Some might say their comfort foods are soups and stews, others might point to a delicious pot pie or warm macaroni and cheese. In Nashville, however, a hot chicken sandwich is all you need.
Even in Northern Virginia, a filling and truly spicy chicken sandwich isn’t as hard to find as you might think. There’s not much to it — bread, fried chicken, and a hefty dose of spice. Yet, each of these NoVA sandwiches makes the classic Southern staple into something special.
Wooboi
Thousand Sunny — If you want a taste of Nashville hot chicken in Northern Virginia, you go to Wooboi. The eatery has a select menu of mouthwatering chicken sandwiches, but if you want something a little more extravagant, try the Thousand Sunny sandwich. With this choice, you’ll be skipping the bun and getting cheese and onion stuffed in between two chicken breasts. You’ll definitely want to come hungry, but you’ll surely leave satisfied. 139 Spring St., Ste. 1, Herndon; 531 Montgomery St., Alexandria
The Club Burger and Hot Chicken
The Sando — From the tender burgers to the crispy wings, The Club Burger is the place to go for any meat lover. The Sando Hot Chicken is a crisped chicken breast, coleslaw, pickles, and the signature club sauce on a brioche bun. And if you’re worried about a sandwich being too spicy or not spicy enough, you can choose spice levels ranging from plain to hot. 261 S. Van Dorn St., Alexandria
Queen Mother’s
The Buffalo — Any fans of buffalo wings would be remiss if they didn’t try The Buffalo at Queen Mother’s. The sandwich is comprised of fried chicken, buffalo sauce, and coleslaw. It’s a pretty simple combo, and yet, there are subtle flairs, like the rich flavor of duck fat from the chicken and the extra creaminess from adding ranch to the slaw. Add toppings like spicy red onions and candied Jalapeños if you think you can handle a little more heat. 3505 Columbia Pk., Arlington
Hot Lola’s
The Lola Club — A fusion fare that mixes Sichuan pepper with Nashville-style chicken, Hot Lola’s brings its own spin to classic fried chicken. You can’t go wrong with the Hot Lola’s Sando or Lola Deluxe sandwich, but the Lola Club will certainly steal the show. Unlike most fried chicken sandwiches, the Lola Club replaces the bun with buttered toast. As for the delectable toppings, you’ll indulge in pepper jack cheese, turkey bacon, tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles. Multiple locations
Ted’s Bulletin
Nashville Hot Chicken — You can never go wrong with a classic, right? Any NoVA local will recognize Ted’s Bulletin as a crowd pleaser, from its extensive menu to its friendly ambiance. While there’s only one hot chicken sandwich on the menu, the cayenne spice coupled with the crisped chicken won’t disappoint. Multiple locations
Feature image courtesy Wooboi
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