What Do You Eat With Hot Chicken?
- 2 sections
- 1 table
- 4 sources cited
The plate comes with two companions already: the white bread underneath and the pickle chips on top, which Wikipedia names as part of the dish’s traditional presentation (Wikipedia). Beyond that, pick a side or two from the restaurant’s menu, such as mac and cheese, fries, slaw, or a dessert, plus a drink that helps with the heat. Milk is the one to know: Wikipedia’s capsaicin article says cold milk may be an effective way to relieve the burning, because of the caseins in milk (Wikipedia, Capsaicin).
Sides Named at Nashville Spots
| Spot | What the source points to |
|---|---|
| 400 Degrees | "The play here: the leg quarter with fries, no exceptions" |
| Firebeak | ask for the Korean-style spicy BBQ sauce and the red cabbage-based slaw on the bun with pickles; fries come in a big basket |
| Pepperfire | green chili mac and cheese and banana pudding |
| Red's 615 Chicken | a hot chicken crunchwrap with comeback sauce and pimento mac and cheese inside |
| Hattie B's | Creamy Bacon-Cheddar Grits as a savory side, and waffles with honey butter and maple syrup on the everyday menu (Hattie B's FAQ) |
Hattie B’s menu details are in the Hattie B’s FAQ.
Source for the first four rows: The Infatuation’s hot chicken guide, October 15, 2026. Menus change, so check the restaurant’s current list.
Building the Plate
- Eat the bread and pickles; they are part of the traditional plate.
- Add a contrast if you like one, such as slaw or mac and cheese next to the spiced chicken.
- Order milk if you go hot, since water does little against capsaicin.
- Save room for dessert where a spot is known for one, such as Pepperfire’s banana pudding.
Whether every plate comes on bread is in whether hot chicken is always served on white bread, and where to go is in the best hot chicken spots in Nashville.