As a fried chicken lover living in Nashville, I’ve made it my personal mission to taste all the hot chicken this city has to offer. And let me tell you, when it comes to spice, these chicken joints don’t play around.
Of all the fiery birds I’ve sampled, none has seared itself into my memory quite like the hot chicken from Hattie B’s. This popular Nashville eatery offers chicken in six spice levels ranging from Southern (no heat) to the ominously named Shut the Cluck Up!!!
I’m no daredevil when it comes to spicy food. My tolerance caps out at medium on most spice scales So I approached Hattie B’s heat levels cautiously, working my way up from mild to medium over several visits.
Here’s my honest take on how hot Hattie B’s chicken really is:
Mild
My first foray into Hattie B’s was a three-piece dark meat combo meal with mild spice. Given the tongue-scorching reputation of Nashville hot chicken, I wasn’t sure what to expect from “mild.”
The breading on my first bite of thigh had a noticeable but not overwhelming kick. My lips and mouth felt warm but not on fire. I’d compare it to a fast food chicken sandwich with peppery mayo. Manageable for spice novices but with a lingering heat that builds if you power through the meal.
I drank about half a glass of sweet tea to temper the lingering burn. My friend who got hot (one level above mild) went through at least four glasses of water!
Spice Rating: 3 out of 10 jalapeños
Medium
Feeling bold after surviving mild, I returned to Hattie B’s and stepped up to medium heat. I chose hot chicken tenders with a side of pimento mac and cheese to balance the burn.
The breading on my first medium tender packed a serious punch! My lips were tingling after just two bites. I quickly followed it up with a spoonful of the cool, creamy mac and cheese to try to extinguish the fire.
Every few tenders, I had to grab my sweet tea and chug to avoid reaching my spice tolerance limit. By the halfway point, my brow was dotted with sweat. Two-thirds through the meal, my stomach felt unsettled from the mounting heat.
I ultimately polished off the entire medium tender meal but paid for it later with a upset stomach. Lesson learned!
Spice Rating: 7 out of 10 jalapeños
The Verdict on Hattie B’s Heat
While I haven’t personally sampled the upper spice levels at Hattie B’s, it’s clear they don’t mess around! Mild packs more punch than you’d expect, and medium tested the very limits of my Scoville tolerance.
For fellow spice novices, I recommend starting with Southern style or sampling a friend’s mild before jumping straight to a full mild entree. And don’t say I didn’t warn you to brace yourself and come thirsty! Hattie B’s heat levels live up to the Nashville hot chicken hype.
So if you’re craving the burn, head on over to Hattie B’s and work your way up the spice ladder. Just be sure to order that sweet tea by the pitcher!
More About Hattie B’s
Beyond the spice, here’s what I love about Hattie B’s:
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Huge menu with all your hot chicken faves: sandwiches, tenders, wings, boneless thighs, leg quarters, and even veggie options!
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Heavenly sides like pimento cheese mac, collard greens, baked beans, and banana pudding
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Local Nashville vibe with fun music and Southern hospitality
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No frills ordering system – grab a tray and get in line
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Multiple locations in Nashville so you’re never far from the heat
Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 11am – 10pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – midnight
Sunday: 11am – 4pm
Website: https://hattieb.com
Address: Multiple locations in Nashville
Ready to feel the burn? Head to Hattie B’s and work your way up the spice ladder. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you! This Nashville hot chicken packs some serious heat.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: The Food
The drinks are self-serve. You have plenty of pop options, but they also provide tea and lemonade.
It wasn’t long before our food arrived. The chicken was some of the best we’ve ever had, and my travel companions have done the legwork when it comes to tasty chicken tenders.
The “spicier” tender was denoted with a toothpick. Jeff and I tried it, but we were glad we went with “no heat” for the most part. I thought it was nice that you can mix-and-match the heat of your tenders in your order.
The meals also come with white bread and pickles; this is supposed to help with the heat.
I’ll be honest–I wasn’t sure if I’d really like the sides I chose. But let me tell you, both my grits and mac and cheese were absolutely delicious! Above is the mac and cheese; below is the bacon grits.
Don’t forget the banana pudding! Actually, we were pretty full, so we took the pudding with us. It made a great snack back in the room.
I do recommend ordering all the flood you want at the start if the place is busy. It would be difficult to get in to order more later without getting in line again. The line remained out the door for our entire visit.
Hattie B’s Hot Chicken: The Restaurant
We took a quick two-night getaway to Nashville last summer for my birthday. For us, it’s about a seven-hour drive, so it’s completely doable as a short trip. As we researched Nashville, we knew we needed to try one of the city’s hot chicken places. After some deliberation, we chose to try Hattie B’s. We were not sorry.
Currently, there are four locations in the Nashville area, and there is a handful of locations in various cities around the country. Though Hattie B’s opened its first location in 2012, the owners of the restaurants, Nick Bishop and his son Nick Bishop, Jr., are second and third-generation restauranteurs in Nashville. Named for three women in the family, Hattie B’s is certainly a family affair.
When we arrived in Nashville, we decided to choose a location away from downtown in hopes that it wouldn’t be as busy. Plus, we were staying at the Best Western Plus on Music Row, so we would be near downtown for most of the trip. We also arrived in the afternoon, so we also hoped it wasn’t too busy for that reason. We chose the Melrose location.
Well, let’s just say that it was “less busy.” We still parked in the street a couple of blocks away, though it’s worth noting that the parking lot at the Melrose location is really small. And we did note that the line was out the door. In the July heat, we prayed the line moved quickly. And really, it did.
There was also a server who was running drink orders out to our line, so that helped. Drinks come in a take-home cup, and refills inside are free, so once you had your drink, it was good for your entire visit.
You also have ample time to study the menu. We are spicy-food wimps, so the idea of trying the chicken with any type of heat was daunting. We decided to mostly get “no heat,” but Jeff would get a mild single tender, with mild described as “a touch of heat.” As we scanned the menu, we knew that “shut the cluck up” was completely out of the question. Who are these non-humans that can stomach such things?
I also knew I wanted to sample several other dishes on the menu. As we researched the area, banana pudding came up repeatedly as a local dessert. And I wanted to sample some of the Southern sides that often elude restaurants in the Midwest. So, bacon cheddar grits and pimento mac and cheese it was. My travel companions opted for the old standby–fries. All of us chose chicken tenders.
Once inside, you place your order at the counter. The vibe was definitely bustling with chatter. After we placed our order, the cashier handed us a number to place on our table; our food would come shortly.
This gave us a moment to explore and refill our drinks. If you’re up for it, you can sit outside on the patio, but on a hot day in July, the patio was empty.
Is HATTIE B’s Worth The Hype? Trying Nashville’s Iconic Hot Chicken Spot
FAQ
How many Scoville units is Hattie B’s hot chicken?
all the way up to 500,000 Shu Scoville heat units. There’s no chicken in any freezers at Hattie b’s.
Which is better, Hattie B’s or Prince’s hot chicken?
Both Hattie B’s and Prince’s Hot Chicken are popular Nashville hot chicken spots, but Prince’s is generally considered the original and the best, while Hattie B’s is a more widely accessible option due to its multiple locations. Prince’s is known for its juicy and crispy chicken with a flavorful spice, while Hattie B’s is praised for its spicy and flavorful take on the dish.
Is Nashville hot chicken actually spicy?
Nashville hot chicken is quite spicy. Not only is the chicken marinated in hot sauce, but it’s also coated in a cayenne pepper sauce. However, the cayenne pepper sauce includes other ingredients like brown sugar and butter that tame the heat a bit.
Is Nashville hot chicken hotter than buffalo chicken?
If you’re trying to choose based on flavor profile, Nashville hot chicken tends to be spicier (Buffalo chicken has more of an acidic tang to it), but be warned that because there are a lot of different recipes out there, both types can vary in terms of heat.