Prince's or Hattie B's?

LDR

I'm about to visit Nashville for the second time ever.  What's the best place to try for hot chicken?  If the chicken is pretty much all the same, I'd probably go for whichever place has better sides... especially if they've got good fries.  Thanks!

Killit_and_Grillit

Prince's is down in the ghetto. And it's hot for no reason and quality control is "meh". They deserve homage but unless you're going with an escort it's not worth it. 

Hattie B's is getting a little corporate but it's always great. Solid sides as well. If you have one stop that's where to go. 

I love Big Shakes chicken but the sides are marginal. 

Hairless_Hand

@Killit_and_Grillit  Excellent analysis of the hot chicken scene.  Also, Princes opened another location in a slightly less ghetto area of south Nashville. 

stantrb

Prince's, just because it IS hot chicken.  And I'm going to disagree with the above.  Prince's in the only place that's hot FOR a reason.  Mrs. Andre has told the story before lots of times.  It may be in the ghetto, but go at lunchtime and you won't have a problem.  

But don't go alone if you can help it.  It's an experience to be shared with friends! 

Their "meh" is better than most places best.  Hattie's is fine, but Prince's is the Church of Hot Chicken.

Fred19Flintstone

Alton Brown chose Hattie's in a blind taste test.
https://youtu.be/1xvVzoDzSAY

DoubleEgger

Princes is cash only 

TN_Sister_State

If you want to wait in line for a long time Hattie B's of you want the OG Princes. There are many hot chicken places in town to get your fix. Those are just the tourist stops.

Fred19Flintstone

Alton looks like he has a bad case of moobs.

EggNashville

where are you staying in town?

LDR

EggNashville said:

where are you staying in town?

We'll be in Brentwood, and will be running all over town for six days.  We don't have much of a set schedule - just a long list of possibilities.  The only certainties are hitting Loveless Café on the way into town, and McNamara Irish Pub at least once, and a stop at McKay's Books.

Killit_and_Grillit

Don't do Loveless on a Saturday morning! It's always slammed. 

Not much in Brentwood. There is a new"er" restaurant there called Uncle Julios I have heard good things about. 

If you've got time for breakfast Pucketts in downtown Franklin is my favorite. 

They have pulled pork sweet potato pancakes and a cornbread waffle with chopped brisket on top. Can't hate that. 

wbradking

@LDR Good choice on McKay's.  It's awesome!  I can spend hours there.

The_Stache

Sorry to get in so late on this discussion.  Princes is THE HOT CHICKEN of Nashville.  Their new location is at the corner of Bell RD and Nolensville RD so it is just down the street from Brentwood.

If you want to make it an "official" hot chicken tour I would suggest Hattie B's and a place in East Nashville called Pepperfire.  You could even throw in a stop at Boltons either on 8th Ave or in East Nashville as well or a stop at 400 Degrees between 3rd and 4th Ave on Peabody (They serve a North Carolina Reaper hot that will make you roll up in a ball and call for your momma!)

I prefer the hot fish sandwich at Boltons but their hot chicken is pretty good.

Pepperfire is a group of young upstarts that (crazy as it may sound) added some extra spices (like a hint of garlic) to their seasoning. 

I usually alternate between Princes and Pepperfire and I'm into the extra hot group.

@LDR, have a great time in Nashville and enjoy the cuisine!

LDR

Thanks for the help, everyone.  It will pretty much all be new to us.  I'd not been to Nashville before last October.  Mom turned 72 and wanted to go, so the whole clan went.  It's just me and my immediate supervisor this time, so we're going to fit in a lot more exploring, across six days.

calracefan

Don't know if they have "Hot Chicken" But ate at a little place called Rotier's I think it was and the food was awesome as well as the service.

GrillSgt

My lake house is about an hour away from Nashville, we love to spend time there. There is no consensus. Not sure how many days you're going to be there but I would eat at as many different hot chicken places as possible. 

LDR

Killit_and_Grillit said:

Not much in Brentwood. There is a new"er" restaurant there called Uncle Julios I have heard good things about.  

I'm familiar with Uncle Julio's, since it's popular in Dallas, which is where we tend to run away for our long weekends.  It's good TexMex, but the bigger draw for me was that the staff were always attentive and the food (and sangria) arrived quickly.  We could get in for some good food and be on our way promptly if we were headed somewhere.  However, since we tried Pappasito's, we've not been back to Uncle Julio's.  The Pappas Bros put out some good food for a chain.  Excellent tacos.

Focker

Mind Of A Chef today, poor Sean Brock was sweating before ordering the Extra Hot at Prince's during the Fried Foods episode....looked awesome.

shucker

I've never been to Prince's only Hattie B's and it was fantastic - both the chicken and the sides.  Don't forget about the great BBQ that Nashville has to offer, particularly Martin's (whole hog over wood) and Peg Leg Porker (awesome dry rub ribs).  Both are convenient to major tourist areas in Nashville and are well worth the effort.  

thetrim

KFC made some good Nashville hot chicken