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Street foodEast Nashville
Teresa Mason's McFerrin Avenue taco counter in East Nashville opened as a converted Airstream and now runs full kitchen service. At 732 McFerrin Ave.
TryFried avocado tacos
TipClosed Mondays. Two fried avocado tacos and a bowl of tortilla soup is the canonical order.
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Street foodHillsboro Village
The Bishop family's Midtown hot chicken counter in Nashville opened in 2012 and is the tourist-friendliest gateway to the dish. Located in Hillsboro Village.
TryHot chicken sandwich
TipHot chicken at Hot level on white bread with pickles is the canonical order; pimento mac and cheese is the side to add.
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Street foodEast Nashville
Bolton Polk's Main Street counter in East Nashville cuts a smaller and darker-fried hot chicken than Hattie B's, with hot whiting fish as the secondary order.
TryHot chicken thigh
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card; tiny counter, takeaway is the move.
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Street foodSouth Nashville
Andre Prince Jeffries's Nolensville Road shop in Nashville runs the original 1930s hot chicken recipe in counter format. James Beard America's Classic winner.
TryHot chicken plate
TipQuarter dark, Medium heat, plain white bread with pickles. Medium has more flavour than Hot for first-timers.
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Street foodNorth Nashville
Isaac Beard's Centennial Boulevard hot chicken shop in Nashville pioneered the Tender Royale, a chicken tender sandwich on grilled cheese. Family-friendly.
TryTender Royale
TipClosed Sundays and Mondays. Order ahead online; Tender Royale at Medium is the cult sandwich.
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Street foodMidtown
Elliston Place Soda Shop near Vanderbilt University in Nashville has poured hand-spun milkshakes and a meat-and-three lunch since 1939, recently restored.
TryMeat-and-three lunch
TipHand-dipped chocolate milkshake is the move; the meat-and-three plate runs $11 on weekdays.