There is only one dish that combines savory heat with fried chicken. The famous hot chicken sandwich has captured the hearts of countless spice lovers with a 76-year history originating in Tennessee. According to Mashed.comthe very first southern classic is attributed to Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack in Nashville. The famous spicy sandwich is usually seen on a slice of bread with briny sliced pickles and dressed in a sauce ranging from mild to medium to hot.
Although this fare has been around for decades, its resurgence has taken Denver’s dining scene by storm with hot chicken restaurants popping up everywhere. As this dish’s virality takes over social media, its simplistic ingredients and sweaty spices will last a lifetime.
As more and more hot chicken joints slide onto the scene, this list serves as a passport to a mind-numbing trip around Denver.
flamboyant bird
Photo by Brandon Johnson
Location: Arvada, Fort Collins, Englewood, Denver
The truth : Invented as a “spicy” sandwich, flamboyant bird opened its first location in Arvada and quickly branched out across the state. With locations in downtown Denver, Fort Collins and Englewood, Nashville’s hot menu is available to the masses. The fare includes a couple of tender spicy sandwiches with the choice of sizzling sauce from original, mild and medium to hot, extra hot and flaming (signed waiver required). Besides the classics, the menu revisits burritos, macaroni and cheese, fries and tacos by adding spicy chicken.
READ MORE: Blazing Bird heats up the Arvada restaurant scene
Chicken Breast
Photo by Adrienne Thomas
Location: 275 Union Blvd South, Lakewood
The truth : Located in Lakewood, Chicken Breast offers a worldly twist on the traditional hot chicken sandwich with a chicken katsu ($12.25) served on fried rice, macaroni salad and katsu sauce. Rather than a typical side dish, the menu features Mexican street corn, fried rice, and Vietnamese coleslaw. Sauces include Jalapeno Honey Mustard, Buffalo Ranch, Golden Garlic Blue Cheese and Sweet Chili. If this isn’t a trip for delicious Texas toast and spicy chicken, then the team’s strong sense of community is worth the support!
READ MORE: Brother and Sister Duo Open Chicken Joint in Lakewood with Styles From Around the World
Lou’s food bar
Photo courtesy of Lou’s Food Bar on Facebook
Location: 701 Grant Street, Denver
The truth : at Lou’s is a Nashville-style hot chicken from Chef Frank Bonanno. Some familiar Bonanno concepts in Denver include Luca, Green Russell, Osteria Marco, French 75 and more. Lou’s offers various cuts of chicken dressed in three different ways – hot, medium or naked. While this chicken restaurant offers an eclectic menu set up like a family reunion, the Lou’s Classic Chicken Sandwich ($7.50) has distant relatives joining in the fun. An Avocado Ranch Chicken Sandwich, Buffalo Chicken, Russel’s BBQ Chicken and Lou’s Cubano also grace the menu.
rebel chicken
Photo by Alden Boncutter
Location: 3618 Tejon Street, Denver
The truth : rebel chicken is known for its Farmhouse Sandwich ($10.50) complete with bacon, avocado and buttermilk ranch, but the Firebird ($9.75) is a very underrated Nashville hot chicken sandwich. It’s simply dressed in coleslaw and crunchy pickles, but that’s what it’s all about – letting Nashville Hot’s spicy dipped chicken soak up the limelight. As a bonus, this chicken joint loaded toddlers in five different styles, from green chili and buffalo to warm honey, lemon zest and parmesan cheese.
READ MORE: Chicken Rebel expands herd with Westminster Store
bird call
Photo courtesy of Stephan Werk for Birdcall
Location: DU, Five Points, Union Station, Cherry Hills, Boulder and Colorado Springs
The truth : With a dedicated chicken sandwich menu, it’s only right to have the Classic Hot Nashville ($7.50). bird call takes a mild approach by topping the chicken with sweet buttery pickles, but this complements the heat perfectly. With a fast and casual concept, Bird Call is perfect for a quick grab-and-go bite or a lunch stop. Most recently, the Cherry Hills Village location opened with a full tequila bar and boozy margaritas.
Music City Hot Chicken
Photo by Kori Hazel
Location: Fort Collins and Denver
The truth : The Denver satellite location is outside the TRVE Brewing Company dining room on South Broadway. city of music offers a no-frills menu with an insane level of heat ranging from Nashville Hot and Jamaican jerk to a mix of green chilies and flammable solid ($1). With a sauce name like flammable solid, you’re sure to start leaking from every pore.
Dave’s Hot Chicken
Photo by Adrienne Thomas
Location: 1615 Platte Street, Denver
The truth : Another common chicken blessing in Denver is Dave’s Hot Chicken. Hailing from East Hollywood, this famed restaurant has come to Denver with flaming chicken. The intimate menu offers three different meals – two tender and fries, two tender sliders and fries and finally a combination of tender and slider with fries. Dave’s has really mastered a full balanced flavor profile when it comes to the sauce – there’s a slight sweetness to reduce the heat and avoid an abundance of saltiness.
native foods
Photo courtesy of Native Foods on Facebook
Location: 680 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale
The truth : Native foods is a vegan restaurant offering take-out, delivery and dine-in options. Although the hot chicken sandwiches are not vegan, this restaurant has adapted the familiar flavors to provide the same experience. the Hot Honey Sandwich ($13.25) is crispy plant-based chicken in a tangy honey sauce topped with southern coleslaw, jalapeno slices and plant-based mayonnaise.
Whether vegan, fiery, or traditional, these Denver Hot Chicken Joints push the envelope and are truly the pride of Nashville Hot Chicken legends.
Find out more in the “Viral Foods and Where to Find Them in Denver” series here.
