I have no idea how anyone eats their food and lives to tell the story. They have 5 spice levels and I would not suggest going above 3. It's really tasty but also debilitating after a certain point (level 4 was all we could even touch). I would say this is more memorable than Prince as an experience because of their spiciness, but I think I would tradeoff that for slightly more edible food. However, it certainly beats the crazy long waits at Prince's.
Bolton's is right up there with Prince's for old school, authentic Nashville hot chicken, but has the added perk of having hot fish. The sides are better than Prince's and Hattie B's, and there is rarely a long wait, unlike the former two. Be sure to get one of the cool sides with your meal, as Bolton's is also the most liberal with their cayenne pepper on the standard 'hot.' If you want a true Nashville hot chicken experience, this is your best bet for cost, taste, lack of packed-ness, and heat.
Fantastic place - no frills inside or out but freshly prepared, delicious and HOT. I was a first timer to Nashville hot chicken and went for 6 wings, medium - it was plenty hot enough. Crispy, spicy and good. I'll be going back
Incredible!. The chicken was amazing of course. If you order "hot", not even "extra hot", just "hot", be prepared because it has roughly the heat of "native hot" Thai food. Juicy, crispy crust, very spicy, AMAZING. However, that wasn't even the best part. They had perhaps the best turnip greens I ever ate, and this is from a Tennessee redneck who has eaten a LOT of turnip greens. This was the Melrose location.
Downhome. Taste and feel!! Almost like my uncles are in the kitchen...LOL.
Great food!!
Mighty Fine. One of the best pieces of fried chicken ever! I ordered mine spicy and it couldn't have been any better. Nothing left but bones. Will be back again . . . probably tomorrow.
Best hot chicken in Nashville, by far. I live a lot closer to Prince's and I will drive the extra few miles to go to Bolton's. If you are new start with the mild or you will regret it!
The best chicken I've had in years, and the greens and green beans were mighty flavorful too. A few days ago I stopped at a famous chicken eatery in Indiana and found the bird disappointingly greasy. Bolton's is packed with flavor, not grease.
Hannah - Inner I Art
+4.5
Why, yes! My lips are pleasantly puffy after eating that chicken. I am a harsh judge & I was charmed by this place. We were the only non locals in this joint, which we found simple & small. The baked beans & greens are flavored better than average for the area, & the woman working there was friendly & quick. BUT the most important part is IT'S LEGITIMATE SPICE! I have never had spicier chicken, & I've tried quite a few. I've noticed, being pigmently challenged & from out of town I have to look people square in the eye & say, "I would like mine quite spicy. I can handle in." to be believed. (This is advice for those that thought it wasn't spicy enough.) Thanks for a fun experience!
We Were Promised Coleslaw
+4.5
It feels right eating hot chicken in a concrete block building. Don't go for the ambiance, unless eating in a garage is your idea of a great time. Go for the hot chicken thigh plate, the greens and the spaghetti. It's classic East Nashville hot chicken, and it's absolutely wonderful.
This was a big deal for me. My first experience with truly authentic Nashville Hot Chicken. And it did not disappoint. Be ready for a wait as it's a busy and popular place. However it's completely worthwhile as the chicken was spectacular. Perfectly crispy batter and cooked to perfection. You can get varying levels of heat and they all run fairly spicy. I went with the extra spicy for full effect and it was painfully delicious. Loved the pride and enthusiasm from the staff as well. It's quite apparent this is a labor of love for them.
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I decided to eat at Bolton's because I seen it on a show with Anthony Bourdain. Let me tell you it did not disappoint. The chicken was crispy, tender, and juicy. If it's your first time eating here the spice level is a little misleading but delivers. This is truly a Nashville institution and is what all other Nashville hot chicken places should aspire to be. It's the standard by which all others should be judged. My wife got the light mild which gave her a good mouth burn and I got the hot. Let it be known that I am a spice junkie and this did not disappoint and I ended up needing some ranch dressing to cool it down a bit. They use a dry rub which keeps the chicken crunchy which makes it so much better than the other wet sauce based places and the sides were amazing. I had the mac and potato salad and my wife had the coleslaw and green beans and they all hit the spot. The only negative I had was the drinks were not cold enough but that could have been because of the heat from the spice. I will leave you with this... if you really want to experience Nashville hot chicken at it's finest... you need to try Bolton's.
Passable for chicken. Spiciest one out of the bunch (mild will.get you). Their rub is apllied lightly, but flavor isn't all there compared to the other big boys. Catfish was stupendous , would go back strictly for the fried fish.
Old neighborhood joint, kinda run down , but can see why it's a neighborhood staple.
Bolton's is a Nashville institution and a forefather of the Hot Chicken so I was very excited to finally visit. We ordered the leg quarter, chicken on a stick ( because food on a stick is always better!) and the catfish sandwich. I found the chicken to be cooked very well and the seasoning was very delicious while still being pleasantly warm. The medium was definitely packing some heat, akin to a Serrano pepper. The baked beans were sweet and delicious, the other sides were okay. The catfish sandwich was crispy and delicious, the mustard worked well with the heat, cannot wait for my next one!
We saw this place on one of Guy's shows and just had to try it. The fish was great. Had a good flavor, and the hot is hot, so be prepared. Their wings are pretty big, and they're fried crispy. The wife didn't like the coleslaw, though. I'm not sure why. Overall, it was a good meal. If I'm the area, we may stop by again. We just wouldn't make the 45-minute trip just to eat.
Incredible chicken and fish. Absolutely delicious, and the most authentic! Everyone is super cool too. Don’t be fooled by the competition, this is THE spot for your hot chicken. Mac&Cheese is fantastic too!
The crew said this place has been there for 75 years if I remember correctly. I saw the catfish in the menu and had to check it out. Got the medium because I was told it was considered hot. It's spicy but not as hot as I was expecting. Tried the hot as well, which was hotter but not overwhelming. My tolerance is a little higher so if you aren't into hot/spicy food, a step below medium should be fine. The catfish was delicious, good fries, green beans were also hot and very tasty. Ohh, can't forget the strawberry pie. I didn't eat the pie right away. It sat in the car for 20 minutes and with that suns heat warming it up, I would definitely get it again. I would check it out if you're coming to Nashville.
Their medium is very spicy. I got the mild and had to soak some of the spices off with my bread. Chicken was good. Sides were ok. Service was fast. Place is very old and not kept well. Women restroom was out of order.
Super solid hot chicken. Got to talk to one of the cooks for a while - real sweet dude! Adding some history behind our experience was awesome.
Also for those playing along at home - the mild is pretty spicy. I'd like to think I can hang a little with some fairly spicy stuff. The lip tingles were real on the mild. Buyer beware.
Everybody says you have to try Hot Chicken around Nashville. Well, we did. It was pretty good! However, I don’t know if I’d need to go back. The chicken breading was some of the best I’ve had on chicken tenders. The fries were fine, the Mac n cheese was ok, and the slaw was average for a restaurant. There are six spice levels — nothing, extra mild, mild, medium, hot, and fire (or something like that). I’m ok at spice, but I thought I’d try extra mild just so that I didn’t regret it. Oh boy. My mouth was on FIRE. It was a good kick, but boy oh boy did it HURT. If you’re like me and like some kick to your food but aren’t spice crazy, be warned: don’t be brave. The chicken is delicious; but I’m not sure if I’d come back for $15+ a plate. It’s worth the stop to say you’ve had hot chicken.
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