Prince's Hot Chicken Shack South

"As the OG Nashville hot chicken spot, Prince’s hardly needs an introduction. While their original location was on the north side of the city, this Nolensville Pike location became their main operation a couple of years ago, and it still delivers. Whether you’re testing your spice tolerance or playing it safe, you’ll get a mouthful of tingling cayenne and spices in every bite. Let that white bread soak up all that flavor, and don’t forget to give your hands a good scrubbing before touching your face." - anas saba

"All great heroes have an epic origin story. So it only makes sense that Nashville hot chicken has one, too. Prince’s is at the heart of that tale, and the family that created the spicily seasoned bird still runs it today. And for hot chicken enthusiasts, that’s worth the visit alone. The OG spot just off Dickerson Pike did have a certain magic about it, but after it burned down years ago, there hasn’t been a location that’s been able to really recreate that environment. But the Nolensville Pike one comes close. photo credit: Casey Irwin The bird here is nicely seasoned, crunchy, and still moist for the most part, but they’ve definitely had some inconsistency issues over the years. That means there’s a chance you’ll wind up with a dry, chewy, or salty piece of poultry. While the eight spice levels here appropriately build to the next, the XXX hot at Prince’s barely scratches the surface of a hot, or even a medium, at Bolton’s. But we’d be terrible people if we didn’t tell you about the Andre Chicken Sandwich. It is, hands down, the best thing on the menu and the reason we come back again and again. It’s so good that we placed it in our pantheon of the best sandwiches in America. photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin The Nolensville Pike location is great for a quick lunch, either solo or with friends. It feels like your typical fast-casual joint, with quick-moving lines and a handful of shaded tables outside that you’ll want to take advantage of on a nice day. Food Rundown photo credit: Casey Irwin Leg Quarter The leg quarter is Prince’s most consistent menu item. The tenders and wings can be chewy and dry, but the leg quarter keeps things crispy and moist—just as hot chicken should be. photo credit: Eliza Kennard The Andre Chicken Sandwich Long live this ridiculously messy but delicious sandwich. You should absolutely douse it with the sweet heat sauce over the ranch because then you can use the cole slaw served on the side as the crunchy, creamy topper. There's a reason why we named it one of the best sandwiches in America. Seasoned Fries The fries at Prince’s are of the crinkle-cut variety—crispy, lightly salted, and really, the perfect sidekick to a plate of fried chicken. photo credit: Casey Irwin Get It Girl Greens We oftentimes need some vegetables to balance out the fried assault hot chicken has on our bodies. The Get It Girl Greens check that box. It’s a generous serving of collard greens studded with hunks of dark turkey meat for a nice depth of flavor. It can, indeed, get it, girl." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

"You can usually rely on Prince’s to deliver perfectly seasoned, crunchy, and still-moist tenders, along with a messy but delicious sandwich doused with a sweet heat sauce reminiscent of Frank’s Red Hot. But they landed at number seven on this list because of some inconsistency issues—there’s a chance you'll get some dry and overly salted chicken. Still, we recommend it if you’re looking to try all the big poultry players in Nashville, especially because Prince’s is the reason hot chicken exists in the first place. It’s also a great spot for sampling a few flavors since you can order tenders by the piece with different spice levels. They have locations all around the city, but we like the spot on Nolensville Pike best." - jackie gutierrez jones 2

"Rumor has it that Prince’s was the first hot chicken purveyor on the scene, the product of a spicy revenge dish cooked up by a spurned lover. That itself makes it worth a visit, but you should come specifically for the Andre chicken sandwich. It is, hands down, the best thing on the menu and belongs in our pantheon of the best sandwiches in America. We suggest going to their Nolensville Pike location, but their outpost at the Assembly Food Hall on Broadway is more convenient if you’re just in town visiting." - jackie gutierrez jones 2, carlo mantuano, ann walczak

"NASHVILLE The original owner of Prince’s in Nashville basically invented hot chicken, and there’s a lengthy origin story that involves an angry girlfriend and a tub of cayenne. But for the purpose of this guide, we’re more concerned with their extremely delicious Andre sandwich. It’s a messy one, thanks to the combo of creamy coleslaw and sweet heat sauce that’s reminiscent of Frank’s Red Hot, but the perfectly seasoned fried breast soaks up everything flawlessly. Get yours with a spice level of medium, or you too will embody a tub of cayenne. " - team infatuation, carlo mantuano