The winner of the "Best Fried Chicken" from Best of Boston 2025 is right on my doorstep! It was my first time trying the famous Nashville Fried Chicken, and although I'm not usually a big fan of fried chicken, it was truly delicious! Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich: I chose mild spicy, which was just right for me. The chicken was made to order, a size larger than the bun, and very thick; the crust was thin and crispy without being dry or hard, cracking open with a gentle bite, and the chili powder added a kick to remove its greasiness. The chicken itself was surprisingly tender and juicy, retaining its original flavor. It definitely deserved the title of "Best Fried Chicken"! The coleslaw, usually served as a side dish, was simply placed on top of the fried chicken, with classic mayonnaise and vinaigrette dressing--a sweet and sour flavor, more on the sweet side, was both refreshing and delightful. However, it was obvious that assembling such a burger was difficult, resulting in a blissful mess by the end... Old Bay Waffle Fries: My first time trying fried potatoes shaped like waffles. Personally, I thought the middle was okay, but the edges were a bit dry and hard, and it felt greasy without ketchup. There was only one guy in the restaurant, who served as both the chef and the server, and he probably spent most of his time preparing food in the kitchen, so you have to do some self-service. read more

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The guy that works here is a awesome guy! we came to the shop and read a sign saying will be back around 5, we waited till 5:20 he came in with a great attitude and served us. He gave us a free sandwich and drinks for waiting. He is really nice and a great guy! Definitely coming back!! read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Place is clean, ok price, quick service, and great taste to its chicken. However my to go experience had the soda machine down, fries and sauce missing from my tenders order, and leaves me wanting another level of spice above extra hot for something really spicy. read more

Loved the fried chicken. It was golden brown and crispy on the outside while staying super juicy inside. The seasoning had a nice balance of spice and saltiness. Paired with a side of coleslaw, it was the perfect meal. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Small space with friendly service. The Nashville Hot Fried Chicken sandwich (mild) was a good size and very yummy!! The chicken was juicy and flavorful. I also tried the Fried Shrimp Sandwich which was also tasty and well cooked. The batter was similar (if not the same) as the chicken sandwich. Each sandwich contained a yummy sauce, coleslaw, and a soft brioche bun. I would like to try more items in the future ! read more

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The quality of the ingredients and the made to order preparation sets this place apart from most restaurants. Freshly prepared food that wasn't made days ago from frozen processed ingredients and reheated in a microwave is incredibly hard to find. The sandwich has a generous amount of fresh chicken cooked and seasoned carefully and perfectly, a high quality fresh slaw topping and crisp dill pickle slices. The mac and cheese was also delicious and tasted fresh and "homemade" with plenty of cheese and large tender macaroni. The service is efficient and friendly and I noticed the care Alex took with each patron. Its rare to find a place that uses high quality ingredients, is happy to serve each customer and offers a great value. My only fear is they will change this formula. (please don't!) Note - They were named Best Fried Chicken by Boston Magazine in 2025. Well deserved. read more

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WOW! Everything here is so flavorful. I got an extra spicy Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich ($13) as a combo with waffle fries and a fountain drink (+$6). I was also super curious about the honey butter biscuit so I got one of them too ($3). The chicken sandwich was delicious! The chicken was so juicy with good seasoning without being too salty. Its surface was nice and crispy. I thought that the "extra spicy" could have been even spicier, but I appreciated that the chicken wasn't dripping in greasy hot oil. The sandwich also came with pickles and a refreshing and lightly sweet coleslaw on the inside, all of which helped balance out the fattiness and heat from the chicken. When I first picked up the sandwich I noticed that the bread was dense and worried that it would be dry, but it was not dry at all. The denseness of the bread helped hold the sandwich together because the piece of chicken was so big. The waffle fries were crispy and flavorful! Some places make their fries too salty but I felt that the saltiness on these fries were perfect. I wish I ordered more than just one biscuit. Somehow they managed to make the biscuit both flaky and fluffy at the same time. The honey and butter seeped through the entire biscuit which made it so fragrant and sweet. I can't recommend this spot more! The people who worked there were also super kind. read more

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Although not 100% true-to-Nashville Hot Chicken, the hot sandwich still slaps and I appreciate how well-seasoned both the chicken and the accompanying fries were. The Hot level is perfect for me and if you're a spice fiend the Extra Hot isn't too bad either. Inman is a bit tough to park around though so I'd highly recommend walking or taking public transit to get to Hot Chix! (This review was made in connection with a Toast promotion) read more

Nashville hot chicken sandwiches. The chicken was moist and juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside. Really delicious. I got the "hot" spicy level, and it was very tolerable. I think I'd probably get extra hot next time to have the full experience. Mild barely registers on the spicy scale. It is quite expensive at $13 for a sandwich that is barely filling. I think I could probably eat two of them. We also got the honey butter biscuits, which came out kind of cold. They were underwhelming and dry. Tasted pretty much like fast food biscuits. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Hot chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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If you don't know where you are going, you will totally miss the restaurant. I didn't see a sign for it but thankfully a nice passerby pointed us to the right direction. There aren't many seats, so don't plan on getting a big group together. They were pretty quick with the food, the person behind the counter wasn't rude but was a little condescending. Onto the food, wifey and I shared a chicken sandwich and got the hot spice level. Usually hot doesn't mean hot, more like medium but this was hot! It came with a cold slaw which I was unaware, so I had to scrape it off (raw carrot allergy). The bun was nicely toasted and I believe buttered (for all the dairy allergies be aware). I got the old bay fries which were very good as well. I can't say no to crispy waffle fries. It's a pricey chicken sandwich, I think next time I might get tenders instead of the sandwich for the price. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Hot chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Newish nashville spicy chicken place that's worth trying out. Went there for the first time right at opening. The cashier was super friendly and went through the whole menu for us. We got a couple sandwiches and a tender basket to share. The tenders pretty much was a deconstructed chicken sandwich as it came with bread, slaw, and sauce on the side. No pickles though. However it did come with fries. FYI, we were told the small tender basket has about as much chicken as a chicken sandwich. The chicken itself was very tender and well flavored. We are all spicy eaters and got the hot. Hot is actually decently spicy so if you're unsure I would go less to be safe. The old bay fries were excellent. Overall, great new restaurant and would go back. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Large Tenders - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The chicken sandwich was good, but not great, because the chicken was a bit dry. The fries were ok. Mac and cheese lacked flavor. More than the food, the whole place felt like it was falling apart. Soda machine not working, no ice machine, no beer except Miller High Life. read more

We tried the fried mushroom sandwich and Nashville fried chicken with potato salad and waffle fries. Everything was flavorful, crispy and perfectly seasoned. I really enjoyed the mushroom sandwich the best! A nice alternative from chicken! We will be ordering again in the future! read more

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This little fried chicken joint is nestled in a very nondescript building off Inman Square, and very easy to miss. However, the quality of the food and service should help draw your attention to it! We wanted to try a little bit of everything, so we ordered a Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (medium spice level) and a Lemon Pepper Chicken Finger Plate (which includes fries, bread, and coleslaw). The sandwich in particular was delicious and topped with pickles and coleslaw which added a perfect level of tanginess to the meal. Although we ordered a medium spice level, it was not very spicy and was probably closer to mild, but still very tasty. My only complaint was that the chicken very quickly got a bit soggy since it's not very crispy. Still, I think if you dine-in then this wouldn't be much of a problem. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Nashville hot chicken sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A good hot chicken sandwich. I ordered online and it was ready in 20 minutes even though it was slow. The bathrooms are good and gender neutral. I like to get take out as a treat here on occasion. When I'm home I like to pair it with a chobani Greek yogurt and a beer to help with the heat but also help my gut. read more

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Bathroom really nice and I really had to pee. That's about the last thing good thing I have to say about this place! You see it took me about 45 minutes to get to this god forsaken place, never mind the hullabaloo parking fiasco and overall discontentedness that I felt trying to reach here. My grandson couldn't stop complaining. Shoes on the ceiling too. Disgusting. Also the wall is white. Racist? Probably. Maybe in todays economy. Speaking of the economy, this place costs a fortune. For some no good, crumb diddly, hard pass fries and a red 40 juice and a horrid sandwich. As soon as I took a bite the chicken sandwich literally deteriorated in my hand. I mean just fell apart and my day was ruined. These two buns couldn't stick together even if they went to couples therapy! Strike one. Wobbly, inexcusable chairs, terrible tables and an overall weird sit down arraignment. Sticky floor. Sticky and wet make Wendell upset. Horrible. Strike two. Twenty bills for a lousy sandwich. What, is there silver pickles and golden buns? How about bronze plated chicken and titanium coleslaw. No excuse. Cole slaw tasted like a war crime. You could literally taste the hate splooged into the slaw. My grandson said he felt sick. Hot and fresh? More like scalding. The fires of mount doom are comparable to the traumatic ulcers I got eating the sandwich. Palette cleanser? Palette genocide. I'm old people! 76 this summer! This is how you treat an old timer? Strike three. read more

It's a nice little chicken sandwich joint. Though the shop may seem simple from outside, the flavor from the food is everything but simple. Here is my personal rating: Taste: 1/1 Texture: .9/1 Portion: .8/1 Price: .8/1 Presentation: .8/1 4.3/5 -If I had the chance to come visit this place again, I most certainly would. Let's start with how the chicken sandwich tastes. You can distinctly identify each piece of the ingredient used to make the sandwich. The sour salty pickle, sweet crunchy cold coleslaw, hot juicy spicy chicken, buttery toasted buns, and the sweet savory yet tangy sauce that left a pleasant impression. Also their old bay fries are no boring sidekicks either. They pack punches of flavor and I genuinely enjoyed them. I would suggest getting the sandwich and making it into a meal to get the full experience. I think it was reasonably priced and the portions were fair. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Tried the hot fried shrimp sandwich-- it was excellent! The shrimp was tender and juicy. If I could order a whole plate of them, I would! While the coleslaw on the sandwich helped tamp down the heat, as a side, by itself, it was lackluster. The best sides I've tried thus far are the waffle fries (though it can make the meal even heavier) and the banana pudding (decadent, yet fresh and airy.) I'm the future, I think I'll stick to hot chicken tenders, waffle fries, and banana pudding for dessert. And definitely definitely eat it in-store while it's still nice and crispy! read more

Hot Chix Boston - Mac n cheese - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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A cute Nashville chicken shop that's perfect for a quick meal!! The burger and Mac was indulgent and yummy, maybe a little salty for my taste but it's a casual spot y'know. also got a beer. Nicely decorated interior, a lot of neon lights. Cashier was friendly and you can hear the cooks talking in the back, service was good. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Nashville Chicken Burger and Mac and Cheese - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Not a bad place for a quick hot chicken sandwich! The restaurant is pretty unassuming from the outside. You pay upfront and they bring the food to you. The chicken sandwich was freshly made and sizzling hot. I thought the slaw on the sandwich was decent and they added the right amount of sauce. I wish the sandwich was a tad spiced although they never asked what spice level I wanted when I ordered so not sure what spice level I actually got. The biggest reason I enjoyed the sandwich was because I could tell it came straight from the fryer. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about the honey biscuits. I could tell the biscuits have been sitting there for a while and were practically cold (and very dense) by the time we ate. Also one small biscuit was $5?!! Not worth. The other sides were decent especially the mac n cheese. I really liked that the mac n cheese was creamy even at the very end of the meal (unlike other fried chicken places where the mac n cheese becomes congealed as it sits out). Overall, cute place with decent hot chicken sandwiches. Would skip the biscuits though. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The absolute worst mac and cheese I've ever had. The chicken sandwich was alright but the mac and cheese was so bad that it ruined the entire meal. Out of every side dish in my life, this was the only one I just couldn't eat. It was like eating water and yellow food coloring. I couldn't taste the cheese and the texture was awful because it so much liquid. It was like eating soup but there were no flavors. The noodles were not al dente and to top it all off it was $5 for a small cup (not like I wanted any more). Since this is a Nashville hot chicken restaurant, I will talk about the chicken sandwich. It wasn't bad but not good enough to compensate for such a terrible mac and cheese. The flavors were there but the texture was off and it wasn't super fresh. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Cute little hot chicken restaurant in Inman. Delicious spicy Nashville chicken sandwich. The tender combo is huge!!! Worth the money. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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So excited for this restaurant to finally open! We've been to their pop-up and were very impressed with the quality. I love how the hot chicken sandwich is spicy but doesn't overpower other flavors and the chicken is so tenderrrr! They make their sides and desserts in house too! We got the banana pudding and it wasn't overly sweet. 100% recommended! read more

Hot Chix Boston - Fried chicken and shrimp sandwiches with fries and different sides - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Absolutely amazing experience! From the moment I walked in, the vibe was just right. The food? So good fresh, flavorful, and definitely made with love. But what really made it special was the curtesy customer service Alex provided because i am very indecisive but he waited until i looked at the menu and made up my mind. I don't even know how to describe it 1000 stars. The staff was friendly, super attentive, and made me feel like my choice and what i wanted mattered. You can tell they actually care. I left full, happy, and already planning my next visit. Highly recommend! Alex thank you me and my boyfriend had a blast with your style of cooking!!!! thank you read more

This is hands down the best hot chicken sandwich I've ever had in my life. I've seen this team at various pop ups (Idle Hands Brewery) over the past two years and I'm so excited they've soft launched their brick and mortar. You'll score points with your foodie friends if you tell them about this place before everyone else finds out. This place is for sure going to blow up. I had the chicken sandwich (hot is pretty hot) and the potato salad (probably my favorite potato salad in my life). And my wife had the oyster mushroom sandwich with the waffle fries. If I had more room I'd crush a biscuit. Hear they're expanding their menu for the grand opening and my body is ready. I used to live down the street across from Loyal Nine and I'm so thankful I moved because I'd eat here everyday, I'd gain way too much weight and my wife would leave me. But I know this place wouldn't leave my heart so it's probably a fair trade. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Hot chicken sandwich! - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

So happy they moved into the neighborhood! They are one of our go to takeout places. I was hesitant at first since we tried their pop up pre-opening and were not impressed. However, the location allows them to make the sandwiches absolutely delicious. The fried chicken is fresh and crispy and the sandwiches are very flavorful! Surprisingly the mushroom one is so good that even my meat loving partner enjoys it. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Stopped by for takeout when we saw they had finally opened. Texture of the chicken was great but I thought the chicken wasn't as juicy and flavorful as I'd hoped. Definitely a tier above any of the large chain fast food joints that added fried chicken sandwiches to their menus lately but still a bit off from the sandwiches at Trillium which are my personal favorites. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Fried Chicken Sandwhich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Absolutely terrible food. I rarely feel like throwing the food away but that's how tasteless and stale their chicken wings and sandwich tasted. This place was actually good when it opened around 2 years ago but it's been on a downward trajectory since. Maybe the owners changed? Anyway, it's very sad since it actually had good potential. Now, it's a colossal waste of money. read more

We ordered tenders. We got a ragged and gross mangled ball of mess. Imagine the worst dorm food created by someone who couldn't care less about quality, appearance or taste. There are so many good places you could go to in Boston, like Underdog. Avoid this nasty mess. read more

It's a hole in the wall type of place along one of the main streets in Cambridge. I ordered a plain fried chicken sandwich which was $14 with mild sauce on the side. The chicken itself was cooked ok, although kind of tough in the middle. The sandwich is small, and the mild sauce is only hot oil, which didn't have much flavor. read more

So, so yummy. And great customer service . Great addition to the neighborhood. My husband got the fried shrimp sandwich and also loved it. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Mild Nashville chicken sandwich and seasoned fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We stopped here for Nashville hot chicken. So glad we did. Asked for extra extra Spicey and they delivered a great tasting heat to the chicken. So much flavor. Friendly staff and very good service. The sitting area was clean but it looked like they had a window broken out recently. It was covered up, but it was cold inside. Nevertheless, The chicken is awesome and the banana pudding was good too! read more

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I got a burger and it was on the rare side but good but a bit much on the doughy side Waffle fries a bit too salty for my taste read more

Overall GOOD! Recommended! This place can be a bit tough to find as there is no sign outside other than a sign on an old awning with the name of a previous restaurant that may have been in the same space. There is no menu on the storefront. If you know the address (1220 Cambridge St, Inman Sq) you should be able to find it. You can see inside through the windows to determine you're in the right spot. One of the windows was missing glass and was patched up with cardboard. The front door didn't close on its own as the automatic closure was broken. The restaurant was a bit chilly. General appearance of the restaurant is very basic but functional. Order at the counter and grab a table. It gives off sub shop vibes. Onto the food! I ordered the Nashville hot chicken sandwich which is $12 on its own. Options for spice level are not spicy, mild, hot, extra hot. I ordered hot. I also ordered cole slaw and the old bay waffle fries. You can make the sandwich a combo (with 1 side and a drink) for $5 addl. The food took longer to get than I expected but once I saw the food quality the timing seemed fair. The chicken sandwich was huge and meaty! The sandwich is dressed with Remoulade, Cole Slaw & Dill Pickles. The spice level for mine was hot as requested. I would not suggest going hotter than "hot". Next time, I think I will order mild even though I like spicy food. The waffle fries were seasoned with old bay seasoning. I thought the waffle fries were great. I would not recommend getting them though because I felt they weren't a good complement to a spicy chicken sandwich. Spicy sandwich and spicy fries create too much of a salty/spicy flavor profile going on at the same time. The cole slaw was the better option to go with the spicy sandwich because there was more of a contrast. Spicy sandwich and cooling Cole slaw worked good together. I would recommend having honey as an added option to put on the sandwich. I think that would give it an additional flavor profile that would make it stand out more. They don't have bottled water but they do have a soda machine that has a water option. There were some other drink options as well. I suggest giving this place a try. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich and old bay waffle fries - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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There is literally no one that does Nashville hot chicken sandwiches better than Hot Chix! It's been a long time coming but here they are with their brick and mortar location! Come and taste what a Nashville Hot (or not hot) chicken sandwich has to offer. Make sure to try all the fixin's they are all amazing! read more

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Me and my both love the food here and the spicy sauce they served. Definitely coming back and recommending it to all I know!!! read more

Great service / people working there. The chicken sandwich is worth a shot if you love fried chicken! Be warned - the Nashville hot is very spicy. I love spicy food and I get the mild. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Fried Chicken Sandwich - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I am a self described fried chicken connoisseur, I love fried chicken. Despite all of that I can say that this was awful, I waited 45 minutes for 6 tenders, there was one other man there. When my food arrived I was again disappointed, my Nashville hot tenders were not seasoned, 1 out of six has speckles of seasoning while the others visibly did not, on top of that they about the size of the prongs on my plastic fork, tiny. Not only that my coleslaw was abysmal, there were flies everywhere and bread my food came with was disgustingly soggy while the frys were cold. When I went to wash my hands the soap dispenser did not even have soap in it. I am slightly offended, please save yourself 20 bucks and do not come here. read more

Hot Chix Boston - Chicken sizing is saddening. - Chicken Shop Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We tried this place the other day because we was recommended here. We got the chicken sandwich which was very good, just note you can't be cute eating this, my favorite was the tenders they were crispy and well flavored, the waffle fries ( only choice they had) were seasoned and good for what they are supposed to be, The bread was over cooked and was told that it wasn't a honey butter just like a drizzle, I am really not a bread eater but the bite I did take was a bit dry. I will go back and I recommend trying them. read more

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Kind of odd issue but we just ordered delivery (the food is tasty! We've been in the past) and the hc cheeseburger showed up as just a hamburger patty and a bun. Not what we had in mind when ordering, considering that it's a cheeseburger we thought there would be cheese on it at least. Delivery was quick, though! Make sure to specify toppings if ordering through toast using a comment! read more