This small, singular bungalow in East Nashville churns out the best hot chicken in the city. Don’t expect any wacky slogans or funny names for the spice levels—just a few well-worn tables and a simple takeout window that’s been quietly doling out plates of perfectly spiced poultry for over 25 years. Bolton’s is the best hot chicken in town because it’s a consistently spectacular fried bird—there are very few (if any) off days at this spot.

400 Degrees sets themselves apart from the competition because of how they prepare the bird. Most hot chicken spots pan fry their poultry, but that’s not the case at 400. This restaurant deep fries their chicken, which results in a fantastically crunchy and juicy final product served on red trays. There are five spice levels here: 100, 200, 400, 800, and 900. However, it’s easy to lose all sense of nuance in the spice blend beyond the 400 mark, so it’s not really worth it to go any higher.

Hattie B's has perfected the method of hot chicken production, so you’re going to get a consistently cooked bird just about every single time. Locals love to sip an icy-cold glass of haterade when talking about the chain—it’s easy to feel like this is just hot chicken marketed to the masses. But their hot chicken has just the right amount of crispy skin-to-tender meat ratio, and an almost overwhelming number of different spice levels to choose from.

You can usually rely on Prince’s to deliver perfectly seasoned, crunchy, and still-moist tenders, along with a messy but delicious sandwich doused with a sweet heat sauce reminiscent of Frank’s Red Hot. But they landed at number four on this list because of some inconsistency issues—there’s a small chance you'll get some dry and overly salted chicken. Still, we recommend it if you’re looking to try all the big poultry players in Nashville.

Pepperfire moved from East Nashville to the Nations a few years ago, and according to some people, that’s when the quality took a bit of a hit. The bird here is generally cooked well with a nice crispy exterior, but on off days, the skin can take on a bit too much grease, making it slightly soggy. If you want to break a sweat, you’re going to have to max out your heat level—it’ll take going higher than a four to feel any kind of tingle.

BJ is great when you need a quick hot chicken fix right after you land (it’s near Nashville International Airport), or don’t want to deal with finding parking (it’s in a strip mall). The interior feels like one of those corporate fast-casual spots a la Chipotle: it’s clean, generic, and inoffensive, making it a safe choice when you have a hot chicken hankering. You can find a decent bird here, but know that the heat levels don’t really push the needle, not even at their most scorching.