Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish

Chicken restaurant · Franklin

Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish

Chicken restaurant · Franklin

2

1203 Murfreesboro Rd #185, Franklin, TN 37064

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Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null
Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish by null

Highlights

At Big Shake's we strive to make the juciest Hot Chicken combined with the best flavor you can find in Nashville and the surrounding cities!  

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1203 Murfreesboro Rd #185, Franklin, TN 37064 Get directions

$ · Menu

Information

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1203 Murfreesboro Rd #185, Franklin, TN 37064 Get directions

+1 615 988 9335
bigshakeshotchickenfranklin

$ · Menu

Features

delivery
takeout
dine in
wifi
Tap to pay
reservations
payment credit card
outdoor seating

Last updated

Mar 5, 2025

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@eater

"Founded in Franklin, Big Shake’s also has locations in Capitol View in Nashville and in Columbia, where you can get hot chicken with heat levels like “Cry Baby” and “Rambo” plus ghost pepper mayo. Try the bird in sandwiches, salads, and tacos, too." - Eater Staff

Where to Eat Nashville Hot Chicken in its Hometown
View Postcard for Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish
@eater

"Founded in Franklin, Big Shake’s also has locations in Capitol View in Nashville and in Columbia, where you can get hot chicken with heat levels like “Cry Baby” and “Rambo” plus ghost pepper mayo. Try the bird in sandwiches, salads, and tacos, too." - Eater Staff

Where to Eat Nashville Hot Chicken in its Hometown
View Postcard for Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish

finni400

Google
I had the fish plate while my husband had fish and chicken combo. Our food was delicious, hot and fresh. The lady at the register should enroll in some type of school! Her memory is second to none. She spoke to everyone in there by their name, no mistakes! The Healthcare profession could use her. She made our experience better.

Dr. Jane White

Google
The combo wings and catfish was superb with lots of flavor and taste! We had 3 orders to go and they failed to mark the heat levels and the food temperatures wasn’t sufficient.

Jack Warren

Google
I am a huge fan of hot chicken, especially one of the other local favorites, and I normally prefer to go there. However, I will say that Big Shake’s really turned it around for me. Their chicken was extremely flavorful, and the spice was there but it tasted great too! Chicken is worth trying! The catfish is definitely worth trying! The Mac and cheese was on point, and so were the greens. I will probably be taking the drive to Big Shake’s next time I’m craving chicken, especially since I won’t have to wait over an hour for my order!

Doug Austin

Google
If you are a fan of Nashville hot chicken then you will enjoy this place. I stopped in here for lunch and ordered a leg quarter plate with the "Stop drop and roll" (Hot) heat level. The heat was just enough that most people who like spicy food of any kind will be just fine. Anything hotter than than that will be for people who really like HOT food. The meal was very well executed and chicken was cooked to perfection. Personally, I prefer the flavors of Princes or Hattie B's but Big Shake's is still certainly very good. Given the opportunity, I will definitely be back :)

Mika Carr

Google
Passed by the gulch location and it looks to be permanently closed with a for lease sign up. I don’t remember seeing any email communications about them going out of business. The last message was promoting e-gift cards for the holidays. It’s a shame if they really did close.

Dan Diaz

Google
I ordered online carry out from Google-just let them know it's a Postmates order as it showed online. I recently went to Hattie B's, once I took a bite of this sandwich, I almost questioned if it was a Hattie B's sandwich! The carry out food was delicious. We ordered Mac and Cheese, Beans, Chicken Sandwich, and a Family Platter! Only feedback are the sauces like ranch, honey mustard aren't original-seemed store procured but it still worked out!

Salliese

Google
June 11, 2023: I visited Big Shake's Hot Chicken and Fish in Franklin and tried their catfish fillets in the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" heat, along with fries and collard greens. My experience was decent, with some hits and misses. The catfish fillets were cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed them. However, there was only inconsistency in the preparation as the fries fell short of my expectations. While some were fresh and hot, others were warm, I would have preferred a more consistent and uniformly hot serving. As for the collard greens, they were decent but didn't stand out. They served as a satisfactory addition to the meal, but I felt they could have been better. My main concern was the condition of the restaurant itself. The floor was excessively sticky, which made moving around quite uncomfortable. Additionally, flies buzzing around were a considerable distraction. The condiment station was in need of attention, which affected the overall cleanliness of the dining area. Also, there were no utensils provided in the bag. I wish the employees were more proactive in making sure necessities are bagged with orders or at least asking if customers need anything to accompany our meals. Taking all these factors into account, I rate my experience at Big Shake's Hot Chicken with 3 stars. While the catfish fillets and flavors were enjoyable, the inconsistent fries and various issues within the restaurant left me with mixed feelings. I hope they can address these concerns to provide a more satisfying dining experience in the future. Despite these mixed experiences, the catfish fillets made the meal worthwhile. If Big Shake's can remedy the other unfortunate issues it would enhance the overall dining experience.

Erik Harris

Google
The following is what I emailed to Big shakes to the email address posted on their website to complain about a recent dining experience. I gave them a week to receive a reply as I even told them in my email that I prefer to offer a business the opportunity for service recovery before posting something publicly. Because I've not received any response from Big shakes, I am now sharing the following email I sent to Big Shakes as my review of our most recent experience... Dear Big Shakes, I came to the Franklin store and placed my order of four items for takeout on August 11, 2023, and waited in store for it to be ready. Restaurant was very busy. It's a short 5 minute drive from the restaurant to my house but the only thing that was hot was the leg quarters, while the catfish and the fries were barely warm despite being in the same box as a hot temperature leg quarter. I also paid an extra dollar for macaroni and cheese as a side, but that was NOT included with my order. The two orders of chicken tenders were both so overcooked and dry that they couldn't be eaten, they were also barely warm, and the fries and those boxes were close to being cold. Attached are pictures of the receipt, the quality check receipt attached to the bag that the macaroni and cheese was not included, as well as pictures of the combo chicken and fish box. The tenders (no picture) looked good, BUT as I stated above tasted terrible being so overcooked and dry, yet also being barely warm with almost cold fries, the family wouldn't eat them. What makes no sense to me was with the 25 minute wait for the food to be cooked because of how busy the store was, I would have expected everything to be hot from being cooked to order, yet 3/4 of all the food ordered was either warm or cold, with the only hot food being just the two leg quarters. I'm giving you the courtesy of knowing this directly, and the opportunity to fix this bad experience, as I would prefer to not have to post this negative review on Google Maps.

M. B.

Yelp
UPDATE - Location is permanently closed. In spite of all the other hot chicken places around, this is a loss for the community.

Schyler D.

Yelp
A great hot chicken place that doesn't require going into the heart of the city. A very homestyle feel, which is welcoming. The menu has quite a wide variety of choices. The tenders (I think I went with medium?) were flavorful with the right amount of spice. The breading was among the best. The hot chicken taco was a unique experience too. Tortilla was pretty plain but the fillings were good. Not to mention the sweet tea was superb. Oh and there was live music because Nashville!

Will R.

Yelp
My first time eating hot chicken. Decided to get the chicken and catfish combo. Chose the medium spicy level. The levels' names are pretty funny. Service was super fast. I had barely sat down getting my glass of water when they delivered the food to my table. It was hot but not too hot. Enough kick to make me notice. Portion sizes were just right. The catfish was really good. I hadn't had fresh catfish in years. White chicken was juicy and high quality. Even the fries were hot and crispy. I felt like I was in and out in less than 20 minutes and not feel rushed. Great first experience eating hot chicken!

Salliese T.

Yelp
June 11, 2023: I visited Big Shake's Hot Chicken and Fish in Franklin and tried their catfish fillets in the "Stop, Drop, and Roll" heat, along with fries and collard greens. My experience was decent, with some hits and misses. The catfish fillets were cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed them. However, there was only inconsistency in the preparation as the fries fell short of my expectations. While some were fresh and hot, others were warm, I would have preferred a more consistent and uniformly hot serving. As for the collard greens, they were decent but didn't stand out. They served as a satisfactory addition to the meal, but I felt they could have been better. My main concern was the condition of the restaurant itself. The floor was excessively sticky, which made moving around quite uncomfortable. Additionally, flies buzzing around were a considerable distraction. The condiment station was in need of attention, which affected the overall cleanliness of the dining area. Also, there were no utensils provided in the bag. I wish the employees were more proactive in making sure necessities are bagged with orders or at least asking if customers need anything to accompany our meals. Taking all these factors into account, I rate my experience at Big Shake's Hot Chicken with 3 stars. While the catfish fillets and flavors were enjoyable, the inconsistent fries and various issues within the restaurant left me with mixed feelings. I hope they can address these concerns to provide a more satisfying dining experience in the future. Despite these mixed experiences, the catfish fillets made the meal worthwhile. If Big Shake's can remedy the other unfortunate issues it would enhance the overall dining experience.

Dennis S.

Yelp
That's good chicken. I think the place qualifies as a dive - Nearby anchor is a Goodwill, and Big Shakes is pretty worn around the edges both inside and out. Medium (stop drop and roll) is a nice low level of heat. A noticeable burn, but nothing that's going to slow you from chowing down on the chicken. Mild (crybaby) I find a little boring, just the occasional tiny bit of punch. I'm definitely going for the hot (rambo) next visit. I like that the chicken is not drenched in oil, it seems to lean more toward a dry rub style. Hot catfish is a nice treat. I like the combo platter to mix it up. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give them is that I ate a cold leftover piece of catfish straight out of the fridge the next day for lunch and it was delicious (that's a little embarrassing, so let's keep that between you and me, ok?) The wavy fries seasoning caught me off guard at first, but a few fries in I was digging it. Slaw is excellent. Perfect size on the chopped veggies, not too shredded, crunchy fresh, not overly creamy, and they serve up a decent sized side, not the tiny cup some other places hand out. I'm still exploring different hot chicken places in the area. But so far, Big Shake's got my vote for best in middle Tennessee. I look forward to trying some of Big Shake's other sides. My runner up so far for good hot chicken is Bishops (Hattie B's), mainly because they always have wonderful home cooking veggies to choose from. Now I am curious where the famous shrimp burgers are. Not on the menu, perhaps they come and go, or? Would love a chance to try one.

Toya R.

Yelp
Before I leave my review I want you to keep in mind I'm a regular customer at big shakes for the last 3 years. I've never left a review even after being disappointed with the food and quality 3 times but after today I want my $40.33 back. The service was great, especially the cook and server who wears glasses and the live music...awesome. Now on to the food...the chicken was cold and had blood in it, the fish was soggy and undercooked, the coleslaw was swimming in watered down coleslaw dressing. I'm so disappointed because this a business that I originally loved but won't return to...step the food quality up. Over the last couple of years you've switched workers so much I think that's part of the problem. Anywho it's awful... go to Helen's in Smyrna or Murfreesboro much much better

Courtney D.

Yelp
On days when you are craving a hot fish sandwich and wings this is definitely my go to stop. Not a fan of their sides, but I would recommend the deep fried oreos and jalapeño cornbread. My favorites are the crybaby fish platter and wings. The chicken and waffles are good too. I suggest calling ahead or ordering online to avoid a wait.

annette d.

Yelp
Yelp folks steered us right! Coming through town and wanted a little Nashville hot chicken, and my husband wanted no meat. The woman taking our order was friendly, helpful and patient while we decided on our order. My husband got the Cry Baby spice level on his catfish sandwich--pretty mild, but cooked perfectly. He said the collards were delicious, not greasy from pork or anything. I got the leg quarter, Drop & Roll and it was perfect! Generously sized, good spice level, served quickly, just out of the fryer. The fries & Mac & Cheese were good too. So much food! The cornbread was just a tad dry. Also I'm not sure if it's temporary or permanent, but despite a sign on the window touting their shrimp burgers, it's no longer on the menu and was confirmed nor to have been available. Happy to have found Big Shake's.

Madhavi S.

Yelp
The place is unique and they really have super spicy chicken. They have ranges of spice levels. The staff is really nice and the indoor seating is nice.

Mitch D.

Yelp
Accidentally fell into this place (thank you Yelp!) and we were blown away! Large portions, freshly made.. and QUALITY ingredients! The wings were larger than I'd seen in years. The fish was crispy, and seasoned well. Every last side was so good I wanted to lick the bowls. Greens were phenomenal.. the beans were "granny's Sunday best". Oh.. and no matter how full you might be.. do no skip the fried pies!

Jeff B.

Yelp
Family was just passing through Nashville, so we had to get hot chicken. This place was fantastic. Friendly service. Super fast. Really tasty food. The catfish was my favorite (I got it in the combo platter). My son got the hot mess and it was really great too. As we were leaving, a live music act was setting up. Good prices too. Only I'd change is more seating; I can imagine it being totally packed out during a rush. We'd for sure come back to this place though. You should check it out.

Jesika H.

Yelp
The chicken was 5 stars!! Their one step up from mild had a cute little new born kick to it but man that seasoning just paired PERFECTLY! And then everything was a big fat huge ABSOLUTELY NOT! White beans- GROSS Mac and cheese- why are y'all SEASONING Mac and cheese. Please stop. Re think and try again. Greens- bahaha YALL wrong for that Fried Oreos- na. Not interested way too much dough. Come for the chicken, and the chicken ONLY

Shelby Z.

Yelp
Oh my lord... The food here is SO GOOD. Hot chicken is my favorite thing in the world. Every time I stop by Nashville, I am not allowed to leave until I've had it. I've been to all of the big hot chicken places in the city so I figured I would try a new place while driving through Tennessee. I like it spicy. Not the hottest on the menu, but pretty spicy. I ordered the Rambo heat level with my tenders and felt like it was just that. The chicken, the fries... everything was seasoned so well and had so much flavor! This place was right off the interstate, so it's really convenient to stop at while on a road trip. This has gotta be my new favorite place in Franklin!

Amber S.

Yelp
This was a five star rating our first visit. Staff was great when I ordered the whiting sandwich with Rambo it had a good amount of heat and everything was tasty. We went a second time when friends came to town during or visit to Franklin because we liked it so much. Got the exact same thing and the insane difference in heat level on the whiting sandwich was upsetting. We asked what heat was put on it and the guy behind the counter just read what was on the receipt and didn't actually find out. It felt like it was the hottest level. As someone who's tasted 3 mil schoville hot sauce before, this was close to that. One of our party got their food immediately and the rest came out 25 min later. Not sure why it was so different between the two days. Food was way better day one, the fries were cold and was unable to finish the whiting sandwich day two plus our friends hot mess sandwich and my husbands barely had any ghost pepper Mayo compared to the first day when the pictures were taken. I'm hoping it was just an off day.

Anthony M.

Yelp
Looking for an after work relaxing meal. Place doesn't leap out at you, but inside I felt right at home. Background music on point , very professional staff and tasteful decorations . Oh and the food was on point . Fish and chicken combo seasoned to my level of heat. Food took a minute to prepare, but it came out hot and fresh. My crew is very picky about food places , so your food and service made an excellent impression. We'll be back!!

Pete J.

Yelp
Great place. Heat levels are amazing. Imagine a heat level of Death Row! Saturday afternoons have a local musician to provide atmosphere. We had a large party and everyone seemed satisfied.

Lyna M.

Yelp
Why did I wait so long to try this place out? The flavor was great! The price and service was awesome. I never go out that way but I see they are coming to Nashville so I'm super excited! I will definitely be back when I'm in the area.

Sherry W.

Yelp
Being a local, i had passed this place many times and said i needed to try it, especially when it was recommended by a friend... Glad i made the choice to go, when my husband suggested trying it on whim... I selected to get the chicken strips with slaw... Strips pretty common to other establishments, but the slaw was a bit different and delicious... I was disappointed that my first choice is no longer available... I was anxious to try it, since the restaurant is basically known for the "Shrimp Burger" that was introduced by the chef on Shark Tank... It has since won awards and been featured on tv shows... When i asked an employee if it would ever be put back on the menu, she replied, probably not because the distributor was destroyed by a hurricane... I'm thinking, if the restaurant is famous for shrimp burgers, then find another distributor... I'm sure foodies come from all over expecting to get that option, and will be very disappointed to find out they can only get chicken or catfish that is served at many other restaurants.. Granted the chicken is good here, i wouldn't travel from another city to eat it... But, a shrimp burger that's not served at most restaurants, would entice me to make a special trip... I just think this is a downfall for business purposes, and i truly wish it would be put back on the menu... Locals want to be able to take out of town guests to try the infamous shrimp burger and be able to say they have something unique in town... Other than that, the restaurant is not in a good location and very cramped for space... It could also be cleaned up a bit... I'll go back, mainly for the slaw, but i wont frequent as much as i would, if the shrimp burger is not an option to pick from... To add, i got chicken w no heat because i do not like spicy food.

Rungkan M.

Yelp
This location sucks. Go to other one. Ordered the food online right at 11 am when they just opened and had to wait 35 min just to fine out it was sitting on the counter the whole time. The cashier lady seemed to not know what she's doing and just kept complaining about the restaurant was out of ac and stuff. Mumbled and not greeted other customers. She was in her own angry bubble. Opened the bag, missing the sides I paid for and had to go back in. The chicken has no sauce even though I selected the heat. And the chicken is supposed to be a whole thigh and I got 2 dried tenders in my sandwich instead. What is going on here ?!?! Its embarrassing to open if the stuff aren't trained and ready. Wonder how this location is still open. Ugh

Kevin T.

Yelp
Visited Big Shakes Monday mid-evening, way before the dinner rush. They were out of whiting fish and chicken on the bone. How is that Mr. Shakes, this is basically the beginning of the week. This is what happens when you get comfortable as an establishment and think your stuff don't stink. I hear the excuse issues with the delivery truck. This has happen multiple times, I've been here. Your offered chicken tenders that are thick and tough to chew. Taken right out of the freezer bag and thrown in hot grease.

Hydration S.

Yelp
Tasty!! The chicken sandwich, macaroni and cheese, and fries were all delicious! The first spice level was enough for me. The perfect amount of heat and flavor. I would recommend coming here!

Nadine M.

Yelp
The food was very tasty and the portions were plentiful. We ordered medium heat which was actually pretty hot. We will order "cry baby" heat next time. The catfish had a crispy crusted outside and moist inside. The ghost fries were a big treat. If you order for delivery don't forget to ask for silverware and specify the salad dressing you want or you will get two different sauces.

Kris G.

Yelp
Since the pandemic I've been looking for new ways to still explore new places and food despite the lack of travel and consistent dining guidance and availability. Craving delicious fried chicken I set out to find an option, and found this place with a delivery option through goldbelly. I had tried a few hot chicken places when I visited Nashville a few years ago, and this seemed like a perfect option. It's available in three degrees of spiciness. No heat, "CryBaby," which is mildly spicy, or hot, which is called "Rambo." I opted for the Nashville Hot Chicken Family Meal for 4 in "CryBaby." We got 4 quarters that were a mix of white and dark meat. They send instructions on how to reheat the chicken in the oven. Even after it was fried, frozen, shipped, thawed, and reheated the chicken had crunch and I could taste the spice blend in the meat. CryBaby is not super spicy, but you can absolutely taste some heat. If you are sensitive to spice, I definitely would suggest you not go above this level. The chicken also came with green beans and Mac and cheese. The Mac and cheese was soooo good. It was in one of those takeout tins so if you take the lid off you can pop it right in the oven and will get a cheese layer on top. The noodles are made with Extra Sharp Cheddar, Shredded Sharp Cheese, Butter Blend, Half/Half Milk, All Purpose flour, Salt, and Black Pepper. Simple but great. Even after reheating it a couple times in the oven or microwave I was surprised how flavorful and how well it did being reheated. I would love to get to taste it at the restaurant, because if it can be this good after shipping and multiple reheatings, it must be amazing the first time.

Derrick W.

Yelp
The little man and I were searching for a Nashville experience. We were told to go to Shake's. I was super excited about the shrimp burger so we made our way. Alas, the shrimp burger has been removed but the food was still yummy and the service was great. My little guy had the tenders and waffles and had to take them home to finish because the tenders were big and meaty. I had the catfish and whiting. To my surprise, the hit of the trip was a side of white beans...my oh my...they were delicious...creamy and well seasoned. If Big Shake were in the building, I would have pleaded with him to bring back the shrimp burger but I realized that the place was full because the food is just dayum good. I will be back.

Umpire B.

Yelp
The quality of the chicken is excellent! ***** Order it with no spice or as hot as you like. I have never tasted collard green this good. The manager named Key was awesome. She made a table visit to make sure our food was great and again to bring us a "TO GO" box because the portions are so big we couldn't finish. They have catfish and white fish as well that I haven't tried. I'm sure just as great. Try this place! The quality is excellent! *****

Wesley O.

Yelp
Good food, but it's falling just short in a few catagories. I wish they had some house ranch, using packaged sauces just make it feel asembly line. Ali's they were out of fish, and for a place with fish in the name that's not what you want to be hearing. So for those reasons I'm giving it a 52/60, that will equate to 4 out of 5 stars. Can't get it rounded up to a 5, but still good.

Leslie H.

Yelp
I had to have some hot chicken while we were in the area, and Big Shake's is where we stopped. Staff was great in helping us decide what we wanted to try and went through the levels of heat for the chicken. I ordered the leg quarter and a side of mac and cheese. The heat level I chose was "stop drop and roll." I like spicy, so I would probably kick it up a notch next time, but the chicken was well seasoned and juicy - so good! And I loved the mac and cheese. Definitely glad we stopped here on our way through the Nashville the area!

Positive P.

Yelp
CRAZZZYYY CHICKEN! Dude this place is Bussin. Gotta go here ! I've had all the chicken places around here and this place takes the W

Saad B.

Yelp
Good selection of sides. Very polite staff. Food was pretty good, but nothing special.

Zoraida K.

Yelp
I haven't eaten here in a while and was looking forward to it, but it was a disappointment. I ordered the staple 3 tenders and fries. I ordered it Rambo hot. If you know Big Shakes Rambo is the 4th (out of 6) hottest spice level. After eating half a tender I flagged the same employee who took our order 5 mins prior and asked why I couldn't taste the spice. He asked if I ordered spice. So obviously he didn't remember our conversation about the spice level during ordering. When I answered Yes, Rambo, he asked that I "lift" my tenders. I didn't understand but finally lifted them all enough to see dark spots of grease on the toast below. He confirmed that was the spice and the next time I "should order hotter spice" if I can't taste it. Oh. Ok.. I don't eat the bread I eat the chicken. Why is the spice on the bread? Wouldn't that mean the name should be Hot Bread & Fish? My husband ordered Cry Baby spiced fish and it was cooked to perfection, hence the 3 stars. I'll "remember" their 4th hottest is undetectable next time.

Sammie B.

Yelp
Wow! We got the Chicken, fries and corn bread...also Dessert Every item was delicious, cooked to perfection and seasoned. It was our first time here but won't be our last! Reasonable price and a Guirar playertelling jokes.. Can it get any better that this on a Hot Saturday in Nashville?? I think not

Gil K.

Yelp
Consistently friendly and above expectation. Food has a special flavor and zest. Special note - bathrooms are always clean.

J F.

Yelp
Not worth the hype. Chicken had lots of gristle. Flavor was great. Could be better if that was fixed. Has potential. Pretty expensive and I have had better. Will try again to see how it is.

Mike V.

Yelp
Had a great lunch here at Big Shake's Hot Chicken & Fish. I had the white fish and a friend had the chicken...it was amazing! Great flavor and wonderful sides as well. I'll be back very soon

Superkick M.

Yelp
Food has potential to be decent when you can get it. That being said I have never once had my order correct at this establishment. The Franklin location is great and if you want some amazing hot chicken head there. The Columbia location has never correctly delivered order and even the things that we have received have been significantly worst than the Franklin location. The customer service from the staff is very uncaring and has a what do you want attitude that will argue with you when they mess up. Only apologizing once you show hard evidence that they messed up your order. Ambiance is ok with it being in the heart of downtown Columbia but do your self a favor head to the Franklin location or just skip all together unless you are ready to be disappointed . Save money or spend it in gas heading somewhere else this place is a let down at every corner!

Craig L.

Yelp
Gave them one more chance. They've dropped a long way since becoming "famous". Not the small business quality by far it used to be. Used to be one of the best 'hot chicken' places around but now zero attention is being paid to quality. Chicken clearly wasn't brined because meat had zero flavor past the skin. Chicken was barely battered (can't believe I forgot to take a picture which would definitely show that) so there was nothing but a smooth skin. Nothing to even become crispy. Very little seasoning and "stop drop and roll" heat level is now non existent. My daughter could eat it and she hates spicy food. You got a bunch of kids running the front end that have no customer service skills and could care less. At least ask them to smile and have some personality.

Dalenna D.

Yelp
Grease kind of overtakes the chicken...but if you can get past that, the chicken itself is great! And the fries...did I tell you I LOVE seasoned crinkle fries??? Food service was seemingly slow even though we got through the order line fast... improvements on that will make for an A+ experience at a Nashville hometown fave! We'll have to come back for the hot challenge sometime!!

Leonard H.

Yelp
My wife and I love Big Shakes and always have. We have eaten at both their Franklin and Columbia locations and the quality and taste are very consistent. We always get the Stop Drop and Roll level of heat. I pick the dark meat Chicken and my wife gets the Catfish. The level of spice is perfect, not too hot and certainly not bland. The coleslaw and the Killa Beans are both excellent side dishes. We will continue to choose Big Shakes as our go to place for Hot Chicken. I have read some of the negative reviews, and based on our experience, I have to believe at least some of the reviews are from people with an agenda. I don't trust a lot of negative Yelp reviews because I suspect that many of them are from people who either work for or own competitive businesses. Trust me, Big Shakes is great, and I have absolutely no agenda other than reviewing a restaurant that I love.

Bernie L.

Yelp
Great chicken and Catfish. Always a must visit when visiting from LA..!!! Highly recommended.

Clayton H.

Yelp
Best hot chicken in Franklin, personally I like the Rambo flavor. Don't sleep on the shrimp burgers!

Sara N.

Yelp
This was my go to place when I am in Nashville. My hairdresser is around the corner. Once I'm done with my hair appointment I head straight here. In the past the atmosphere was great and the food quality consistently fantastic. I returned today to a markedly different place. I was the only customer in the place and my food took much longer than usual. The waitperson who initially took my order had left for the day but returned in 15 minutes . That was good because my food was literally sitting in the window but the young man never looked. The food quality has diminished as well... the fries were not crispy but starchy tasting and the portion sizes on the chicken tenders were vastly diminished. Maybe this is a one off ,but it just doesn't seem to be the same restaurant I frequented for the last three years

Lloyd K.

Yelp
This was the second time I tried Big Shakes Hot Chicken The first time several months ago I got the medium spice and it wasn't very hot so I thought I would try it again This time I got Rambo ( one below executioner which is their hottest) and it was just like eating plain fried chicken Extremely disappointing Doesn't even compare to 400 degrees , Reds615 hot chicken or Princes hot chicken I would not go here again !!!

Cebron B.

Yelp
I stopped by while there for a work trip. The staff was great, friendly, and had my order ready pretty quick! Highly recommend.

Shavonne B.

Yelp
I got the combination platter with the cat fish and the 3 wings!! I wouldn't get any spice level past stop drop and roll, but the food was literally cooked and seasoned to perfection! I had the turnip greens and the macaroni, the turnip greens seemed like they were probably canned but they were seasoned well, and the macaroni OMGGG definitely worth the extra upcharge!! My friend got the catfish platter with Rambo spice level and her mouth was on fire!!! She got an extra piece of bread to try to help with it but it was still really hot! She refilled her lemonade like 10 times! Lol Apparently there's $5 lunch specials on Friday that are not listed on the signs, you can either get a catfish or leg quarter sandwich and it comes with one side! Wish I would've know about this deal! There's also live music on Friday's after 6! All in all I would definitely recommend this place if you're in the area!!

De'Laka B.

Yelp
Nashville hot chicken has been something that I wanted to try. Not necessarily impressed. I ordered the 3 whole wing plate with Mac and cheese. The seasoning was Cry Baby. Maybe I should've chose Rambo hot. The flavor didn't come alone like I had hoped. The fries were tasty. Drink options not great. The food was aight.

Krista D.

Yelp
Chicken is so so tender and you can get different spice levels. The sides are excellent too. Ambiance is ok. We get this to go.

Helen F.

Yelp
We were traveling and looking for something to eat, we were going to another establishment but the ratings on those particular locations of the popular southern chain were not good at all so, we saw "Big Shake's" popped up as a suggestion. We realized that it was also right next to the place we thought we were going so it was super convenient and the reviews were very promising. When we arrived, the live musical act was just setting up as well. The environment overall was inviting and everyone seated around us seemed very excited for what was about to go down. The food did not disappoint at all. Our family (6) split two fish and chicken combos ranging from their original to their middle heat range and it was all delicious. The heat was well seasoned and did not just accost you with spice, it very appropriately compliments the marinated meat that was moist and tender. We will definitely be back when we roll through town again. More locations are coming and if they are as good as this one, you will not be disappointed.

Charlotte A.

Yelp
Best service, food and prices. Chicken is seasoned and cooked perfectly. Sides are delicious! Chicken strips & waffle are my favorite. My son orders the wing meal which other chicken places don't offer !

Will P.

Yelp
Good vibes here and yummy food. Ordered the chicken sandwich and Mac. The Mac was yummy, a little sticky which was interesting. Very serviceable Mac. The sandwich could've been saucier and the chicken breast could've been a bit bigger IMO, but it has good crunch and good flavor for sure. The pickles and onions are nice on this, and the bun was good. I got the Rambo spice level and honestly could've done way more spice, but I'd rather have that problem than the other way around where I can't even hear myself think because my mouth is on fire and I want to hang myself. Would love to try the catfish, I bet it's delightful.

Mike B.

Yelp
I'm a sucker for some hot chicken. Nashville has plenty of options for hot chicken lovers. I've tried several, but Big Shakes is my overall pick for best of in the area. They are doing it right! Everything on the menu is excellent! Of course the hot chicken is a must. They have varying heat levels from Original (no heat) to Executioner. I usually go with the Stop, Drop N Roll - a good amount of heat but still flavorful. I'm also a big fan of their catfish! The original is good, but I like it hot. For the fish, I go a little milder with the Cry Baby heat level. Everything at Big Shakes is great, including the staff. Outstanding service every time! Check them out - you won't regret it.