Spice things up with $7 deals during Nashville Hot Chicken Week
It's a poultry throw down with a little bit a spice where Nashville's most popular culinary contribution, hot chicken, takes center stage.
All this week, more than 30 restaurants in Nashville and Middle Tennessee are battling for the top spot in Nashville Scene's seventh annual Hot Chicken Week.
Competition is fierce, with popular hot chicken restaurants like Prince's Hot Chicken and Hattie B's looking to score high marks in the best traditional dish, best overall dish and most unique dish categories. Voting lasts through Feb. 5.
A hot chicken crunchwrap
At Red's 615 Kitchen, owner Eric "Red" White, said the main dish this week is two tenders and fries, but one of the restaurant's most popular dishes was developed two years ago during Hot Chicken Week: a hot chicken pimento mac and cheese crunchwrap, which won best overall dish.
"I grew up loving Nashville hot chicken, so it's fun to do the competition and see what all the other spots do," White said.
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White's restaurant, located at 115 27th Ave. N., is going up against some of the top names in hot chicken in Nashville staples Hattie B's and Prince's Hot Chicken, among dozens others.
"It can be a little nerve-wracking," he said, "but we just like to serve the best chicken that we possibly can, and I like to see the smiles on people's faces and, once they eat it, the pain on people's faces."
36 restaurants competing
There are 36 restaurants vying for best overall hot chicken dish.
"It's one of our favorite weeks of the year because everyone is celebrating Nashville's signature dish," said Nick Bishop Jr., co-founder of Hattie B's. "This year, we're offering our small dark plate for $7, which is a leg quarter (any heat level) with a choice of two sides. We're also including $3 drafts of Little Harpeth's Chicken Scratch Pilsner, a classic pairing for hot chicken. For $10 all in, it's the best deal we've offered."
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The week features several cheap eat options with dishes coming in at $7.
Some not so traditional restaurants are also throwing their names into the hat during Hot Chicken Week.
Meat & 3 getting in competition
Bishop's Meat & 3 may not be known as a hot chicken king, but the Franklin restaurant is getting in the competition.
General manager Mike Nicholson said it is the second year for Bishop's in the competition.
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"It's a chance for many guests to try something different or a hotter heat level they've never had before," Nicholson said.
This week, Bishop's is offering a $7 traditional plate with bone-in chicken, a leg quarter and two sides.
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on Twitter @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Hot Chicken Week: Nashville restaurants offer deals
