Prince's Hot Chicken Menu 2026: The Original Nashville Hot Chicken

Name: Prince's Hot Chicken
Price range: $$

The original

What is Nashville hot chicken?

Nashville hot chicken is a style of fried chicken coated in a thick, spiced cayenne paste before or after frying, served on white bread with pickle chips. Prince's invented it. Every Nashville hot chicken spot in the world — and every chain that sells a "Nashville hot" variant — traces the genre back to this restaurant.

The technique that makes Prince's distinct: cayenne paste (not a dry rub, not a sauce drizzled on top) is applied to the fried chicken. The paste soaks into the crust and skin, creating a deep, oil-saturated heat that coats the entire piece rather than sitting on the surface. The white bread underneath absorbs the cayenne-laced drippings — eating the bread is part of the intended experience.

The heat levels at Prince's are not marketing. The jump from Medium to Hot to Extra Hot to XXXHot represents a genuine escalation in cayenne concentration. First-time visitors are consistently advised to start at Medium or Hot and work up on a return visit.

Invented: 1930s, Thornton Prince, Nashville TN
Style: Cayenne paste on fried chicken — not sauce, not rub
Served: On white bread with dill pickle chips
Heat range: Plain (none) to XXXHot (extreme)
Best cut: Quarter dark (leg + thigh)
Genre impact: Every "Nashville hot" item traces here

Heat level guide

All six Prince's heat levels — what to expect

Prince's offers six heat levels. The differences between them are substantial — this is not a five-percent-hotter-each-step scale. The jump from Medium to Hot is real; from Hot to XXXHot is dramatic. Choose deliberately.

1PlainNo cayenne paste. Standard crispy fried chicken. No heat whatsoever.Ask in-store
2MildLight cayenne paste. Slight warmth — safe for nearly everyone.Ask in-store
3MediumThe most popular level. Real heat that builds; the best balance of flavor and fire.Ask in-store
4HotSignificant burn. For people who eat spicy food regularly.Ask in-store
5Extra HotIntense. Sweating is likely. Only attempt if you handle high-Scoville food comfortably.Ask in-store
6XXXHotMaximum. Exceptionally spicy. The restaurant warns against it for newcomers. Not a gimmick.Ask in-store

Recommendation for first-time visitors: Medium or Hot. Medium delivers the cayenne character the dish is known for without being punishing. Hot is the right call for people who already eat spicy food regularly. XXXHot is not a novelty item — it is genuinely extreme.

Quick answers

What to order at Prince's Hot Chicken

The four decisions every visitor faces — answered with guidance from the menu and Prince's regulars.

Best first-timer heat

Medium

Enough cayenne character to understand the dish; not overwhelming. Hot is the next step up for adventurous eaters.

The Prince's Hot Chicken experience

Prince's is not a fast-casual operation. It is an old-school Nashville institution. Knowing what to expect makes the visit much better.

Ordering

Order at the counter

Prince's is counter-service. You order, wait, and receive your food when it is ready. Wait times can be significant, especially on weekends — the chicken is fried to order. Budget 15–45 minutes on busy nights.

Hours

They sell out and close early

Prince's has been known to close when the chicken runs out, regardless of posted hours. This happens most on weekends. Call ahead or arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights. Arriving at opening is a reliable strategy.

Payment

Have cash available

Historically cash-preferred at some locations. Payment acceptance varies — confirm before going, and carry cash as a backup. ATMs are not always nearby.

Eating

Eat the bread

The white bread is not filler — it soaks up the cayenne oil from the chicken. Most regulars eat it as a final course after the chicken. The pickles cut the heat. Use both as intended.

Heat strategy

Start lower than you think

First-time visitors consistently report underestimating Prince's heat. The cayenne paste is more oil-penetrating than most hot sauces or dry rubs. Medium feels stronger here than "medium" at other restaurants. Go one level below what you usually order.

Seating

Casual, limited seating

Prince's is not a sit-down dining room. Seating exists but is utilitarian. Many visitors get takeout. The food travels well — the bread stays soggy, which is part of the point, not a defect.

Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All Prince's menu categories with item counts.

The full menu

Every item on Prince's Hot Chicken's standard menu

Chicken by heat level, by cut, sides, and drinks. Note: prices are not listed — Prince's does not publish pricing online.

Chicken (by Heat Level) 6 items

Chicken Cuts 4 items

Sides 6 items

The history

How Thornton Prince invented Nashville hot chicken in the 1930s

The origin story of Nashville hot chicken is culinary legend. Thornton Prince, a man known to stay out late, came home one morning to a breakfast cooked by an angry partner who loaded his fried chicken with cayenne paste to punish him. He loved it. He refined the recipe, opened a chicken shack, and built a business around the heat-level concept that every "Nashville hot" item in the world now mimics.

Prince's has stayed in the family across generations. The restaurant operated for decades in relative Nashville obscurity before food media discovered it and Nashville hot chicken became a national trend in the 2010s. Prince's did not change — the food writers came to them.

Today Prince's is listed by the James Beard Foundation as an America's Classic — a designation for restaurants that have served quality food and community for decades. It is one of the most visited restaurants in Nashville.

1930sFounded

6Heat levels

NashvilleHome city

OriginalThe inventor

Locations

Where to find Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville

Prince's Hot Chicken operates multiple Nashville-area locations. The original and most storied location is on Ewing Drive on Nashville's east side. Additional locations have opened to serve growing demand. Hours vary significantly by day and location — and the restaurant is known to close early when chicken sells out.

Always confirm hours and location details at princeshotchicken.com before visiting. A phone call before making a long drive is genuinely recommended on weekends.

Original location: Ewing Drive, Nashville TN
Multiple Nashville-area locations
Hours vary — confirm before visiting
May close early when chicken sells out
James Beard America's Classic honoree

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Common questions

Prince's Hot Chicken — frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people most commonly ask about Prince's Hot Chicken, the menu, heat levels and visiting Nashville.

Who invented Nashville hot chicken?

Nashville hot chicken is widely credited to Thornton Prince, who founded Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville in the 1930s. According to family legend, the dish was created by a scorned lover who coated Prince's fried chicken in cayenne paste as revenge — Prince loved it, put it on the menu, and a genre was born. Prince's has been run by Thornton Prince's descendants ever since.

What heat levels does Prince's Hot Chicken offer?

Prince's offers six heat levels: Plain, Mild, Medium, Hot, Extra Hot, and XXXHot. Plain has no cayenne paste and is standard fried chicken. XXXHot is an extreme challenge that the restaurant cautions against for newcomers. Most regulars and food writers recommend Medium or Hot as the sweet spot — enough cayenne character without being purely punishing.

What is Nashville hot chicken served with at Prince's?

The classic Prince's presentation is chicken on white bread with pickle chips — the bread soaks up the cayenne oil and is considered an essential part of the dish, not an afterthought. Available sides include cole slaw, baked beans, potato salad and macaroni and cheese. The combination of cooling slaw and tangy pickles against the hot chicken is the intended eating experience.

Where are Prince's Hot Chicken locations in Nashville?

Prince's Hot Chicken has multiple Nashville locations, including long-standing spots on Ewing Drive and additional Nashville-area stores. The original location is on the east side. For current hours and exact addresses, visit princeshotchicken.com — hours can be limited and the restaurant sometimes closes early when chicken sells out.

Is Prince's Hot Chicken cash only?

Historically, Prince's operated as cash-only at some locations, which is common for long-established Nashville hot chicken shops. Payment acceptance may vary by location and has changed over time. Confirm with the specific location before visiting — it's worth having cash on hand regardless.

How does Prince's compare to other Nashville hot chicken restaurants?

Prince's is the original — every other Nashville hot chicken restaurant traces its lineage (directly or indirectly) to Prince's. Competitors like Hattie B's (founded 2012) built on the genre Prince's created. The key difference: Prince's is smaller, less polished, and more old-school, with a more intensely oily cayenne paste application compared to the drier rubs some newer spots use. For purists, Prince's is the definitive version.

How spicy is Prince's XXXHot chicken?

XXXHot at Prince's is considered one of the most aggressively spicy items at any established restaurant in Nashville. It is coating-heavy, deeply red, and delivers sustained, full-mouth heat rather than a brief spike. Most food writers and local guides recommend working up through the heat levels before attempting XXXHot. The restaurant itself cautions first-time visitors against it. Medium or Hot is typically recommended for visitors new to the restaurant.

Does Prince's Hot Chicken have a kids menu?

Prince's does not publish a dedicated children's menu. Plain (no cayenne paste) is the appropriate option for children — it is standard fried chicken with no heat. Chicken tenders at Plain heat are a popular choice for younger diners accompanying adults to Prince's.

What time does Prince's Hot Chicken open and close?

Prince's Hot Chicken hours vary by location and day. The restaurant is known to sell out and close early on busy days, particularly on weekends. Hours are generally afternoon through late night, though this changes. Always check princeshotchicken.com or call ahead before making a special trip.

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