Monroe’s Hot Chicken is Phoenix’s first Hot Chicken Restaurant. They describe their chicken as Nashville Style. According to the Nashville Coalition that means the chicken is fried and coated in a dry spicy sauce made with oil or fat. The Chicken should be very hot but also very flavorful and is typically served with white bread and dill pickles. Monroe’s Hot Chicken offers their chicken as a boneless breast sandwich, a boneless breast waffle sandwich or chicken tenders with fries. The chicken is offered in southern style (no heat) mild, hot, extra hot and the hottest as shut da cluck. They also offer sides, desserts, milk shakes and more. This is a casual small restaurant that’s artsy, gangster industrial style.

…..Inside is busy and energetic with loud music.

As you enter you are welcomed from the kitchen. Next you order at the counter via a computer screen. Workers are there to guild you.

You grab your drink and pick a seat.

You name gets called by someone with a microphone.

We split a few things and start with a Hot Chicken Sandwich Extra Hot. It served in a deep open box with paper wrap.

Here’s my half.

The sandwich is served on a soft shiny roll with aioli fresh slaw and pickles. On first bite the sandwich doesn’t seem spicy but the spice does build to spicy. The chicken has a little crisp to it but the chicken is not bad at all but slightly dry today. It’s a tasty sandwich. It’s a GOOD sandwich as far as Chicken sandwiches go but the chicken breast is not as developed with flavors as some of the other Nashville Hot Chickens I’ve tried that include Hattie B’s. (I do note that it’s a possible opening hiccup and it could be my luck I hit them when the kitchen isn’t in the rhythm yet…..or forgot to marinate or whatever)

We also shared the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich in the Shut da Cluck Hottest Heat Level.

Here’s my half.

It is HOT….nose running hot…It’s builds to burning hot…..maybe nuclear…..a little past my comfort zone……There is an earthy flavor I didn’t pick up in the extra hot sandwich……..chicken breast meat is the same as the other chicken and is slightly overcooked.(a little dry)……chicken meat seems sort of plain. It sounds crazy but I think that warm spice could it be cumin??????……or maybe the spices are so toasted and I think I taste cumin??????…….. Waffles are tasty but are less cooked than I’m used too. To me the extra hot taste better than the Shut da Cluck…..I’m not a big fan of whatever that warm spice was.

We also shared one side and tried the Macaroni and Cornbread.

Fresh Herb topped creamy cheesy macaroni and cheese mixed with sweet corn bread. Different really different. I never tasted a macaroni and cheese that had a sweet salty thing going on. The macaroni was softer than I’m used to but I thought the flavors were very good. Fresh herbs added a nice freshness to it.

There are a few things that you might want to know before you try Monroe’s Hot Chicken. They are in downtown Phoenix and do not have street parking or a parking lot. You might consider using a parking garage at $4.00 an hour or hop on the Phoenix Light Rail and get there that way. Another thing you might want to know is when you order there are tipping options. The lowest easy to see option is an 18% tip (ours was $6.45 on $33.00 before tax). Normally I always leave at least 20% but here there isn’t wait service. YOU ring up your order and YOU pick up your food……so that means you are tipping the kitchen. One might prefer to leave a cash tip in the tip jar.

That was my trip to Monroe’s Hot Chicken in Phoenix.

I haven’t found a website for Monroe’s Hot Chicken but you can find them on Facebook.

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.