What is Nashville hot chicken?

Nashville hot chicken is a spicy fried chicken dish that originated in Nashville, Tennessee. It's characterized by its fiery cayenne pepper paste coating and is typically served on white bread with pickles.

Where can I find the best hot chicken in Nashville?

The best Nashville hot chicken can be found at legendary spots like Prince's Hot Chicken (the original), Hattie B's, Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish, and Pepperfire. Each offers unique heat levels and flavors.

What are the different heat levels for Nashville hot chicken?

Nashville hot chicken typically comes in heat levels ranging from Mild (no heat) to Medium, Hot, X-Hot, and XXX-Hot (extremely spicy). Some restaurants offer their own unique heat level names and intensities.

Is Nashville hot chicken very spicy?

Nashville hot chicken can range from mild to extremely spicy depending on the heat level you choose. Beginners should start with mild or medium, while spice lovers can challenge themselves with the hottest levels.

Nashville Hot Chicken

2026 Nashville Hot Chicken Guide

Best Hot Chicken
in Nashville,
By Heat Level

😌

🙂

😅

Medium

🥵

😵

💀

From mild to inferno 🔥 Discover Nashville's best hot chicken with expert reviews, heat guides & insider tips

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🏠 Local Favorites ✈️ Tourist Spots 💎 Hidden Gems 🗺️ View Map

Hot Right Now

Nashville's Hottest Spots

What fellow hot chicken fans are checking out this week

Hattie B's Hot Chicken Nashville hot chicken

🔥 Most Searched

4.6

MidtownUp to Shut the Cluck Up!!!

Hattie B's Hot Chicken

The hot chicken that put Nashville on the culinary map. Consistent, tourist-friendly, and genuinely good.

Trending

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Prince's Hot Chicken Shack Nashville hot chicken

👑 Original Since 1945

4.3

South NashvilleHeat: check before you go

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack

5814 Nolensville Pike. Mon to Sat 11 AM to 10 PM. Closed Sunday.

Trending

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West End

4.9

West EndSouthern to Nashville Fire

Red's Hot Chicken

115 27th Ave N. Official name is Red's Hot Chicken. Wed to Sun, with afternoon closes.

Trending

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Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish Nashville hot chicken

🌶️ Hottest Authentic Heat

East NashvilleNon-Spicy to Extra Hot

Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish

624 Main St. Heat includes Non-Spicy and Lite Mild. Catfish and whiting are on the menu.

Trending

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Waldo's Chicken and Beer Nashville hot chicken

Germantown

4.5

GermantownHeat: check before you go

Waldo's Chicken and Beer

1120 4th Ave N, Suite 103. Sun to Thu until 9 PM, Fri and Sat until 10 PM. Cheese biscuits are a regular order.

Trending

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Hurt's Hot Chicken Nashville hot chicken

🚚 Hidden Gem Food Truck

4.7

HendersonvilleHeat: check before you go

Hurt's Hot Chicken

Rotating truck. Latest listing is 115 Walton Ferry Rd, Ste 6. Heat and the gyro were not confirmed.

Trending

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Browse All 18 Restaurants

What's New

All events

NewAug 2026

Heat Level Tracker launched

Track every restaurant and heat level you've conquered. Saves to your device.

UpdatedJul 2026

Nashville Events - weekly calendar

Live events near Nashville hot chicken spots, updated every week.

NewJun 2026

Hurt's Hot Chicken - food truck review

Rotating truck. Latest listing is 115 Walton Ferry Rd, Ste 6, Hendersonville. Heat and the gyro were not confirmed.

UpdatedJun 2026

Helen's Hot Chicken - call ahead

Flagship in this check: 1801 Jefferson St, Ste 101. Published closing times conflict.

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How do you handle spicy food?

Restaurants Reviewed

Nashville's best, ranked by a local

Heat Levels Rated

From mild to extra hot

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Just explore and eat

Popular Right Now

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Hattie B's

Most searched

👑

Prince's

Local favorite

🌶️

Bolton's

Heat seeker pick

⭐

Pepperfire

Rising star

Nashville Hot Chicken: Editor's Picks

Heat levels, hours, and honest takes on Nashville's most-loved spots.

💚 Local Fav

4.9(812)

West EndCheck before you go

Red's Hot Chicken

Counter spot at 115 27th Ave N in West End, next to the Parthenon. The official name is Red's Hot Chicken. The spice line is Red's 615 Kitchen. This guide previously listed it as Red's 615 Chicken.

Heat Range

Southern–Nashville Fire

Wed to Thu 11 AM to 3 PM, Fri 11 AM to 4 PM, Sat 11 AM to 6 PM, Sun 11 AM to 4 PM. Closed Mon and Tue.

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💚 Local Fav

4.8(234)

East NashvilleCheck before you go

Brave Idiot

Food truck parked behind No Quarter at 922 Main St in East Nashville. Ten heat levels. Level 4 is standard Nashville hot, and level 8 and up is extreme. The scale runs hotter than most.

Heat Range

1–10

Thu 2 PM to 8 PM, Fri to Sat 12 PM to 8 PM, Sun 11 AM to 2 PM. Closed Mon to Wed. Published schedules differ, so check their social before you go.

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💚 Local Fav

4.3(467)

BordeauxCheck before you go

400 Degrees

Hot chicken on Clarksville Pike in Bordeaux, with a second location at BNA Concourse C. Open Tue to Fri, 11 AM to 3 PM. Closed Sat, Sun, and Mon.

Heat Range

0°–400°

Tue to Fri 11 AM to 3 PM. Closed Sat, Sun, and Mon.

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💚 Local Fav

4(2.3k)

East NashvilleCheck before you go

Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish

East Nashville counter spot at 624 Main St, founded by a former Prince's cook. The menu includes spicy chicken and fish, including catfish and whiting.

Heat Range

Non-Spicy–Extra Hot

Sun to Thu 11 AM to 8 PM, Fri to Sat 11 AM to 10:30 PM.

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Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Nashville - Midtown - Nashville hot chicken

🗺️ Visitor Pick

4.6(12.5k)

MidtownCheck before you go

Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Nashville - Midtown

The Midtown Hattie B's at 112 19th Ave S. Six heat levels from Southern (no heat) through Shut the Cluck Up. A steady introduction for first-timers, with a heat ladder the restaurant publishes.

Heat Range

Southern (No Heat)–Shut the Cluck Up!!!

Sun to Thu 10:45 AM to 10 PM, Fri to Sat 10:45 AM to midnight.

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Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South - Nashville hot chicken

💚 Local Fav

4.3(4.2k)

South NashvilleCheck before you go

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South

The operating Prince's Hot Chicken Shack in South Nashville, at 5814 Nolensville Pike. The dish started with this family. Heat names on the current menu were not confirmed in this check.

Mon to Sat 11 AM to 10 PM. Closed Sun.

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Showing 6 of 18+ Nashville hot chicken spots

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Interactive map showing all the best hot chicken spots across Nashville

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Nashville Events

Hot Chicken Near Every Nashville Venue

Live music at the Ryman, Predators games, festivals - we show you the best hot chicken spot near wherever you're headed this weekend. Updated every week.

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Visiting for the holiday? July 4th hot chicken guide covers what's open and where to go.