The Nashville Catering Scene: Hot Chicken Tacos, Cool Smoothie Bowls, and Better BBQ

Nashville, Tennessee is not just about whisky and honky-tonk. “There may be no hotter city food scene than the one found in Music City,” says Food Republic. We couldn’t agree more.

Notorious Southern hospitality, innovative international cuisine, and celebratory food come together in Nashville’s phenomenal catering restaurants. So whether you’re new to town or a seasoned native, check out these trends on the Nashville restaurant scene which are sure to keep your mouth singing.

Hot Chicken

Few foods scare international eater Anthony Bourdain but, as First We Feast reports, Nashville Hot Chicken is one of them. With its tangy buttermilk bath and sweet dose of brown sugar, the cayenne-infused bird satiates eaters’ desire for fire. And Nashville catering restaurants aren’t afraid to turn up the heat in both classic and innovative iterations.

Bill’s Hot Chicken delivers traditional wings, tenders, and quarters. SouthernKickin both marinades the bird in cayenne and tosses it in spicy sauce. For a contemporary take, Americano – Freestyle Tapas Bar Executive chef Casey Carsten promises everything tastes even better in a warm tortilla. And so his Hot Chicken Taco tops tender dark meat with crunchy pickled cabbage, garlicky house-made aioli, and a special hot dusting. “Everything works together perfectly,” he says . “Guests enjoy the crunch and level of heat when they taste it.” The best-seller adds a bit of Nashville flair to the particularly social environment inspired by their communal, small-plate tapas.

Put it in a Bowl

According to Forbes, eating food from a bowl makes everything better. Bowls help restaurants assemble orders faster. They minimize the chance of spills in busy workspaces. And evidently, holding a bowl makes you “psychologically more prone to mindfulness.” When it comes to food bowls, the Nashville restaurant scene puts your mind where your mouth is.

“When Nashville eaters come to Zoe’s Kitchen, they’re looking for wholesome, made-from-scratch food they can savor,” says Madeline Stone of Zoe’s Kitchen Nashville. At Zoe’s, bowls combine healthy ingredients with customizable Mediterranean flavors. “Whether it’s lamb kafta with cauliflower rice and Israeli skhug sauce, or harissa-marinated salmon with power grains, Zoe’s bowls transport taste buds to the Mediterranean,” Stone promises.

Looking to slim and simplify? At Rush Bowls, smoothies come scoopable with blended fruit, milk or juice, and toppings of oats, shaved coconut, or honey. And GrillIt’s bowls layer grilled meat or vegan proteins on beds of quinoa with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and sauce.

Best Barbecue

If it’s barbecue you’re after, the Nashville restaurant scene has risen to “sit pretty” as a barbecue destination of its own, according to Thrillist. From the banana pudding at Bar-B-Cutie which is “worth the struggle of saving room for dessert” to the dry ribs at Peg Leg Porker that Eater put on their 23 Essential Barbecue Dishes in America, Nashville catering chefs know how to work smoke and southern specialties.

To sample styles from around the country that are smoked on hickory and hand-finished on the grill, try Famous Dave’s.  Winner of over 500 BBQ awards, their Georgia chopped pork, Texas beef brisket, and Southside Rib Tips please all. At Judge Bean’s BBQ, don’t skimp on side likes BBQ beans, mac & cheese, and slaw. And at G’z BBQ, the whiting and catfish sandwiches are just as tasty as pork ribs and beef smoked sausage. And all taste better with a side of dirty kettle potato chips.  

Non-National

According to Visit Music City, 40% of the U.S. population lives within 600 miles of Nashville, and 440 flights come in and out daily. That’s a big crowd of hungry people to keep happy. Nashville catering restaurants are increasingly making the local scene feel cosmopolitan, too.

There’s Chinese steamed buns at Bao Down and South African crab cakes with remoulade (spicy mayo) at Humdingers. L & L Hawaiian Barbecue has been grilling SPAM and shredding roasted pork for over three decades. Try Haitian classics like plantains with pikliz (pickled slaw) and roasted goat at Chez Lama. And at The Cookery, Aussie meat pies, pork-topped baked potatoes, and sausage rolls are made for a good cause by a chef who is teaching culinary skills to formerly homeless youth. The Nashville restaurant scene delivers good food with international flair and local heart.