It's National Hot Chicken Day! If you're looking for spots to get a spicy bird around metro Atlanta, don't wing it -- check out our list of some of the top spots to get hot chicken around metro Atlanta. A disclaimer for purists: Only some of these picks would be considered traditional Nashville hot chicken dishes (for that, look for Nashville export Hattie B's, set to open its first Atlanta location this year).
Argosy. The East Atlanta bar serves up a boneless thigh seasoned with cayenne, paprika and garlic on a brioche bun and topped with pickle slices. Can't handle the heat? The sandwich is also available in a mild Southern version.
470 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta. 404-577-0407, http://argosy-east.com/
FEED Fried Chicken & Such. Chef Marc Taft's fried chicken -- Georgia-raised and fried in peanut oil -- is served by the piece or as a sandwich with pickles, Duke's mayo and Alabama white sauce on a brioche bun. Order it Southern Fried (no heat), Atlanta Hot (medium heat) or Cluck'n Inferno (very hot). Not close to SunTrust Park? Taft is set to open FEED locations this year in Peachtree Corners and Forsyth County.
The Battery, 900 Battery Ave. SE #1040, Atlanta. 770-726-2553, eatatfeed.com/
Gus' Famous Fried Chicken. It's a chain, but that doesn't mean we don't have love for this Memphis-based spot. AJC food writer Wyatt Williams called it the "perfect fried chicken"."This chicken is spicy (but not too spicy) with cayenne," he wrote. "It has the smoky depth of paprika, it has the brace and pop of salt and pepper, and if you close your eyes and really pay attention, you might catch a tang of buttermilk."
Locations in Atlanta, Chamblee and Sandy Springs. gusfriedchicken.com
The Highlander. This iconic dive bar is low-key also a great place to get a bite, including its Nashville hot fried chicken that's served with mac and cheese and pickles.
931 Monroe Drive NE, Atlanta. 404-872-0060, thehighlanderatlanta.com
Hop's Chicken. The Ponce City Market stall serves up fried chicken every which way, including the spicy Chef's Chicken Sandwich, made with frim fram sauce and served with coleslaw and pickles. You can also get frim fram sauce to accompany the other chicken on the menu, sold by the slice or by the bird.
Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-355-3762, hopschicken.com/
Mary Hoopa's House of Fried Chicken and Oysters and One Eared Stag. Chef Robert Phalen cooks up his version of fried hot chicken at both of his restaurants, but it's only available at One Eared Stag on Mondays. "The recipe is the same (at both," Phalen said. "The only difference is that at the Stag, we do everything in cast-iron skillets with rendered fat. Here, we use fryers and canola oil, and we've dialed in the temperatures. We go from a higher fire to a lower fire to keep the color." Order it house fried, sweet or hot.
Mary Hoopa's, 2371 Hosea L. Williams Drive SE, Building 1, Atlanta. 404-254-5326, maryhoopas.com.
One Eared Stag, 1029 Edgewood Ave. NE, Atlanta. 404-525-4479, oneearedstagatl.com/
Oddbird. This menu at this pop-up at West Egg Cafe changes, but the hot chicken biscuit remains a mainstay. Look for spicy chicken on a "butterlard" biscuit served with bread and butter pickles. Not into biscuits? You can also get the hot chicken as a sandwich or served with waffles. The next Oddbird will be held 5:30-9 p.m. April 11.
Oddbird at West Egg Cafe, 1100 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. 404-872-3973, oddbirdatl.com/
Richards Southern Fried. Chef Todd Richards fried chicken, served at his Krog Street Market stall, is offered in several combos, with a choice of sides and three heat levels, classic, spicy and Richards' hot. There's also a hot chicken sandwich served on a soft potato roll with pimento cheese and chow chow. Former AJC food writer Elizabeth Lenhard wrote that the chicken is "beautifully brined, crispy-skinned, obsession-worthy, who-cares-if-hot-chicken-is-overplayed delicious."
Southbound. This hot chicken gets its heat from Szechuan spices and is served with mayo, pickles and cilantro on Texas toast.
5394 Peachtree Road, Chamblee. 678-580-5579, southboundatl.com
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