Bottom Line: The Nashville Fire Chicken Sandwich from Pecan Street Brewing is not a typical version of that classic, but it delivers that perfect point where fire meets flavor.
The chains have plenty of options out there for good, spicy chicken sandwiches as each tries to top the competition in the Chicken Sandwich Wars. But if you look beyond the better-known restaurants and fast food joints, you can find some blazing poultry offerings that really kick things up, sometimes in the least expected places. Case in point, I made a stop by Pecan Street Brewing in Johnson City to try out their beers and noticed the rather intriguing Nashville Fire Chicken Sandwich on their menu. I ordered that with my flight, and it ended up being the star of the show. (Though the beers are really good as well and I will cover them in an upcoming post at CraftBeersAndMore.com.)
At the center of this sandwich is a marinated and fried chicken breast that is tossed in their Nashville Fire sauce. Also included are pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapenos, jalapeno jam, lettuce, tomato, and onion all stuffed into their jalapeno cheddar bun. Some may object to all the extra ingredients because a pure Nashville Hot sandwich is nothing but the fried chicken breast, hot sauce, pickles, and a bun. But I’m not complaining, and they call it a Nashville Fire sandwich anyway, so they we will allow them to take some liberties.
The chicken breast is tender and juicy, but definitely not greasy. It is a decent-sized filet with a good crust that has plenty of crunch. The Nashville Fire sauce is rich and peppery with a bold flavor that makes itself noticed. That jalapeno jam is a nice touch because of the sweetness it lends (not too much, though) and an additional peppery kick. And the grilled jalapenos bring a good roasted pepper taste that works well with the other spicy ingredients. The veggies are fresh and act as a good balance so that the sandwich does not set your mouth completely ablaze. And that cheddar adds some creaminess and sharpness to bring everything together. But that jalapeno cheddar bun is the co-star of this show, soft and pillowy with a bit of sweetness, and up to the task of holding the abundant ingredients in place. If Pecan Street is not baking these themselves, I assume they get them from a local baker.
But does it measure up on the heat you ask? Oh yeah!
This sandwich delivers a kick right away and it keeps building as you chomp your way through it. The Nashville Fire sauce is definitely the main concentration of the heat, but the grilled jalapenos, jalapeno jam, and jalapeno cheddar bun work their way into the mix as well. This gives you a variety of flavors delivering the burn which really makes this sandwich an experience. I would put this above Medium on my scale and approaching Hot. My lips were definitely tingling after working my way into the sammy, and it was a good thing they had plenty of beer on hand to douse the flame. And if you decide to forgo the lettuce, tomato, and onion, this sandwich will definitely get past the Hot level.
Now, I’m a Texas boy and have never actually had a Nashville Hot in Nashville (though I plan on making a pilgrimage at some point), so I can’t tell you that I am the best judge of this type of sandwich. But of the ones that I have tried, Pecan Street’s Nashville Fire ranks up there among the best. It is not a traditional take on the sandwich, but their version definitely works. This delivers one of those perfect moments where fire meets flavor which is exactly what I am searching for. It may not be the hottest sandwich out there, but it does bring the heat and plenty of flavor along with it.
Pecan Street Brewing is located in the Texas Hill Country in Johnson City just across the street from the courthouse. They have quite a good selection of their beers on tap, and they have an extensive menu to go along with those. The Nashville Fire sandwich is definitely a go-to item for those looking for some spice, but their pizzas are pretty tempting as well and the soft pretzel is a great way to start things off. (Plus, they do brunch on the weekends.) They are open daily except Wednesdays, and if you are in the area I suggest stopping by for a brew and a bite to eat. You can visit their page at CraftBeersAndMore.com for their hours, map location, and more info.
Address:
106 E Pecan Dr
Johnson City, TX 78636-2034
Website: www.pecanstreetbrewing.com