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8 Can’t Miss Hot Chicken Spots in Nashville 🥵

Party Fowl (The Gulch)
Helen’s Hot Chicken
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
Prince’s Hot Chicken (South)
Bj Hot Chicken
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer
Slow Burn Hot Chicken
400 Degrees Hot Chicken
Party Fowl (The Gulch)
chicken wings from helen's hot chicken in nashville
Helen’s Hot Chicken
chicken and waffles from hattie B's hot chicken in nashville
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken
hot chicken sandwich from princes hot chicken in nashville
Prince’s Hot Chicken (South)
chicken sandwich from Bj's hot chicken in nashville
Bj Hot Chicken
chicken sandwich with cheese and coleslaw from waldo's chicken and beer in philadelphia
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer
chicken sandwich from slow burn hot chicken in philadelphia
Slow Burn Hot Chicken
a variety of hot chicken from 400 degrees hot chicken in nashville
400 Degrees Hot Chicken

One of the most iconic dishes to ever come out of Music City is their spicy hot chicken. Often imitated but rarely duplicated, this deep-fried chicken absolutely covered in spices shows up on menus from five-star restaurants to food trucks all over town. So we have curated our list of the best hot chicken spots in Nashville to order up some crispy, spicy goodness the next time you are craving this tasty symbol of Tennessee. 

Nashville Hot Chicken from Party Fowl, Nashville, TN
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info

Party Fowl (The Gulch)

719 8th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 624-8255

Visitors to Nashville want to do it all from live music to good drinks to noshing on hot chicken, so Party Fowl created a spot to do just that. And their version of the National Dish of Nashville is no joke with 5 levels of heat to choose from and almost a dozen ways to eat this spicy dish. Hot chicken lovers won’t have to call a party foul (you see what we did there) on level 5 heat here–it’s the real deal. Be sure to visit for brunch to experience the famous Bloody Mary here that sports two whole fried cornish hens, scotch eggs and fried okra right on the oversized glass! It’s totally WTF in the best way. Party Fowl is also one of the tastiest spots in the Gulch and that’s saying a lot!

Nashville Hot Chicken from Helen's Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: usarestaurants.info

Helen’s Hot Chicken

416 21st Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
(629) 888-9972

Hidden out by Vanderbilt, Helen’s Hot Chicken may very well sell out for the day before you show up, so go early and be prepared for the heat! Helen’s fries up hot chicken as well as catfish, shrimp and even lobster tails. But if you are going for hot chicken, the wings are the most popular way to taste Helen’s mild, hot or hella seasoned sauces. Be forewarned that the hella sauce is eye-watering spicy, but still full of flavor and a fan favorite if you can handle the heat. 

 

Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles from Hattie B's Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: dallasobserver.com

Hattie B’s Hot Chicken

112 19th Ave S Nashville, TN 37203
(615) 678-4794

With new outposts of Hattie B’s popping up across the city as well as the nation, it’s no surprise that this hot chicken spot in Nashville made our list. Hattie B’s offers six levels of heat, from southern style with no spice to Shut the Cluck Up, its hottest sauce. Diners gobble it up on Hattie B’s chicken quarters, wings, tenders and sandwiches. Locals go straight for the wings but Hattie B’s knows how to fry up this ubiquitous bird every which way, so everything is good here. The Dirty Bird fries are really popular because they are slathered with pimento mac & cheese and come-back sauce, but the Southern greens are to die for, too.

Nashville Hot Chicken from Prince's Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: nytimes.com

Prince’s Hot Chicken (South)

5814 Nolensville Rd Ste 110 Nashville, TN 37211
(615) 810-9388

One of three locations, Prince’s South is well-known for its long line of devotees waiting their turn at one of the best hot chicken spots in Nashville. This counter service location fries up notoriously hot sauces but even the bread has a kick to it since it is soaked in the hot seasoned oil. Order up exactly what you want here because at Prince’s, everything is a la carte, perfect for serving a big bunch. Visitors here rave about the coleslaw and mac and cheese, but the greens taste just like you wish mama had always made them.

Nashville Hot Chicken from BJ Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: lovelesscafe.com

BJ Hot Chicken

818 Murfreesboro Pike Ste 10 Nashville, TN 37217
(615) 866-9365

Seven days a week, BJ’s fries up some of the tastiest hot chicken in town at their Southeast Nashville location. Located off the beaten path in a strip mall, Bjs delivers with big flavors and plenty of room to settle down to devour your delicious chicken dinners. With eight heat levels to choose from as well as four different kinds of dipping sauces, there is a combo for every type of spicy food lover at BJs Hot Chicken.

 

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich from Waldo's Chicken & Beer, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: Yelp

Waldo’s Chicken & Beer

1120 4th Ave N Ste 103 Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 610-3394

This Germantown spot is known for its Fowl Mouth hot chicken sandwich. Fried up in habañero oil and garnished with jalapeño slaw and comeback sauce for good measure, diners that snag this item are sure to end up with a hankering for a cold beverage to wash it down. Parking can be tight here, so if you plan to sit a spell while you enjoy your hot chicken, overnight brined wings, or a Bucket O’ Bird be sure to watch the meter! Visitors to Waldo’s Chicken & Beer come for the authentic flavors and the fun, the casual atmosphere. Sit inside or outside on the patio where a big screen is always tuned to the big game of the day.

Hot Chicken Donut from Slow Burn Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: tennessean.com

Slow Burn Hot Chicken

387 E Main St Hendersonville, TN 37075
(629) 202-7407

On the outskirts of town, Slow Burn cranks out the reliably delicious hot chicken for Nashville visitors and locals. Just like their namesake spicy sauce, Slow Burn grows on you. The gouda mac is a must, as is their hot chicken donut (trust us!). This casual counter-service restaurant is one of our top hot chicken spots in Nashville because their flavors are so hard to beat. With 13 different heat levels, everyone can find one they will love (but be careful with that XXX sauce – it’s only for 21 and up).

 

Nashville Hot Chicken Wing from 400 Degrees Hot Chicken, Nashville, TN
Photo Credit: roadfood.com

400 Degrees Hot Chicken

3704 Clarksville Pike Nashville, TN 37218
(615) 244-4467

Tasty spicy chicken is the order of the day at 400 Degrees Hot Chicken, but they also serve up delicious fried shrimp, fish, pork chops and cauliflower to toss with their 0, 100, 200 or 400 level sauces. Most Nashville diners will recognize this place by the memorable murals outside that include a huge (chicken) wing Instagram-worthy location that visitors love. As one of the best hot chicken spots in Nashville, though, be sure to order a big plate of juicy, crispy chicken here and you won’t regret it, no matter how you like to spice it.

For more information about where to eat and drink in Nashville, visit our City Page!

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on May 31, 2022 and last updated on March 29, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.