Hot Chicken Shacks in Nashville

If someone in Nashville asks you if you’ve ever had “hot chicken,” they’re not talking about heat that comes from an oven. They mean hot, as in off-the-charts spicy. This local variety of fried chicken gets its name from a long bath in a fiery marinade, spicing in the crust and a light coating of a burning hot sauce, which creates the kind of sinus-clearing heat guaranteed to make eyes water, lips swell, and ears turn bright pink. If you love spice, seek out one of the area’s hot chicken shacks for an affordable lunch or a perfect late night snack.