The Best Hot Chicken Restaurants In Nashville, Tennessee

No comprehensive list of hot chicken joints in Nashville could fail to include the very place that created the dish in the first place – Prince’s. It should come as no surprise that at a place known for its hot chicken, the chicken is just that – hot. While you can choose from four levels of heat (mild, medium, hot, and extra hot), even the medium is enough to get your eyes watering. Plan to build your tolerance slowly and get there early, as lines at this small East Nashville joint tend to be long.

Opened in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood in 2012, Hattie B’s is relatively new to the established hot chicken scene in Nashville. Don’t be fooled by its newcomer status, however – it is one the most popular restaurants in Midtown and even one of the most popular hot chicken joints in the city. Nick Bishop Jr. and his father, Nick Sr., opened the restaurant four years ago for the best possible reason; they were huge fans of Nashville hot chicken, and wanted to try their hand at creating their own unique twist on the local staple. And create they did. Their hot chicken comes in five different heat levels, ranging from ‘Southern’ (no heat at all) to ‘Shut the Cluck Up’ (which is, as you could probably guess, pretty hot). While this chicken might not be quite as painfully hot as Prince’s, for example, the heat here still packs a nice punch. And unlike many of its predecessors, Hattie B’s also serves a robust selection of local craft beers.