"The owner of Eugene’s is a Nashville native who grew up eating Prince’s—the place that invented hot chicken—so this Birmingham chicken shop has some pedigree. The original location in Uptown is only big enough to fit a few tables and a longer communal table, so takeout is usually the best option. But what Eugene’s lacks in space, it more than makes up for with seriously standout tenders. The seasoning on the mild packs a sweet, spicy punch, and easily registers as “hot” at most other joints. Throw in an order of the fried pickled okra, creamy mac and cheese, and a bottle of Eugene’s housemade Pink Passion juice to take the sting off some of the heat. The chicken’s made to order, so depending on the day, expect a bit of a wait for your tendies." - jackie gutierrez jones 2