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Main Chick Hot Chicken is a Pasadena chicken spot that has expanded its Nashville-style operation into multiple locations around town. The chicken here has a flavorful dry rub that really comes through on the first bite. Their tenders always come out piping hot (both temperature and spice-wise), so we recommend giving your chicken a moment to cool before digging in. It’s understandable if you can’t resist this fluorescent red chicken, but you might end up with some full-body sweats when the heat kicks in. We also love that they offer both white and dark meat options even though we always go for their spicy leg quarters, which are big portions of hot chicken generously brined for extra flavor. Pair it with some white bread to mop up the extra sauce in your box, or maybe even pat your forehead if you can’t handle the heat.
Food Rundown
Leg Quarter
There’s something so satisfying about digging into a juicy chicken leg, but the heat in the dry rub might make you pace yourself. The meat’s brine seeps into every part of the quarter, bringing tons of sour, spicy, and smoky flavor with it. We also love the combination of tender meat and crispy skin that’s equally moist and flakey after getting a final coating of spices.
Dark Meat Chicken Sandwich
This dark meat sandwich is far superior to any chicken breast version out there–it’s juicy, thoroughly breaded, and packs just the right amount of crunch. The soft roll barely holds everything together, but the creamy slaw and pickles bring some needed freshness to this deliciously spicy (and very messy) sandwich.
Crinkle Fries
These crinkle fries lack crispiness, making them a tad mushy and, frankly, kind of forgettable. The spice mix they’re tossed in is tasty, but not interesting enough to have us dreaming about a second date. Just order more chicken instead.