Updated April 2024
What most likely started as a regional craze with Nashville hot chicken sandwiches has turned into a bonafide obsession in Orlando! Trendy spots, from upscale brasseries to roadside stands, all offer a twist on this hot—pun intended—trend.
Here, we offer some of our favorites to try around town.
Swine & Sons
1280 N. Orange Ave, Winter Park
This husband and wife-run shop, previously located next to The Ravenous Pig and then The Local Butcher, is now nestled in Foxtail Coffee Co. building on North Orange Avenue. Their amazing hot chicken sandwich is made with crispy Bell & Evans all-natural chicken, covered in hot spice and topped with house-made garlic dill pickles, is served on a buttered bun with a side of fries. You can pick the level of spice you want, from Party to Ultra Mega Rager.
Chicken Fire
2425 East Colonial Drive, Orlando | In the iFresh Market Plaza
Chicken Fire was a popular food truck in Central Florida. Now you can visit their brick-and-mortar store on East Colonial where they’re serving over 1,000 pounds of chicken each weekend! Choose your level of heat (we recommend mild to begin), and don’t forget to order an extra side of their buttermilk coleslaw. Specials like their jumbo wings aren’t always on the menu, but when they are, order them! And don’t forget the Soul Sauce!
Courtesy of Cask & Larder
Cask & Larder
9202 Jeff Fuqua Blvd, Orlando | Inside the Orlando International Airport
You know this hot chicken sandwich is good if we’re sending you to the airport! Cask & Larder is the brainchild of The Ravenous Pig owners, James and Julie Petrakis. All of their takes on southern classics are winners, but their hot chicken sandwich, made with house-made hot honey and served with some serious coleslaw and thick-cut pickles, is one of the best.
The Porch
643 N Orange Ave, Winter Park | Adjacent to The Local Butcher
Interestingly, this place was directly adjacent to Swine & Sons when it was inside The Local Butcher and offers a Nashville Hot Chicken & Biscuits option on the weekend only, and it’s worth waiting for! We’re talking spicy Porch fried chicken served in between a fresh buttermilk biscuit, topped with house-made pickles and honey butter. The Porch gets crowded, so get there early or order on Door Dash!
JAM Hot Chicken
400 West New England, Ave, # 13, Winter Park
There are plenty of fast-casual chicken spots in Winter Park. Still, JAM Hot Chicken is a step above the rest, offering superb Nashville hot chicken sandwiches and tenders with a uniquely Southern twist that will have you coming back again and again. Longtime fans of JAM know they started as a food truck. When a window spot opened up in Hannibal Square, the former haunt of the Sausage Shack of Winter Park, owner Andrew Scala, scooped up the coveted spot for a more permanent home for his incredibly hot and delicious recipes.
WHAT’S ON THE MENU?
Simple, straightforward menus are often the best reflection of a restaurant that knows its strengths. JAM Hot Chicken’s menu is just that; it’s straight to the point, and there is no wrong choice. For newcomers, you’ll start with the Heat Check, choosing your preferred level of hotness. JAM offers Mild (just a touch), Hot (let it burn), Hotter (burning sensation), Jam (you’ve been warned), or Plain (no spice). Once you decide your tastebuds’ fate, it’s time to select the heat delivery method. Customers love The Sando, a Bell & Evans boneless breast brined for 24 hours, dipped in a buttermilk base, dredged through sensational seasonings, and then fried in 100 percent peanut oil. The breast is topped with the most flavorful slaw, house-made pickles, signature comeback sauce, and a buttered, toasted bun rolled in ghee. The ingredients of this sandwich are well-balanced, the size is perfect, and it holds together well, and on top of that, it is almost indescribably delicious. The Box is also an excellent option for those who come HUNGRY. Filled with seasoned fries, chopped chicken breast, slaw, crinkle-cut pickles, and comeback sauce, this Box is substantial. Tenders are also a good choice, especially for picky eaters or younger ones, coming in with a three or five- count and offering the same Bell & Evans premium quality.
THE EXTRAS
Don’t forget the sides. JAM Hot Chicken offers several unique extras, like the Vinny Slaw: cabbage, red onion, and apple cider vinegar, their house-made creamy buttermilk ranch, and a cup of made-from-scratch dill pickles called Tommy Picklez (an early 1990s Nickelodeon reference). Finish your meal with a vanilla or strawberry milkshake made with The Greenery Creamery ice cream. Craft beers, sodas, and more are available to quench your thirst.