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.

Started by Justin Lim, owner of Okiboru Tsukemen and Ramen in Sandy Springs, Scoville serves Nashville hot chicken sandwiches that go from totally spiceless to the startling heat of the “Reaper” topped with coleslaw, pickles, and Scoville sauce. Crinkle-cut fries, cold macaroni salad, and pickles make up the extent of the abbreviated menu here, with soft drinks and strawberry lemonade available to drink. There are also locations in Marietta, Decatur, Buckhead, Underwood Hills, and Athens.

Chefs Todd Richards and Joshua Lee know their Krog Street Market patrons loved the hot chicken sandwich back when Soul was Richards’ Southern Fried. With the changes came a new iteration of the former stall’s popular sandwich — this time it’s hot fried catfish topped with remoulade sauce, red onion and pickles. For those who insist on poultry, the stall includes a soul-Buffalo chicken sandwich topped with bleu cheese crumbles and spicy chicken served on a regular or collard green waffle.

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.

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.

Head to Java Saga at its new Buford Highway location 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.

Kimchi Red has become a go-to for Korean fried chicken in the northern burbs, including for batches of crispy Korean smoked wings. For folks who love heat, order a whole or half Korean fried chicken in spicy sauce options like sweet chili pepper. Or try the KFC here done Mal-La-style tossed in Sichuan sauce and garnished with peppercorns and cilantro. Be sure to also order a side of kimchi fried rice.