12 Hot Chicken Chain Restaurants Ranked Worst To Best

As cheesesteak is to Philadelphia and crab cakes are to Maryland, hot chicken is to Nashville: a local specialty that's become a nationwide favorite. For the uninitiated, we're talking about chicken that, at some point during the frying process, is coated in a cayenne pepper paste, then served on white bread with a pickle. As the hot chicken craze spreads like spicy wildfire across the USA — Los Angeles, in particular, is a burgeoning hot spot — major chains have already emerged, while humble mom-and-pop operations dream of national dominance. To help you navigate the landscape, we've selected 12 hot chicken chains and ranked them.

Some ground rules: Since the hot chicken phenomenon is still in its infancy — as opposed to, say, the long reign of the hamburger — we define "chain" as any outfit with more than one location (if hot chicken is more than a passing fad, any of these modest chains could well be the spicy McDonald's of the future). There is necessarily a regional bias toward Nashville, the city that started it all. Previously established chains that recently added hot chicken to their menu to capitalize on the trend (we're looking at you, KFC) aren't eligible. And finally, much like pizza, it's hard to have truly bad hot chicken — so even the "worst" chains on this list are well worth a visit.

Not originating in Nashville but near enough (Louisville, Kentucky) to reassure purists, Joella's is a thriving chain with more than fifteen locations across the South and Midwest. What's its secret? As regional vice president of operations Christina Happel says in a press release, "Hot chicken isn't just about heat— it's about flavor."

That unique flavor finds its way into Joella's tenders, wings, and even vegan chicken. Sides range from creamy mac & cheese to parm garlic fries. Ardent Joella's fans rewarded the chain a Best of Louisville Reader's Choice Award for Best Fried Chicken Restaurant. On the negative side, Joella's is very much a savvy corporate creation designed to capitalize on a trend and therefore lacks the homegrown backstory of some other hot chicken chains on this list. The website's strained use of folksy contractions suggests that the eponymous Joella is about as real as Betty Crocker. That said, Joella's has engendered community goodwill with promotions that offer free meals to teachers, nurses, and children (per Viera Voice and Fox).

Bottom line: Joella's will do in a pinch, but if you have options, try one of the more authentic chains that rank higher on our list.

Purists who insist that a true Nashville hot chicken joint must be a hole in the wall with a limited menu would surely scoff at Party Fowl. This Nashville-originated chain doubles down on millennial hipster mainstays like craft cocktails, draft beer from local micro-breweries, and even — gasp! — brunch. Ultimately, it's too sanitized an experience to rank higher on our list. But owners Austin Smith and Nick Jacobson wanted to bring their city's signature dish into the full-service-restaurant world, and that's what Party Fowl delivers.

There aren't too many other places in Tennessee where you can scorch your mouth on hot chicken while watching the Titans on a large-screen TV. As for the chicken, Party Fowl boasts at least one huge fan in Frito-Lay. Lay's chose the chain as the inspiration for its Nashville Hot Chicken flavor potato chips. Lastly, an obligatory feature of any decent hot chicken chain is a creative name for its highest spice level, and Party Fowl acquits itself well in that category with "Poultrygeist."

Foodies can get touchy about regional authenticity. The idea of a Los Angeles-based hot chicken restaurant might provoke a reaction similar to the cowboy from the old Pace ads who was prepared to string up his cook for the crime of serving salsa from New York City. Flashy celebrity investors like Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Maria Shriver don't help with the Tinseltown image. But chef and co-founder Dave Kopushyan did his homework, visiting several hot chicken joints in the dish's holy city of Nashville before developing his own recipe.

Dave's popularity was earned honestly, growing via word-of-mouth from a humble stand in a parking lot in 2017 to a chain that boasts more than forty locations, including three north of the border in Toronto. Some say the chicken lives up to the hype, with Cheap Eats' Ali Khan calling Dave's signature dish "A delicious gut buster on multiple levels." We say Angelenos seeking the best hot chicken have less glamorous but more memorable options.

We're not gonna lie: This chain, another player in the exploding SoCal hot chicken scene, gets points for its cheeky name, which has undoubtedly led to some awkward conversations with parents and flirty banter on first dates. Per SF Gate, Bangin' Buns was started by four friends in the San Fernando Valley, and it distinguishes itself from its competitors by serving its chicken on French rolls rather than the traditional sliced bread or hamburger bun.

Spice level ranges from "Country" (no spice) to "Bangin'" (the hottest), and you can fill out your plate with heaps of well-seasoned fries. According to QSR Magazine, Bangin' Buns is "a phenomenon on social media and a favorite of Los Angeles food press." Yelpers rave about the generous portion sizes and memorable flavors. The lack of track record keeps Bangin' Buns in the lower quarter of our list for now, but with new investor Ike Shehadeh of Ike's Love & Sandwiches on board, the chain has ambitious plans to add 17 more locations, stretching into Arizona and Northern California.

Another contender in the fast-growing hot chicken scene of Southern California, the plainly named Nashville Hot Chicken has locations in Los Angeles and Pacoima. The two brothers who started the chain claim to have visited more than 900 fast food restaurants as artery-busting research before working on their own recipes, according to BizBuySell.

There are a few aspects of NHC's menu that sets it apart from the pack: The restaurant serves shrimp sandwiches, for example, and their chicken is halal. Most unique and controversial, however, is the love-it-or-hate-it "pink sauce," a proprietary concoction that is slathered on seemingly everything. Popular choices include the Chicken Sandwich, Nashville Slider Plate, and Chicken Tenders. Creatively named spice levels range from "Mildly Cyrus" to "Hail Mary." We think until NHC tweaks its pink sauce to win more converts, it deserves its middling status on our list. Drop by NHC and decide for yourself.

Hot Chicken Takeover (the company is trying to make "HCT" happen) currently only offers locations within the state of Ohio, but that hasn't stopped the almost-decade-old chain from attracting national attention. 24/7 Wall St. named HCT as one of the 30 Best Fried Chicken Places in America. Unique menu items include the vegan "Not Chicken," whipped up from the restaurant's own seitan, and spice level that ranges from "Cold" to "Holy #&@*%?!"

One of the more laudable aspects of HCT has nothing to do with what's on the menu. The chain has committed itself to hiring people who have served time in the prison system and who often have trouble finding employment as a result. According to Columbus Business First, this and other socially conscious business practices have led to "a culture of accountability and engagement that has lowered employee turnover to 50% compared to the rest of the industry that is over 100 percent."

On the negative side, even some ardent HCT fans concede the restaurant frequently runs out of chicken (particularly drumsticks and wings), which accounts for their placement in the lower half of our list. 

Technically, this Los Angeles-based restaurant still has only one location. Per Gayot, the opening of its second, as of January 2022, has been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. But given Howlin' Ray's' rabid fanbase, further expansion is inevitable. Started as a food truck in 2014 by husband-and-wife team Johnny Ray Zone and Amanda Chapman and moving to a brick-and-mortar Chinatown location a year later, Howlin' Ray's is known to locals for a) its ridiculous lines and b) its food being worth the wait. 

Ray's feels so authentic, you might be fooled into thinking it's from Tennessee. In reality, it's our top-rated chain outside of the Volunteer State. The signature dish is "The Sando," a boneless chicken breast served on a butter bun, with a spice range from "Country" to "Howlin,'" and topped with "comeback sauce." Diners can also opt for the smaller "Skinny Jimmy" or have it "Luis style" (topped with cheddar cheese on a toasted bun). Meanwhile, sides such as the Mario-style fries have loyal, patient customers howlin' for more. 

For those who like a little surf with their turf, here's a chain that pays almost as much attention to its hot fish as its chicken. Chef Shawn Davis debuted his shrimp burger to a national audience on Shark Tank and didn't forget his seafood roots when he opened his first Nashville hot chicken joint in nearby Franklin, Tennessee in 2013. Big Shake's most popular option caters to the indecisive customer: the Chicken & Fish Combo Plate allows you to choose from chicken tenders, wings, or a breast/leg quarter; catfish or whiting fish; and two southern-style sides.

Superfans from anywhere can also snag stylish swag, ranging from the obligatory (t-shirts and mugs) to the more niche (baby bibs and men's sneakers). Davis is even generous in sharing his ingredients — for a price, of course. Everything from house fry flour to hot sauce to seasoning is available to order online. Big Shake's unique pescatarian angle and authentic Southern roots are enough for it to crack our top five.

Hattie B's was started in Nashville by the father-son team of Nick Bishop Sr. and Jr., and has been serving up hot chicken since 2012 (per QSR Magazine). The Bishops are not out to re-invent the Nashville hot chicken wheel but rather to execute their fairly standard menu — sandwiches, crinkle-cut fries, Southern-inspired sides, desserts — to a degree that it satiates a loyal customer base. At that they've been successful: While Hattie's locations can still mostly be found in the South, they've come a long way from their Nashville beginnings and recently took a gamble by opening a Las Vegas spot.

Hattie's fares well in the hottest-spice-level naming sweepstakes with "Shut the Cluck Up." Hot chicken fans with a hankering for Hattie's need not let distance be an obstacle: They can order "The Whole Bird," jumbo chicken wings, and more from anywhere in the country through Goldbelly. That Hattie's has even entered the "best hot chicken in Nashville" discussion along with the two local icons that top our list is a testament to its quality. Some local experts might even admit, under a condition of anonymity, that Hattie's is number one. 

Though not classic Nashville-style hot chicken, Gus's does make chicken, and it is hot and spicy, and therefore, it's eligible for this list. According to the restaurant's website, Vernon "Gus" Bonner and his wife Gertrude opened their first location in 1984 in Mason, Tennessee. The chain now boasts a whopping 34 locations. Claimed by some (like GQ) to be the best fried chicken in the world, it's that secret recipe that remains the key to Gus's success.

Amateur chefs may obsessively try to recreate the magic at home, but none have been able to match Gus's recipe. Gus and Gertrude extend the same level of care to their side dishes. "Note the slightly sweet beans and slaw served with every meal," their restaurant's website urges. "Gus and Gertrude perfected these recipes, allowing their slight sweetness to offset the spiciness of the fried chicken."

Bolton's boasts an impressive pedigree: per the Nashville Scene, owner Bolton Mathews is the nephew of the late Bolton Polk, who used to work in the original Nashville hot chicken joint, Prince's (more about them soon). The mini-chain and its manager Dollye Graham-Matthews were featured in an episode of the Netflix show Ugly Delicious in which host David Chang delved into issues of cultural appropriation surrounding hot chicken.

Graham-Matthews takes pride in Bolton's chicken achieving a "just right" level of spice: "Our chicken is spicy, but it won't cause you to lose your composure," she says on the restaurant's website. In May 2021, the city of Nashville passed a resolution recognizing Mathews for "his contributions to the culture, economy, development, and panache of the City of Nashville" and the original Bolton's location for being "one of the oldest Black-owned businesses in operation on Main Street."

Prince's is the first Nashville hot chicken restaurant, the one that started it all — and though many have attempted to dethrone him, Prince remains king. The OG chain takes the top spot due to a combination of unbeatable taste, reasonable prices, and a truly classic origin story. According to legend, the restaurant's founder, Thornton Prince, was inspired by the revenge attempt of a scorned lover. The unnamed woman doused her man's morning fried chicken in an excess of spice— but in an ironic twist, Thornton found the result delicious, and thus was born a classic dish. The restaurant's appeal is summed up by this Jerry Seinfeld quote to Grub Street: "It's so spicy! That was the most adventurous thing I've eaten lately. I'm definitely going back there, too." To all who've tried to imitate Prince's in the recent Nashville chicken chain boom, we say, "Who are these imposters?"