Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas
Last weekend my brother Don and nephew Stone came to town to watch the Chicago Bears play the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. With the super popularity of Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas, we thought it would be fun to do a “hot chicken tasting” the day before the game.
We chose 5 popular restaurants off The Strip that serve Nashville Hot Chicken, all on the south end of Las Vegas. We ordered one sandwich, with a side, to split between the three of us. If there was a choice of degree of spiciness, we chose the medium spice to be consistent.
The sandwich was rated on a scale of 1 to 10 in five different categories: chicken, spices, bun, presentation, and toppings. At the end, we reviewed our ratings and we each gave the sandwiches an overall ranking.
“If fried chicken lore is to be believed, Nashville hot chicken was created by a woman scorned. Sometime in the 1930s, there was a handsome man named Thornton Prince III living in Nashville. To put it in polite terms, Thornton was…active…on the dating scene — so active in fact that one of his girlfriends decided to seek revenge on his two-timing ways by cooking him some fried chicken with a little too much of a kick to it. The plan backfired; Thornton loved the chicken. And thus, Nashville hot chicken was born.” (from Eater Las Vegas)
Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas Tasting
SkinnyFats Blaze of Thunder – Tasting #1
140 S Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson
Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken, Creamy Slaw, Pickles, Hawaiian Bun
Side: Truffle Fries
highlights
- thick and very juicy chicken
- hawaiian style bun a favorite
lowlights
- spices didn’t wow, too mild
Houston’s Hot Chicken Sandwich – Tasting #2
1500 N Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson
Nashville Hot Chicken with a Houston Kick
Brioche Bun, Pickles, House Slaw, Houston’s Sauce
Side: Crinkle-Cut Fries
highlights
- juicy chicken
- balanced spiciness (not too hot/not too mild)
- liked pickles, slaw, and special sauce combination
lowlights
- bun was just ok
Slater’s 50/50 Nashville Screamin’ Hot Chicken Sandwich – Tasting #3
467 E Silverado Ranch Blvd #100, Las Vegas
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Breast, Nashville Sauce, Jalapeño Slaw, Ranch Dressing, Pickled Red Onions, Brioche Bun, Fried Whole Jalapeño
Side: Sweet Potato Fries
highlights
- presentation rocked
- loved pickled red onions
- jalapeño slaw and ranch dressing
lowlights
- too bready
- chicken was on the drier side
Belly Bombz Special Fried Chicken Sandwich Nashville Hot – Tasting #4
467 E Silverado Ranch Blvd #125, Las Vegas
Crispy Chicken Thigh, Nashville Hot Sauce, Arugula, Tomato, Korean Chili Aioli, House Pickles
Side: Miso Citrus Slaw
highlights
- spices, sauces, and presentation ranked high
- tomato and arugula surprisingly worked
lowlights
- somewhat greasy
- not typical nashville hot chicken sandwich (but mighty tasty nevertheless)
UPDATE: Belly Bombz Las Vegas has sadly permanently closed.
Farmtable Nashville Hot Chicken – Tasting #5
6587 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, at Town Square
Fried Nashville Hot Chicken Breast, Vermont Cheddar, Bacon, Toasted Brioche Bun, Iceberg Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, BBQ Sauce
Side: Creamy Southern Coleslaw
highlights
- very generous size piece of chicken
- seriously the best service, very friendly and attentive
lowlights
- inauthentic chicken preparation and breading, also dry
- bbq sauce
- bacon and vermont cheddar did not work
BONUS ROUND – Tasting #6
At the end of the tasting and in need of a cocktail, we decided to pop in to the new Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar. Lo and Behold! They also had Nashville Hot Chicken on the menu. Of course we had to try this one too.
Marlin Bar Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders
6629 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, at Town Square
Hawaiian Sweet Roll, Island Slaw, 12 Cajun Dry Rub, Garlic Aïoli, Sriracha, House-Made Dill Pickles
No Side Order
highlights
- love the atmosphere (although not supposed to rate)
- like slider idea, not too big nor too bready
- house-made pickles and island slaw
lowlights
- squirt of sriracha (this hot sauce does not belong on nashville chicken)
- needs more of a kick from dry-rub spices
Our Overall Winner
Congratulations to Houston’s Hot Chicken with the highest overall ranking!
P.S. After the Hot Chicken Tasting we went to the Pinball Museum, that place is a blast! Pinball aficionados don’t miss it on your next trip to Vegas!
More Vegas Food Scene Recipes
Amalfi by Bobby Flay Spaghetti with Zucchini here
Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Salade de Laitue here
Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Tartine de Thon here
Roy Choi’s Best Friend Eggplant Schnitzel here
Roy Choi’s Best Friend Uni Dynamite Rice here
Bellagio’s Mayfair Supper Club Tomato Salad here
La Purée de Pommes de Terre de Joël Robuchon here
French Bistro Trout Amandine á la Mon Ami Gabi here
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