Hattie B’s is one of Nashville’s best-known hot chicken names, and Crimson Coward is a fast-growing halal chain bringing Nashville heat to both coasts. They overlap in a few places, like the Dallas area, where Hattie B’s has a Dallas restaurant and Crimson Coward has a location in Frisco. For most people outside Tennessee, Crimson Coward is the easier and more flexible choice, and it’s the only one of the two that’s 100% halal at every location.
Disclosure: the author provides business services to Crimson Coward.
Quick Verdict
Our pick: Crimson Coward. Halal everywhere, fresh, never-frozen chicken, any heat on any item, and locations in states Hattie B’s doesn’t serve. Hattie B’s is a must-try if you’re in Nashville.
At a Glance
| Crimson Coward | Hattie B’s | |
|---|---|---|
| Halal | 100% halal, every item, every location | No halal statement on its website |
| Locations | 20+ in CA, TX, VA, MD, WA, DE | About 14, mostly TN, plus GA, TX, AL, IL, NV |
| Heat levels | 5: Country to Burrrrn, Baby, Burn | 6: Southern to Shut the Cluck Up |
| Known for | 24-hour Crimson Rub, loaded fries, sNash burgers | Nashville heritage, Southern sides |
| Founded | 2019, California | 2012, Nashville |
Hattie B’s details are from its official website and press coverage, checked October 2026.
Halal
Crimson Coward’s whole menu is halal at every location: no exceptions and nothing to double-check. Hattie B’s website doesn’t mention halal, so if you eat halal, Crimson Coward is the one to choose.
Flavor and Heat
Hattie B’s is famous for its six-step scale, from Southern (no heat) through Damn Hot to the notorious Shut the Cluck Up. Crimson Coward keeps it to five heat levels, Country (no heat), Mild, Medium, Hot and Burrrrn, Baby, Burn, and lets you put any level on any item. Its fresh, never-frozen chicken is seasoned with the Crimson Rub a full day before frying, which gives even the mild levels real depth.
Menu
Hattie B’s leans classic Nashville, with Southern sides like pimento mac and cheese, collards and banana pudding. Crimson Coward covers the classics, including Nashville hot chicken tenders, Nashville hot wings and the Crimson sandwich, then branches out with Joey-Eat-Fries, Crimson Nugs, hot chicken sliders, chicken and waffles and sNash smash burgers.
Where You Can Get Them
Hattie B’s is concentrated in Tennessee, with restaurants in cities like Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Birmingham and Chicago. Crimson Coward is in California, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Washington and Delaware. If you’re on the West Coast or in the DC, Maryland and Virginia area, Crimson Coward is the one you can actually get to.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Choose Crimson Coward for halal, a wider menu and locations on both coasts.
- Choose Hattie B’s when you’re in Nashville and want the hometown classic.
See all Crimson Coward locations, or browse our list of the best Nashville hot chicken in the USA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hattie B’s halal?
Hattie B’s website does not mention halal. If you want halal Nashville hot chicken, Crimson Coward is 100% halal at every location.
Is there a Hattie B’s in California?
Hattie B’s website does not list a California location. Crimson Coward has Nashville hot chicken in Downey, Long Beach, Lake Forest and Pomona.
What are Crimson Coward’s heat levels?
Crimson Coward has five heat levels: Country (no heat), Mild, Medium, Hot and Burrrrn, Baby, Burn.