New Nashville Hot Chicken

The Scoreboard Bar and Grill in the Music Valley Drive area of Nashville (near Gaylord-Opryland) has been preparing a Nashville-style hot chicken for a few months. For all of you hot-chicken fans out there you should give it a try!! The service is normally quite good at this business, especially at the bar.

They currently offer a breast with wing attached (breast quarter) for $4.95. Sides are $1.99 and include: fries,potato salad,coleslaw,baked beans,steamed veggies and house salad.

Heat choices are mild, medium, hot and Inferno (their signature formula).

I am not affiliated with the business in any way other than being a very satisfied consumer of their Nashville-Hot-Chicken!

Welcome to Roadfood Pepperhead... Take some pics and post them here...
Us folk up north don't have the privilege of having Hot Chicken...
Thanks for sharing the new location there.

I can practically hear pogophiles and Poverty Pete running out the door to go check the place out. That is, if they haven't already been there before!

UncleVic: thanks for the welcome.....been lurking for a few years but finally have gotten around to posting. I'm working on getting some pics posted.

buffetbuster: it will be very interesting to see which Roadfood.com folks have already tried the chicken. I know that the two you mentioned live in the area and are fans of the style.

pepperhead-
Welcome to Roadfood! I am glad you quit lurking and decided to join in. Very much looking forward to seing the pics. Have you been to Prince's? If so, how does it compare?

Have not been to Prince's in a few years but did get THE chicken from Mr. Boo here in Donelson. I recommend that anyone who likes this style of chicken, should check-out the product that is being offered at The Scoreboard. The comparison between outlets is too subjective....sorry if this disappoints.

pepperhead,
If you ate at Boo's, you have street cred. I haven't been to Scoreboard, but will try to get there this weekend.

Hi Poverty Pete,

I have only eaten this chicken on the weekdays but have no reason to believe the weekend crew would put out an inferior product. If you happen to visit during the weekdays, be sure to tell Judi (bartender) that you are a roadfood.com member.

Not sure when I'll get out there, but I'll definitely keep it in mind. I may try to get by that mall version of Bolton's for lunch today.

I still miss Mr. Boo's...

Ate at Scoreboard back in Jan? or so when they were starting to serve hot chicken. Very tasty, they said they were considering offering wings or other parts, doesn't sound like they have? Their 'regular' sauced hot wings were actually pretty tasty as well.

I'm not working in Nashville now so it's harder for me to get up that way for a hot chicken fix. Maybe Prince's will open a branch in the 'Boro eh? I think the Boltons at the mall (Hickory Hollow) closed a while back.

I sure miss Boo's too.

The Bolton's in the mall was still there last Thursday, because I got an excellent whiting sandwich from them for lunch. First time I had been in that mall in a long time. Yikes has it ever gone downhill!!

I had a fish sandwich at Ron's on Murfreesboro Rd. on Saturday. It was the traditional Nashville hot fish. I would rate it near, but not quite equal to East Side and Kingfish. In most cities, it would be a star.

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

I had a fish sandwich at Ron's on Murfreesboro Rd. on Saturday. It was the traditional Nashville hot fish. I would rate it near, but not quite equal to East Side and Kingfish. In most cities, it would be a star.

Poverty: which was the one you took Al and myself to? It was very good. I enjoyed meeting your friend and the fish was a meal within itself.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul, we went to East Side. Doesn't he make a great sandwich? I have a slight preference for Kingfish, but that was the day of the Music City Marathon, which went right in front of Kingfish. Finding my coworker there was just an added bonus. BTW, that's the same guy who tells me that if and when he opens his own restaurant, he'll name his fish sandwich the Poverty Pete.

quote:

Originally posted by pogophiles

The Bolton's in the mall was still there last Thursday, because I got an excellent whiting sandwich from them for lunch. First time I had been in that mall in a long time. Yikes has it ever gone downhill!!

I could have sworn I saw an article that said they had closed that one. I haven't actually been to the Hickory Hollow mall in years. I'll have to keep that in mind though since I go by there whenever I go back and forth to Nashville.

Did you happen to see what times they are open?

The management at the Scoreboard provided me with a few pics of their hot-chicken. I hope it is OK for me to post them. BTW, they also have some fine ribs!

I did not notice the hours. It did appear that they had adapted their chicken to mall cuisine (seemed to only have a choice of wings or tenders) so I went with the fish, which was excellent. That mall (at least in the food court) was very depressing though...

Sounds like Nashville's once best mall has gone downhill?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

I like the ribs at Scoreboard very much. Is it just the photo or is that chicken covered in sauce? If so, that's not Nashville hot chicken to me, but a variation on Buffalo wings. I'll have to investigate. Sundancer, you're right. You'll want to avoid Hickory Hollow. Some of the anchor store have closed as have many of the outlying restaurants. The sports bar where I used to go in the area now has to have an armed guard. For years they didn't even have a bouncer.

The last pic is of their ribs.....sorry for the confusion!!!

I know what ribs look like. The chicken just looks a little shiny, but that could be the flash. Is it covered in a sauce or is it dry?

I don't care what that chicken has on it, looks mighty tasty to me. Thanks for the pics, as they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

quote:

Originally posted by ctfrasier

I know what ribs look like.

I've been waiting for days for that response.

We don't have hot chicken in LA, as far as I know (and I don't count Popeyes!). I'd love to have a recipe, or at least know the basics for preparing it.

quote:

Originally posted by cy_dugas

I'd love to have a recipe, or at least know the basics for preparing it.

Yes, we would like to have a recipe.


(but don't knock popeye's now)

Hope I didn't disappoint you RibRater. The Church's locations here in Nashville have begun offering spicy chicken. It's a good bit hotter than Popeye's.

All this hot chicken talk... Have you no mercy on the folk in Michigan?

quote:

Originally posted by Sundancer7

Sounds like Nashville's once best mall has gone downhill?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

If you're talking about Hickory Hollow, that place has been horrible for about a decade (if not longer).

I'll have to try the Scoreboard, as I live in Donelson and head over to Opry Mills fairly often to catch a movie.

I don't know where they snapped the above photos of the chicken but my serving didn't look anything like that - the above photos look like they were put together by a food artist (or maybe Prince's ). I had a HEAVY coating over the breast/wing section with up to 1/2 inch of coating in some places. The fried piece was then dipped in a hot "sauce" that was about on par with the hot from prince's.... but underneath that very thick coating was plain chicken that didn't resemble the depth of flavor you get through-out a piece of prince's chicken in any way.


I'll post pics when I get back but imo, the chicken I had from scoreboard is not nearly as good as prince's. i won't be returning.

My chicken did look like the photos above when I was there. Although I would say that Prince's is probably still the better one, Scoreboard still had some fine hot chicken.

Sorry to hear about that, I wonder if their chicken person quit or something?

Has anyone experimented with their own hot chicken?

When Boos was still open, you could buy just the spice mix they used by itself. I would keep it at home and apply it Lee's or other chicken after it was heated up. I found if you applied it before it acquired a bit of a burned flavor.

Straight up cayenne seems to be a bit much, but I got some chili powder at the IndoPak grocery that is a bit sweeter though still very spicy. This seems to work pretty well as a substitute to quell the cravings.

quote:

Originally posted by caver

My chicken did look like the photos above when I was there. Although I would say that Prince's is probably still the better one, Scoreboard still had some fine hot chicken.

Sorry to hear about that, I wonder if their chicken person quit or something?

That's interesting caver. I don't know what happened then to mine but, as you'll see by the picture (will post it later today), my chicken didn't look anything like the above.



I'd like to get a good recipe/process for doing this at home - I'm hoping mlinkenhoker will post a good one but I'd be interested in hearing yours also.

Hello everyone!

Can anyone make an educated guess as to the ingredients and methods used for Nashville style hot chicken? I'd love to try it at home, seeing as we don't have it here in south Louisiana.

Thanks

Larry, maybe it is just the pics but it looks a little overdone to me.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul, it was a dark brown but the meat inside was fine. The coating was very thick though and I can imagine that, overall, it probably spent a little to much time in a vat that was turned a little to high.

That looks pretty awful. I miss Mr. Boo's too. It was my favorite hot chicken. I'd love to have some of their chicken. Every place uses a different recipe, but the common thread seems to be frying the chicken in an iron skillet.

Boos actually used a pressure cooker, although they did cut their chicken up fresh each morning.

They also said they used wild peppers that grew on their land down in LA. They would process the whole plant also (leaves, stems, everything), not just the pods and dry and age it. They also had damiana in their spice mix. I think that accounted for the bulk of it, but I'm sure there were dashes of other things.

I've contemplated this for a while (and tried some other variations), and this is the direction I'm headed:
Indian chili powder
Damiana powder
Ground Savory
Ground Oregano
Brown sugar (v. small amount ground fine)
Paprika

The proportions would need to be tweaked I'm sure, but I think this would yield something pretty close to what they served. The key is to take the chicken directly out of the fryer and thoroughly coat with the spice mixture so it adheres well.

If you can still see the chicken you didn't put enough on.

And yes Larry, that chicken right there looks kinda nasty.
.
.
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alright, now I'm really craving some hot chicken.

Hi, This is Dixie of Dixie's Hotttt Chicken. I had to take off some time to take care of my mother and husband... But keep you eyes, ears and nose open.... I'll be back.... Not as larger place as I had in Donelson but big enought to get my great Hotttt Chicken to my friends... I still fix it at home and it is GREAT... See you later, Dixie Rowe

quote:

Originally posted by caver

Has anyone experimented with their own hot chicken?

When Boos was still open, you could buy just the spice mix they used by itself. I would keep it at home and apply it Lee's or other chicken after it was heated up. I found if you applied it before it acquired a bit of a burned flavor.

Straight up cayenne seems to be a bit much, but I got some chili powder at the IndoPak grocery that is a bit sweeter though still very spicy. This seems to work pretty well as a substitute to quell the cravings.

Hi, This is Dixie of Dixie's Hotttt Chicken... Had to take off some time for to take care of my 84 year old mother and my husband....My hands are tied up right now... but I Will Be Back... Just keep your eyes, ears and nose open for some of my Great " Dixie's Hotttt Chicken." I still fix it at home .

does anybody have a recipe for this Hot Chicken? Can't find one anywhere?

It took us 30 plus years to make our product on Dixie's Hotttt Chicken.

quote:

Originally posted by Rando

does anybody have a recipe for this Hot Chicken? Can't find one anywhere?

I just want to get an idea of what the spices are so I can try to re-create my own. I'm not flying to Nashville just to try this stuff!

I figure there's lots of hot spices on it, like cayenne, but I've also heard brown sugar and other stuff. I'm just curious, is all. I don't need any secrets, just a general idea.

so if I get some fried chicken and sprinkle some cayenne, chili powder,paprika, and brown sugar on it, am I close?

Kinda frustrating hearing all this about it and having no idea how to make it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dixie Rowe

It took us 30 plus years to make our product on Dixie's Hotttt Chicken.

quote:

Originally posted by Rando

does anybody have a recipe for this Hot Chicken? Can't find one anywhere?

quote:

Originally posted by Rando


I'm not flying to Nashville just to try this stuff!

Well, why not?

Maybe you should...

I would!

no money, no time!

Come on down, WJ. I'll take you to Dixie's when she gets up and running again.

Hey PP
Think she will be up and running by mid-february? We will be looking for lunch as we chase you south to Mobile. It's either that chicken...or the Hen-Pecker Market out in Franklin!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

Come on down, WJ. I'll take you to Dixie's when she gets up and running again.

PP

I checked to see if Nashville could be a potential day trip from Charlotte NC since I'll be there for a few days in February before heading down to Mobile- it's more than a 6 hour drive!

quote:

Originally posted by pepperhead

The management at the Scoreboard provided me with a few pics of their hot-chicken. I hope it is OK for me to post them. BTW, they also have some fine ribs!

oh heck yes!!!!!

I do not think that the recipe is top secret but I do not blame the person for not revealing what they do.

It cannot be a real big deal as it is highly spiced, hot and a nice crust.

I believe anyone who wants to invest in oil, chicken, spices and etc can do it.

It is much easier to go where they do it and buy it. No waste of oil, time and effort.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

It's quite a detour from Charlotte, but perhaps you could drive up I-65 on your way home?
I had lunch today at East Side Fish. Does life get any better than this?

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

It's quite a detour from Charlotte, but perhaps you could drive up I-65 on your way home?

Unfortunately that won't work out- I'm gonna be riding with The Travelin' Man. From Mobile we'll be heading back to Orlando and I'm flying home from there.

quote:

Originally posted by wanderingjew

quote:

Originally posted by Rando


I'm not flying to Nashville just to try this stuff!

Well, why not?

Maybe you should...

I would!

I would , too! Why not??!
(it's not like I have'nt done it already, anyway... memories of flying down for the Nashville roadfood bus tour in April are resurfacing. ) Hot chicken gets me excited!!

I will sell our secret for Hotttt Chicken for $20000. The Mayor ate at our place at least 2 times a week... Nobody can beat our Dixie's Hotttt Chicken.... You are not even luke warn on your spices...

quote:

Originally posted by Rando

I just want to get an idea of what the spices are so I can try to re-create my own. I'm not flying to Nashville just to try this stuff!

I figure there's lots of hot spices on it, like cayenne, but I've also heard brown sugar and other stuff. I'm just curious, is all. I don't need any secrets, just a general idea.

so if I get some fried chicken and sprinkle some cayenne, chili powder,paprika, and brown sugar on it, am I close?

Kinda frustrating hearing all this about it and having no idea how to make it.

quote:

Originally posted by Dixie Rowe

It took us 30 plus years to make our product on Dixie's Hotttt Chicken.

quote:

Originally posted by Rando

does anybody have a recipe for this Hot Chicken? Can't find one anywhere?

Dixie, I am sure your chicken is delicious and impossible to duplicate. I found a recipe on the LTHForum sit from Chicago that claims to have reverse-engineered something close to the prince's recipe. it calls for (among other things)salt, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne, habanero, and jalapeno powders, as well as chilis in the oil and turbinado sugar sprinkled on the fried chicken along with the rub containing the powders. I guess it's gonna take some experimentation to get the amounts right. It ain't rocket science, it's just hot chicken. maybe one day I will be able to sample the real thing for myself but until then I guess I'll just experiment with my own.

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641
Hot chicken gets me excited!!

Ellen, some folks on here might take that the wrong way!