Hattie B’s is a well known place for Hot Chicken in Nashville and you can tell that by the line to get in. You can count on 45 minutes or more if you get there much after they open. The line is a mix of tourists and locals and the bakery next door was benefitting from some of the hungrier people who just couldn’t wait any longer. The line leads to the counter where you order and pick up your drinks and get a number for your order to display at the table. There are numerous combinations of chicken and 6 levels of heat for you to chose from from, no heat to “shut the cluck up!!!”. Each order comes with some sides and then you can add more for $1 each. They have several tap beers as well as cans but I saw no wine. A cool pitcher of beer was just perfect after waiting in the warm sun and went well with the spicy meat.
We chose the Large Dark which is 2 leg/thigh quarters and 2 sides. The chicken is not large so the pieces were not huge and there is a lot of the crispy coating. The white meat looked dry on the orders I passed while in line so we decided not to try it, however the dark meat was not nearly as juicy as it could have been. We got “hot” which is 4th of the 6 levels. It was fairly spicy but you got pretty used to it after a few bites. The chicken is skewered with a couple dill pickle slices that had been doused with hot pepper and served on a couple of slices of white bread (which mainly absorbs grease).
The Pimento Mac & Cheese was creamy but tasted like it was made with Velveeta – a bit sticky and very mildly flavored.
The Baked Beans were the sweet variety and tasted like they might have previously lived in a can and been seasoned at the restaurant. They were good but nothing special.
The Crinkle Cut Fries were frozen and again okay but nothing to wait that long for.
Red Skin Potato Salad was nice and well seasoned without being to full of mayo. Potatoes cooked just right really helped it.
The Southern Greens were chewy but well cooked and acceptable. All in all it was a perfectly edible meal but not one I’d wait 45 minutes in the hot sun for.
Dear Helen,
I want to go back to Nashville. I never saw this place when I was there, but it was a short, short trip. The pictures you took are great! It captures the flavor of the place and Nashville. I think some spicy chicken would be great! Your chicken looked good! The red potato salad looked great! Frankie was cute when he wanted a beer! Good job as always!
Thanks Dana! My understanding is that there is also another location of Hattie B’s, but that ‘hot chicken’ is a Nashville standard. I know you’d like it!