The Tastiest Chicken Shop in Nashville

Bishop's Meat and Three

★★★★☆ 4 (324) • $$

"While I landed at 4 stars, my true rating would be 3.5, and here is why...Nostalgic southern spot in Franklin next to the Chick-Fil-A. I really wanted to love this spot, as a Meat & 3 speaks to my soul...however, I was underwhelmed here. I popped in for lunch and ordered the Fried Catfish with fried okra, mac n cheese, and rice casserole. What struck me initially was the portion size - only one piece of catfish, which was below average in size. While the sides were decently portioned, the main dish left a bit to be desired.The catfish and okra were disappointingly dry and chewy, lacking the crispiness and tenderness that I look for in fried southern classics. The mac n cheese was sadly watery and thin, however the chicken, broccoli and rice casserole was solid, and of course the sweet tea was sweet! Service was stellar, as you would expect at a southern joint.While my first go was a bit underwhelming, I am comitted to stopping back by for another round of meats and veggies...as I don't give up on a good southern spot so easily!"

Red's Hot Chicken

★★★★★ 4.7 (197) • $$

"As I've been saying in most of my reviews from my Nashville trip so far, on the whole, I had so many great meals there... but of course, I had to go for some Nashville Hot Chicken, and this place near Vanderbilt's campus came highly recommended. I am happy to say, it was phenomenal!Red's is quite simply a roadside chicken shack. They have a small outdoor covered eating area with counter seating around the edges, everything is served take-out style no matter where you plan to eat it. There is a bar next door that they'll bring your food to, but I didn't explore that, it was a fairly nice day to just eat right out front.I approached the window and my order was promptly taken, no non-sense, no fuss, they're just interested in getting you great chicken made fresh. This IS NOT fast food, and they express that on their sign, but regardless, I waited just 15 minutes for piping hot, made to order, hot chicken. I went with the Hot Chicken Plate with the 3 jumbo tenders, as they were currently out of thighs due to a power outage that spoiled their last supply. That mattered exactly not at all, because the tenders were enormous, juicy, and very filling with a perfect level of spice. I went medium to gauge, and it was just right for me. Flavorful, good heat, not excruciating. The plate came with two sides, I opted for their pimento mac n cheese and cole slaw. The mac was exceptional, really nice sharp cheddar flavor, very creamy. The cole slaw was refreshing and cool, not too mayo heavy, and provided a nice switch to the hot chicken. I also got some great ranch for dipping. It also came with a couple slices of white bread, as is tradition, for mopping up sauce and making little bite size sammies.All told, I could not recommend this place more. I love a place that just cuts to the chase with great food, and Red's is exactly that. I'm sure there is lots of excellent hot chicken available around Nashville, but this should be one of your choices!"

JP’s Hot Chicken

★★★★★ 4.5 (190) • $$

"Food was fresh and tasted great! Shrimp burrito and fried pickles were sooooo good! Definitely a place to go!"

Maniac's

★★★★☆ 4.1 (224) • $

"Upon entering we were greeted by a smiling face, I believe her name was Brittany. Brittany was friendly and seemed to enjoy telling my buddy & I all about the menu. It was our first time but we seemed to be right at home. We both ordered the hand battered chicken tenders with hand cut fries. The fries were seasoned well. The chicken was moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Whatever they marinate it with makes it almost melt in your mouth. We both agreed that we'd return for another visit. Order at the counter, take a number and grab a seat. They will bring your food, sauces and utensils right to you."

Riddim N' Spice

★★★★☆ 4.4 (186) • $$

"While in Nashville we were looking for something that wasn't nearby where we were staying. We found this place on Yelp and ordered right before they were closing for pickup. We ended up getting their large chicken plate with a side of rice.The chicken was succulent and flavorful. It came with some original jerk watery sauce that was pours into our to go container. It was a little messy but we dealt. We also got it with mac n cheese which was too salty but still good. We got yellow rice and a side of rice and beans. The yellow rice was okay. We enjoyed the rice and beans one better. The girl at the counter was very nice. We ended up paying $17 for our meal which we though was very affordable considering how much meat we received. We just picked up our order and didn't dine there. The restaurant has its own parking lot which makes it easy."

Coneheads

★★★★★ 4.7 (141)

"This unique place is a must-try in Nashville! Loved my perfectly crispy fried chicken in a waffle cone with a mac & cheese "cap" on top, served with a side of crinkle cut fries! They also have a fried cauliflower option. They have a neat covered front patio with picnic tables that have a hole built in to place your cone so you can easily set it down--you just won't want to because it's so delicious!"

Helen's Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (93)

"If you're looking for hot chicken, look no more! We came here looking for some hot chicken sandwich and this place was worth it. There was no line and the wait was minimal since they make the food to order. I enjoyed it and the staff was super friendly!"

Only Chicken

★★★★★ 4.9 (68)

"First time in today after reading glowing Yelp reviews and the restaurant did not disappoint. Excellent and friendly service. Everything we tried was affordable and fantastic. Our favorites were the sampler appetizer, chicken wings, thyme chicken and baklava dessert. Everything was cooked fresh and super flavorful. We enjoyed our meal on the cute patio on a beautiful evening in Nashville. Can't wait to come back and try more menu items. PS for Vandy students, restaurant will be added to Taste of Nashville and accepting Commodore Cash in August."

Helen's Hot Chicken

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (174)

"Three stars for mediocre effort, less than mediocre hot sauce, but a fair size portion of whiting.I began this lunch trip by trying to order ahead on the app. Everything was fine until I paid and my card was charged. That's when I got a message that there was a problem with the order. (It was just a simple hot chicken sandwich, so what's the big deal?)Since I was close to the restaurant, I decided to go inside to see what the issue was. Inside I found a large, clean open dining area with tables widely spaced. Not crowded, just 2 other customers. I stepped up to the cashier and asked about my Apple order. She said it did not go through because they do not have any chicken... They're out of chicken?. Uh???? I asked, "what do you have". She replied that they had fish. I said fine I'll take that. But just a sandwich. The cashier was polite but curt. My order was prepared very quickly and I took it to my car rather than eating inside.Needless to say it was disappointing. Two large pieces of fish, fried ok, lying on top of a piece of white bread, and some generic hot sauce sprinkled near it. Oh, and a couple of pickle chips next to a pile of raw onion. Simply not impressive for nine dollars -- although that said, the portion was decent (see photo).Bottom line: no class, no character or ambience, no style, no flavor - other than fried. Three stars is probably generous, but today they'll get the benefit of the doubt. So, it's called Helen's Hot Chicken but sometimes they only have fish. Timing is everything I guess. ((I did get a refund the following day.))"

Helen’s Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.5 (105)

"Service was great. Food was DELICIOUS! Great music playing while we ate. Will be back again."

Martin’s Chicken & Waffles

★★★★★ 4.7 (41)

"Just off the main square, Martin's Chicken and Waffles is in a repurposed office buidling from years back. However, the interior is warm and welcoming. The seating is classic southern kitchen.Martin's serves up southern meals/sides, particularly fried chicken. The chicken is very good, served crispy and hot. We chose Nashville hot but classic fried chicken is also available. The gentleman who greated us was very helpful and pleasant. Took great care of the whole place. We were there late in the day so not too busy but lots of takeout going on."

Waldo's Chicken & Beer

★★★★☆ 3.9 (56) • $$

"THE BEST chicken tenders I've ever had. Perfect in every way. Truly tender. Selection of sauce to boot! Variety of sides?!? The chop chop salad with rotisserie chicken was perfect portion with fresh mixed greens and strong blue cheese!This particular spot is extra great b/c of their staff. Everyone I've encountered here is dang delightful and great customer service. The set up is a blend of fast & casual dining, but the food is true quality. They have a bunch of TVs and a nice bar set up that seems perfect for game watching; and the bar is full service of beer and liquor with great selection. Or there's a drive through for your food to go!Bonus - Tuesday tenders special!Hoping one of these will open on the east side of town!"

Smokin Chikin

★★★★☆ 4 (45)

"We stopped by Smokin Chicken this evening. It was our first time. We were not wow'ed by it. The customer service was great, food was fast, and the restaurant was clean!! The chicken was ok, yet dry. We did not care for the sides."

Waldo's Chicken & Beer

★★★★☆ 3.9 (43)

"4.5 ('cause it's great but not fancy)Can't believe my first review was over 2 years ago....and since then, we've returned time and time again --- service has been splendid....even when busy.The Drinks...Adults -- Some cocktails and a little wine plus 16 brews on tap....check their website or Untappd - Waldo's is a verified venue. (And Happy Hour as of now 3-6 2fer1 drafts) - bonus.)Kids -- Sweet Tea, Lemonade, Coke-a-Cola productsThe Food...Waldo's has chicken. And it is simply the BEST - hot, crispy, tender, moist, and beautifully seasoned. (Overnight brine is part of their secret.)Bone in Chicken can be ordered in several ways:--fire-roasted - moist and very-very tender served as a 1/4 or 1/2 chicken...or...--deep fried (hand-breaded) crispy, hot and tender 'n moist (Yowzaa!)...or...--Tenders (big-uns)...or...SandwichesThe Sauces...I thought the sauces were really good; slightly "thin" but beautifully spiced....from the simple and straightforward, paprika-laden "BBQ, to "plain"Ranch, Jalapeño Ranch, slightly spicy and creamy-smooth "ComeBack/Waldo's", which woke me up a bit, "Rooster" (a favorite I like to pour over my collard green side), or the hotter (ROCKET!) along with others: Blue Cheese, Buffalo, Herb Mayo, Honey-Mustard, Habanero Oil (hot), and White BBQ."Scratch" Sides...Bottom line... made in-house and delicious/flavorful: Mac & Cheese was gooey and creamy; Collards were flavorful but nothing exceptional, a few chunks of meat flavoring; Cole Slaw was sweet but simply ordinary; Shoestring Fries can be soggy by the time you get them home if you are ordering take out. Wedges hold up a bit better. Onion Rings ("upcharge") were crisp and tasty but rather oily. (You can see the "puddled" oil in my old photo.)Cheddar Biscuit - was a delicious, delightful mini-muffin...but not a true biscuit in my book. Still....call it what you want, it was yummy.Lots of other things on the menu. Great service staff and plenty of seating indoors.All-in-all....Glad you are in our "neighborhood" Waldos!"

BJ Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (35) • $$

"Are you kidding me? Why is this not in the West Coast? We tried three different Hot Chicken spots during our 5 day trip to Nashville. I'm going to rate them in order with BJ's Hot Chicken being the top pick out of the three for me.For starters, this restaurant is clean and relatively new with plenty of seating for several group sizes. Our party of 4 spent the day out and about getting into shenanigans so we definitely worked up an appetite. We arrived during the dinner rush and ordered the following to share:#6 combo which was 6 WINGS + 2 SIDES ($18.99). We chose Mac N Cheese and Potato Salad as the two sides. Let me add the wings were massive! Definitely not the tiny chicken wings you would get from elsewhere.#11 combo which was CATFISH SANDWICH + 1 SIDE + 1 DRINK ($12.99). The side was french fries for this combo.Everything came out still steaming hot from the kitchen. The wings were well seasoned with their secret dry rub, and there was very little batter on the wings (which is how I like it!). I noticed a lot of chicken wing joints have too much breading on their wings making it hard for me to enjoy the true seasoning, spices, and flavors of the recipe. The chicken wings were so moist and juicy in the inside, and every bite was as savory as the next. The sides were fantastic and had its own signature taste complimenting the combos. The spice level to the Hot Chicken wasn't overly spicy for me but it certainly introduced what the kick would feel like -- I'm a fan of this restaurant and would highly recommend to anyone trying Hot Chicken for the first time.Bonus: the staff were very engaging and provided recommendations as we reviewed the menu. Very friendly and helpful.Wonderful experience all around!"

Helen's Hot Chicken

★★☆☆☆ 2.4 (88) • $

"I really like Nashville hot chicken and someone recommended I try Helen's I'm so I gave it a shot for lunch yesterday.The hot sandwich was more like a medium (not unbearable at all) the chicken itself was good but the sandwich was kind of a mess. The cheese wasn't melted, and the bread kind of fell apart eating it.It's a better value and option than a chic-fil-a sandwich at a similar price point.It just wasn't better than the sandwich I had at prince's or HB's.Glad I tried it, but it's my least favorite of the three by a pretty wide margin."

Pepperfire Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 4 (24)

"This is a TO-GO ONLY spot now! It isn't as good as I remember, and I'll give reasons why.First of all, they no longer do the version that comes with a waffle. This is a missed option that I felt was simple and still delicious back when this restaurant was open in East Nashville on Gallatin.Second, the spice levels are quite misleading. Don't go with anything below a level 4 if you want to taste any heat at all. While their seasoning looks like a ton if you get a level 3, it's as mild as a plain tender. I will give them credit for having super juicy and soft chicken tenders. It was not dry at all.Their fries are good, and their cinnamon apples are as good as I remember. I also like their fried okra also this is very reminiscent of a frozen variety you can buy at a grocery store.Overall while the quality of the food is good, the fact that the spice levels are inconsistent and it isn't readily know that this location is now to-go only bring their rating to a 4 star."

Lilly's Hot Chicken

★★★★★ 4.6 (18)

"Very authentic hot chicken. Spicy is already pretty spicy here (unlike other hot chicken places where spicy is just a tickle). The tenders I got were juicy, and they were HOT (temperature wise), which was great. Seasoning was good, and the fry was crispy with texture.The wait can be a bit long at peak times, I had to wait 25 minutes. But you can run around the market and get something to drink while you wait for your order."

Chicken Salad Chick

★★★★☆ 4.1 (22)

"Wonderful place to stop by for a quick chicken salad lunch. I like to get the fruity and nutty kind as a croissant sandwich. The sweet tea is always my go-to drink."

Flamie’s Hot Chicken Factory

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (32)

"We wanted to try some Hot chicken and came across this place for lunch while in Nashville. We walked in and placed our order. We decided on 20 party wings and some fries. We ordered three different sauces to try. Our favorite one was the sweet heat. Second favorite was the Nashville hot chicken and third was Flamies mild. The wings were on the small side. Since they were so small they were so crunchy and a bit over cooked and dry. Not very juicy. There were more drumsticks then wings. The fries were big fat crinkle kind. Came out very soggy and soft. Not crisp at all. There seemed to be a steady flow of people coming in. We were the only ones eating inside. Very casual place."

Helen’s Hot Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.3 (15)

"This little restaurant makes some biggo chicken. I had the spicy chicken sandwich and it was so good.It blows Chick-fil-A and Popeyes out of the water. Got go back to try their cat fish"

Grilly's

★★★☆☆ 3 (2)

"Tried this new place I was curious off and hands down best wraps I had so far. The shawarma wrap and falafel wrap was delicious!!!"

Kebab N Gyro