Alexandria will have two more options later this year for trying one of the hottest — literally — food trends across the country: Hot chicken, aka Nashville hot chicken.
If you've never tried it, hot chicken got its start at Prince's Hot Chicken, which has been in business since 1945 in Nashville. The legendary chicken shack still serves up fried chicken today, at seven different spicy-hot levels: XXX hot, XX hot, X hot, hot, medium, mild and plain.
In the past few years, the hot chicken movement has swept the country and Alexandria's options for the sandwich with a cult following are growing.
Wooboi Hot Chicken is coming to the Old Town North neighborhood later this year, featuring a Southern and Japanese-fusion twist. The chicken is antibiotic and free range, fried in peanut oil (or canola oil for those with peanut allergies).
The eatery opened its first restaurant a little over a year ago in Herndon, offering six levels of heat (the hottest is Code Blue Super Extra Hot). Washingtonian named the restaurant's chicken sandwich the best in the DC metro area (tied with Hot Lola's in Arlington). Owner-chef Minwoo Choi is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. The restaurant has earned an average of 4.5 stars from 444 reviewers on Yelp. Check out The Washington Post's in-depth review from earlier this week here.
Another entry in the hot chicken craze coming to Alexandria is Choong Man Chicken, a Korean-style hot chicken opening in Alexandria's West End at 4686 King St. (near the intersection of King and Beauregard streets), a space that for years was home to China Delight. The fried chicken is described as "ultra crispy and addictively good." The eatery's signature dish is tikkudak chicken, which is fried then baked in a charcoal grill for extra crisp and a smoky flavor.
For now, you can see what all the hot chicken fuss is about or satisfy your craving by checking out The Rub Chicken & Beer (specializing in "hot chicken and cold beer") on the first floor of Hen Quarter, located at 801 King St. The pop-up eatery, which opened in January, is from the folks behind Big Buns Damn Good Burger in Shirlington.
Here's a description of their Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich ($9.50): "Slathered in Nashville hot sauce, mustard coleslaw, pickle chips, comeback sauce on a warm brioche." Sides include cornmeal-fried bread and butter pickles and jalapeno cheddar hush puppies. Save room for dessert: Nutella pudding with whipped cream and roasted hazelnuts.
