400 Degrees Hot Chicken
319 Peabody St, Nashville, TN, 37210
400 Degrees Hot Chicken Menu
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Address :
319 Peabody St
Nashville, TN, 37210 - Phone (615) 244-4467
- Website https://400degreeshotchicken.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : No
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
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Carol P.
This is my favorite hot chicken place in Nashville. Not only do they have hot chicken, but hot (and mild) fried pork chops (bone-in) too! What delicious pain they serve up-and with exceptional customer service too (unlike other similar establishments). Side note: the location was new and well kept, so this would be a good place to take out-of-towners or business clients for an honest taste of Nashville. The owner was super friendly (and generous) too! It's a good thing 400 Degrees isn't near me (in terms of calories) because I would eat here everyday if I could!
(5)R. H. O.
Wicked hot y'all! I really like certain dishes (like Thai or Vietnamese) to be spicy, but can't seem to handle this place's medium hotness of 200!?! I'm not worthy, I'm SO not worthy (bowing). LUV that everything's homemade there, and it's really worth the wait!
(5)Joey S.
This is some serious Nashville Hot Chicken. I've had it several time. I like the 200°. The 400° is too painful for me. Very nice folks. Call ahead to order, takes about 30 minutes during lunch. It's as good as it gets. Get the pork chop sandwich. Try it for yourself. You'll thank me later.
(5)Josh R.
Had the pleasure of going here for lunch today and I was pleasantly surprised by everything from the staff to the food. Everybody couldn't of been nicer and now that I know where it is it is s sure thing that I will be back. I tried the 100 degree and the 200 degree. I thought the 200 was on the upper limit of my personal preference, but still good and should be fine if you eat hot things fairly often. The flavor was good on both and the 200 still had a good taste instead of going for pure heat like some places do. All in all glad I have a new place to show people from out of town some of Nashville's famous hot chicken. As a side note, the sweet fruit tea is pretty good.
(5)Gee W.
The hot chicken tour continues...there have been some casualties along the way (my wife literally missed a Southwest flight because of hot chicken, I won't go into details, but you will just have to trust me on this one), but the tour must go on!! Like the other Yelpers, it's easy to miss this place if you're not looking for it. Armed with a little prelim intel, I entered the food court with confidence, knowing my prey would be located within. I found the smiling faces behind the counter to be just a little too friendly....I knew an ambush was in store, so I wasn't about to let my guard down. Despite calling ahead and ordering, it appeared that my order wasn't ready yet. I waited another 10 or so minutes, and there it was....2 orders of tenders of different heat levels....200 degrees for the sane and scared (me) and 400 degrees for the bold and beautiful (wifey). The tenders were huge and served with the traditional white bread... and they were damn good! As far as spice....the 200 degrees had a little burn, but nothing that would put you out of commission. The 400 degrees....well, I'm not sure if saying that it was similar to calling in a napalm strike on a melting nuclear reactor core would be too dramatic, but it wasn't all that far off. It was good...and for a few brief moments, I actually smirked at the ladies behind the counter and thought to myself "you'll have to find another sucker, because you didn't get me today", but then the harsh reality of the situation came into view. The burn came...and then kept coming....in a delicious, 'I told you not to do it' kind of way. Three glasses of water (and maybe a few tears) later, I was able to gather my senses and, for some reason, get back into the fight. I wasn't going to let this awesomeness go to waste, not on my watch. I ended up only having one 400 degree tender, the 200 degree was a little easier for me to handle. Wifey took down the other 400 degree pieces in gallant and courageous fashion. But I'll give you one guess on who missed their flight later that day.
(4)Erica F.
Oh I love hot chicken. I got lost on my way in to find 400 degrees. I rounded the corner and backtracked to the random Quiznos and J Gumbo signage...in the food court? Could they? Yep! I got two order of medium (200) to go. Fabulous news = you can mix heat levels! So that little voice in your head saying "Can you really handle 400 or are you going to be throwing away your dinner?" Now gets to say "Heck yeah do one of those, let's have an experiment on us!" The staff cooks were su0er nice and we chatted about the hot chicken festival. I overheard the table of guys nearby dropping every hot chicken name place in town - yeah, it's kind of a beautiful cult thing and I love that they embrace it. Eleven minutes on the dot that they told me - they know their business and I was out the door with my prize. Fifteen minutes later I got to dig in...and it was still piping hot (temp wise) for how fresh from the fryer it was, but oh so delightfully much better, that juicy chicken with a breading that actually maintained if not serious crispy then satisfying texture and that spice...all the hot kick and something just a little sweet when you really got down on the breading bits. The white bread was sodden with red of the secret spice - a real sign of my favorite thing (the flavor!) And the fries are just great and have that seasoning on them (because you need some fres, too to line your intestines with some recovery food). I love the sodden white bread I swear that's the best holding up those kind of gross looking red-infused glampy chunks like they're mana from heaven and stuffing them in. Fantastically cooked, great recipe, love the mix n match on the hot levels and my satisfying measures of perfection in the fries and bread.
(5)Lia M.
I've had hot chicken once, so I don't have much to compare to. And unfortunately, I still really don't, because staff at my hotel recommended the mild version, saying that it was still quite hot. I did not find the mild version to have any amount of spice, whatsoever. So, if you have any type of tolerance for heat, start with the hot (200 degrees). However, the chicken itself was super crisp outside and still tender inside. And the leg quarter with crinkle fries was huge. I could not stop eating it, and even though I wanted more, I was super full when I was done. The chicken takes about twenty minutes to make, so do not go here completely famished, like I did. I cannot say enough about the friendliness of the staff. I think I even got to chat with the owner briefly! I'm just sad I didn't get back to try the spicier version.
(5)Sam U.
I've had Hattie B's and Prince's. 400 degrees is by far the best overall experience. I didn't call ahead and had a bit of a wait, but it was more than worth it! Flavor, spice, and excellent customer service made my day. The owner was highly interactive and called customers by name. That means loyalty. Thanks to the ladies behind the counter I will definitely be back!
(5)James P.
Hot chicken rookie here. I found this place because it was close to my hotel. Located in a corner food court with 3 other shops. Service was prompt and courteous. Prices were affordable and my food was cooked to order. I got the 200 degree wings which were as much as I could do. They have plain 100 and 400. Maybe next time, but I do recommend this place. Sides were fine so take a chance and visit.
(5)Tonisha M.
I can't really give this place a rating because I didn't get to eat it. I love hot chicken and have tried Prince's and Bolton's so far but I heard that this place was great so I wanted to try it. I drove from Atlanta to meet up with someone and I made sure to make Nashville the meeting spot and made sure the time worked out in order for me to get there before closing. They closed at 5 pm that day so I got there at about 4:20 pm believing that it should be enough time for a small order. After arriving and looking over the menu, a lady said we aren't taking any more orders for the day. Only one person waiting, so it wasn't crowded which confused me. I didn't even ask why, I just left and went to Bolton's. I was really excited to try this place, but don't know when I will ever be back in the area.
(1)Thuktha S.
Took my cousin from Kansas try 400 degree hot chicken today since it was featured on the travel channel. I'll have to say the chicken was moist, full of flavor and hot! Haha everything was made fresh from the time you order!!! Go check out 400 degrees hot chicken . You won't be disappointed!! Thanks so much for the hospitality Aqui ! I will definitely return when I'm in the neighborhood!
(5)Peter N.
I was visiting town for a conference and my friend suggested we try this place. I said "hot and spicy? I'm in." When we arrived, I got the usual shpeel about how "the owner is not responsible" and "it's really, really hot" and "are you sure you want to try the 400 degrees?" I asked what it's flavored with, and she replied "Habanero peppers." I informed the owner that I can eat habaneros like candies, to which she informed me that she had 500 degrees chicken (with Scorpion and Ghost Chilies) and 800 degrees chicken with the Carolina Reaper. Okay, now we're talking. I'd never even HEARD of the Reaper before, so, daring/stupid as I can be, I ordered the chicken fingers. She suggested one of each, 400, 500, and 800 and I accepted. Knowing how the heat in these things builds, and not being terribly hungry, I decided to start at the top and work my way down. It took me a few minutes, but I polished off the first strip in a few minutes. It was pretty darn hot, but I did not get the hiccups, tear up, or sweat. I did, however, start to turn a bit red, so that says something. I plowed through the 500 degrees strip as well, and eventually finished all three. The taste was average, but the heat was well above. All the while, my friend, who had ordered the 200 degrees chicken, was commenting at how hot his was. We went for a walk around Nashville, and I could gradually feel my insides heating up. That night, for the first time in my entire life of eating hot and spicy foods, I experienced heartburn, so I guess that says something for the heat. If you want a hot challenge, check out 400 Degrees Hot Chicken!
(4)Bonnie M.
Excellent 1st try at Hot Chicken This was GOOD! Start off easy...mild def has flavor. Medium was good for me, plenty of heat. Hottt was lip-burning hot!
(5)Tasha T.
This has indeed been the best hot chicken restaurant I've eaten in Nashville. Their clean and prepare their food as such. Even while I was pregnant I was craving spicy chicken. I ate some and my baby girl loved it in my tummy. (This was when nothing else would stay down), but 400 degrees chicken and fresh broccoli. I love this restaurant. The customer service is superb.
(5)Elizabeth W.
This was our first stop for food in Nashville and our first hot chicken experience. While unassuming, it was a great (albeit painful in a good way) experience. We had to wait an hour for lunch because this place is that busy so if you're interested, call in your order before they even open. We got a mix of the 100 and 200 degree options at our table and the consensus was the 100 was spicy enough and the 200 was almost just painful. Also, the bread that comes under the chicken was SO good - white bread drenched in butter. Overall, an inexpensive and delicious first hot chicken experience.
(4)Jairo R.
Great things can't be rushed so make sure you call at least 45mins before you pick up your order. I was introduced to 400 degrees a few years ago and haven't stopped going since. Unlike other places I've tried their chicken always juicy and spicy levels stay consistent. The only other place that gives them a run for their money is Princes.
(5)Amber W.
This place is in a little building with a few other places like Quiznos and J. Gumbo's in it too. It kind of reminds me of eating in a dining area at an indoor mall. THIS WAS THE BEST HOT CHICKEN I HAD WHILE IN NASHVILLE, hands down! I seriously fell in love with Nashville after my first bite of my hot chicken strips here. I might have been able to handle the 200 degree chicken but I decided to go with the 100 degree, it was spicy but not overpowering, just right for me! The chicken was so juicy and tender, and the batter on the outside was just perfect! I could have eaten here every day! They aren't open all day, I think they close kind of early on the weekdays, so double check if you're coming for dinner. Also like some of the other reviewers have mentioned, you can call ahead for your order! It takes about 30 minutes for them to make it since it's made fresh to order. But again totally worth the wait!
(5)Jonathan B.
First off - always order ahead of time regardless of the time you're going. Atmosphere - it's within a food court shared with Nuvo Burrito, Quiznos, and J Gumbos. Service - I've been here around the same time before and it was slower this time. I think it was the owner who was helping us but she was very nice. She seemed a bit irritated we had to ask for it to go but what do you expect when the "30 - 45mins" turns into 45mins - 1hr. Food - The first time I had a chance to sample the chicken I was very unimpressed. The chicken was dry and just tasted like they handed me chicken that was just seasoned. HOWEVER this time around the chicken was worlds better. It wasn't over-seasoned like beforehand and the chicken was very juicy. I'm a sucker for crinkle fries and theirs are just as good as any - but they won't hold up well over time. Overall - If you're into hot chicken then you should definitely try it out - order ahead - but try it out.
(3)Mike R.
So another hot chicken joint crossed off my list. I had the 200° tenders and fries, with a bottle pepsi- $10.50 The heat was there, the flavor was there , the tenders were very moist. It's not my favorite hot chicken, but I see more return visits in my future. I would rank it in top 5 so far. **alert** it's a small operation, so unless you want to go, place your order, and wait 30 min. To 1 1/2 hours, CALL AHEAD IS A MUST.
(4)Darren L.
The Best Hot Chicken in Nashville. I've had Prince's. I've had Bolton's. I've had Hattie B's. I've had Pepperfire. I've had hot chicken all over this music infested town and Aquia's 400 Degrees is the hands down best! Consistent time after time. (This is a big deal because you never know who's behind the wheel at some of these joints)...400 Degrees is rock solid. The location is smack downtown near New convention center and hotels. It's shares a building with a Quiznos and burrito joint and Parking is easy. To be honest I'd start out with the mildest temp(100degrees) because this chicken leaves a mark! Seriously it's hot with flavor as opposed to just being hot. Big difference! There's a wait. Be prepared and be patient. This is not chicken in a hurry. It's a bad ass delicious,mouth watering and scorching taste treat! I wish I had some right now ! Here's a little advice.... Call your order in at least 35 to 45 minutes before you wanna get it. Trust me on this. Call it in! You're welcome.
(5)Jennifer T.
I was in town for a conference and was dying to try some authentic hot chicken, Nashville-style. I read some reviews here and was delighted to see that this place was close to my hotel, about a 20 minute walk from Broadway. It's located in an area with a lot of empty lots, inside a food court. Kind of nondescript and pedestrian. At first I wondered how good the chicken could be if it's in a food court with a bunch of chains. Was I wrong. I had to wait almost an hour, but it was worth it. I had asked for a quarter leg, but my plate was huge, kind of equivalent to having three pieces fused together. Being a bit of chicken myself, I asked for the 100 degree chicken. It was delicious, with just a hint of spiciness, well-seasoned and juicy. The only disappointment were the generic, frozen food aisle fries. Hours later, I burped and was reminded of how rich all that seasoning was! It made feel a little queasy but it was worth it. Now that I'm back in NYC, I'm looking for the same fix but sadly, it looks like we don't have much in the way of hot chicken. The best I could find was the spicy chicken at Popeye's, which was as mild as an old lady.
(4)Joe S.
This is based solely on taste, not atmosphere or wait times. I have given 400 degrees 4 chances and have been disappointed compared to other hot chicken joints in Nashville. I really can't ever get a flavor profile there, just tasted like chili powder... Heck, I didn't even taste the chicken. I ordered 200 and 400 and had the same result for both. If given a choice it would be Hattie B's for me. Nice staff BTW. Sorry guys, gotta be honest.
(2)Jason L.
200° their medium heat chicken is right on par. my nose didn't run like the menu said but equally tasty. beans where on the sugary side but it was a nice complement to the heat from the chicken. byob gotta love the combo. friendliest service that calls you out by name multiple times makes sure you don't need anything, I'll be back.
(4)Lisa B.
I am not your typical hot chicken customer. I can't handle spicy food. It makes we want to die and I have no idea why people voluntarily torture themselves. That being said, I like 400 degrees. It's in a little food court area with an eclectic little mix of restaurants, so I suppose I have other options when my boyfriend's hot chicken cravings hit, but I don't think I'll ever try them. The chicken is classified in degrees - 0, 100, 200, 400. If you're a wimp like me, get the 0. It's plain ol' fried chicken with a tiny touch of spice from the seasoning. The chicken is juicy and delicious. On my second visit I decided to man up and try the 100... and I survived. It's apparently nothing to most people, but my runny nose and watery eyes and fire breathing suggested otherwise. The first few bites aren't bad, but the cumulative effect by the end had me cramming ketchup-covered fries down my throat for relief. I still liked it, though, because while hot it still had flavor. I don't see the point in burning your face off if your taste buds are burned off too. My wimpy body will never let me become a hot & spicy connoisseur, but every now and then I'll get my 100 and clear out my sinuses and feel proud of myself. Maybe I'll get up to 200 one of these days. Can you train yourself for heat? I'll report back. PS: You will wait a long time for your food. Be warned.
(4)Wes B.
Four words posted on the sign at the counter made me terrified, yet intrigued, by 400 Degrees' hottest offering, the 400-degree chicken: "It'll burn you twice." It did. But despite the literal double-edged sword that pierced my body during and after my dive into delicious, deep-fried death, I am happy. I have found the best hot chicken in Nashville. 400 Degrees offers four flavors -- 0, 100, 200 and 400. The rise in degrees represents the corresponding level of heat. I tested the 100 -- pleasantly spicy with crispy, salty breading; the 200 -- a cornucopia of flavor covering the tongue with tantalizing, spicy complexity; and the 400 -- more than "heat for heat's sake," it features dynamite flavor and an angry-yet-likable kick. Every variety of chicken featured the same degree of moistness, flakiness and grease-soaked goodness. That's what sets 400 Degrees apart -- its chicken is the freshest in town, with the best consistency I've experienced. Another reason 400 Degrees earns its fifth star: The experience. Aqui, the owner, mans the deep fryer herself, with personality and passion. She made uplifting, sassy smalltalk while she battered my bird. She also let my brother and I mix and match our flavors. Thank goodness, because I can't imagine a full meal of the 400 fireballs. Also, while Prince's may pride itself on quirky customer service and Hattie B's on its intimate dining quarters, 400 is spacious, clean and nice. It shares a food court with three other restaurants, which means there are plenty of napkins to go around. All you need to know is this: I'm not a frequent reviewer. It usually takes me a couple months to recap my experience at a given restaurant. But I went to 400 Degrees yesterday, and I felt so compelled to share my praise that I hopped on the computer right when I got to work and went straight to Yelp. It's that good. Even though it does, in fact, burn twice.
(5)Owen R.
I have no doubt they have terrific food... But.. The service is POOR. being told there is a 40 minute wait for 4 chicken wings or strips is super WEAK. HIRE a couple of people, pick up the pace. Disappointing.
(1)Haley P.
This place nails hot chicken. I've had haddies (which I do really like), Pepperfire, and princes. In my opinion- this is the best. The ambiance is less than stellar (it's located in a food court along w a Quiznos and nuvo burrito), and they don't serve beer (but you can bring your own!), but the amazingness of the food more than makes up for it. The chicken packs in a fabulous flavor, great texture and perfect spice. I got a medium and it's the absolute perfect heat level for those of us who love a good spicy dish but also are not interested in burning our insides out. Crinkle fries are the bomb too (huge serving). The staff/owners are awesome and so friendly and cool. We WILL be back!
(5)Randi N.
Let me start by saying this 400 degrees has the nicest staff you could ask for! Super friendly folks who are happy to make suggestions. I had the mild breast with coleslaw. I loved it! The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is the chicken was a little greasier than I would have liked (but hey, it's fried chicken).
(4)Gregory B.
I will preface my review by saying the review is based on my tastes. I will try to outline that in the review, as you might find 400 Degrees fits you perfectly. I schould also state that I like food that is really hot, as long as it is flavorful. If you are familiar with Hot Chicken in Nashville, 400 Degrees is more on the side of Prince's or Bolton's, without marinating the chicken in hot sauce, as Prince's hottest is. But the breading is a bit thicker, which I find makes the chicken a bit tastier. Some other restaurants, like Hattie B's aim more for a really messy chicken heavily coated with sauce. 400 Degrees is located in a building that houses a food court on the corner of Peabody and 4th Street. Inside the building you can also find Nuvo Burrito, Quiznos and a J Gumbos (Cajun franchise). My feeling about the food. The 100 degrees is too mild, almost to the point of bland. There is a hint of pepper, but not enough to rank it as anything different from most southern style fried chicken. The 200 degrees has a bit of a punch and there is really not much between 100 and 200. The 400 degrees is just ridiculous, shut your bowels down, hot. I can attest to the "shut your bowels down" aspect, as that it what my system did the next day. If you like hot, I would aim for 200 and consider whether you need to tone up or down from there. For my experience, the pepper blend in 400 degrees is aimed more for heat than enjoyment. I can generally take really hot food without indigestion, but found myself having to stir some baking soda into water each time I tried 200 degrees or hotter. To me, this is similar to calling a really bitter beer and IPA because you added a lot of Indian hops. Technically correct, but the good beers in this style have a balance and have learned to mix good flavor with IBUs. To me, 400 degrees is about the heat of the pepper and not blending for taste. But, like peeps I know that like really bitter IPAs, I am sure someone will completely disagree with my assessment of the chicken here. On the positive side, the chicken is very juicy. I have been to other hot chicken places that had really dry meat, which really ruins the experience, even if the spice flavor is awesome. On another positive note, they offer some items you won't find anywhere else, like pork chops. And the portions are nice. For a bit more than $6, you get a chicken quarter, with a huge breast or thigh portion. The only other item I tried was the potato salad, which was very nice. It is a mustard and mayo based potato salad, which is one of my favorite ways to do it, and the relish is added in almost perfect amounts, so the potato salad has a nice hint of sweetness that is not overpowering. Would I go back? Certainly. The succulence of the breast meat was good enough to overcome the digestive burn of the specific peppers used. I would really enjoy something around 150 degrees in this establishment, however, and that is largely due to the way the pepper they use affects me (I will go hotter at Hattie B's, which does not affect me in the same way).
(3)Michael P.
God Save The Queen! Nashville has had a Prince of hot chicken for quite a while but now it is time to respect the new royalty of hot. Aqui Simpson of 400 is cooking up perfectly cooked, tender, juicy chicken bathed in magical spiced that will amaze as well as burn. I started with the pleasant burn of the 200, and each bite was better than the last. Its safe to say I'm hooked. Next visit I'll take the jump to the 400 to get the full fix. I've sampled quite a few of what Nashville has to offer in the way of blazing birds and she is with out a doubt the Queen.
(5)A. C.
(6/21/2014) Place is inside the Peabody food court on 4th. This was our first taste of Nashville Hot Chicken (did do a little research with the Saveur article); we were prepared to wait, each serving is cooked to order. The chef/owner, Aqui Simpson came out to chat and check in on us (I guess we looked like tourists); service was very friendly, prices reasonable. Chicken is moist and juicy, spices are in the breading/coating (light, crisp, flaky) and also mixed into the hot oil topping smeared/drizzled over the finished pieces. Had the 200 degrees; I laughed, I cried, my nose ran, my tongue and lips went numb, and at some point, the heat of the chicken mixed with the heat of the spices made it painful to eat, it was just right for me. My friend had the 400 degree wings, he looked like he was going to pass out. I don't know if maybe it was my lack of experience with hot chicken, but flavor seemed kind of bland for all the spice. I tasted predominantly cayenne, paprika and black pepper, but I could've used a little saltiness or savoriness (maybe some garlic?). Cole slaw and potato salad were OK, ordinary, tangy (but you might want to get them anyway for their cooling effect on the tongue).The place was going to close at 5 pm the day we were there, but there was def a line for that last batch of chicken. One local guy said he was there every single day for the 400 wings. I imagine he has no colon left. They weren't lying when they said "chicken so hot it'll burn you twice."
(3)Chastity G.
My favorite hot chicken place in Nashville. The chicken is the crispiest and juiciest, and it stays that way. A lot of other places have chicken that gets soggy after ten minutes of sitting in its own grease. Not 400 degrees... they have this shizz figured out. Heat level is fairly high. I would say 400 degrees is generally between "Damn hot" and "Shut the cluck up" at Hattie B's, and 200 degrees is a little less hot than their "Hot". Sometimes when I'm not looking to challenge my small intestine, I wish they had a 300 degrees level, since there's a pretty big gap between 200 and 400. Sometimes they've made it for me; sometimes they say "we don't do that". They do have off-menu levels higher than 400 degrees, but I'm apprehensive... Sides are fine, I'd say on par with Hattie's and better than Bolton's or Prince's. You're there for the chicken anyway. ONLY complaint are the hours. I'm basically left with a five hour window on Saturday, since I can't really get there by 7:00pm on a weeknight, and getting it for lunch on a workday isn't really an option. Why, you ask? Hmmm... just remember that their motto is "So hot it'll burn you twice!" Ha... EDIT: Don't forget it's cash only, and also call ahead! They actually answer their phone unlike a lot of places.
(5)Chris M.
Continuing on my trail of the best 25 sandwiches in Nashville per "TheCityPaper", I ordered the Hot Pork Chop Sandwich and it... well, it was. It existed. It wasn't bad, though it wasn't really that special either. Of course, you have to deal with the nasty white bread since nobody in the city will toast it for you, but I suppose that is just part of the experience. All in all, it was worth it to try it but nothing special and I won't be returning. Staff was nice enough, but the restaurant is inside a building with a slew of other eateries kind of like a trucker stop or mall cafeteria -- very odd.
(2)Yanik C.
its stuff is HOTTTTTTTT, if you like spicy then you have to try it.
(4)Jeremy S.
Had the 100 degree wings they were very tasty...my only surprise was that the location was in a food court. I did have to wait close to 30 minutes for my order to be ready.
(4)Cindy L.
WOW!!! 400 Degrees served it up tonight! We had the 0' Plain leg quarter, 100' Mild chicken strips, and 200' Medium breast quarter and pork chop and we loved ALL of it. Flavor was unreal, service was excellent. Capped it off with a homemade individually wrapped Chess Square - OH, MY GOODNESS! If you're looking for spicy chicken in Nashville, this is your place.
(5)Loser F.
I love their chicken...I try to eat here once or twice a month this is the new hangout for me and my friends also try the tea, it's so good you might want to smack your momma. The chicken isn't to greasy or too hot...just the way I like it.
(5)Clint D.
Went to 400 Degrees when they first opened and just thought it was alright. So this year I've decided to go back to all the places that I haven't been to in a while to give them another shot. About a week ago I went to 400 Degrees. There was one person in line in front of me. I get to the register to order and I'm told it will take 40 minutes. Like most people on their lunch break from work, I don't have time for that. Cashier told me to call ahead next time if I don't have the time for that wait. So I took his advice. Today, I called and got an answering machine. I kept calling for 30 minutes straight before giving up. Sometimes that machine would pick up and sometimes it would just ring and ring. I was never even able to make an order. I decided to go to another hot chicken joint in town and got in line. I didn't have to call ahead. There were 4 people in line in front of me. I had fresh hot chicken and sides within 10 minutes. Not sure what they're doing at 400 Degrees, but I wouldn't waste my time if I were you.
(1)Kim J.
While I can appreciate waiting 30 minutes for Hot Chicken, I'd prefer not too. It was an experience but can't say that we would go back unless we weren't starving and had plenty of time.
(3)Russell M.
I use to eat here so much at its old location they should have gave me stock. So I visited the new location and it was cool to see the owner there. She is a super cool person. I ordered my food and YES it takes entirely to long. They take a ton of phone orders and place them all in order with standing patrons. I would find a better way to manage that. Luckily I was off that day so the hour wait only aggravated my hungry. Of course once I received the food I was back to being very happy I came. I eat hot chicken everywhere and I will say this place has always been a top places to go. Great representation of what Nashville is bringing nowadays.
(4)Gregory G.
Disclaimer: I have not tried any other hot chicken places in Nashville. But, I do love me some fried chicken and the fried chicken they serve up at 400 Degrees is pretty darn good. Location: randomly placed in a food court right outside of downtown, the location was clean and basically empty when we went there on Saturday for lunch. Service: the lady who served us was sweeter than the tea we ordered. She knowingly joked with me when I came in to verify my order, "Just a 100 and a 200 huh? No 400 today?" Seeing the stroller, she asked how our baby was doing. She asked how the chicken was and if we needed anything else. She said thank you as we left the restaurant. And, to top it all off, she threw in an extra wing for me! Who doesn't like free stuff!? Chicken: the chicken itself was delicious. Moist, tender and flavorful. Their breading created, in my mind, the perfect "chicken-skin-crust." They cook it to order, so call ahead. We called about 15 minutes ahead and still had a good 10 minutes to wait before our food came. Since it was cooked to order, it was piping hot when it arrived at our tables (I think this added to the beads of sweat and runny nose we both experienced as we tore into our food.) Hotness: my wife ordered the 100 degree thigh quarter and I ordered the 200 degree thigh quarter. My wife, who enjoys spicy food but can't handle it, said her chicken was the perfect level of spiciness. Just a tad bit past her comfort level. My chicken was also the perfect level of spiciness. Not so spicy that I couldn't finish it, but spicy enough that by the end of the meal I was sweating and my nose was running. Overall, while the extras were forgettable (the fries were typical, frozen fries sprinkled with a bit of their hot seasoning and their sweet tea was way too sweet), the service and the chicken were excellent. I hope that someone takes up their franchising opportunities and opens a 400 degrees here in Louisville!
(4)Jay G.
This is a great chicken place. They have great fire hot chicken that's real tasty. I had an awkward exchange with the person I was checking out with thus the lower rating. But the chicken was solid, and it's in a great lunch location downtown.
(3)Wendy N.
Excellent hot chicken, the baked beans are the best I have EVER had. They're like candy and I'm not much of a bean person. I recommend calling in an order ahead of time because the food is all cooked to order.
(4)Misty M.
This place slays! We had the 100 & & 200 degrees. Food comes out fresh and totally blew my mind. Fries were great and crispy and the potato salad was the bomb. Portions are big too. They do tenders as well as the sandwich. They close early so make sure you check the times. We almost missed them. Staff was super sweet and man was that chicken delicious!!!
(5)Amy D.
Ok here it goes... I am NOT a huge fan of Fried Wings I like mine more traditional style, BUT I went to 400 Degrees and wanted the full experience so I got the 400 Degrees Leg Quarter (Yes Leg Quarter) Potato Salad and Bread for 7.50 (Great Price) Within the first Bite I KNOW I am a LIFELONG Customer. AWESOME customer service! VERY Spicy but not to salty and still flavorful. There is nothing worse then spicy food that is spicy just to be spicy and not favorable Really good Chicken and the 400 is a REALLY good flavor for spicy eaters if you dont eat spicy 3-4 times a week stick with the 200 its delicious as well Only down side is its in a food court so its a little hard to find but once your in its pretty nice. Takes about 20 mins so call your order in to save time!
(5)Chanel H.
It's in a food court type of area, but don't let that fool you! Everyone working here is super friendly and they begin frying your chicken once you order...fresh! They periodically checked up on us to make sure we were still alive. Pick your level of spice, from a wimpy 0 to a daredevil 400. I myself did not want to end up feeling the singe pass through body parts other than my tongue so I chose 200 degrees. Little did I know I'd be sitting here writing this review while my stomach emits a constant surge of heat to remind me that this might burn going out as much as it did going in. The chicken sandwich is hot and huge, deep fried southern style and the spice comes from a dry seasoning as opposed to a wet sauce. Ordering the breast gives you a quarter chicken, with the breast and a wing attached, bone in. It sits on two pieces of bread that quickly soak up the spicy grease below. My recommended weapons to become a victor in this battle: cole slaw, potato salad, and extra bread.
(5)Linda A.
I had tried Prince's, Pepperfire, Hattie B's, Knock Out Wings, Hot Stuff before finally getting to 400 Degrees this week. We ordered the 200 variety and it was good. Definitely plenty hot, I would not want to venture into 400 land! As compared to the other hot chicken, we like Pepperfire better but it's on par with the others listed. We ordered take out but the location was certainly cleaner than some others and Acqui, the owner was welcoming and friendly. Depending where we are when the craving hits us for hot chicken, we'd go back.
(3)The Yelp-inator W.
They have #1 THE HOTTEST Chicken in Nashville. The Best environment/atmosphere.. but not the best chicken....NO...not the best..maybe 4th best....check out my other reviews....I LOVE HOT CHICKEN. But where do pain from extreme heat and flavor meat? at the other Nashville hot chicken joints. To be fair...I have not tried their mild...200 degrees and wish I had because 400 is just too hot for me. I ate it...enjoyed it...but burped it up feeling hotness all day....it was too much...I wondered if I had harmed my body (and I eat hot stuff all the time). The chicken is wet hot chicken as opposed to Bolton's which is dry (try Bolton;s fish...it is incredible). Pepperfire has wet chicken and I think they are the best in Nashville....a better flavor (complexity)...heat and flavor maxed out just right. and of course Princes is a must...excellent chicken. Atmosphere: the best seating in Nashville...they are in a little food court type building place with a Quiznos and a couple other restaurants...with plenty of seating in a climate controlled atmosphere. which is nice....
(3)Jessica R.
I love this place so much! I've been on a huge hot chicken kick over the last few months, and have eaten at almost all the hot chicken places in Nashville. (The only one not tried is Bolton's so far...but I'm on it soon.) One thing is for certain- I CRAVE this chicken!! The 200 degrees is a good heat; doesn't bring too much misery, but doesn't leave you disappointed. I haven't been brave enough to try the 400 just yet, but maybe one day. My advice to this little establishment- DO NOT change a thing!! It's so flavorful and addicting. Warning- it might burn you twice, but it's so worth it!!
(5)George R.
This was my first time with Nashville Hot Chicken. Went for the 200 degree version which was darn hot. Suggest you do the same, unless you are experienced. I had to wait 20 minutes, but the chicken was fresh and hot and outstanding. The lady working the counter was a sweetheart, and I wouldn't think of going anywhere else. Suggest you order ahead or be prepared to wait, since every order is fresh cooked.
(5)Adam S.
I have never had hot chicken before and didn't really know it was a "Nashville Tradition" so I thought I would start to make the journey around to try the different ones. Thanks to the yelpers I tried 400 Degrees. To start off the review I knew it would be slow to get my food before I went and I would suggest to anyone that goes there to know it will be VERY VERY slow (even slower then you would imagine) blame it on making it to order. Knowing that before hand I would only drop them down 1/2 a star. First the chicken, good crisp with nice spiciness, inside was juicy and just the way good fried chicken should be. The fries were crinkle cut and was prepared perfectly. The cole slaw was OK (kind of standard)... fries were better. The chicken is hot they have 4 flavors. 0 - which is pretty much sauce-less (didn't try). 100 - This is the flavor I ordered, I had quite a bite flavor. A good amount of spice without overkill. 200 - They were nice to let me try this on a fry... way WAY too hot for me. 400 - no thanks after the taste of 200 and the pain it put me through would have me never try this. Good overall will have to try the other contenders but would come back again because this was good chicken... even with the wait.
(3)A.J. T.
Love, love, this place!! Great food and great service!! I drive 40 minutes one way once a week for the best Hot chicken place!!
(5)Tyler B.
Though situated in a "food court" just off downtown Nashville, the chicken at 400 Degrees is anything but pedestrian. The breading is crunchy, the chicken is moist, and the sauce is not overbearing. Customers choose from a simple menu and a 4-tier heat scale, sides and extras notwithstanding. The food is cooked fresh, so expect a wait of 15-20 mins, but it is worth it. The chicken is moist, the breading well-seasoned, and the portions generous. And it is HOT. Even the basic 200 - their medium - was spicy enough to make my head sweat. I added a 400 wing for a nominal fee, and it was much hotter but not in a showy way. It is balanced to benefit the chicken flavor, rather than to test the diner's bravery. I haven't eaten Prince's Hot Chicken, so I can't weigh in on the competition, but I thoroughly enjoyed the food and the people at 400 Degrees. Fried Chicken fans, don't hesitate.
(4)Tim M.
I was on a quest to try all 4 fried chicken places before year-end. This one was by far the worst - but I'm willing to give it a 2nd try. I had the 200 degrees (medium) and the staff told me that it was similar to the medium at Prince's. WRONG! This medium left my mouth on fire. I was seriously sweating as I consumed this chicken. The food itself - the chicken skin was so burnt. My friend and I described as follows: 1) You can cut through the skin and eat the white meat like a bread bowl. 2) It was like cutting steak. Heck, my fork snapped in half at 1 point. Service: Well, we don't come here for that but these people didn't even look at you. There was no one in line and the 2 ladies were socializing. As I started to ask questions about hotness and comparable to the other chicken places, she simply replied, "You can see the menu. It explains it." Don't want soda? Better bring your own cup. This same lady looked so annoyed that we asked for a cup for water. Willing to give this another try just so it gets a fair review on here - but with Bolton's and Prince's and even Pepperfire - why would you want to go here? Plus, they are the only ones that close at 7pm.
(3)Molly P.
BEST HOT CHICKEN IN THE WORLD!!! Hot chicken enthusiasts like to argue about who makes the best. The facts are, Prince's invented hot chicken, but 400 Degrees perfected it. I get the 200 which is a perfect balance of tasty buttermilk marinated chicken and cayenne heat. My husband goes for the 400 and does a dance when he eats it. I get a full body rush when I eat this stuff, it's like delicious delicious crack. The meat is tender and not greasy like other places and the crispy fries make a suitable companion. Call ahead and you won't have to wait. The owner takes the time to get to know her patrons and treats them like family. What more could you want?
(5)Melissa D.
They say that the 400 degrees chicken burns twice, and it does! Great flavor, super moist, and plenty of heat options to accommodate everyone. Will definitely come back again on my next trip to Nashville!
(5)Jay F.
Very cool little place and friendly staff, was impressed with the crispiness, and juiciness of the chicken, well cooked! My only complaint was the hot sauce mix seemed a little pasty and overpowering to other seasonings. The fries and potato salad were also very good, and the lady was so nice and helpful, even let me try a mix of 100 and 200 degree, I'll be back!
(4)Jim D.
Do not go for the spicy dry rub sprinkled at the end. Too gritty. Chicken was overcooked... I understand going beyond done to insure food safety but my chicken was drier than a popcorn f*rt. Only hot chicken joint on this side (downtown) of the river, a shame, now I am stuck driving to E. Nasty. Selling jars of spice mix for $20.00... you must be crazy.
(2)Jon C.
I enjoyed this place and the staff was extremely friendly! They recommended that I have the fried chicken at 200 degrees because "Asian people can eat spicy food." It turns out they were right because 200 degrees wasn't that bad for me (haha). In addition to the chicken, I had some fries and the sweet tea. The fries were seasoned and were very tasty. The sweet tea was good if you like it extremely sweet. I felt like it gave me diabetes.. All in all, it was both cheap and good.
(5)Jemina B.
I really wish they'd change their name to 400 DegreeZ. It would make me so happy. Nomenclature aside, 400 Degrees definitely has an advantage in comparison to their competitors - even super WASPy people who are scared of anyone who doesn't shop at Brooks Brothers would eat in their clean, almost food court-like building. I personally like my hot chicken experience with a smattering of near-death drama, but I was pleased with the clean tables, chairs, and floors. While this may seem like a minor point to you readers, please note that normal hot chicken venues don't always promise a non-greasy chair or table for you. The wait was typically long for hot chicken, but the food and sides didn't disappoint. I only ordered the 200 degrees as I was feeling puny that day and didn't want to further upset my stomach. If it were closer to my office or home, I'd definitely be a regular. Give it a try!
(4)Rob P.
The fried chicken is amazing! its not better that Prince's but its definitely good. The 400 degrees is for their hottest fried chicken which is too hot to handle, be sure if you want to do it! Finding the place is quiet hard and they don't even have a board outside the place! Most importantly , please order for the food before going there because they take a very long time to get your food when you place the order when you walk in! They took almost 30mins to serve mine!
(4)Tin N.
This is around 4.5 stars for me. I've hit all the major fried chicken places around Nashville multiple times over the past three and a half years. I like 400 Degrees more than most places because the chicken is both flavorful and spicy (two very different things). The chicken is less greasy than some places and the sides weren't bad at all. Honestly everyone has different [and very personal] preferences when it comes to fried chicken in the south. Some will hop on Prince, others claim Bolton, some swear by Monell, and then there's the handful of restaurants that aren't specific for fried chicken but have it on their menu somewhere. You can't really go wrong at any of these locations when it comes down to the fried chicken. Sure there are differences in flavor, greasiness, and spiciness, but they'll change the rating AT MOST 1 star (closer to 0.5 star). It boils down to personal preference and auxiliary stuff like wait times, customer service, cleanliness, etc when you see differences in reviews among those restaurants mentioned above. Whatever. It's fried chicken and you're in the South. You can't find it better elsewhere. If you dislike all of them, then I'll be happy to examine you. ;-)
(5)T G.
I rarely write reviews, but This place is great! The bar tender at our hotel gave us the recommendation for a good local place. I'm glad we took it! It is in a food court and an unlikely place, but super worth it! The pork chops were soooooooo good and my boyfriend loved the chicken. You get a lot of food for a great price! The lady, Aquia is extremely nice. You have to come here! It is a good deal. Mind you, it is not a place to go if you want healthy food or veggies. BUT, if you are looking for some really good, greasy, spicy porkchops or chicken, this IS THE place.
(4)Michael N.
Being that I'm from the Bay Area, I think my palate has had different training than what you'd get if you grew up in the south. I heard about this hot chicken thing and being that I was stuck here for a week, I figured I'd give it a shot. I tried Princes and Bolton's first, and found that what kept me from eating a full meal of chicken from those places was not the heat, but the salt content. I just don't like that much salt in my food as I don't think it tastes particularly good and (more importantly!) it hides any remotely subtle flavors. I find this problem interesting given that I find that the what I primarily identify with BBQ in the south is that it tends to come un-sauced as opposed to California where you typically get BBQ that's drenched in sauce -- no doubt to hide the fact that California BBQ is really bad. So, we finally get to 400 Degrees which is really delicious and comparatively far, far less salty than its Princes/Bolton counterparts. Not only did I finish my full half chicken, but I even ate some of the oil+spicy rub drenched bread pieces. I had the sweet baked beans and the creamy slaw as well, which were nice contrasts to the crunchy, salty, spicy chicken. Total was ~$14 for the half chicken and two sides. 400 Degrees is located in a spacious and clean Quiznos building which made the 20-minute wait very comfortable. The owner was there and was very nice and charming. I greatly wanted to ask her out, but I had the strong suspicion that chubby, asian computer guys weren't her thing. Besides, I'm in Berkeley, she's in Nashville -- it would just never work. Aqui, whenever I have hot chicken, I'll always think of you...
(5)Robert M.
Not being from Nashville I am a hot chicken novice, so no point of comparison with Princes, Bolton or Pepperfire. But we are here to rate the food (not the building it sits in) and I have tried fried chicken here and there over a lifetime...and a stomach of steel ready to take on Nashville's best shot. All I have to say is that Atlanta needs some hot chicken shacks quickly. This shit is crack. After reading the reviews, I called ahead and had no wait. I went for the wings, pork chops and fries. The chick was cooked perfect. Crisp to the bite on the outside, but moist fall off the bone chik on the innards. That's some fucking good chik let me tell you. Colonel Sanders should have moved to TN. I'm a pork chop freak. Give me the other white meat every day, or whatever they are calling it these days. The other white meat was a home run. My only complaint about each is the dry rub was pretty thick. Feels a bit grainy in your mouth (and maybe this is the point, what do I know) so it's not something I'd eat every day. The fries? Sysco's finest crinkle cut fries. I'll never get this. You put a shit ton of effort into a quality chik product, cooked to order and all that shit...then you plop some standard crap fries on the plate? Screw Sysco and their lousy substandard fries. Even fast food joints like In and Out Burger are slamming a potato and cutting real fries in front of your face, places like this could do the same. Overall though...bring the burn!
(4)ryan M.
Very clean eating facility that shares its space with a few other fast food joints. The chicken is cooked fresh and hot, both in spice and temp. I got the 200 degrees of heat level for my chicken, and tried a 400 pork chop. The chicken was a big breast that was very juicy and flavorful, and spicy. I'm someone that eats a lot of hot foods and have a high heat tolerance, and the 200 is perfect for someone that wants to open up the nasal passages a bit. Honestly the 100 would be perfect to enjoy the chicken taste the best. The pork chop is big, and 400 was pretty darn hot. We liked their slaw and potato salad, as well as the seasoned fries. Going to be a favorite when in Nashville.
(4)Richard C.
Nashville's hot chicken is my weakness and 400 degrees is a great place to get some. Their hours are a little weird but they do have a little parking lot. Hot chicken fanatics might be a little skeptical because it is so clean, but it is the real deal. I have had both the 200 and 400 degree versions. They aren't kidding when they tell the 400 degree is so hot it will burn you twice. Be sure to get their awesome sweet tea to wash it down.
(4)Michelle P.
I now have a need hot chicken place that I truly love, now that I have quit patronizing Princes. The wait isn't dreadfully long. I was able to call in my order without the number being constantly busy. They quote that it will be ready in 20 minutes and when I arrived it was ready! Surprise, Surprise! The location is convenient and less scary. I didn't have to worry about parking or strange men coming on to me. :-) The workers were polite and nice. They even offered small talk. I have been 3 times since finding out about this place. I have tried both 400 and 200. The 400 is great when you want the hotness. The 200 is more bare able for those who don't like the devil hot 400. I have tried the leg quarter, breast and wings. The only compliant there is the portion size of the wings. If the wings were bigger, that would be heaven. Between Pepperfire and 400 Degrees, I am at peace with my hot chicken cravings. Thanks 400 Degrees for treating your paying customers with kindness and respect for our time and money.
(4)Carson O.
400 Degrees is my favorite hot chicken joint, and I've had them all multiple times. The location is fantastic (right downtown), the space is nice (food court with quiznos and a couple other places) and the staff is super friendly. The owner, who is there every day, is a wonderful lady who remembers and cares about her customers. Their chicken is made exactly the same, all day, every day. At Prince's and Bolton's, sometimes you catch them on an off day, or their chicken isn't quite the same at some points in the day, but at 400 Degrees it's always consistent. And the chicken itself is delectable. 200 is a perfect level of spice and flavor, but super spicy fans will love the 400 (or even the off the menu 500 if you want a challenge). I live away from Nashville while I'm in college, but every time I come back this is the first place I go.
(5)David R.
My cousins in Nashville mentioned 400 Degrees. Definitely a good alternative to Prince's. I ordered my chicken at 200 degrees. It was good and well seasoned. In my opinion one of the first seasoned I smell and tasted was ground white pepper. I would have went again the last time I was in Nashville, but they were closed. I do plan to go again. Another thing I like to know about places is whether debit/credit cards are accepted. (as of 10/2009) Not here; bring cash!
(4)Janet S.
Come on said Pablo, this is the only one we have not tried,....1 breast medium hot = 200 degrees. Savage it was or as they say in Heathers, .......'me gently with a chainsaw. I managed to salvage some chicken without skin and it was still an inferno, Seems like it is the hottest chicken in Nashville - not sure if it is the best chicken but hey does it really matter when you are on fire. $6 and super nice friendly lady who was the chicken mistress today. Limited parking outside, It is shared space with Nuvo, Quizno and J Gumbo, so dining in is an option. Super convenient for convention center attendees when it opens. Call in 20 minutes ahead of time you need it as it is all cooked fresh to order. Pablo has just run off to Boltons to get a piece to compare....trouble tonight methinks!
(3)David A.
This is a must stop for me when in Nashville. To say I love the chicken is an understatement. Its the best I have ever had. Great and easy spot for take out or nice place to stay and eat. Owner Aqui Simpson and her staff are friendly and always happy. Don't miss this treat of Nashville.
(5)Jason S.
I've been pretty impressed with this place. First things out of the way, I really don't care where a place is located or what it looks like unless it is clean and has delicious food. This place does have delicious food and got a 95 on their health inspection rating. So both criteria are met there. Now to the good stuff, the chicken. It is juicy and very flavorful. It is clear that they either put it in a spicy brine or marinade prior to cooking, and it makes all the difference. As for the style of the fried chicken, it comes out crisp with a spicy wet finish on the outside. I got the 400 degrees level and it was hot, but not enough to make me sweat. As a matter of fact, I didn't take the first sip of my soda until I was done. Given that I am spicy freak, this should be plenty hot enough for mortals (for reference, I can eat the spiciest thing Prince's has without batting an eye, I frequently consider using pepper spray as a condiment). But all in all, damn good fried chicken. For sides, they have spicy crinkle fries (hit the spot), baked beans (the way they are supposed to be made), cole slaw and potato salad. As well, they have a couple of random things like a burger(?) and they have fresh cookies for dessert. Another nice perk about this joint is the people that run it are friendly - great customer service. So there is another way they have Prince's beat. Their hours are a little wonky,. 11AM-3PM M-F and 11AM-1AM Saturday. As well, they only take cash, so make sure you come prepared or you'll be washing dishes. My wait time was very reasonable, a little less than 20 minutes, and they recommend you call in your order in advance.
(4)Mike J.
Calling ahead was a smart choice, our chicken was ready within the time frame that they gave over the phone. And, it was great. I got the 200 degree breast/wing. I am a hot chicken novice, but it's hard for me to imagine how the taste of their chicken could be improved upon. In fact, on taste-of-chicken alone this joint would easily garner 4 stars. Holding it back is the ambiance, which is exactly like that of a food court in a small-town mall. Except, no mall. The chicken had a robust spicy crust - almost caramelized. Delicious, but damn near impossible to eat with the plastic knife and fork they gave us. Next time, take out. Steer clear of the wings, they are TINY, little more than skin, spice and grease - yeeech!
(3)Ryan O.
If you like hot chicken but are grossed out by some of the not so great locations then 400 degrees on Peabody Street is for you. It is hole in the wall food without the hole in the wall atmosphere. Something almost feels wrong about eating hot chicken in a new clean urban spot but whatever it's good. Their new home is a semi food court so they share a larger area with a few other restaurants. The chicken here is good. I would rank it second on my hot chicken list above Prince's but below Bolton's. Prices are comparable. The breading was my favorite part. If they offered chicken on a stick I think I would probably give them 5 stars. I ordered mine 400 degrees and it was probably the hottest chicken I've had... even more so than extra hot at other places. I can usually handle heat no problem but 400 degrees stuck with me for a long while. They don't take cards so bring cash. Everything is made to order so it will take a while. You can call in your order ahead of time and I would recommend it especially around lunch.
(4)Josh M.
I went here with a couple co-workers for lunch. It's interesting because it's located in what seems like a food court, so there is plenty of seating. The people here are nice, but not as friendly as the folks at Bolton's. I order the breast qtr at 200 degrees, which is there version of medium. It was spicy and awesome. The chicken is breaded and they use a sauce dry spice combo, which works well. Unless you call ahead, you will probably wait up to half an hour for your order.
(4)Shawn B.
Smack yo grandma! This is some spicy hot and deeeeelish chicken. Friendly service. The chicken is fresh, meaty and the breading is crunchy and packed with flavor. The 400 was too spicy for me and tore the ass outta me. The 200 about the same. The 100 was just right for me. A little kick. Long live 400 degrees. A gem.
(4)Richard N.
I have not tried other hot chicken places either. The outside was crispy which is how I want it. i got the 400 degrees and it kicked my butt. They warned me but I wanted to do the macho thing. Next time, I'll opt for the 200. Ambiance is lacking but the food is sure tasty. The sweet tea was really good as well.
(4)John H.
Seriously great HOT chicken. If you like searingly spicy food then definitely get the 400 degree level, but be warned, they are not kidding about the heat. It is HOT!!! Great prices and extremely friendly staff. You'll want to call ahead to avoid the wait.
(5)Joey H.
Most Chain-like Hot Chicken in Nashville (It's located in a food court). Which might mean less character, but there's also more seating available. There's no signage on the outside, but just follow the directions to Quizno's and you'll get there. I went at 3 pm and found a spot in the smallish parking lot. No line either, but still a 20 minute wait for my mild chicken tenders with fries. Very friendly lady working the counter, and a good decent meal, although nothing made it stand out in particular. Great fries too. Would probably go with the 200 next time around.
(3)Diandre M.
Way better than princess. But I warn you don't do the 4 if u don't have the stomach.
(4)Marie E.
I love hot chicken, and have been loyal to Prince's Hot Chicken for over 20 years...BUT, I have become quite dissatisfied with Prince's. I just can't deal with the wait and poor customer service anymore. Today, my co-workers and I decided to give 400 Degrees a try. THANK GOD we did. It was great!!!! They actually answered the phone when we called in our order, AND it was ready on time when we got there to pick it up! Go figure! The chicken was delicious. Very tasteful and priced great. Thank you GOD I don't ever have to go to Prince's again for Hot Chicken!
(5)Lee K.
I love hot chicken and 400 Degrees serves up the best hot chicken available. I carry an undying love for Mr. Boo's that 400 Degrees can't replace, but Mr. Boo's is sadly long gone. The hot chicken at 400 Degrees is caked in spice, and is always crispy and decidedly delicious. Good hot chicken starts with good fried chicken, and here 400 Degrees has Prince's clearly beat, specifically on the quality of the meat. The staff is great, especially compared to Prince's. Call ahead, order a 400 Degree dark quarter, sweat, be happy.
(4)mark s.
If you want to try Nashville's Famous Hot Chicken this is a good spot. This would be a 4 star if you are a fan of super hot stuff. Just a few blocks from the downtown honky tonk spots, but it closes early so go for lunch. This is in a shared food court with some other places. Clean and friendly, but not much on atmosphere. $10 got me a chicken breast on top of two slices of white bread, side of potato salad & a drink. Not bad, but I would not call it a great value. The Chicken was fried perfectly to order. I like that they cook to order and the chicken is never sitting around. You order your chick 100, 200,300 or 400 degrees. I went 200 and it was hot enough. Some good flavor, but mostly heat. If you you love the heat, I'd give this place a try.
(3)Erin J.
LOVED the hot chicken here, just wish I had ordered it hotter!! We were a bit shaded out by the location but ever since we'd heard about how awesome it is we decided to come anyway. The place is a serious hole-in-the-wall but so worth it. We were greeted when we walked in by a really nice lady behind the counter. She asked how we'd heard about the place & was genuinely happy we'd come in. Great start! We ordered a leg quarter and a breast, and after much persuasion from the people working there, we went with 100 degrees. Not really that spicy at all but still very very good. We doctored it up with some hot sauce, and we know next time to at least go for the 200. They make it fresh when you walk in the door & order so if you call ahead it can be ready for you. Us first-timers know that now for next time! It was a very small eating area, maybe enough for 6 people, but we ended up eating there anyway. We had the fries & slaw as our sides which were nothing crazy but still good. Overall I'd have to say our experience was great. We will certainly go back again when we get the hankerin' for some hot chicken (and we will call ahead too!). By the way, THEY DO NOT TAKE CARDS. You either need cash or check.
(5)Mike M.
The 200 degree chicken breast was fairly spicy and came from the kitchen quite steamy. I had the baked beans as a side. The beans are sweet and not spicy and I found them to be pretty tasty. The bird was a bit lacking in the meat department. I wouldn't call it fast food since my order took 25 minutes to arrive. Not a bad experience, but I've had better and the atmosphere being an austere food court with Quizno's and another vendor left me longing for a local dive with funky wall hangings.
(1)Lawson P.
Great food. Friendly staff. It's so clean and you can see your food being prepared right before you. It's not necessary to bad mouth another Hot Chicken place to convey how great 400 Degrees is. Just go, ok?
(5)James R.
Wow. It's getting hot in here. 400 degrees hotter, to be exact. A relatively new player to the Hot Chicken market here in Nashville (who knew there'd be such a niche?), 400 Degrees packs a lot of heat into a little joint. Ok, so maybe the area of town isn't the greatest. And maybe parking isn't fantastic. Oh, and perhaps the sign isn't that visible so that you end up driving by a cemetery five times before you see it (talk about a buzz kill). But oh, is this Chicken worth it. Served in three levels of heat (100 to 400 degrees - get it?), this chicken is worth the drive and worth the wait. Similar to one of the other major players in town (Prince's Hot Chicken), the secret of this chicken is in the rub and the marinade. So expect your chicken, your bread, your bag and your car seat to be sopped in grease once you pick up your order. However, unlike some of the other players, you don't have to wait an hour to get your meal. Call it in, pick it up, and you are licking pure heat off your fingers within minutes. And don't forget the sides. The standard fares of French fries, Cole slaw and the likes are done with southern grace here, and slightly infused with a bit of the spice. A word to the wise - no matter how much this chicken makes you cry, please make sure to wash your hands before you wipe your tears. Trust me, however, this chicken is worth a little pain.
(4)Andrew C.
Ok - a dude from work suggested this place and simply told me: 'Get ready to get your taste buds burnt off.' Wasn't too far from the truth. For anyone who loves hot, fried chicken - this is the spot to go to in Nashville. If you are in a hurry - call ahead with your order as nothing is pre-made. Took us about 20 minutes to get our food - but worth the wait. Oh yeah - it's cash only too. The menu is quite simple - tell the people chicken or pork (may be more options I'm not sure) and hotness factor: 100, 200, or 400. The portions are big, the fries are, well, fries, and the piece of bread they give you could cause a normal man to have a heart attack with the amount of hot goodness soaked into it. Only negative thing about this place I could find is no A/C, but if you require A/C you are probably a wimp anyway and shouldn't eat here.
(4)Luis O.
Damn good Hot Chicken. I think there is some obvious comparisons between all the different hot chicken places in town. I can say without a doubt I would go here first, before I'd go anywhere else. Why? First, there is no absurd hour long wait for chicken like at Prince's. Secondly, The woman who owns the place is just a really nice person overall. I think the last time I was at Prince's I just got a surly woman bark at me to order faster. Lastly, the restaurant is a really convenient drive from where I live ( I love convenience!). Now, I do acknowledge that it is in a fairly shady part of town, but I really think if you let that stop you from going here that would be a shame. Try a 400 Breast and see if you agree!
(5)James E.
The chicken here is ok, the dry rub is so thick it's like a freaking cake of spice, I felt like I was eating straight dry rub spices half the time and couldn't find the chicken.
(2)Tart L.
Delightfully painful chicken is here in Peabody Corner food court. Dare to test your limits and go the full monty. Just ask the cook for the maximum "400 degree" spiced heat which I promise will make you cry. If you're a wild one, but not that crazy, try the 300 degree. Initiates might be wise to start with the medium 200 degree choice. Sissy boys and girls can get the mild, and say they've been here and sampled the heat. Most choose breasts or the hot legs, but wings and fiery pork are also available. Pepperfire tastes better but this spot has nice spacious inside seating and wifi.
(4)