The Best Booze To Pair With Hot Chicken, According To Viet Pham - Exclusive

There are two things you need when you're planning to chow down on some Nashville hot chicken — a lot of napkins, and an ice-cold, soothing beverage to wash down each fiery bite. They say water isn't your friend and carbonated beer and soda will also make the spicy sensation in your mouth worse. So then what's your best beverage option, not just to minimize the pain, but also to maximize the flavor of your hot chicken? We turned to a trained chef and certified hot chicken expert for the answer. 

Spirit-based cocktails are a great choice for taming the heat when eating hot chicken, and chef Viet Pham told Tasting Table in an exclusive interview, "the best cocktails to pair with [it] are cocktails that have a little bit more sweetness and acidity." Pham is well-known for his culinary chops, thanks to his Food Network competition wins that include beating Bobby Flay twice. And now his Salt Lake City fast-casual restaurant, Pretty Bird Chicken, is helping spread the hot chicken gospel far outside of Nashville. Of course, you can't sing its praises if your throat is too parched.

The chef points out that oftentimes in restaurants, "they tend to pair hot chicken with honey." This combo works because "honey actually mellows out the spices." So it makes sense to follow that logic when pairing a drink with your hot chicken and choose something on the sweeter side to complement the chili peppers at play. However, an overly sugary drink that's too sweet will leave the whole combo feeling too heavy and cloying. 

Pham says your best bet is to balance the flavors with something bright and tangy. "If I were to do a cocktail, I would do something that's citrusy, something that is slightly sweet, but not too sweet," he explains. We're thinking of a margarita on the rocks, a lemon drop martini, or perhaps an Aperol spritz, which are perfect for summer barbecues.

Pham also notes that certain wines can make a great pairing for hot chicken. A crisp, dry white wine would cut through the heavy heat of the meal. And even a good rosé "goes so well," says Pham "because there's residual sweetness that really helps with the spices."

Click here to learn more about Pretty Bird Chicken, and keep up with the latest from Chef Viet Pham on Instagram.