The Bishop family's Midtown hot chicken counter in Nashville opened in 2012 and is the tourist-friendliest gateway to the dish. Six heat levels, pickles included.
Tip: Hot chicken at Hot level on white bread with pickles is the canonical order; pimento mac and cheese is the side to add.
Address: 112 19th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203
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.
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. Tight counter, fast turnover.
Try: Tender Royale
Tip: Closed Sundays and Mondays. Order ahead online; Tender Royale at Medium is the cult sandwich.
Elliston Place Soda Shop near Vanderbilt University in Nashville has poured hand-spun milkshakes and a meat-and-three lunch since 1939, recently restored to its original counter.
Try: Meat-and-three lunch
Tip: Hand-dipped chocolate milkshake is the move; the meat-and-three plate runs $11 on weekdays.
Teresa Mason's McFerrin Avenue taco counter in East Nashville opened as a converted Airstream and now runs full kitchen service. The canonical Nashville taco shop.
Try: Fried avocado tacos
Tip: Closed Mondays. Two fried avocado tacos and a bowl of tortilla soup is the canonical order.
