Knoxville’s Strip is about to get a new source of heat: Hattie B’s Hot Chicken is nearing the finish line on its first Knoxville location. The Nashville-born chain is taking shape near the University of Tennessee, giving the Cumberland Avenue corridor another high-profile dining arrival.
A photo gallery published by Knoxville News Sentinel shows the restaurant nearing completion this week inside Hub Knoxville’s student apartment development. The buildout is the clearest sign yet that Hattie B’s is moving from a long-promised project to an actual Strip restaurant, although a firm opening day has not been announced.
The location was first announced for summer 2026 and will be Hattie B’s first restaurant in Knoxville and East Tennessee, according to WVLT. The restaurant is planned for roughly 3,330 square feet, with indoor seating for 64 people and a covered patio with room for another 33.
Hattie B’s Will Bring Its Full Heat Ladder To The Strip
The menu is expected to include the chain’s jumbo chicken tenders, wings, chicken sandwiches, Southern Salad, sides and desserts. Hattie B’s also plans to bring its familiar heat-level lineup, starting with no-heat Southern and climbing through Mild, Medium, Hot, Damn Hot and the ghost-pepper-based Shut the Cluck Up!!!, according to the restaurant’s official FAQ.
The Knoxville opening comes as Hattie B’s continues expanding beyond its Nashville roots. Axios reported in June that the chain’s East Nashville restaurant became its sixth Nashville location, while the brand has also expanded to markets including Las Vegas, Chicago and Texas.
For the Strip, the arrival adds a nationally recognized Tennessee food brand to a corridor already packed with student-oriented restaurants, bars and new mixed-use development. Once the doors open, Knoxville diners will finally get to decide whether the chain’s signature chicken brings just enough Nashville swagger—or enough spice to require a strategic milk order.
