The Colonel may have put Kentucky on the map with his fried chicken, but it’s Nashville’s spicy iteration of this guilty pleasure that has local foodies buzzing and local restaurateurs taking notice. Yes, my friends, the “hot chicken” fad has made it to Louisville! Local chefs, inspired by the delicious and fiery birds they’ve sampled from Nashville’s Hattie B’s, Bolton’s and the legendary Prince’s, are trying their hand at this coveted culinary craze, with hot chicken dishes showing up on menus across the city. You’ll find a decadent, high-brow version on Proof on Main’s lunch menu, and hot chicken has been known to make an appearance at Against the Grain’s brunch as well. While we love these menu features, there are a few brick-and-mortars dedicating their menu to this Southern tradition. Here is a roundup of the four establishments taking Louisville’s hot chicken scene to the next level. Can you take the heat?
Indi’s
1033 W. Broadway, Louisville • (502) 589-7985 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
5009 S. Third St., Louisville • (502) 363-2535 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
2978 E. 10th St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130 • (812) 288-8980 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
3353 Fern Valley Road, Louisville • (502) 969-7993 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
4901 Poplar Level Road, Louisville • (502) 969-5352 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
3820 W. Market St., Louisville • (502) 778-9099 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.
4419 Cane Run Road, Louisville • (502) 448-1108 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
4590 Dixie Hwy., Louisville • (502) 447-4856 • Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
It’s only right to start our roundup with Indi’s, which has been turning out spicy hot chicken to Louisvillians for years, long before it was cool to eat hot chicken. Their iteration on the bird is arguably one of the best in the state, and they have locations scattered throughout Louisville, Lexington and Jeffersonville, IN. Indi’s is a no-frills, fast-food establishment, with trays of various cuts of crispy fried chicken displayed buffet style behind a floor-to-ceiling glass shield. Offered spicy hot or mild, Indi’s chicken doesn’t carry the same deep, red undertones of color we’ve come to associate with a traditional piece of hot chicken. Indi’s chicken forgoes the wet spicy rub post frying, the bold flavor lying solidly within the crust of each wing, breast, thigh, drumstick and keel. Local chefs have been known to flock to Indi’s for their late-night eats, the ample wings being a particular favorite. While Indi’s has most certainly perfected their own version of the hot chicken game, it’s the potato wedges that will keep you coming back, these crunchy and peppery treats are as addictive as the chicken they’re served alongside.
Joella’s Hot Chicken
3400 Frankfort Ave., Louisville • (502) 895-2235
Hours: Closed on Monday. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m to 9 p.m.
The line at Joella’s Hot Chicken has extended well into the parking lot since they opened their doors in September, this much-anticipated restaurant already living up to the hype. Created by local restaurateur Tony Palombino (of Boombozz fame), Joella’s chicken comes in a multitude of forms, from jumbo chicken tenders to quarter birds and chicken and waffles. A variety of spice levels are on offer, ranging as follows: Southern (no heat), Ella’s Fave (burst of flavor and ‘lil heat), Tweener (medium heat), Hot (spicy fire) and Fire in da Hole, aka inferno.
You will have no trouble noting the flecks of vibrant spices dancing across Joella’s chicken, and a side of house-made blue cheese dressing is recommended, especially if you opt for the “hot” or “fire in da hole” sweat inducing, yet extremely tasty experiences. A plethora of traditional fried chicken side-dish favorites are made in-house, including a creamy mac and cheese and crispy thin Parmesan-garlic fries.
Manny & Merle
122 W. Main St., Louisville • (502) 290-8888
Hours: Sunday and Monday: Closed. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.(kitchen closes at 10 p.m.); Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. (kitchen closes at midnight); Saturday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. (kitchen closes at midnight)
If you dined on the hot chicken at Manny & Merle over the past year, chances are you had a preview of what was to come at Joella’s Hot Chicken. Under the same ownership as Joella’s, Manny & Merle served as an experimental playground for Tony Palombino’s road to hot chicken, where he tested out various spice combinations and techniques. The opening of Joella’s certainly doesn’t mean the end of hot chicken at Manny & Merle, however. You can order a whole bird spiked “hot” or “hotter” any time you are downtown and the craving strikes. Located across the street from the KFC Yum! Center, Manny & Merle’s atmosphere is decidedly more raucous than Joella’s, with live music acts on hand every weekend and frequent open mic nights. Their lengthy cocktail list is worth noting, the margaritas a particularly popular libation.
COMING SOON: Royals Hot Chicken
736 E. Market St., Louisville
One of, if not the, most highly anticipated restaurant openings of 2015 is that of Royals Hot Chicken, coming to Louisville at some point in late fall or early winter. With Ryan Rogers (the genius behind Feast BBQ) at the helm of the ship, there is no doubt that Royals will set a standard for all other Louisville hot chicken establishments to be judged by. His Instagram feed is evidence of the rigorous research he’s conducted and consumed across Nashville, perfecting his recipe day in and day out. Lucky festivalgoers have been privy to Royals Hot Chicken previews, spicy tenders served up at both the NuLu festival and Slow Food Bluegrass’s Fried Chicken Throw Down. The full Royals Hot Chicken experience is still to come, but we can say without hesitation that we look forward to standing in the line that is sure to be out the door upon opening.
Spice tolerances vary greatly, some of us embracing peppery heat more than others. That said, take the opportunity to push your palate to new places when treating yourself to hot chicken at these local restaurants. Their carefully crafted spice blends are meant to both heat you up and indulge your taste buds, the mixes firing at every flavor point and profile. We should consider ourselves lucky that the hot chicken trend has found our fair city — we have a sneaking suspicion you’ll like what you taste.
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Want to see more luscious chicken? Check out our photo gallery from the Fried Chicken Throwdown here.
