Louisville is in Kentucky, but with Nashville just a short drive away, it’s no wonder hot chicken made its way across state lines. There are six different flavor levels to Joella’s heat — from mild to “fire-in-da-hole.” The franchise-quality service and higher meal cost make it tough to rate this establishment at the very top of Atlanta’s hot chicken org chart, but for those seeking spicy yardbird in the Cumberland area, head to Joella’s. There are also locations in Woodstock, Kennesaw, and Newnan. Order online.

Located along Marietta Boulevard on the edge of the Bolton neighborhood, Vietnamese restaurant and bakery Juniper Cafe comes from Lazy Betty chefs Ron Hsu and Aaron Phillips. Beyond the fresh pastries in the mornings and pho, bún, bánh mì, Vietnamese sausages, and summer rolls served later in the day, expect a take on hot chicken here spiced with Thai chili oil. It’s served with a side of jicama-cabbage slaw to help cool things down. Sunday brunch also features a Vietnamese hot honey chicken biscuit and a hot chicken biscuit topped with chili crisp, jam, and that aforementioned slaw. Order online.

This Memphis-born fried chicken restaurant has flavor through and through, almost to the point that one might think the bird itself was born with spice in its veins. With minimal breading and maximum amounts of tang and well-balanced heat accented by flavorful peanut oil, Gus’s hot chicken totally justifies a slightly higher price point. Plates come with baked beans, slaw, and white bread. Order online.

The menu at this Buckhead restaurant is dedicated to chicken, especially fire-roasted birds. In addition to whole rotisserie and fried chickens on the menu here, Fire Hen also offers wings and a selection of sandwiches. For those seeking something spicy, order the Dirty Bird, a crispy fried chicken breast topped with pickles, garlic mayo, and a Nashville-style peach hot sauce. Order online.

A ghost kitchen from the team behind Farm Burger, Farm Birds keeps it simple with three breaded, sweet-tea-brined fried chicken sandwiches: Original Southern Style, Atlanta Lemon Pepper Wet, and Nashville Hot. Masada Bakery makes the buttery brioche buns for these sandwiches, with each served with a side of slaw. Order online.

Atlantans who have never been to the original Nashville location of Hattie B’s likely became aware of the spiced-to-the-bone flavor of this deep-red chicken at its Little Five Points location. Served in platters with red-checkered wax paper, order single or double dark meat plates (leg quarters), fried hot chicken sandwiches, whole wings, a half-chicken, or tender bite-sized chunks over “Dirty Bird” fries here. Order online.

This East Atlanta Village hangout has been known to quietly serve some of the best versions of popular foods, including pizza and vegan burgers. So don’t sleep on the boneless hot chicken thigh sandwich at Argosy spiced with paprika, garlic, and cayenne pepper and served on a brioche bun. It’s straight flames, and quite possibly the masterpiece of the menu. Order online.

This East Atlanta Village anchor bar is where people can order the spicy, pickle-brined fried chicken breast sandwich throughout the week. But keep an eye out for the return of the honey hot fried chicken doughnut during weekend brunch here.

Located on Buford Highway, Three Buddies serves burgers, fried fish baskets, and fried chicken sandwiches that also happen to be 100-percent halal. While not the spiciest fried chicken sandwich on this list, the Spicy Southern fried version at Three Buddies is topped with slaw and sweet pickles and offers a satisfyingly subtle heat that builds, but doesn’t detract from the flavor. Order online.

Head to Java Saga for a sizable Taiwanese-style hot chicken sandwich in four levels of heat: lifeline (mild), crypto (hot and numbing), octane (very hot), and predator. Each sandwich comes topped with Java Lava Saga sauce and sweet pickles and is served on brown sugar milk toast. Pair it with a mango smoothie to curb the heat. Order online.