My friends and I… we’ve got big dreams. We want to explore the world, cure diseases, and learn how to pop lock and drop it without ripping our pants open. (*sigh* maybe someday…) Some of my friends want to start families; some want to start businesses; I just wanna eat all the Nashville hot chicken I can get my grubby little hands on.
Yes–I admit it–I love fried chicken. Health nuts—avert your eyes! I also love cinnamon rolls, McDonald’s hash browns, and Dairy Queen Blizzards. I use hot hair styling tools and some times, when I’m really pooped, I go to bed with my makeup on and don’t give two shits about it. I love things that are bad for me and you know what that means? I’M HUMAN.
So being from Tennessee that pretty much makes me a fried chicken connoisseur by birth. I have, indeed, fully embraced this duty. However, it wasn’t until I had moved to Boston that this Nashville hot chicken thing blew up like a marshmallow in a microwave. I decided to make “trying all the Nashville hot chicken my insides can handle” part of my annual trip to Tennessee and with the help of E-Z Rent A Car I was finally able to get started on my mission. As has become the standard, I land at Nashville International Airport, pick up my E-Z rental car, and meet my friend Marla at a Nashville hot chicken joint. And wait for it to open because we’ve become those people.
A huge thank you to E-Z Rent-A-Car for sponsoring this post and for always helping me see so much on my travels. As always, all opinions are my own and I will never promote something I don’t personally use and believe in, regardless of who foots the bill.
NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN
So what’s the big deal with Nashville hot chicken? Well, it’s delicious; it’s a local specialty; it’s like a hug from your mom… but like, after she just got done mowing the lawn. It’s comfort food—if you find comfort in being extremely uncomfortable. It’s basically your typical fried chicken but smothered with the likes of paprika and cayenne pepper and what I can only assume are tiny scales off Satan’s back. (Satan is totally a dragon, right?)
It’s said that Nashville hot chicken was started by the people behind Prince’s—Nashville’s original hot chicken spot (where I didn’t get to on this visit so… yeah… coming soon). The tale goes that Thorton Prince was quite the ladies’ man—a reputation his girlfriend didn’t like too much. After a night when he’d clearly been steppin’ out, his girlfriend doused his Sunday morning fried chicken (God bless the South!) with loads of hot pepper to teach him a lesson. As goes most times a woman tries to teach her husband anything, it backfired. He loved the extra spicy chicken, spread the word, and eventually opened his own chicken shack.
“How hot is mild?” sounds like a ridiculous and unnecessary question, I know, but until you’ve tried Nashville hot chicken you won’t understand. Mild to me means “Not spicy at all–you could totally feed this to your toddler.” Mild in Nashville means something else entirely. Something devious, something deadly. If you’re a weenie like me, you’d be a fool not to ask “How hot is mild?”
HATTIE B’S HOT CHICKEN
I’ve eaten at Hattie B’s a couple of times… and attempted to eat there even more than that. But that line—aww, hell. Ashley ain’t waitin’ in no line. I’ll get up and eat Nashville hot chicken at the crack of dawn if it means I don’t have to wait in a line as long as a Peyton Manning touchdown pass to get it. My patience for waiting in lines ended with my twenties and the desperate need for Red Bull + vodkas to keep me going on Saturday nights that turned into Sunday mornings. But Marla and I found the solution—head straight to Hattie B’s after landing in Nashville from your 7 a.m. flight from Boston and arrive just as they open the doors. With any luck there will only be a handful of hungry people in front of you, and that’s manageable at any age.
Pro tip I learned the hard way: The line starts at the door on the right of the patio (if you’re looking at from across the street)–not the door to the left of the patio where it says HOT.
WHY I LOVE HATTIE B’S
GREAT OPTIONS | Hattie B’s has a huge menu with a ton of face-melting items to choose from. A Nashville hot chicken sandwich, tenders, plates with a variety of chicken parts, chicken and waffles, and even a child’s option in case you’re a tiny adult like yours truly or maybe your kid has just been a real asshole today and needs to learn a very hot lesson.
GREAT SIDES | For me, it doesn’t get any better than delicious side items. I can make an entire meal out of them and consider myself the biggest coleslaw snob you’ll ever meet. I’m basically the Frasier Crane of Southern side dishes but with boobs and a better hairdo. I’ve had Hattie B’s collard greens (fantastic!), coleslaw (stupendous!), baked beans (yes!), and their fried okra (ooh, come to mama!)—all good.
FAST AND FRIENDLY SERVICE | They know their lines are long and tackle this with no-bullshit, speedy service but in the friendliest way possible. Manhattan quickness with Southern hospitality plus a mouth-burn from the depths of Hell. Take a number, take a seat, and the food will be brought to you.
GREAT ATMOSPHERE | I love a patio. I love eating fried chicken on a patio. I love big wall menus I can read no matter how far back in line I am. I love music while I eat. I love paper towels on the table. I love sharing picnic tables with friendly strangers. Tennessee gemütlichkeit.
FREE WATER, thank the good lord above! | I apologize, state of Tennessee, for the drought you must be facing this summer. I take full responsibility. I ate the Nashville hot chicken. There was no other choice—I consumed your entire water supply.
HOW HOT IS MILD?
On my first visit I ordered MILD (🌶) chicken. It was spicy, but the f-bombs were at a minimum that day. I wasn’t uncomfortable but I still drank a lot of water and thanked God for the white bread.
On my second visit I upgraded to MEDIUM (🌶🌶) because, like I said, I enjoy a challenge. Hattie B’s “medium” hit my comfort limit. There was water chugging and mouth-fanning—as if that helps AT ALL. I probably shouted, “My mouth is on fire!” or “My lips are burning!” a couple dozen times but they were always followed by, “…but damn this is good!” Hattie B’s “medium” was hot on any regular scale but I didn’t regret being born after eating it.
I also tried Marla’s HOT (🌶🌶🌶) for some early morning masochistic fun even though the color was enough to terrify me. Let’s just say tears were shed (me) and laughs were chuckled (her). It was painful and not in the good way. Lips burning, throat aflame, even my knees were sweating. I think I heard my esophagus crying at one point. I definitely heard my tongue call me a bitch. “Medium” is definitely my Hattie B’s limit unless I’m really in the mood to hate myself. Not unlike a Sunday morning after a Red Bull + vodka binger.
⇢ WEBSITE | hattieb.com
⇢ ADDRESS | 112 19th Ave. S (Midtown) + other locations
⇢ HOURS | Monday – Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – midnight
Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
⇢ SOCIAL | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
BOLTON’S SPICY CHICKEN & FISH
Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish is a seriously no-nonsense chicken shack. You won’t find any of that swanky merchandise or a menu any fancier than a piece of printer paper in a plastic sleeve, but you will find a girl from India over in the corner about to lose her shit over how hot her tenders are. DOES THAT TELL YOU ANYTHING? Even she was like, “I’m from India! I thought I could handle it!”
Bolton’s boasts “the hottest chicken in town” and I totally believed that as soon as I saw the sign basically warning you not to touch your private parts until you’ve thoroughly washed your hands. (A decent life lesson in itself, no?) I personally stuck to the lower end of the heat spectrum out of respect to my internal organs but I could definitely tell they weren’t kidding. Bolton’s has what Marla and I refer to as “Ninja Heat.” At first you’re like, “Okay, this is fine… I can handle this.”
And then… HI-YAH! Roundhouse kick to the face! Punch-punch-punch! And a swift kick in the groin for good measure. Just when you think you’ve made the right ordering choice, the spice sneaks up and crane kicks a very important lesson into your skull.
Pro tip I learned the hard way: The tiny window directly ahead of you when you enter is where you place your order.
WHY I LOVE BOLTON’S
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY | As a side note, Tennessee is where bad manners go to die. If you’ve never experienced this, you should really stop on by—it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.
The service at Bolton’s is simple, but dripping in Southern hospitality and a little ranch dressing. One of the employees overheard Marla and I discussing our chicken versus what we thought the next step up would be like and brought us a serving of tenders from the next hottest category, totally on the house. Where else would do that?
I LOVE A NO-NONSENSE FOOD SHACK | It’s where all the best stuff comes from! I don’t need fancy décor or Wi-Fi or cutlery that doesn’t bend in half when you try to use it. Give me dirt-cheap prices out of a shack with bars on the windows and I’m a happy eater. I do appreciate an in-house bathroom though; let’s keep that clear.
THOSE PRICES | I mean, DAYUM. When you can get a delicious meal for under $5—that’s what Ashley’s talkin’ ‘bout. I ordered some “Southern fried chicken” at a restaurant in Boston that came out virtually unrecognizable from its original form and cost $18. Give. me. a break. Keep it simple; keep it cheap; keep your customers.
HOW HOT IS MILD?
Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Bolton’s has what a few Nashville hot chicken joints have instituted—the concept of “light mild.” Bless their hearts.
LIGHT MILD (🌶🌶) at Bolton’s is probably my limit. It was spicy and I was chugging water and stuffing white bread down my gullet but I could tolerate it. Light Mild did not karate chop me in the throat mid-conversation. I think I managed to go the whole time without shouting obscenities if that tells you anything. And it really should.
We were kindly offered some MILD (🌶🌶🌶) tenders on the house for the sake of experimentation and those I could barely handle. Mild at Bolton’s would be HOT anywhere else, no question. This is where the ninja heat creeps in. Call Mr. Miyagi! You are not prepared for this in something called “mild”! Wax on, wax off; paint the fence; do whatever you have to do—just don’t say I didn’t warn you.
⇢ WEBSITE | boltonsspicy.com
⇢ ADDRESS | 624 Main Street + other locations
⇢ HOURS | Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday closed
⇢ SOCIAL | Facebook | Twitter
PEPPERFIRE HOT CHICKEN
The first time I visited Pepperfire I was adamantly warned beforehand. And when Marla (“I don’t need my water. Do you want it?”) warns you something is going to be hot, it’s serious. I TOTALLY wussed out the first time and settled for the Southernfied chicken—the simple fried, spice-less version for infants and those with heart conditions. I’m thoroughly embarrassed and I promise it won’t happen again.
I’ve since branched out and can attest to Pepperfire’s unique spice flavor. There’s an unmistakable “pepper”-ness to it. Like black pepper. Right? Okay, perhaps it is mistakable—I’m no food blogger by any means—but it’s different than all the other Nashville hot chicken I’ve tried.
The place is cozy and communal and, in addition to the typical menu items, they offer dishes you won’t find anywhere else, like:
- Peppercheese | a deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich with pepperjack cheese
- AppleFire | Hot chicken and waffles covered in sweet apples
- Tender Royale | a Peppercheese topped with three hot chicken tenders
- And the AppleJack | a Tender Royale topped with sweet apples
⇡ I took this after my meal and I swear what you’re seeing is the result of humidity from my face sweat.
WHY I LOVE PEPPERFIRE
CLEAN, COZY ATMOSPHERE | Pepperfire is always clean and cool—an important aspect given the amount of heat you’ll be radiating outwards in about five minutes. The communal tables give the restaurant a cozy feel that helps when the commiserating begins. Those exchanged looks of fear, regret, and suffering cross all borders and really bring us together as a species.
GREAT SERVICE | They’re never not serving up smiles at Pepperfire. It’s probably more of a sinister evil grin before they tell you to put the lotion in the basket but still, they’re very nice there.
YOU CAN GET CHICKEN AND WAFFLES ANY TIME | Waffles are not just for breakfast anymore, son.
FREE WATER | They really do care about your well-being and maybe a little about not being sued for second-degree mouth burns. Either way, I consider this a huge bonus. The Tennessee River is now a canyon.
THEY SERVE MEMPHIS BEER | If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s some of the best ever. They make it with whatever water is left in the state after I’ve eaten Nashville hot chicken.
HOW HOT IS MILD?
Well, I don’t actually know.
On my most recent visit I manned-up and ordered the LIGHT MILD (🌶🌶) and that’s about as far as I’ll be going at Pepperfire. Pepperfire Hot Chicken is absolutely for the heat lover since you more or less skip all the easy levels and head straight for the castle to battle Bowser for Princess Peach. This is the music I hear right before I bite into some Nashville hot chicken.
Pepperfire’s Light Mild is pretty legit. I did this one all on my own but texted Marla something along the lines of, “Get your ass over here. I look like a fool pouring water down my throat and fanning myself like an old woman in church.” She told me to eat something sweet and thus began looking like a fool pouring maple syrup down my throat. Nashville hot chicken—it really is a battle of wits.
⇢ WEBSITE | pepperfirehotchicken.com
⇢ ADDRESS | 1000 Gallatin Avenue
⇢ HOURS | Monday – Wednesday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday closed
⇢ SOCIAL | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN SURVIVAL TIPS
DON’T TOUCH ANYTHING IMPORTANT | You saw it—straight from the printer at Bolton’s Spicy Chicken and Fish—don’t touch your eyes, your children, or anything below the waist before you have completely and thoroughly washed your hands clean. If you don’t know why, ignore this tip to find out.
MAYBE KEEP A BOTTLE OF TUMS IN YOUR PURSE | Or maple syrup. It’s always good to be prepared. You may also want to keep handy a pair of latex gloves, some goggles, a sweatband, a small personal misting fan, and a defibrillator.
DON’T BE A HERO | Drink the free water… if there’s anything left after I’ve been there.
ALWAYS ASK “HOW HOT IS MILD?” | The word “mild” is uber-misleading when it comes to Nashville hot chicken. Take everything you’ve learned from Hooters about “mild” chicken and kick it to the curb with your all-white 80s-style high tops. Regardless of how much spice you like, you may still need to start at the beginning.
MORE INFO
This post will be updated as I consume more and more Nashville hot chicken! I do what I can in the name of culinary education.
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