My wife and I had read about Prince Hot Chicken, and indeed had tried to emulate the fried chicken at home. Not too bad. Recipe in Cooks Country July 2010 and Cuisine at Home June 2010.
So when I had the opportunity to be in Nashville on business, we stopped in for lunch.
They only open at 12:00 noon, and calling is not very helpful as they do not answer.
One reviewer mentioned they had a health department rating of 60. I doubt that, but when we visited it was 85, which for a small restaurant in 60's strip mall is not too bad. The floors are mopped, as when we got there at 11:00 a guy was mopping.
The chicken is fabulous. I like Thai and Southern India and Bangladeshi food. I ordered medium hot and mild. I think I could manage hot, but I imagine for most mortals in the US mild is about right. Next time I shall get hot and see how it is.
The chicken is extremely moist and the hot penetrates the interior of the meat and is at its hottest in the surface coating.
Plan on spending about 20 minutes waiting for your chicken. It is just cooked when you get it, none of this cooked ahead stuff.
The cost is 4.99 for a leg quarter and 5.99 for a breast quarter. I would recommend this size as it fries better than half or whole chicken.
I would recommend, particularly if you are middle class white or middle class black, that you eat in your car or at home or wherever. The restaurant does primarily a take out business and the decor and ambiance inside is not spectacular.
If you enjoy spicy fried chicken this may well be the best place in the world. When Popeye's was still primarily in Louisiana, in the early 70's, its spicy chicken was almost as good as Prince's mild. The medium from Prince's is better than Popeye's spicy ever was.
Go and try it.
Get mild or medium unless you are into Scoffield >100,000
Pros: Fabulous Fried Chicken and French Fries
Cons: In a relatively poor black neighborhood
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