It’s been done with burgers, pizza and sandwiches. Now chefs are trying a particular style of fried chicken as a way to ride the fast-casual boom. The last week alone has brought ambitious expansion announcements from three upstarts specializing in Nashville “hot chicken,” a spiced-up version traditionally served in a fashion reminiscent of a hot open sandwich.
They join a flock of slightly earlier entrants who are garnering a following far from Music City.
Here’s a quick review of the various contenders to date and how they differ from one another.