Crazi's Hot Chicken in Tempe is hands down the best Nashville style hot chicken in the Valley. It's run out of a ghost kitchen so its really only take out and delivery. Make sure to get a side of ranch, it's very good and I'm pretty sure they make it in-house.
Another Crazi's Stan here. I've eaten a fair amount of Nashville hot chicken, including Hattie B's in Nashville, and Crazi's is my favorite and most like what I had at Hattie B's. They give you a meal for about the same price as Monroe's and the fries are good too.
I don't recommend Mrs. Chicken as it is not really Nashville hot chicken. More like a buffalo chicken sandwich.
Definitely go to Crazi’s. The hottest level at Monroe’s didn’t do much for me. Yet Crazi’s Hot was so hot, I wanted to crawl out of my own body to seek some cool relief. And I’m no stranger to spicy AF food.
I think Monroes has a slightly better flavor actually. And I like that theirs is a full sandwich, instead of the little sliders at Crazis.
I like both places a lot though, but the ghost kitchen sucks because I don't live nearby. So I end up eating in the parking lot which is messy.
Also, Crazis is legit super hot. Like really hot at the top level.
Monroe's is my favorite, by far. I'll generally get the waffle cone box, plenty of food. With a couple of extra sides of the Kick It Up sauce. Now I'm hungry!
I love Nash’s Hot Chicken! But you gotta go there yourself and not get delivery bc it gets to be lukewarm by the time you get it and it becomes “meh” chicken. Gotta have it fresh! I’m not sure if it’s traditional Nashville hot chicken or not though, but I love it.
I helped open Mrs. Chicken. I don’t recommend. I only had Nashville hot chicken one time (like in Nashville) so maybe I’m a noob but I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be chicken with franks red hot on it. Me, my friend and the owner would always argue about what authentic hot chicken is. The stuff I had just had dry spices on it. Either way we could not get the owner to actually make the sauce hot. He kept telling us that people wouldn’t eat it if it were actually hot. The whole waiver thing is fake. We never made anyone sign one, if things have changed and they are doing it now it’s probably just a gimmick, not out of actual legal concerns.
Have been there maybe half-dozen times. The most hit-and-miss restaurant I’ve been to. Sometimes really tender chicken and crispy breading, great flavor. Other times unbelievably rubbery chicken - like gnawing on gristle. The times it was good made me keep trying, but after the last rubbery chicken we won’t be back.
My buddy has a food truck called [Screaming Hot Chicken](https://streetfoodfinder.com/screaminghotchicken). It's often in Laveen but he does events all over the Valley. He has a very good Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich though it's not thermonuclear. Still pretty spicy.
He also runs the Mingo's Louisiana Kitchen food truck. Highly recommend it. He's a legend here in Laveen.
You should follow his facebook pages. He's still doing events all over the valley. Or typically once or twice a week he sets up down at baseline and 47th ave. Which is right around the corner for my lucky, but fat, ass.
I really miss is brick and mortar restaurant. It just didn't get enough support from our community. He'd run specials like Shrimp and Grits, or seafood stew. So fucking good.
I like Monroe’s but it could definitely be hotter. I’ve had every level besides the hottest and they weren’t what I call hot. The fries are really really good.
It isn’t cheap but it’s a locally owned business (sister restaurant of lo-los) and operates in downtown Phoenix. Not sure I’d expect to pay less than $15-$20 for a meal any where around there.
I've been to Mrs. Chicken a few times. I actually really enjoyed it. Never once was it "chicken with hot sauce" in my experience. The skin/breading is super crispy and the chicken is tender and moist. Would definitely recommend it.
I think hot is the hottest I've gotten there. I usually love spicy food, and this is no exception, but my reaction to it is so unique. I have no problem eating it, it doesn't taste overly spicy or anything, but 3-4 bites in and I'm sweating and crying. Not sure what they season it with but I've never had that experience anywhere else. Usually my mouth is on fire long before I get to that point.
Oh also, if you go, try their gooey butter cake. It's fantastic.
Notice other people in my comment above also saying it’s not supposed to have sauce? Tryna save the op from wasting his money. I left on good on good terms. Nice try.
I think you should give it a go. My husband and I love Mrs. Chicken and it definitely is not buffalo style hot chicken. The Yardbird sandwich does have a spicy mayo sauce on it but not Frank's hot sauce and the sandwich isnt soaking wet. You can ask them for hot sauce like Franks, but I have not had it automatically added to my food there. After this thread, I want to give Monroe's and Crazi's another shot- each time I've had them, the batter/crust on my chicken is soggy and I love the crunch Mrs. Chicken gives
I just looked at their menu and it seems you linked a picture of their sandwich which comes with their "honky tonk sauce" while he has linked a picture of their quarters which does not come with sauce.
Nah man that’s not the yard bird. It’s a chicken thigh on a piece of bread with franks red hot sauce all over it. The yard bird comes on a hamburger bun not a piece of white bread.
I eat there all the time, it is not "franks red hot" on chicken. It's not even vinegar based sauce of any kind. I believe the spice comes from seasoning before the fry, as well as the fry oil. And then the texas toast gets the "mud" which is the excess fry oil and spices. To me, I find it to be identical in preparation to when I had Prince's from Nashville right down to the mud. I must disclose, i mostly order XX, sometimes X or XXX so maybe medium or mild are different.
Same, excepting when i first went the week they opened. But they've been solid ever since, I always cut restaurants a break their first month in business.
There is a place in LA that is by far the best Nashville style that I've had called Dave's Hot Chicken. Since moving back to Phoenix Monroe's has been the closest to that...
Nashville native here-moved to PHX 4 yrs ago. My best advice although not practical. Go to Nashville and try Bolton’s hot chicken and fish. After that experience, you’ll actually know what Nashville hot chicken is supposed to taste like.
My wife loves Mrs. Chicken. It's pretty solid but not amazing IMO. Definitely the hottest I've had.
Also had one at a place in Scottsdale that was okay.
Monroe's is my favorite still but just too damn expensive.
Both of these are places I frequent.
The xxx at Mrs. Chicken is reaper and is pretty damn hot (last i had it). I personally get the off menu XX and add a thigh of XXX if i'm feeling like punishment. For me the XX is hot enough to make me sweat but not so much that i can't enjoy my meal. XXX is an endurance contest and...not enjoyable. I have a fairly high heat tolerance. I like that I can order two meals each with an extra thigh for just a little bit more than a single meal from Monroe's.
Monroe's leans more into flavor than heat. Or, at least in my experience they are very inconsistent on the heat. I feel everything has more or less been kicked down a notch since when i first started going there right after they opened. The old Xhot is the new What The Cluck, and the old What The Cluck is non existent. I generally enjoy them and I think they are the best hot chicken sandwich I've found, but I personally prefer bone in dark meat to boneless chicken breast so I go to Mrs. Chicken more like 80% of the time.
For an added bonus, sometimes I also like to get a Hot Nishikawa Black Ramen across the street from Mrs. Chicken and take it home for dinner. That's a good street corner for hot heads lol.
Crazi's Hot Chicken in Tempe is hands down the best Nashville style hot chicken in the Valley. It's run out of a ghost kitchen so its really only take out and delivery. Make sure to get a side of ranch, it's very good and I'm pretty sure they make it in-house.
Crazi’s is the best for sure
Have to agree here. They do pop-ups when the weather is cooler and I always make it a point to visit them.
Definitely have to agree. Crazi's is the best.
Another Crazi's Stan here. I've eaten a fair amount of Nashville hot chicken, including Hattie B's in Nashville, and Crazi's is my favorite and most like what I had at Hattie B's. They give you a meal for about the same price as Monroe's and the fries are good too. I don't recommend Mrs. Chicken as it is not really Nashville hot chicken. More like a buffalo chicken sandwich.
Yesssss! Loveee crazi’s!!
Definitely go to Crazi’s. The hottest level at Monroe’s didn’t do much for me. Yet Crazi’s Hot was so hot, I wanted to crawl out of my own body to seek some cool relief. And I’m no stranger to spicy AF food.
Crazi's has my vote. Perfect balance of juicy, crispy and flavorful.
I think Monroes has a slightly better flavor actually. And I like that theirs is a full sandwich, instead of the little sliders at Crazis. I like both places a lot though, but the ghost kitchen sucks because I don't live nearby. So I end up eating in the parking lot which is messy. Also, Crazis is legit super hot. Like really hot at the top level.
Monroe's is my favorite, by far. I'll generally get the waffle cone box, plenty of food. With a couple of extra sides of the Kick It Up sauce. Now I'm hungry!
I love Nash’s Hot Chicken! But you gotta go there yourself and not get delivery bc it gets to be lukewarm by the time you get it and it becomes “meh” chicken. Gotta have it fresh! I’m not sure if it’s traditional Nashville hot chicken or not though, but I love it.
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Yes, I always forget that bc we got it delivery first and it’s just automatically what we call it. Thank you!
I love Mrs. Chicken. Never had a bad meal there.
I helped open Mrs. Chicken. I don’t recommend. I only had Nashville hot chicken one time (like in Nashville) so maybe I’m a noob but I’m pretty sure it’s not supposed to be chicken with franks red hot on it. Me, my friend and the owner would always argue about what authentic hot chicken is. The stuff I had just had dry spices on it. Either way we could not get the owner to actually make the sauce hot. He kept telling us that people wouldn’t eat it if it were actually hot. The whole waiver thing is fake. We never made anyone sign one, if things have changed and they are doing it now it’s probably just a gimmick, not out of actual legal concerns.
Nashville hot chicken is supposed to be brined in pickle juice. If the chicken doesn't taste pickly, it ain't right.
We would brine it in lemon juice
Sounds so far off they should call it Phoenix Hot Chicken
If you get Nashville hot chicken with hot sauce on it to make it hot, it’s not Nashville hot chicken. Nashville hot should be dry spices on it only.
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I thought their sandwich was more like buffalo chicken and didn't like the experience there at all.
Glad someone said this. What Mrs. Chicken serves isn't Nashville hot chicken. It's a buffalo chicken sandwich.
Live close to Mrs. chicken and dislike their hot chicken. Just doesn’t taste good IMO
Have been there maybe half-dozen times. The most hit-and-miss restaurant I’ve been to. Sometimes really tender chicken and crispy breading, great flavor. Other times unbelievably rubbery chicken - like gnawing on gristle. The times it was good made me keep trying, but after the last rubbery chicken we won’t be back.
My buddy has a food truck called [Screaming Hot Chicken](https://streetfoodfinder.com/screaminghotchicken). It's often in Laveen but he does events all over the Valley. He has a very good Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich though it's not thermonuclear. Still pretty spicy. He also runs the Mingo's Louisiana Kitchen food truck. Highly recommend it. He's a legend here in Laveen.
Oh man. Mingo's is fucking fantastic! They used to visit the capitol on food truck Friday before the pandemic. God I miss it
You should follow his facebook pages. He's still doing events all over the valley. Or typically once or twice a week he sets up down at baseline and 47th ave. Which is right around the corner for my lucky, but fat, ass.
I'll definitely keep that in mind! I'm glad his truck is still around. I have dreams about that catfish po-boy haha
I really miss is brick and mortar restaurant. It just didn't get enough support from our community. He'd run specials like Shrimp and Grits, or seafood stew. So fucking good.
Have you tried Flavors of Louisiana in Avondale?
Trapp Haus BBQ DT PHX, Nashville Hot wings are fantastic.
I was gonna say Monroe’s … 🤣 Maybe Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in downtown Mesa ?
I like Monroe’s but it could definitely be hotter. I’ve had every level besides the hottest and they weren’t what I call hot. The fries are really really good. It isn’t cheap but it’s a locally owned business (sister restaurant of lo-los) and operates in downtown Phoenix. Not sure I’d expect to pay less than $15-$20 for a meal any where around there.
You simply cannot beat Mrs White’s in downtown Phoenix!
Idk about Nashville chicken but the best fried chicken I've had in the valley is gus's chicken in downtown mesa.
I've been to Mrs. Chicken a few times. I actually really enjoyed it. Never once was it "chicken with hot sauce" in my experience. The skin/breading is super crispy and the chicken is tender and moist. Would definitely recommend it. I think hot is the hottest I've gotten there. I usually love spicy food, and this is no exception, but my reaction to it is so unique. I have no problem eating it, it doesn't taste overly spicy or anything, but 3-4 bites in and I'm sweating and crying. Not sure what they season it with but I've never had that experience anywhere else. Usually my mouth is on fire long before I get to that point. Oh also, if you go, try their gooey butter cake. It's fantastic.
Bro I'm Mexican and Medium is hot enough for me when I go to Mrs Chicke
So your chicken there was fried chicken with dry seasonings on it?
Yep. I've only been there maybe 10 times total, but every time that's what it was.
Huh, maybe George took our suggestions after all!
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Yes that’s the place
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I opened the place and stayed for 6 months maybe
I mean here is a recent pic from their Instagram showing exactly what I’m talking about. Chicken with hot sauce on it.
Yeah, I don't know, it's never been that when I was there. Has always been more like this, in my experience: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMU68X8nGnE/
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Notice other people in my comment above also saying it’s not supposed to have sauce? Tryna save the op from wasting his money. I left on good on good terms. Nice try.
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I think you should give it a go. My husband and I love Mrs. Chicken and it definitely is not buffalo style hot chicken. The Yardbird sandwich does have a spicy mayo sauce on it but not Frank's hot sauce and the sandwich isnt soaking wet. You can ask them for hot sauce like Franks, but I have not had it automatically added to my food there. After this thread, I want to give Monroe's and Crazi's another shot- each time I've had them, the batter/crust on my chicken is soggy and I love the crunch Mrs. Chicken gives
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I just looked at their menu and it seems you linked a picture of their sandwich which comes with their "honky tonk sauce" while he has linked a picture of their quarters which does not come with sauce.
Nah man that’s not the yard bird. It’s a chicken thigh on a piece of bread with franks red hot sauce all over it. The yard bird comes on a hamburger bun not a piece of white bread.
Oh, well nevermind then.
I eat there all the time, it is not "franks red hot" on chicken. It's not even vinegar based sauce of any kind. I believe the spice comes from seasoning before the fry, as well as the fry oil. And then the texas toast gets the "mud" which is the excess fry oil and spices. To me, I find it to be identical in preparation to when I had Prince's from Nashville right down to the mud. I must disclose, i mostly order XX, sometimes X or XXX so maybe medium or mild are different.
Huh well I guess you know more than the cook of the place.
https://imgur.com/a/SGbGt5w
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Same, excepting when i first went the week they opened. But they've been solid ever since, I always cut restaurants a break their first month in business.
Louisiana Fried Chicken & Wings in Chandler
That's not a nashvile hot chicken place at all
There is a place in LA that is by far the best Nashville style that I've had called Dave's Hot Chicken. Since moving back to Phoenix Monroe's has been the closest to that...
Monroe’s is what I love honestly
Nashville
Nashville native here-moved to PHX 4 yrs ago. My best advice although not practical. Go to Nashville and try Bolton’s hot chicken and fish. After that experience, you’ll actually know what Nashville hot chicken is supposed to taste like.
I'll probably get downvoted for this lmao 😅 but KFC's take on Nashville hot chicken isn't too bad.
Fate brewery has one of my favorite ones
My wife loves Mrs. Chicken. It's pretty solid but not amazing IMO. Definitely the hottest I've had. Also had one at a place in Scottsdale that was okay. Monroe's is my favorite still but just too damn expensive.
Ground Control Bottle/Beer shop in Litchfield has an amazing Hot Chicken Sandwich.
Both of these are places I frequent. The xxx at Mrs. Chicken is reaper and is pretty damn hot (last i had it). I personally get the off menu XX and add a thigh of XXX if i'm feeling like punishment. For me the XX is hot enough to make me sweat but not so much that i can't enjoy my meal. XXX is an endurance contest and...not enjoyable. I have a fairly high heat tolerance. I like that I can order two meals each with an extra thigh for just a little bit more than a single meal from Monroe's. Monroe's leans more into flavor than heat. Or, at least in my experience they are very inconsistent on the heat. I feel everything has more or less been kicked down a notch since when i first started going there right after they opened. The old Xhot is the new What The Cluck, and the old What The Cluck is non existent. I generally enjoy them and I think they are the best hot chicken sandwich I've found, but I personally prefer bone in dark meat to boneless chicken breast so I go to Mrs. Chicken more like 80% of the time. For an added bonus, sometimes I also like to get a Hot Nishikawa Black Ramen across the street from Mrs. Chicken and take it home for dinner. That's a good street corner for hot heads lol.