A Nashville specialty is flying into Plano. New concept 24 Hot Chicken and Waffle Bar will start dishing out fried chicken favorites 24 hours a day on March 7.
Longtime restaurant owners Duke Park and Nate Hanson decided to team up and bring the spicy Southern dish to local diners. After both opening different concepts in Rockville, Maryland, the pair knew they wanted to join forces and create a new dynamic restaurant in North Texas. Planoite Nate worked at a chicken fast food restaurant in college and always knew he wanted to open up his own chicken restaurant, and California resident Duke came across the Nashville hot chicken craze by chance.
“It was an accidental discovery for me,” Duke said. “I was passing a restaurant that had a tremendous line out the door, and as a restaurateur, I had to check it out.”
So after researching the rise of Nashville hot chicken and tasting their fair share of spicy birds, Duke and Nate created a menu centered on making quality fried chicken accented with varying spice rubs.
“The secret to excellent fried chicken is in the brine,” Duke explained. “You have to use good chicken, and then it’s all in the rub. You can vary the spice level of the rub: It is varied by the peppers you put on there.”
To get a feel for the hot chicken craze, Duke suggests newbies start out with the signature spice, the 24 Hot. The medium-level chicken gives people a taste of the trend without blowing out their senses. Because while he enjoys spice, the hotter varieties still make Duke sweat.
For guests who are looking for what Duke describes as an “enjoyable pain,” the menu will include a Pull The Fire Alarm chicken with a habanero and ghost pepper rub.
“That’s when I start sweating,” Duke said. “If you are into a little bit of that enjoyable pain, that’s where you will want to start.”
For those who are spice adverse, the Country Chicken does not include any of these peppers and can be accompanied by a selection of signature dipping sauces. No matter what guests are drawn to, they can expect to enjoy quality comfort food.
24 Hot Chicken will also offer an assortment of breakfast options like egg sandwiches and chicken and waffles while appealing to the lunch and dinner crowds with an assortment of classic Southern sides including macaroni and cheese, cole slaw and potato salad.
Duke and Nate are already planning on opening their second 24 Hot Chicken in California this spring and are hoping to spread more 24 Hot Chicken concepts throughout Dallas. So get ready for people across North Texas to flock over to the Plano location to give the trend a try.
24 Hot Chicken and Waffle Bar >
24 Hot Chicken and Waffle Bar
1885 Dallas Parkway #300
Plano, TX 75093
