A couple of years ago I wrote about an amazing place for hot chicken in Nashville called Hattie B’s. Over the years there have been many write-ups and television appearances for Hattie B’s, plus hot chicken in general has started to gain national attention. Because of America’s new love of hot chicken, Hattie B’s has started opening more locations, not just in Tennessee but across state lines too. Their newest location can be found in the Lakeview District of Birmingham, Alabama.
It had been a while since I had hot chicken, so I figured that a visit to the new location was long overdue. I could smell the spicy goodness as soon as I walked in. The inside of this new restaurant is much bigger than the Nashville location. I was there a little late at night so finding a seat was not an issue.
I went for the small plate that comes with a breast and a wing. I got a spice level of Hot. I remembered that this level was hot enough for me. It also came with two sides so I ordered the baked beans and the mac & cheese.
The chicken was exactly how I remembered. It was freshly fried so temperature wise it was extremely hot. Once it cooled down I was able to dig in. The breading was nice and crispy. The spiciness is all in the breading. I can’t tell all of the ingredients that make the flavor so hot, but I can definitely taste Cayenne pepper.
The meat itself was moist and tender. The breading helped seal in the juices.
The heat was over powering in my mouth at one point. This is when the mac & cheese came to the rescue. It was extremely creamy and smooth. It helped calm my mouth. It was a great cheesy relief.
I remembered how good the baked beans were so I am glad that I ordered them again. They had a sweet taste. This was an amazing complement to the saltiness from the spicy chicken.
I had a wonderful visit. I was excited to get to Hattie B’s again. They have awesome hot chicken and I am glad they are bringing a Nashville classic to other cities. Check out their website to see if they are opening a location near you. http://hattieb.com/
Enjoy!
T
