Editor Shea here, and I’ve got news for you: Hot girl summer is so 2019. Maybe it’s because I’m 39 weeks pregnant and trying to induce labor, or maybe it’s because my taste buds like a little bit of pain, but I’m branding the summer of 2025 as hot chicken summer.
Whether you like a dash of spice or the whole cabinet, here are some of my favorite places around town to get my hot chicken fix.
World Famous Hotboys | I hate to play favorites, but when I need spicy chicken, Hotboys is where you’ll find me the most. My ride or die is the crispy, saucy, cheesy guap fries, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu — as long as you don’t overestimate your spice tolerance.
Flamin’ Chicken and Breakfast | Why isolate your hot chicken consumption to lunch and dinner when you can have it for breakfast too? This newly-reopened spot serves up spice in just about any configuration you can think of — my fave is the Flamin’ Style Fry Bowl, which combines tenders, fries, and mac ‘n cheese.
Pro tip: all of Flamin’ Chicken’s food is halal.
Photo by @flamincb
Shani’s Secret Chicken | No secrets here: this hidden gem spot makes some literal fire fried chicken, infused with traditional Pakistani + Indian spices. It was even voted Indiana’s best fried chicken by Yelp Elites. Bonus: Since Shani’s is housed with sister restaurant Chapati, you can cool your tastebuds down with a mango lassi.
CM Korean Fried Chicken | Sometimes I want my fried chicken with a side of K-pop, which brings me to CM Korean. This is definitely one of the more expensive places to get hot chicken in Indy, but the massive portions and fresh, flavorful tenders more than make up for the price point. If you’re brave enough, red hot is the way to go.
Dave’s Hot Chicken | I was first introduced to Dave’s Hot Chicken when I lived in Orange County, CA — and I nearly cried of joy when the rapidly expanding chain popped up in Indy a couple years later. My favorite thing about its menu is the variety of cauliflower-based options for my vegetarian friends.
What’s your favorite hot chicken spot in Indy? Give me your hot take.
