Just 20 minutes northwest of Nashville in the small town of Joelton, Tennessee, Granddaddy’s is churning out consistently good hot chicken. Besides the usual suspects of meats and varying levels of heats, Grandaddy’s fans rave about the hot chicken loaded baked potato, hot chicken spring rolls, and deep-fried hotdogs on special.

Native Nashvillian and lifelong hot chicken fan Aqui Hines first started 400 Degrees — named for her hottest spice level offered — more than 15 years ago, gaining loyal fans via food truck and her Clarksville Pike restaurant. Hines’s hot chicken recipe calls for deep-fried rather than skillet-fried chicken, a chief distinction between 400 degrees and most other restaurants.

With locations in Franklin, Goodlettsville, and in Huntsville, Alabama, Big Shake’s offers heat seekers outside of Nashville proper the opportunity to get in on the fiery action. Better yet, Big Shake’s crusty, crunch will soon take over 421 11th Ave. N., the space last home to Your Pie Pizza, in Capitol View.

Nashville native Eric “Red” White’s new permanent home specializing in fiery fowl is known for its hot, but still incredibly flavorful fried chicken sandwiches, catfish, and stellar sides like pimento mac and cheese and seasoned fries. He begins with 36-hour buttermilk and hot sauce brine, then breads it and lets it rest for two hours before frying it up fresh to order. Then it’s doused with a proper dose of his secret Nashville hot seasoning and lard blend. A hot chicken sandwich here comes slathered with Comeback sauce and crowned with slaw, which balances out the heat nicely, while a cool Crunchwrap take is stuffed with hot chicken and mac and cheese.

Hattie B’s first opened in the summer of 2012 and since has become of the first names associated with Nashville hot chicken since expanding its heat nationwide. In addition to hot chicken, Hattie B’s doles out great sides and banana pudding. The original Midtown and Fifth and Broadway locations are always booming, so head out west to their Charlotte Ave. spot, or visit 8th Ave. South for a shorter wait and patio dining.

One of Nashville’s most famous purveyors of hot chicken (Dolly Matthews was featured on David Chang’s Netflix series Ugly Delicious), Bolton’s has been serving the hot stuff for 20-plus years. The Main Street location is back in business alongside a new Antioch location, following the Melrose outpost shutter. And while, yes, the chicken is the main attraction, don’t miss out on the hot fish sandwich or the Southern-style sides.

Get a hot chicken fix with a side of waffles, or even in ramen or taco form at one of the city’s most underrated spots found south of town. Fiery fowl here ranges from “not hot” to “stupid hot” —which packs a pleasant, flavorful amount of heat.

The grandaddy of them all — Prince’s is the original hot chicken shack, serving legendary fiery fowl for over 70 years, and even snagging a James Beard Award along the way. André Prince Jeffries continues the decades-old tradition on the south side of town and in limited menu formats at 6th and Peabody Assembly Food Hall at 5th and Broadway, both downtown.

It’s incredible to realize that one person is mostly behind Moore’s, Mr. Moore himself. Whether it’s the spicy fried chicken, fish, brisket, or sides, Moore’s is the real deal, with loyal fans swearing its the best hot chicken in Hendersonville if not the greater Nashville area.

Slow Burn Hot Chicken lives up to its name, offering several different heat levels from “sprinkle heat” (just a hint of spice) to “the end” (triple hot). The restaurant’s menu also includes hot fish, seafood, pork chops, and a selection of specials. The Madison location and city center window is now closed, but the new, larger location in Hendersonville isn’t too far of a trek for the cult-favorite chicken.

A popular food truck planted permanent roots back in 2019 on the southeast side of town in Smyrna, setting up shop as Mack’s Hot Chicken. Heat levels range from plain to the oh-so-fiery “Mack’s revenge.” In addition to the traditional meats and heats, Mack’s serves up solid sides, desserts, and a weekly “wild card Wednesday” featuring fun spins like hot Cornish hen, hot chicken-topped waffle fries, and hot chicken grilled cheese sandwiches.