Royals Hot Chicken

Chef Ryan Rogers' ode to Kentucky pressure-fried chicken meets Nashville hot. Open since 2015, Royals brines chicken for 24 hours, hand-breads it, and lets you choose heat levels from Mild to Gonzo. The quick-service NuLu spot pairs its signature chicken with scratch-made potluck sides like shells & beer cheese, spicy potato wedges, and broccoli bacon salad. Apple fried pies, boozy milkshakes, and 24 draft beers round it out. Counter service, no reservations.