterpoint to all that heat.
7. Slow Burn Hot Chicken
The first time I ordered from Slow Burn, I was skeptical about delivery hot chicken maintaining its quality. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Their innovative packaging keeps the chicken remarkably crispy, and their methodical approach to heat levels lives up to the name – a slow, building burn that satisfies without overwhelming.
Founded by chef Vui Hunt, Slow Burn brings something unique to Nashville’s hot chicken scene with subtle Asian influences in their spice profile. The result is chicken with remarkable depth that keeps you discovering new flavor notes with each bite.
Their sides deserve special mention too. The collard greens with smoked turkey and sweet-spicy baked beans provide perfect counterpoints to the main attraction. Even with their pickup/delivery model, they’ve maintained impressive quality control.
8. Champy’s World Famous Fried Chicken
Sometimes I crave outstanding fried chicken without the Nashville heat, and that’s when Champy’s becomes my sanctuary. Their Mississippi Delta-style chicken provides a delicious counterpoint to the city’s dominant spicy style – focusing instead on perfect seasoning and that golden-brown crust that shatters beautifully with each bite.
The atmosphere here feels like a juke joint transported from the Deep South. Blues music fills the air while cold beer flows freely alongside plates of chicken that would make any Southern grandmother proud. Their homemade tamales and fried green tomatoes make excellent companions to the main attraction.
While purists might argue this doesn’t belong on a hot chicken list, I’d argue that Champy’s represents an important part of Nashville’s broader fried chicken tradition – proving that excellence comes in many temperatures.