Despite its popularity across the country, Nashville hot chicken remains a significant part of its hometown's cultural identity.

• The family in Nashville is said to have created the hot chicken by adding spices and other flavors to their fried chicken.
• The popularity of chicken dishes has surged in recent years, prompting many fast-food chains to include it in their menus.
• Despite the influx of tourists drawn by the boom, local restaurants maintain that their unique hot chicken creations, honed over generations, remain unmatched.

CNBC's new quarterly series, Cities of Success, examines cities that have evolved into thriving business centers with an entrepreneurial atmosphere, drawing in capital, corporations, and talent.

Nearly a century ago, Nashville hot chicken was just a local specialty. Now, it's a national sensation.

Numerous hot chicken restaurants in Tennessee are vying for the top spot, drawing both locals and tourists. Meanwhile, large fast-food chains such as KFC, Baja Fresh, and Dave's Hot Chicken are increasingly featuring Nashville hot chicken on their menus.

The Nashville hot chicken trend experienced a surge at the start of the pandemic and reached its peak in late 2022, according to Technomic, a food service research and consulting firm.

The number of Nashville hot chicken menu mentions increased by nearly 25% from the first quarter of 2020 to the second quarter of the same year. This represents a significant increase of 65.7% over the past five years.

The Nashville hot chicken origin story

But Nashville hot chicken isn’t just a spicy new trend.

According to Semone Jeffries, CEO of Prince's Hot Chicken in Nashville, the dish's origins can be traced back to the kitchen of Thornton Prince in the 1930s, although this is unofficially confirmed.

The scorned lover of Prince sought revenge after a suspicious night out by infusing a "devilish" amount of spices and flavor into a delicately fried chicken at the restaurant.

The recipe for the Nashville classic chicken sandwich was soon perfected and became a staple in the lives of local Black residents, according to Jeffries. The sandwich features a blend of spices, pickles, fries, and a toasted slice of bread.

Prince's hot chicken remains a classic treasure in the city despite its significant transformation since Thornton Prince first opened it.

Our hot chicken is the most interesting because of the care we put into it. We don't do things haphazardly; we cook almost to order and don't usually use warmers. Everything is intentional, Jeffries, whose mother currently owns the restaurant, told CNBC.

As Prince's popularity grew, other local chefs in the city started their own hot chicken restaurants and food trucks, making the dish a well-known feature of the city.

Kara Nielsen, a food trends expert, claims that the Nashville hot chicken trend is a "controversial topic" due to its appropriation from its roots as a Black-owned local business. Despite gaining popularity nationwide eight years ago, Prince's Hot Chicken had been a staple in Nashville for decades before the broader culture adopted it.

Nielsen stated that in recent years, foods originating from specific communities have been popularized by mass culture without proper acknowledgment, allowing others to profit from it, while the original creators receive little recognition. This issue is particularly sensitive due to its connection to Black culture.

‘You’ve got to do it for the culture’

The surge in popularity of hot chicken can be attributed to both millennials seeking more adventurous fried chicken options and restaurants striving to generate excitement following the financial crisis and recession.

Nashville hot chicken is just one of the options in the "choice set," according to Nielsen. While she believes it will remain popular due to its novelty, she's confident that a new flavor will eventually surpass its popularity.

Nielsen stated that people tend to continue with their routine without much thought, and if a tradition does not hold personal significance or is not a regular part of their Thanksgiving meal, it does not have the same emotional impact as it would for someone from Nashville who has grown up with it.

Aqui Hines, a lifelong Nashville resident and owner of 400 Degrees, a hot chicken restaurant in the city, grew up eating hot chicken at Prince's every week and developed a deep love for the dish.

"Growing up, all we had was culture, and it brought me joy. I fell in love with hot chicken and the way it made me feel. I wanted to share that experience with everyone," she said.

Hines' relationship with hot chicken is described as "complete euphoria," which motivates her to spread the Nashville dish to as many people as possible.

Recently, Hines has observed that many individuals across the country associate hot chicken with Nashville. While traveling to other cities, she is torn about her feelings towards the popularity of her beloved food.

Although she loves traveling and craves hot chicken, she has been disappointed by some of the options she's tried outside of Tennessee, such as the mild chicken at a Florida restaurant.

Hines emphasized the importance of representing hot chicken accurately and authentically, stating that "people capitalize off of it because you can make money, but it needs to be legitimate." He added that seventy percent of hot chicken is not authentic and urged others to do it for the culture.

Hot chicken unbound

Eric White, the owner and chef of Red's Hot Chicken, started with a humble food truck seven years ago and opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in 2020. He attributes his success to the careful balance of flavors and spice in his recipe.

White stated that he is pleased that the popularity of Nashville hot chicken is increasing, as it attracts more tourists to his restaurant. However, he remains focused on preserving the essence of the dish as it gains recognition.

We commenced operations the same year as Dave's Hot Chicken, and now they are the most prominent brand. I've been receiving numerous inquiries from individuals across the country, and I'm currently collaborating with individuals from India, Canada, and Germany to establish similar ventures.

Dave's Hot Chicken did not respond to a request for comment, but White said he has yet to try their fried chicken and has a feeling he might not like it, as he has already had just about every fried chicken in Nashville and the restaurant doesn't have any locations in Tennessee.

Jeffries stated that at Prince's, the unofficial original hot chicken spot, there are mixed feelings about the hot chicken trend. Although she is inspired to see the dish outside her city, she is torn about maintaining its authenticity.

Jeffries stated that although people may have a range of emotions from "Oh, boy" to "Okay," he believes that there are enough individuals in the world who can share this experience, even though they may have their own variations.

According to Jeffries, the hot chicken served at restaurants outside of Nashville is a completely different version of the dish, and the only place to find the authentic recipe is at Prince's or other local restaurants.

Jeffries mused, "Considering how far this small piece of chicken has traveled, it's a humbling experience to think about its journey across the world." He pondered, "I can't help but wonder what Thornton would think right now, seeing his chicken move around the globe. What would he say to us as we prepare for the next generation? But at the end of the day, it's still the same hot chicken he served."

CNBC will air the "Cities of Success" special featuring Nashville on Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.