Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack

    4.7 (87 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack Photos

    Business Info

    GRANDDADDY'S ORIGINAL HOT CHICKEN SHACK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    More like Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack

    Recommended Reviews - Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    George T.

    Grandaddy's Original Hot Chicken - Nashville, TN Grandaddy's is the kind of place that reminds you why Nashville hot chicken is such a phenomenon. I came here because of Yelp and the reviews that drew me in were absolutely right. From the start the hospitality stood out. Tim, the owner, came out to greet me, and I immediately noticed he was wearing a Lakers hat. I told him I was from LA and we connected right there. He showed me some things and we ended up having a quick back-and-forth about it. That kind of personal connection does not happen everywhere, and it gave the visit an even more genuine feel. Kim was working the counter and she carried the same warmth. She was kind, attentive, and went the extra mile by walking me through the menu item by item. That kind of care makes a difference because it shows she wants people to enjoy the food and get what fits them best. When a restaurant has staff who make you feel like you matter, it sets the stage for everything else. I went with the three chicken tenders along with fried corn and greens. The greens come cooked with pork, which I do not eat, so I could only sample a little. Even so, the flavor came through and they were well seasoned. The fried corn was something different and turned out to be a highlight on its own, sweet and savory with just the right texture. Now the chicken. This is where Grandaddy's shines. The tenders were incredibly tender, almost to the point where you wonder what magic they are working in the kitchen. In other words, they had good meat. The quality was impressive and every bite was juicy. What really put it over the top was the crispiness. The crust had that perfect crunch that holds its own bite after bite, not soggy or greasy, just clean and bold. That balance of texture and flavor is what hot chicken is supposed to be. I have had Nashville-style hot chicken in different places around the country, and there are some strong contenders out there. But after eating here I see why Nashville owns the name. There is a depth of flavor and execution that feels rooted here, and Grandaddy's delivers it in a way that makes you understand the hype. The price is right, the service feels genuine, and the food speaks clearly for itself. If you are visiting the city or even if you are local and want a new favorite spot, Grandaddy's Original Hot Chicken should be on your list.

    Hot Tenders and Fries. Deliciousness!
    Alex G.

    This place is amazing. Stopped in after Visiting the Andrew Jackson house and noticed on yelp this was close by. Came in at 1 pm after the lunch rush and glad we did. I ordered 4 tenders, fries and greens. The tenders were good and spicy. The fries were good but those greens. Don't sleep on those greens! I also got one of the cakes. I forgot the name of the cake but it was delicious. During our meal, the owner and two ladies came by to check on us. The owner spent some time telling us the story of the place and how he had to come out of retirement to open this place up. The level of service was amazing during our meal. I will definitely recommend this place.

    Medium spice leg quarters

    So we ventured out as we craved good hot chicken. Based on reviews Granddaddys came up on top. Blindly drove out to this place not sure what to expect. As soon as we walked in the greeting we received was awesome. The young lady helped us with recommendations. Order half a chicken fried corn, 2 leg quarters medium spice. Cake for dessert. The food was so so good. Chicken was so Juicy ,crisp and tasty. Service was outstanding. Food was delightful and so worth the drive. Small quaint place with superb service great food and so inviting. We got to meet Mr. Granddad himself, awesome gentleman so passionate about his food he puts out. Go get some great hot chicken

    Chicken tenders - medium and baked beans
    Alexis B.

    Hot chicken MUST STOP near Nashville. I love the personal and friendly service received as soon as you walk in through to when you leave. Granddaddy himself came out each time we received food to make sure we were happy with it! We were hungry and ordered a bit of everything - a loaded chicken sandwich medium, two leg quarters mild, three tenders medium, collard greens, baked beans, fries, and chess pie squares. Everything was delicious in its own special way. Medium was a bit spicy for me but the ranch made up for it and the spice was perfect for my husband. The mild was truly delicious with a nice salty kick. All the sides were perfect! Especially the baked beans smothered with onions. The chess pie was truly to die for, and I wish I could have that recipe! Thank you for making this the best hot chicken experience possible. We will be returning while we are in town this year. :) Make sure you eat inside to enjoy their friendly conversation!

    Chicken Tenders, Okra, Collard greens
    Danielle J.

    More people need to experience this gem! Super super tender tenders ;) The tenders are bigger too. The collards are perfection, but you cannot miss out on the fried Okra, which will ruin having it again from anywhere else. The medium heat on the tenders seemed milder to me than medium at similar places, and flavor you can enjoy without overburn. Food made when you order, so no rushing here! Smaller spot with some tables but more set up to order and go. GET THE OKRA!!!

    Photo Op with Granddaddy
    Rachel L.

    Walking in you immediately are made to feel at home and part of the family. The service was outstanding. The food was amazing. Mouthwatering juicy chicken. Best we've ever had! Fried Okra and corn on the cob were legit best hands done ever had. Coleslaw was so delicious and had apples in it! They were out of greens and beans by the time we got there later in the day so if you want that go early! Scored the last of the homemade chess pies! Granddaddy himself came out serving the food, telling his story and making you feel like you're at the family dinner table. Was such an amazing experience would highly recommend if you are in the area to go get you some!

    Nashville hot tenders with southern fried okra.
    Mike W.

    This place is amazing! Service is great, food is great! I will eat here again next time I'm in Nashville.

    Fried okra pods and french fries
    William W.

    Tucked away in the northeastern reaches of Nashville in a tiny strip mall in Lakewood is one of the city's greatest hot chicken experiences. But thanks to user-driven platforms like Yelp, this establishment is not a secret. The word is out! Another eatery known as Granddaddy's Famous in Joelton is owned by the founder's son and is equally fabulous. But only at Granddaddy's Original can you eat deliciously spicy entrees and side dishes cooked by granddaddy himself, a retiree who stays active by frying up hot dishes for loyal patrons with his secret recipe. Even the country music legend and hot chicken fan Lorrie Morgan eats here! Run by the sweetest family you'll ever meet, you're immediately welcomed into their small eatery with the unmistakable smell of southern fried food wafting from within. You're instantly reminded by signage, and possibly granddaddy himself, that breast quarters take 25 minutes to prepare. That's a good sign, because everything is being made fresh. They're even growing their own organic peppers, so attention to detail is paramount here. And the wait is absolutely worth it! The food is also tremendously affordable! The texture of the fried chicken is literally perfection, delicately brittle, crunchy yet subtle, a crispy complement to the tender chicken inside. The spice levels aren't as skewed as some chicken joints, so a medium here is like a mild elsewhere. That gives patrons a better range to find that perfect heat. I wouldn't say the spices are as complex at Granddaddy's as a few other spots in town, but thankfully they don't burn much beyond their original journey over your taste buds. That's a good thing. One fantastic feature that I haven't seen anywhere else is that you can order literally any menu item and make it hot and spicy. Patrons rave about their Nashville hot corn on the cob, which I'll be ordering next time. You can spice up your beans, collared greens, coleslaw, potato salad, whatever. And the fries are already spicy, which obviously you can make hotter. But the real discovery was fried okra like no one else does it! Instead of okra pods sliced into small circles, it's fried whole. And it's already pretty spicy both inside and out. By some sort of magic, the interior of each piece of okra is spicy with every bite, like they've been genetically engineered to contain hot sauce. I complemented granddaddy on this marvelous feat of culinary wizardry, but I didn't get the secret out of him. He did say that even people who don't like okra love this side dish! And I've added it to my top 25 things to eat in Nashville (future documentary to hit YouTube)! I absolutely loved Granddaddy's and so will you!

    caullie in the wild
    Dillon M.

    There's a young lady that sits at the counter when you walk in. It took us a while to figure out how to order food... until we asked. Everything made to order so it'll take about 15-25 mins depending on what you order. Pretty decent food.

    Not even sure where to begin rating this place. If I could, I would rate it a "10"! For starters Kim is the first smile you see when you walk in. She is amazing and everyone is her "baby"!! Now comes "Grandaddy" (owner) to greet us. We left his establishment with sooo much knowledge and background on him and his family. He is one of the most personable human beings I have ever met. His recipes are his own and definitely one of a kind. We had the collard greens, jumbo chicken tenders and a chicken sandwich loaded. We followed up with dessert, the chess square. Absolutely AMAZING!!! If you're ever in the area, make it appoint to stop by and enjoy Granddaddy's food!! Thank you Grandaddy!! Sue from Los Angeles.

    Jumbo wings, breast quarter

    See all

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    27 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of John T.
    4745
    2584
    3259

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Food is fantastic. Small for eating in but definitely worth stopping by for delicious food. Nice family owned.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carr H.
    0
    188
    158

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tom M.
    351
    28
    8

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ken K.
    0
    54
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jess W.
    21
    10
    6

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack

    You might also consider

    Sam's Place

    Sam's Place

    3.7
    (262 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I think if you're on the lake and hungry, this is probably a good place to stop. But we came at…read morearound 2 on a Sunday, and despite many open tables, we had a bit of a wait. About 20 minutes for 2 people. They do have a cool text system so you know how long you've been waiting and where you are in the queue. Appreciated that. It was pretty warm out, and they had the big windows open, but there was no breeze, and we were inside in a corner. Our server came about 10 minutes after we were seated. He was very nice, but never refilled my empty water glass, and my hubby had to ask twice to get a 2nd beer. I ordered chicken tenders with a side of broccoli. I got fries. Fine, the universe wanted me to have more carbs. The food was ok. I think the food is a little more consistent at the Hendersonville location, but its like a cave in there, and I am not a bat. I don't think this is a great place to drive to for lunch. It would be pretty convenient if you're hungry and out on the lake. They have a fairly good sized courtesy dock and the boaters seemed pretty skilled at coming and going.

    This is always a great waterfront spot when the weather is warm and sunny! While sometimes there…read moremay be a wait, all seating has nice views of the water and service is fast once you're seated. It's a staple when I'm looking for good summer fun and good bar food (dishes like the chicken nachos are big like the rest of their portions and good to share). For a sweet treat, I've always enjoyed their bushwhacker.

    Photos
    Sam's Place
    Chicken tenders
    Chicken tenders
    Our outside view

    See all

    Our outside view
    Grillshack Fries and Burgers - East Nashville

    Grillshack Fries and Burgers - East Nashville

    4.6
    (435 reviews)
    6.5 mi
    $

    First timer tonight...great burger, very crispy fries. Wings were really good as well, Cajun…read moreseasoning, spicy but not overwhelming. Very friendly service, will be back again!!

    At times, we decide to challenge ourselves. To see, if we can reach for something new, something…read moreunexpected, something that will push our senses to new heights. I am of course talking about arriving in a new city and embarking on a quest to find the best burger. In Nashville burger lover circles, Grillshack is often noted as one of the establishments. It's been here in East Nashville since the year 2013. Yes, same year when Breaking Bad came out and when Miley Cyrus twerked on the award stage. The spot is ran by a husband and wife duo Steve and Susan Richter, with a focus on locally sourced ingredients like locally baked buns from Charpier's Bakery and ingredients from Bear Creek Farm. The burger is executed in a highly classic way, with only the cheese, the meat and the bun combined, with all else on the side. The result is a fairly small, enjoyable burger, but with a very heavy bread to meat proportion (that is a matter of preference). The meat is a bit in the drier side and not particularly rich in flavor, but the burger is well composed and does not fall apart. There are a few tables outside to sit under a covered area and enjoy an American classic. In other words, Grillshack is a staple neighborhood local joint for those in the know and those who have a particular like towards this style: bread heavy, minimalistic and dry crispy texture to the meat. Not necessarily all bad things, but a matter of preference.

    Photos
    Side of building
    Side of building
    Grillshack Burger
    Grillshack Burger
    Ordering Counter

    See all

    Ordering Counter

    Granddaddy's Original Hot Chicken Shack - seafood - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...