Haven Hot Chicken Brings Southern Flavor to North Haven, CT

As someone who grew up in the South, I’ve always had an appreciation for authentic Nashville hot chicken. There’s just nothing quite like that crispy breaded chicken skin spiced with a lip-tingling cayenne pepper sauce. So when I heard that Haven Hot Chicken was opening a new location in North Haven, CT, I knew I had to check it out.

Haven Hot Chicken brings a taste of Nashville’s famous spicy fried chicken to cities in Connecticut. Their new North Haven location is their 9th in the state so far, and I went on opening day to see how this Southern transplant stacked up against the real thing.

As soon as you walk up to the order counter, the decor makes you think of Nashville hot chicken stands. It feels both cozy and cool thanks to the exposed brick walls, checkerboard floor tiles, and Americana touches like old Coca-Cola ads. On chalkboard menus, you can see chicken tenders, sandwiches, sides, and wings with levels of heat from not spicy at all to really freakin’ hot.

I started with an order of 6 Haven Famous Tenders with medium spice level. The chicken emerges from the kitchen with crackling golden breading flecked with spices. The heat doesn’t overwhelm, but builds slowly with a simmering burn. Each tender was juicy on the inside while staying ultra crispy. It passed this Southerner’s taste test with flying colors!

Next I sampled one of their signature sandwiches, the Fry Guy. Brioche buns get stacked with two peppery tenders, pickles, comeback sauce, and bacon. Every bite was a perfect meld of flavors and textures – the tender meatiness of the chicken, creaminess of the sauce, crunch of the breading, and smoky saltiness of the bacon.

No hot chicken meal is complete without sides, so I tried out the mac and cheese and fries. The mac and cheese was rich and velvety thanks to lots of gooey cheese. Shoestring fries had a great crunch and came out steaming hot. But the real star was the comeback sauce for dipping. The tangy creamy condiment made everything even more craveworthy.

To cool off my tastebuds, I washed it all down with an ice-cold Mexican Coke. The cane sugar soda is a specialty import that enhances the down-home dining experience. I also picked up a few bottles of Haven’s own range of hot sauces like spicy Ranch and honey mustard BBQ to take home.

When my feast was over, I was full and happy. As someone who has had hot chicken many times, I can say that Haven did a great job with this Southern dish. They never freeze their chicken, and the seasoning is always just right. It makes me so happy that there is a real hot chicken place in my town. This North Haven location brings the heat and flavor!.

If you’re looking for a bite of Nashville’s famous spicy chicken, head to Haven Hot Chicken’s new North Haven shop. It’s located at 146 Washington Ave, just off Interstate 91. You can order online for takeout, delivery, or curbside pickup. Dine-in seating is limited.

Haven serves tenders, sandwiches, wings, and sides Tuesday to Sunday from 11am-10pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, they stay open an extra 2 hours until midnight.