What Is the Best Time to Get Hot Chicken with No Wait?
- 2 sections
- 1 table
- 3 sources cited
No time of day guarantees no wait. Two practical ways to cut the wait are ordering ahead for pickup and picking a spot known for short lines. Hattie B’s FAQ says you can order for delivery or pickup through the “Order” button on its website or its app (Hattie B’s FAQ), so you place the order before you arrive instead of in line. For walking up, The Infatuation’s hot chicken guide, updated October 15, 2026, describes two options. Red’s 615 Chicken near the Parthenon is “pretty casual and accessible, thanks to its walk-up window near the Parthenon and the lack of lines you find at other places.” Hattie B’s is “a touristy spot with long lines at every location” and the guide adds the tip “go to the Melrose one” (The Infatuation). Lines change by day, hour, and event calendar. Check a live busyness indicator in a maps app before you go.
Options for a Shorter Wait
| Option | Why it helps | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Order ahead for pickup at Hattie B's | you order before you arrive and skip the ordering line | Hattie B's FAQ |
| Red's 615 Chicken, 115 27th Ave N | a walk-up window, and "the lack of lines you find at other places" | The Infatuation |
| Hattie B's Melrose, 2222 8th Ave S | the guide's pick among Hattie B's locations | The Infatuation |
| Prince's "Order Online" | order before you arrive; check each location's options | Prince's |
Prince’s online ordering is on its site.
Timing Your Visit
- Check opening hours for that day on the restaurant’s own site; they differ by location.
- Look at the live busyness for the exact location in a maps app, then pick the quietest hour that fits your plans.
- Avoid stacking it on a big event: concerts, games, and festivals downtown bring crowds; event weeks are covered in the best time to visit Broadway.
- Order ahead if your time is fixed, for example before a flight or a show.
Where each spot is and what it serves is in the best hot chicken spots in Nashville.