Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

Slater's 50/50 Nashville Screamin’ Hot Chicken Sandwich
Slater’s 50/50 Nashville Screamin’ Hot Chicken Sandwich

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.

Belly Bombz Special Fried Chicken Sandwich Nashville Hot
Belly Bombz Special Fried Chicken Sandwich Nashville Hot

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.

Houston's Hot Chicken Sandwich
Houston’s Hot Chicken Sandwich

“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

Nashville Hot Chicken in VegasSkinnyFats

140 S Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson

Crispy Nashville Hot Chicken, Creamy Slaw, Pickles, Hawaiian Bun

Side: Truffle Fries

SkinnyFats Blaze of Thunder

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

Houston's Hot Chicken

Houston’s Hot Chicken

1500 N Green Valley Pkwy, Henderson

Houston's Hot Chicken

Nashville Hot Chicken with a Houston Kick

Brioche Bun, Pickles, House Slaw, Houston’s Sauce

Side: Crinkle-Cut Fries

Houston's Hot Chicken Sandwich

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

Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

Slaters 50/50

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

Nashville Screamin’ Hot Chicken Sandwichhighlights

  • 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

Belly BombzBelly Bombz

467 E Silverado Ranch Blvd #125, Las Vegas

Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

Crispy Chicken Thigh, Nashville Hot Sauce, Arugula, Tomato, Korean Chili Aioli, House Pickles

Side: Miso Citrus Slaw

Belly Bombz

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

Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

Farmtable Kitchen + Spirits

6587 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, at Town Square

FarmTable Town Square

Fried Nashville Hot Chicken Breast, Vermont Cheddar, Bacon, Toasted Brioche Bun, Iceberg Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, BBQ Sauce

Side: Creamy Southern Coleslaw

Farmtable Nashville Hot Chicken

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

Marlin Bar Las Vegas

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

Marlin Bar Las Vegas

Marlin Bar

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

Nashville Hot Chicken Sliders

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

Nashville Hot Chicken in Vegas

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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