The canonical version and where to order it.
Whole catfish or whiting fillets cornmeal-fried and basted in a heavy cayenne-and-lard slick, stacked on white bread with pickles. The North Nashville hot-fish answer to hot chicken.
Bolton Matthews opened Bolton's Spicy Chicken and Fish on Main Street in East Nashville in 1997 with his wife Dolly, using the family hot-chicken recipe of his late uncle Bolton Polk (who had cooked at Prince's). The hot fish is Dolly's branch innovation: the same cayenne-and-lard slick from the hot chicken poured over cornmeal-fried whiting or catfish, stacked on white bread with pickles and queued out the door at lunchtime.
1 editor pick for Bolton's hot fish in Nashville, ranked by editorial score. All Nashville signature dishes · Bolton's hot fish across every city.
Bolton Polk's Main Street hot chicken shop in East Nashville is the editor's pick on the hot-chicken map: smaller, cheaper and darker-fried than Hattie.
OrderHot chicken thigh sandwich with slaw, plus the hot whiting fish.
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card; tiny counter, takeaway is the move.
Bolton's hot fish makes more sense with someone from Nashville explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Walk through Downtown Nashville with five food tastings, lively stories, and sights like the Ryman, Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway’s honky tonks, and hidden gems...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Experience East Nashville through 5 tastings and stories of resilience, creativity, and community on a guided walking food tour.
Guided tour · 4 hours
Experience the best of Nashville on a bus tour. Visit a local distillery for a guided tour and whiskey tastings, enjoy a meal at a local BBQ joint, and sip on a flight...
