Nashville, TN
No local rankings yet · editorial below
The city's defining dish, cayenne-lacquered fried chicken from the family that invented it to the spot that took it worldwide. Drawn from The Infatuation's hot-chicken ranking and Time Out Nashville.
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Start a Top 5 for Fried ChickenEditor’s picks
Press picks, until locals rank their own Top 5s. Sourced from the local food press. As seen in The Infatuation and Time Out Nashville. Updated September 2026.
Prince's Hot Chicken · Downtown
The family that invented Nashville hot chicken, the original, fiery, cayenne-painted bird served on white bread with pickles.
Hattie B's Hot Chicken - Nashville - Midtown
The spot that took hot chicken mainstream, perfectly consistent birds from 'Southern' to the eye-watering 'Shut the Cluck Up.'
Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish · Historic Edgefield
An East Nashville original using a dry rub, so its 'medium' rivals max heat elsewhere, deeply respected by locals.
400 Degrees · North Nashville
An homage to Prince's that's eclipsed many, a dangerously searing crust across graduated heat levels.
Red's Hot Chicken · Midtown
A current local favorite nailing the breading-to-meat ratio on tenders and boneless thighs, plus a hot-chicken crunchwrap.