Mack’s Hot Chicken

Great little place! People were very friendly and helpful. Food was awesome and very plentiful! It seemed like most people called ahead. We ate inside and were not in any hurry. Food is made to order and my son got 2 sets of thy/drumstick so it took like 30 min but the nice girl did warn him. It was well worth the wait! Like the sign says, choose your spice level wisely, even the mild tenders I got had some but to them. 10/10 would definitely recommend! A little hard to find from the road but we'll worth the time! Thank you so much!!

Drove from Huntsville Alabama to visit family and get a haircut. My barber Ty ( owner ) U Next ll Studio on Lowry Street in Smyrna suggested that I try Mac’s out. I ordered the catfish with fries and it was amazing. I usually go to the Fish House on Middle Tn blvd but this will be my ( go-to ) spot from now on. Fresh and made to order. It was a little wait, but well worth it. I advise calling it in.

Mack’s is some of the best hot chicken in the Nashville area. Food here is always fresh, the spice levels are great, and all the sides are tasty. The family owned business is top notch, with kind service and unbeatable prices. Would absolutely recommend if you are looking for Nashville hot chicken without the tourist tax. This place is legit!

Great hot chicken I loved it!!! I tried the hot version but next time I will definitely do Mack’s hot version :) Only downside is that it takes a while to get the food - not a problem but it would have been helpful to know. All in all amazing chicken, great service!

If you're looking for an authentic Nashville hot chicken experience in Smyrna, look no further than Mack's Hot Chicken. This hidden gem serves up some of the most flavorful and fiery chicken you'll find in the area. On our recent visit, my friend and I decided to put their spice levels to the test. He opted for a chicken sandwich with a medium spice level, while I went for the daring "Mack Attack" - a level above hot but just shy of their hottest offering. The cashier's playful warning only fueled my determination. Both sandwiches were absolute perfection. The chicken was juicy and tender on the inside, with a perfectly crispy exterior. My Mack Attack lived up to its name, delivering a serious punch of heat that left my taste buds tingling. It was intense but not overwhelming, allowing the flavor of the chicken to shine through. My friend's medium spice level provided a nice kick without being too overpowering. The sides were equally impressive. The potato salad my friend ordered was creamy and well-seasoned, providing a cool contrast to the spicy chicken. My fried okra was a Southern delight - crispy, not greasy, and full of flavor. One thing to note is that everything at Mack's is cooked to order. While this means you might wait around 10 minutes for your food, the freshness and quality make it well worth the wait. Use this time to grab a drink and prepare yourself for the flavor explosion that's coming your way. The staff was friendly and attentive, making sure we were satisfied with our choices. The restaurant itself has a casual, no-frills atmosphere that lets the food take center stage. Overall, Mack's Hot Chicken is a must-visit for hot chicken enthusiasts and anyone looking for a memorable meal. Whether you're a spice novice or a heat seeker, they have a level for you. Just remember - when they say it's hot, they mean it!

I've been coming to Macks for about 4 years now, and I can tell you, there are few places that you will find better hot chicken. Their chicken is absolutely some of the best I have ever had, and I've tried most places around Nashville. It has great flavor, excellent crunch, and perfect heat! I tend to go with the hotter heat levels at most places, and Mack Attack is about perfect for me, but if you're not sure, Medium is probably the best starting point though. I'm mostly a tenders and fries kinda guy, but they have some incredible fish, and you can't go wrong with any of the sides, and you MUST try their fruit tea, it is without a doubt the best fruit tea I have ever had, and I have even turned around after I have left to go back and get another! Also, I have to mention the amazing owners and staff! Everyone that works there that I have ever interacted with is so sweet and kind, and will make sure your food is perfect!

My cousin ordered lunch for me before I got on the plane Hot chicken tenders with fries. Oh My Goodness! the food was fantastic. It was hot and they had hotter. I had never had hot chicken before, but I will be going back the next time. I'm in Nashville. This location is in Smyrna. The picture is of my leftovers when I got back to Cali because I did bring it home to eat the rest for lunch the next day. 😋

Service was fantastic. They were kind, friendly, and helpful. Expect to wait 30 min or so for hot chicken as they cook everything to order, but if you're a hot chicken fan, this is nothing new at many places. I ordered the chicken wings Mack Attack. They were definitely overcooked and very dry. I've had hot chicken all over middle Tennessee, and this is the first time other than Prince's that I've tasted a hint of cinnamon or nutmeg. Personally, i'm not a fan of that flavor profile, but maybe they're milder flavors would be better. I'll try it again.

This place is absolutely wonderful! The chicken and fish is always consistent, crispy hot and delicious. They also make sure you get your monies worth! One of our weekly go to spots. And the service is always with a smile! Love em!

Best hot chicken in the nashville (area)... Yes, I am saying that to get the best hot chicken in nashville you have to leave nashville...not too far from nashville though. Just outside the city limits in a little railroad town called Smyrna you have Mack's Hot Chicken. The least pretentious and best tasting hot chicken you can get in or outside of Nashville Tn. For those not looking to remodel their next reststop I would suggest the "medium" spice chicken tenders but for those throwing caution to the wind (along with other things) the hottest of the hot is "Mack's Revenge" and it will change you both emotionally and physically. Regardless of heat level, everything here is consistently flavorful and delicious. Fried pickles as a side? No problem! The best fruit tea you've ever graced your palate with? Got that too! Lastly you can't talk about Mack's without mentioning the staff...no pretense, no attitude, just kindness and service. This place has the nicest staff I've encountered in any Nashville hot chicken establishment...and I have been to all of them. Craving Nashville Hot? Do yourself a solid and make the short trip down to Mack's in Smyrna...you will not regret it. Hattie who?

Easily one of the better hot chickens in the area around Murfreesboro. I've ordered pick up 3 times and it is super easy! I found their number on social media, texted my order, and usually takes 25 minutes to an hour and it's ready for pick up. Chicken is always hot and crispy. I usually get the breast quarter in medium spice. It has a good spice to it, but still has amazing flavor to back it up! Hot and Mack attack usually just makes me cry. But if you like spicier, then most definitely give those two levels a try!

June 19th 2024. First time going here. AFTER we ordered they told us it would take 30 minutes!, we'll it took 45 minutes. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE FOOD. It was all over cooked dry and rubberized. The chicken and the fish TERRIBLE. I will never go back. I will tell everyone to not ever go there. Waste of time and money.

The whiting fish was very GOOD and the price was good to. I give them a 5 thumbs up for cleanliness, friendless, taste, and it was a LOT of fish too.

Let me start with . Delicious food and flavor. I ordered medium for my first go and I think I'd be willing to try hot. The flavor was delicious and left my lips tingling, but why not go hotter! The fries were also cooked perfectly and seasoned very well. No need to ruin them with ketchup or anything else. Both ladies up front were super-sweet and were delightful to speak to. Don't pass this place by, it's easy to miss if you're not sure that it shares a building with a karate dojo. The seating area is very simple and quaint, but the food far makes up for the ambiance. Try it today!

Food was good tenders were a little tough but excellent flavor I got hot and the flavor was good and you could tell they were fresh but just a little overcooked for my liking.the fries were really good. Was an excellent experience I was in uniform so the owner came and prayed with us for our meal it was very memorable. Keep up the great business and I'll be back thank you!

This place is good. Tried them based on a friend's recommendation and I can't lie it was really good. The fish and chicken was cooked fresh to order. The fried pickles were a little greasy but tasted amazing also. Overall I would go back and try a different spice level.

Best hot chicken around! Family ran business. Always nice and friendly people there. Try the lemon pepper hot wings or tenders. And the Fruit tea? Omg..... Love this place!!!!

I've seen a lot of good reviews about Mack's Hot Chicken and decided to check them out. I tried to place an order over the phone 2 days in a row but no one ever answered. I went to the restaurant and let me say that the staff is outstanding! Super nice! I ordered 3 plain whole wings, 3 lemon pepper whole wings, and catfish. I was told the wait would be 30-45 minutes and that my food would be brought out to my car. I ended up waiting an hour which is part of the reason why I'm giving them 3 stars. The second reason why I'm giving them 3 stars is because the catfish was not good. I don't like how they cover the fish with mustard. I ended up throwing it away. The wings however were pretty good. More like fried chicken. I didn't really taste the lemon pepper but still good. Constructive criticism for the restaurant going forward. Based off other reviews placing an order is a major issue. Please hire someone solely to take orders. Someone should be available at all times to answer the phone. Or find another way to accept orders either by creating the option on your website or an app. You're losing out on customers by not having this option and the long wait times. I will return but it won't be for a while simply because I can't wait that long again.

Absolutely great service, and food. The spice mixture that they use, is very tasty. I had a leg quarter and fried okra, and it was perfect. The only thing is I'm a bleu cheese guy, and they don't offer it there. Other than that hands down great place to try!

This place has the absolute best fried chicken. It is cooked fresh while you Wait. It took 30 minutes. It was well worth the wait. The mild has a bit of bite, but I'm an adventurous eater. The service was amiable. If you like duties, the sound system is excellent.

Food was absolutely good it was hot and tasty also the side were hot and tasty I have no complaints about this place

I went because of all the hype. Everything was made to order and the wait time was at least 30 minutes. I thought my chicken was a bit more smoky that flavorful if that makes sense. It was a nice big serving but I don't think I will go back

Best chicken tenders and fried fish in the city hands down!! I'm a chef but, will eat this food any day! It's always fresh and hot and the staff is amazing!! Try your fish medium with lemon pepper!! Let them know Mister Potato Man sent you!!

If you want good fried chicken this is one of the top two places to go in Smyrna/La Vergne. If you want your order to be accurate you might want to go somewhere else. In my last few trips there has been drama with a person in front of me unhappy with the accuracy of her order and I have to wait while that is fixed. In my last two trips I didn't get the cole slaw I ordered. This trip I didn't get my bleu cheese. Damn good chicken, but the frustration of getting home and finding I'm missing something is going to send me somewhere else next time.

Best fish and chicken ever it's worth every penny so I highly recommend this place because the customer service is good and it's good food so you be very happy with the prices

Okay so went here today with my wife and daughter. It was her first time ever visiting. I was really excited to try to place because I had heard from several other people that it was really good and was even more excited when I realized that they did naked tenders instead of the traditional breaded tenders. I'm not one to be huge on breading and other places that I go that offer similar options with unbreaded chicken always do very well. We ordered our food and within 25 minutes had it which is what we've come to expect from any hot chicken restaurant. The service here was absolutely outstanding. I ordered the naked tenders at the heat temperature hot. For me, I found the heat to be very underwhelming and I would not dare say that these were hot. They were about the equivalent heat of a Wendy's spicy chicken sandwich. The flavor was not overly great and it seems like some of the spices were a little out of balance but not anything too terrible. The biggest thing that I found to be an issue with the chicken is that this might be the first place that didn't do naked tenders where they were still moist. They were rather dried out and the outside was so hard that the plastic fork and knife were really not getting through it well. It ended up being easier to go with the tender grain so to speak and tear it apart. I tried some of my wife's tenders as well and they weren't as bad and actually were moist however the flavor was not super great for me personally. The absolute biggest thing for me about this place and why I am giving it 4 stars is because the service was just that good. However considering the taste of the food it's sad to say that I won't be returning to this particular establishment. It just wasn't for me.

This was my 1st time visiting. The customer service was awesome. The food was great i will be back and it my new favorite. The only suggestion i have is that they do not use the same grease for cooking the chicken or fries as they use for the fish..

Absolutely the BEST catfish I have ever had!! I usually get Hot Catfish with fries. My last visit I tried the Mac and cheese. It was so velvety and seasoned just right.

If you're craving hot chicken in Smyrna, this is the place to go. This is our guilty trip, from the tenders to the half chickens, it was hot crispy juice white/dark meat. One bite and you'll see why the wait is worth it. Mac and cheese were also good, homemade and cheesy. I keep hearing rave reviews about the fish, which i can't wait to try. I do have one advice, finish the meal with their homemade tea (more like a fruit tea, absolutely delicious) and cheesecake.

One star based on the wait alone. I've been waiting for one hour for my lunch. Don't attempt this place if you punch a clock. I'll update the review if and when I actually get to try it.\ **Update - Once I received my food and got back to the office I was pleased with the quality of the food. This place is a legit hot chicken joint. To be fair it was their first week and it was pretty busy. Food at these places is cooked once you order so some waiting is to be expected. In time I'm sure they will improve on the hour and ten minutes I waited, but I would call ahead if your trying to grab lunch on a schedule. Overall the food is good and the staff is very friendly. I'll definitely be back to try the fish.

Excellent chicken tenders and fries. I had the Mack Attack it was spicy but not overwhelming. I could have probably gone to Mack's Revenge but I eat hot food. The staff was friendly and the place was clean. In short I'd go back.

Good ass chicken . I always get the max revenge and it tares me up but the flavor are great. I highly recommend this place just be ready to wait for your food . I will take about 40 minutes to get your food but it's worth the wait . I have no.problem waiting . When you do get your food it's hot ass hell and that a good sign because it's something they are cooking on the spot . This place should be called Max hot ass chicken Thanks guys JUAN M S

Mediocre. Compared to the famous places in Nashville this one is just blah. Nice staff Order took a VERY long time. Chicken is crispy and juicy, but flavor is one note (salt). Needs more depth. Fries soggy. If the chicken takes a super long time they should not make the fries ahead. Out of stock on all dessert items. Fried pickles were so salty I ate just 2 before I threw it away. I so so so wanted this to be good. Really disappointed that it wasn't.

This is the best hot chicken! I had Mack's revenge and it was ! Definitely coming back for the gizzards!

We have found our new hot chicken place! Absolutely fantastic! We ordered "to-go" during the pandemic. I tried the chicken tenders (medium) with fries. My fiancé had a quarter breast (hot) with greens. Then, we split an order of fried pickles. It took 55 minutes from the time we ordered until it was brought to our car - but it was 100% worth the wait! The medium was still very hot, but I wasn't in pain or sweating. My fiancé's "hot" chicken had his adrenaline racing! He said, (and I quote) "I feel like I could fight a bear!!!!"

Customer service is great, fruit tea is great, but.... food not so great. Maybe I should have tried the fish without any spice level. It's like an old bay dumped on top of the fish. I prefer my fish to be drained from the grease and then placed on my bread. Instead I had soggy bread that did me no good.

I actually live in Smyrna and having hot chicken close by is awesome. I ordered the HOT level and it was hot. I enjoyed the heat and flavor. The fried pickles were good and collard good were very tasty. Mac and cheese just ok. The music is what I enjoyed the most! It was some good Frankie Beverly and Maze, type station. They weren't that busy on the inside but we still waited about 30 mins for food...I will return for the convenience but will call ahead. Good customer service and clean environment.

We went in to support a family-owned/operated local business and we left customers for life. We love hot chicken, simple as that. As locals, we don't hesitate to drive 15-20 miles to "the competition" in Nashville when the craving hits but now, those visits will cease to a "if we're nearby, we'll go" because now, Smyrna has the best hot chicken without the drive for us BUT WORTH THE DRIVE FOR ANYONE OUTSIDE OF TOWN! Even the plain chicken tenders we got for our kindergartner turned out to be THE BEST fried chicken we/she had ever eaten. Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, fully flavorful, and their house-made ranch deserves its own separate review. It may be on the saltier side but it's delicious. We also wish they served beer but that's mere feedback. Mack's is legit and I highly recommend it! For the record: if anyone docks a made-to-order restaurant because "the wait was long" your millennial-influenced instant gratification conditioning has become more of a problem than you're aware. Work on that and appreciate what goes into made-from-scratch cooking while you practice patience for what's well worth the wait.

Located where the old Diamond Donuts used to be. Although sad that it closed, was excited to see a hot chicken restaurant in Smyrna. We're read that the wait could we long as they cook to order, so we ordered to go. It took at least 8 tries before they actually picked the phone and almost gave up, but my nephew was visiting from ATL and really wanted to try hot chicken. We ordered some wings - medium and hot with some fries. Estimated time was an hour so my husband arrived 50 mins later and it was already ready (and sat for a little as the fries were completely soggy). The chicken itself was nice cooked - tender inside and crispy skin; however, it was overly salty with no flavor. Although the prices were very affordable (3 wings for $6.50 and $2.00 for a side fries), I can't say that we will return. We have our favorites and will have to travel to enjoy some hot chicken.

This was a middle of the road hot chicken place. The good: It was clean and the staff was fairly friendly. The areas they can improve: 1) The service was slow. Everything was cooked fresh but I think they have very little volume potential. One order at a time. 2) The chicken was extremely salty. The hotness was spot on, just incredibly salty. 3) They have no coke machine for refills. Just $2.50 bottles of coke. This was only discovered after my heat selection was made! Don't get too hot if you are depending on free refills to cool you down. 4) Parking lot was terrible. If you hit it during dinner when karate next door is going on, it's bad! One wreck was witnessed on the way out in fact! 5) One more chicken comment. They called them jumbo tenders but they were medium sized at best. I'll return but I'll give it a few months.

Went twice in their first week. Had the Mack Attack-level chicken the first round and switched to the catfish the second time. Both were really good. Like, exceptionally good. I just had Hattie B's last week when a friend was visiting downtown and I think Mack's is simply better food. The Mac and cheese and those collard greens are crazy good. Both times there was a wait. But, they're a brand new restaurant, getting their rhythm. The quality of the food far outweighs the frustration you might feel while waiting. You won't be disappointed.

One of my Uber riders recommended this place. I picked her up there and took her home. They had just opened and I asked if I should give them some time to get in a groove, or go for it to review them. She said to go there because it was very good. Initially, I stopped by on a Monday. Closed. Disappointed. I'm going to talk about the food, the staff, and atmosphere. Nashville has the original Hot Chicken and I judge all others by those anchor restaurants. Chicken dishes are cooked to order, so it takes some time. Allow 20 minutes for the larger pieces. Order ahead of time and do take away. I loved the meat. It was tender and moist and yummy. Coating on the chicken was not up to my standard. I believe the hottest they have is called the "Mack Attack". I am a fire eater. This is no where near hot enough. Local stores have chicken so hot I'm stepping and fetching. That, to me is the level Mack Attack should be. My next level down from that is if my lips burn after eating. Not even that hot. Their hottest ranks as mild to hot in other stores. Moist and not hot enough, the chicken is good. Now I am going to get very picky. Comparing to my version of Nashville hot, this coating could have been smokier and a bit sweeter. But there was this other thing, salt. The saltiness varied bite by bite and I did not like that. Some bites were way too salty. Others were just fine. Home made potato salad was wonderful! loved it. Disappointed that they did not have regular unsweet tea. I LOVED their logo!!! The fire-chicken in full gear totally kept me interested. They also had nice pictures of firemen in action. The place is light and airy. Loved the music and the TVs. But again, since they cook to order, it is best to order ahead. Service was great. Very nice people. The best thing I overheard was someone placing their order even though they were unfamiliar with the menu. The counter person carefully explained that food was cooked to order and it may take 20-30 minutes. The price of the wings is high, and he explained it to her. He said that it is high because it is a whole, meaty wing, not a scrawny 2nd joint. The customer cancelled the wing portion of the order and the counter person still made them feel special.

I've eaten here a few times and the chicken is great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because even when I call ahead, I still usually end up waiting 20 minutes after I arrive. Great food and super friendly staff.

The chicken is excellent and extremely spicy probably the hottest in middle TN area. Mac and cheese is on point and everyone who works here is extremely nice. It's cooked to order so call ahead if you're in a hurry

Stopped by for an early lunch. Being there slightly after 11 AM, there was no wait. That situation changed quickly as groups began to file in after me. My food order was out in around 5 minutes. The quality of the food was good. I had chicken fingers medium. The spice level was good. Left my lips tingling for a while after eating. I talked to others that got Mac Attack and one said it made his ears pop from the heat. I had crinkle cut fries that were generously tossed with seasoned salt. The breading on the chicken was not too thick and was good. The only downside was that it may have been fried in oil that once had fish in it, not 100% sure, the heat masked it a little. Overall, the visit was good. The food was good. Support your local small businesses, so these guys will want to stick around.

Happened to be in Smyrna and hungry and heard about Mack's Hot Chicken and thought I'd give it a try...So glad I did! The young lady at the register was so friendly & sweet so I was instantly impressed. Had the medium wings, mac & cheese, collard greens and fruit tea. Wings were tasty with the right amount of kick and the collards were seasoned well & the mac and cheese was so creamy. They don't skimp on the quantity! The sides were filled all the way to the top in a nice sized container, not in the typical small size. And the fruit tea was amazing...they cook to order so it was a bit of a wait BUT worth it. Even if I wasn't in Smyrna, I would make the drive & we'll definitely be back!

Smyrna just got HOT! Mack's Hot Chicken was luscious, I'd order the "hot" breast quarter the outside was crispy and spicy! Definitely a win for smyrna.

Best Hot Chicken in Rutherford County. Sides are all from Great Value though. Compare for yourself

Awesome experience! Medium tenders pictured. Friendly staff and excellent food. Will definitely come again.

Love love love this place! Had the Mack Attack tenders, Mac n cheese and collard greens and it was so good! Will definitely be back and will recommend anyone looking for Nashville Hot Chicken to try this place. Going to try the Mack's Revenge next time. Bring on the heat!

@mackshotchicken 3 Tenders Hot - cooked perfect, crisp, juicy, coated evenly. NHC. A bit salt forward, nice balance of cayenne, some vinegar. Excellent flavor. This heat level is NHC Hot. SAVOR-4 out of 5

Food is superb, timeliness needs a drastic improvement. I understand and appreciate that food is made to order. However an hour wait is unacceptable. I have ordered here several times and each time I have waited approximately 30 minutes for my order. I am used to the wait. This time I was told it would be a 20 minute wait...I was ok with this. My receipt shows that I ordered at 1:07 my food was brought to my car at 2:06! Being that it took so long I expected it to be piping hot. It was warm at best and the bag and container was "sweaty". It had to be reheated when I got home. I am assuming that my order was ready but had been sitting and forgotten. I see in previous reviews where customers were advised to call ahead. I always try to avoid the long wait by calling ahead. This is a waste of time because the phone is never answered. This time I called shortly after they opened and received the recording stating they were not accepting phone orders. I can't win! Again the food is wonderful but the process could be better.

Could be good if they actually were open for business. Stupid hours and long wait time.

This place is really good. I was in the area a few weeks and stopped by 3 times. I do hate the hours. I wish it stayed opened slightly longer. The fish is good Chicken is good The fried pickles were to salty The cashier was very courteous

Its good, but order ahead. They seem to fry every piece of chicken one by one. If you go there and order on the spot be ready to wait for a bit.

I ordered the hot chicken breast. It was definitely hot! My husband had the tenders and fries. Everything was tasty! The customer service was amazing and they even gave us a dessert for our wait, although the wait was reasonable to me since our meal was made to order. We will be visiting again soon!

This place is incredible! The hot chicken is some of the best I have ever had and the family/owners are the friendliest people around. I thought the XXL from Prince's was hot, but Mack's Revenge has it beat in every way! Best eat spot in Smyrna!

I don't know why this place has so many high reviews. The cashier was a kid who barely spoke. The wait was about 50 mins (not 25 mins that was promised), and the restaurant was half empty. The breast quarter was over-sauced, and I question the technique. There was powder all over my box. It was quite greasy, literally sitting in a pool of grease. I had the hot version which was fairly spicy, but flavorless and unersalted at the same time. The chicken was moist at first but dry in the middle of the breast. Bathrooms no paper towels. I might give them another chance but doubt it. Better options right down the road to be honest.