Many make the tongue-torturing pilgrimage to Music City to get a taste of a dish now synonymous with the city: Nashville hot chicken. You can find it in all forms on menus worldwide, but here are some of our favorite spots to get a taste of Nashville’s iconic fiery fowl in its birthplace. (In no particular order. After all, everyone has their own personal favorite.)

Prince's Hot Chicken Shack

The story goes that Thornton Prince’s “woman scorned” intended to teach him a lesson when she served him a batch of peppery, spice-drenched revenge fried chicken after the man came home a little too late one night. Instead, the unnamed woman accidentally launched a worldwide sensation for heat-seeking food lovers who’ve returned for more of the original no-nonsense, mouth-searing fried chicken for decades. Be prepared to break a sweat at this iconic spot. 5814 Nolensville Pike, princeshotchicken.com

Bolton's Spicy Chicken & Fish

This long-standing East Nashville hot chicken shack has more celebrity visits than you could shake a stick at, and they serve up some of the spiciest iterations of hot chicken in town from a generations-old family recipe. Don’t miss the hot fish sandwich, also available in a spectrum of spice levels ranging from “lite mild” to “extra hot” (which definitely can induce tears at first bite). 624 Main St., boltonsfamous.com

Hattie B's Hot Chicken

Hattie B’s is the Music City-born hot chicken institution most responsible for spreading the gospel of Nashville hot chicken outside of the Volunteer State, so be prepared to wait in line. You can order it “plain” or venture up to “shut the cluck up”...just don’t miss the standout sides and banana pudding for dessert. Multiple locations, hattieb.com

400 Degrees Hot Chicken

Lifelong Prince’s superfan Aqui Hines created her own brand paying homage to the original and has been serving up deep-fried hot chicken to the masses for over a decade. You can also find 400 Degrees (alongside a few other options) at the Nashville airport if you’re really feeling brave. Multiple locations, 400degreeshotchicken.com

Slow Burn Hot Chicken

Specializing in yes, traditional bone-in hot chicken, but also a bunch of unique takes on the dish, the Slow Burn food truck provides a little something for everyone. Hot chicken breakfast burritos, biscuits and egg rolls are all on the menu here, and for the sweet tooth, there’s even a hot chicken sandwich served on an apple fritter. 614 18th Ave N, slowburnhotchicken.com

Hurt’s Hot Chicken

Hunt down this Hermitage-based trailer for some of the best hot chicken and fish found in Middle Tennessee. Follow along on their social media @hurtshotchicken to find this roving hot chicken source. hurtshotchicken.com

Party Fowl

With creative spins on the iconic dish like hot chicken poutine and a hot chicken Cuban sandwich, Party Fowl provides a lively atmosphere (and full bar) to pair with your Nashville hot chicken experience. Hot take: Frosé goes down really easily with that uber-spicy “poultrygeist” heat level burn. Multiple locations, partyfowl.com

Pepperfire Hot Chicken

A longtime fan favorite for all things Nashville hot, Pepperfire packed up its fiery seasoning and moved from the East side to the West side of town (the Nations, specifically). After a long wait, they brought back the same tongue-scorching flavors they’ve been famous for. Beyond the traditional bird, The Tender Royale is a must-try: it’s a deep-fried pepper jack grilled cheese sandwich topped with three Nashville hot chicken tenders. 5104 C Centennial Blvd., pepperfirehotchicken.com

Red’s Hot Chicken

A stroll through Centennial Park with a hot chicken and mac and cheese-stuffed crunchwrap in hand? It’s the iconic Nashville experience that should be on your radar. Owned by Nashville native Eric “Red” White who spent over a decade honing his chops in area restaurants before striking out to put his own spicy stamp on the city’s hot chicken scene, this hidden gem is not to be missed. 115 27th Ave. N, redshotchicken.com