Hot chicken, barbecue and pizza: 5 Nashville favorites that have expanded across the South

There's often a fair amount of hype when it comes to national chains and beloved restaurants launching locations here in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Raising Cane's and Whataburger openings were favorites in the past couple years, and In-and-Out Burger made headlines when the company announced its new headquarters would be located in Williamson County.

But there are plenty of local restaurants founded in and around Nashville that have exported their brand outside of the state of Tennessee. These are beloved hometown institutions that have had great success in other Southern cities.

1. Frothy Monkey

Nashvillians are pretty familiar with Frothy Monkey, a locally-based coffee roaster with multiple café locations around town. But you may not know that the brand has expanded outside of Middle Tennessee.

Frothy Monkey opened its first location in the 12 South neighborhood of Nashville in 2004. Since then, the coffee roaster has expanded operations under the ownership of Ryan Pruitt and a small group of partners.

The first Frothy Monkey location outside of Nashville was in downtown Franklin, which opened in 2013. The coffee shop's Chattanooga location opened in 2017, followed by a Knoxville location in 2022. Finally, the local chain opened a Birmingham, Alabama location in 2021, marking the company's first foray outside of the state.

Specialty espresso drinks and breakfast are great choices at the beloved coffee shop, but guests looking for something different can also enjoy happy hour during the week at the all-day café. The more you know!

2. Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria

Most people are familiar with the trio of Tennessee State University college grads who launched the massively successful fast-casual restaurant Slim & Husky's on Buchanan Street in North Nashville. In addition to rapidly expanding to several Nashville locations, the business moguls have set up shop as far away as Sacramento, California.

Clinton Gray, Derrick Moore, and Emanuel Reed led the effort to bring small business ventures back to Buchanan Street and have since expanded across the state of Tennessee, launching three locations in Georgia and one in California.

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The group was recently recognized as James Beard Award semifinalist in the outstanding restauranteurs category, cementing their spot as a high-quality fast-casual restaurant with national acclaim. It's safe to say Music City is proud.

3. Hattie B's

Hot Chicken has become a Nashville staple known around the world, and the OG hot chicken is widely accepted to be Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, with locations on Nolensville Pike and 5th and Broadway's Assembly Food Hall.

Another hot chicken restaurant, Hattie B's, has been around since 2012, attracting flocks of diners ever since.

The Bishop family behind Hattie B's has been able to expand to several states, including locations in Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Nevada in addition to the four Nashville locations. There's also a location in Memphis.

The popular locations across the country have made Hattie B's a kind of hot chicken ambassador to those unfamiliar with Nashville delicacy. But hot chicken lovers know they have to come to Nashville and try ALL the local favorites to get the full experience.

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4. Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint

Now, technically speaking, Martin's Bar-B-Que Joint was started with the very first location in Nolensville in 2006 after founder Pat Martin relocated to the Nashville area from West Tennessee. However, the barbecue restaurant has become a Nashville area staple and has brought its whole hog barbecue to several Southern states.

Martin learned West Tennessee-style barbecue in Henderson, Tennessee and brought that knowledge to his Nashville-area restaurants. Martin's today has seven Nashville-area locations, including the one inside Nissan Stadium.

You can also find the brand in Louisville, Kentucky, Birmingham, Alabama, and Charleston, South Carolina.

5. Edley's Bar-B-Que

Edley's origin story is slightly more recent than Martin's, but the barbecue restaurant has become a favorite not only in Nashville but in nearby states.

Edley's opened its first location in Nashville's 12 South neighborhood in 2011. Subsequent expansions include locations in Five Points, Sylvan Park, Donelson, Nolensville and Franklin.

The Chattanooga location of the barbecue restaurant opened in 2017. Edley's has ventured into Illinois with locations in Glen Carbon and O'Fallon.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville restaurants succeed in locations across the country