"Does Hattie’s make the best hot chicken in Nashville? No. Is it where the locals go? Again, no. It is probably the most ubiquitous hot chicken spot in Nashville, and one that’s become a national behemoth churning out consistent and relatively affordable plates of poultry. But the sides are the move here—things like potato salad, pimento cheese mac and cheese, cole slaw, and banana pudding are not only the perfect foil to the heat, but are better than the hot chicken itself. photo credit: Casey Irwin Good news about that hot chicken, though: consistency is one of Hattie’s selling points. No matter how long you wait, you can count on a reliably delightful piece of poultry. A medium is always going to taste like a medium at Hattie’s. Same goes for the “Shut the Cluck Up,” Hattie’s highest point on the heat level barometer. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Seeing as how there’s no shortage of Hattie B’s around town, we’re going to gently steer you in the direction of the Melrose location—it has the shortest wait out of all of them. It’s also a solid fast-casual option for lunch with friends who are visiting from out of town (they’ll probably ask to come here anyway). All of which you’ll enjoy in a room of brash colors, flashy merch, and cheesy taglines—welcome to Hot Chicken Disneyland. Food Rundown photo credit: Emily Schindler Small Dark Hot Chicken This is what you came for. It’s a leg and thigh quarter using the bird’s dark meat, which is key. The dark meat keeps the chicken juicy no matter what’s going on with the fryer. You can opt for one of seven spice options to go with it, ranging from “Southern” (that’s no heat) all the way to the Fear Factor levels of “Shut the Cluck Up.” Unless you’re a masochist, the medium is right where you want to be—just enough heat to break a sweat, but not too much that you miss the hint of sweetness in the spice blend. photo credit: Casey Irwin Pimento Mac & Cheese You’ll want an immediate counterpoint to the small dark. And while the potato salad and cole slaw do the job admirably, the mac and cheese has the added bonus of using the South’s most famous variety of cheese: pimento. Thick, chewy pieces of macaroni hide in a pool of thick cheese, and they’re a downright pleasure to fish out and savor. Crinkle-Cut Fries Remember those old-school Ore-Ida crinkle-cut fries? Hattie B’s version is like that, except they’re actually great (and not totally freezer-burned). Each fry has a perfectly salted and crisp exterior that delivers a moment of resistance before you snap into the steamy warm potato inside. photo credit: Casey Irwin Banana Pudding We’re not going to name names—cough, cough, Ian, cough, cough—but we have a couple of friends that swing by Hattie B’s for the banana pudding alone. Creamy and silky, Hattie’s version of the classic Southern dessert isn’t cloyingly sweet or too dense—it coats your tongue with a rich custard that’s occasionally interrupted by the satisfying crunch of Nilla wafers. It’s banana expressed in its highest form." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
