Nashville
Nashville is one of my favorite food cities I have had the pleasure of exploring. The Southern delights here seem to never end, from the iconic fried chicken sandwiches to epic shrimp and grits; Nashville is a food city that keeps on giving. I am confident you will enjoy your time here if you follow my recommendations, especially Big Al's Deli!
Southern/Shrimp and Grits
Rank: 6
The overall rank of Big Al’s Deli will come as no surprise to the lucky few who have experienced the delicacy that is Al’s cooking. Some people say that you should live your life without any regrets. Those people have not had Big Al’s cooking. Because they would know that everyone (which is most people) clearly must have at least one regret, that is they have not tried Big Al’s Deli soon enough. This man simply knows how to cook.
The highlights here are clearly the Southern classics from my favorite, his shrimp and grits to collard greens to fried chicken Al has you covered. Literally everything I ate here was noteworthy, and I must make a note that I advise showing up at least ten minutes before opening on a weekday and thirty minutes early on a weekend. Trust me, you will get the idea as soon as you show up. The whole place can fit maybe twelve people at a time. And that should just show you how amazing Big Al’s Deli is.
My clear favorite here was Al’s shrimp and grits simply put they are the best shrimp and grits I have devoured in my life. There is a little bit of kick to them so expect that, but if you can handle a little bit of spice you should be a-okay to enjoy this amazing dish. There is just so much flavor going on in this meal that it is a must for me to enjoy while in Nashville. I actually do not know if you can claim to have experienced Nashville without trying Big Al’s.
Fried Chicken
Rank: 20
Holy moly, my god, Red’s Hot Chicken and Big Al’s are the whole point of this website. In my opinion, Red’s Hot is the best-fried chicken I have had in my entire life. This place is right next to the Nashville Parthenon, making it an easy snag for anyone in the area, and it is another must-hit while in the city. When in Nashville, we both know hot chicken is what you are looking for in your life. And you need look no further than here. These sandwiches are glorious, I must say watch the spice level as it can get hot quickly. But my god, this chicken is amazing, the skin falls apart in your mouth, and the flavor just kicks your butt in every bite. The fries are also fantastic, and I am confident the rest of the menu is probably excellent, but I am unsure how you could go here and not simply devour fried chicken and fried chicken only; it is that good.
I got the hot, and it was pretty spicy for me, but I can handle my spice. Unless you are pretty out there on spice tolerance, I would probably stick to that or below.
BBQ/Brisket
Rank: 98
Well, Texas-style BBQ in Nashville seems a bit odd to me. I cannot tell a lie. But I knew I wanted to enjoy some BBQ while in Nashville, and all my research kept bringing me back to Shotgun Willie’s. Knowing that he is from Houston, it started to make sense since that is where I had the best BBQ of my life. So, I figured I would trust my research and enjoy the pleasure of meat. While I must admit I tried a healthy serving of a variety of meat, there is a clear winner among all the meats here. The brisket is beyond phenomenal. Simply melt in your mouth with mouth-watering fat and perfect flavors throughout the meat. This brisket is glorious. I would be shocked if you found better brisket in the state of Tennessee. Now, I believe that a better BBQ might be had somewhere in the state, as the ribs and sausages were not top-notch. But if you are feeling some brisket in your life while in Nashville and you are not a hardcore Texas BBQ truther(like me), this will probably be some of, if not the best, brisket you have had in your life.
Burgers
Rank: 133
Goddamn, all these rankings this high should really be a sign that Nashville is a food town. It also signifies that I must return and eat at all the places I missed. But moving onto the glory, we will discuss Cabin Attic Burgers. If you are in any way a fan of smash burgers, you have found your match made in heaven. At this burger truck, you will enjoy some of the best smash burgers of your life. One of the best I have ever had, and I have had a fair share of smash burgers. My pick here is the Adobe Burger, as I am a sucker for green chili, and if you have not had green chili or do not see the appeal, please try this burger and re-evaluate your life. However, if for some reason you are not a green chili fan, no need to fear I know that Cabin Attic has something for everyone. These burgers have the perfect crunch, on a nice bun with flavor bursting throughout you will contemplate ordering many more. The cheese melted gorgeously, and the toppings generously covered this incredible burger. Please help yourself to one of the best smash burgers you can get your hands on while in Nashville, or I promise you, you will regret it.
Fried Chicken
Rank: 138
Here, we have another outstanding food truck in Nashville, another place to devour glorious hot chicken. After you try Red’s, your next stop should be at Brave Idiot if you are on a hot chicken tour of Nashville. This chicken is so flavorful and damn hot. So definitely watch the spice level, as you do not want to overdo it, but I guarantee you will like it. I got a level 6 and can handle my spice, and I thought it was pretty damn hot. So that is the best information I can give you, but damn, it was hot but not too hot. Just fabulous to be honest, so definitely come and enjoy!
Thai/Fried Chicken
Rank: 150
Fried chicken that is not made in the standard Nashville, Southern way; what is going on here at SS Gai? What we have here is a Thai fried chicken joint that is simply wonderful. In a land of bountiful fried chicken, I was excited to try a different variety, and here at SS Gai, you get precisely that. Thai fried chicken is a very different beast on its own, and it helps add a unique element to the plentiful consumption of fried chicken that will surely be underway for you in Nashville.
Brewery/Fried Chicken Sandwich
Rank: 165
More fried chicken is on the menu here, which should be expected in Nashville. A standard fried chicken sandwich with some cheese as a change. And it is a damn good sandwich here. The beer was fantastic, and the live music made this atmosphere hit differently. The fried chicken sandwich is what would keep me coming back for more. I am confident the rest of this menu is fantastic, but the clear winner here is the fried chicken sandwich, ensure you devour that, then maybe move onto other dishes while you enjoy some drinks, great music, and even better food.