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.
Try: Hot chicken sandwich
Tip: Hot chicken at Hot level on white bread with pickles is the canonical order; pimento mac and cheese is the side to add.
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.
Try: Hot chicken thigh
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Cash and card; tiny counter, takeaway is the move.
Street food$south-nashvilleSun-Thu 10:30-22:00, Fri-Sat 10:30-0:00
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.
Try: Hot chicken plate
Tip: Quarter dark, Medium heat, plain white bread with pickles. Medium has more flavour than Hot for first-timers.
Isaac Beard's Centennial Boulevard hot chicken shop in Nashville pioneered the Tender Royale, a chicken tender sandwich on grilled cheese. Family-friendly.
Try: Tender Royale
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Order ahead online; Tender Royale at Medium is the cult sandwich.