Joella’s Hot Chicken Menu USA Prices 2026
Looking for the Joella’s Hot Chicken menu? You found it. Below is the complete Joellas hot chicken menu with prices for 2026, every section from Jumbo Tenders and Sammies to Southern sides, desserts, and catering Hot Boxes. I have eaten my way through half of Louisville testing these heat levels for you, so this is not a copy-paste of some dusty PDF. Honest prices, real opinions, and the full story on which heat level you should actually order.
🍗 Jumbo Tenders & Chicken Plates: What’s on the Menu and What Does It Cost?
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The Jumbo Tenders are the heart of the Joella’s Hot Chicken menu, and honestly the reason most people walk through the door. These aren’t those sad skinny chicken strips you get at lesser chains. They are big, hand-breaded, juicy tenders, brushed with your chosen heat level and served with scratch-made Southern sides. Prices here are the 2026 national averages, and yes, they can wiggle a bit by location.
| Item | Details | Price | Calories* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumbo Tenders, 1 Side | 3 tenders, 1 Southern side, dippin’ sauce | $10.20 | ~900–1100 |
| Jumbo Tenders, 2 Sides | 3 tenders, 2 Southern sides, dippin’ sauce | $11.40 | ~1100–1400 |
| Grilled Tenders, 1 Side | 3 grilled tenders, 1 side, dippin’ sauce | $10.20 | ~600–750 |
| Grilled Tenders, 2 Sides | 3 grilled tenders, 2 sides, dippin’ sauce | $11.40 | ~800–950 |
| Quarter White, 1 Side | Breast + wing, 1 side, dippin’ sauce | $10.20 | ~850–1000 |
| Quarter Dark, 1 Side | Thigh + leg, 1 side, dippin’ sauce | $10.20 | ~900–1050 |
| 2 Jumbo Tenders & Waffles | 2 tenders on a waffle, maple syrup or Spiked Honey | $11.70 | ~1150–1300 |
| 3 Jumbo Wings & Waffles | 3 wings on a waffle, maple syrup or Spiked Honey | $11.70 | ~1200–1350 |
| Lunch Special | Smaller tenders plate, daytime value pick | $12.00 | ~800–1000 |
| Vegan Chicken, 1 Side | 2 soy-based patties, 1 side | $10.20 | ~700–850 |
*Calorie counts are estimates. Joella’s does not publish a full official nutrition table.
🔥 Wings Menu Prices
How much are wings at Joella’s? Boneless 6-piece starts around $9.60 and bone-in classic wings start around $12.00 for six. Wings come tossed in any of the six heat levels, and the Fire-In Da-Hole batch is genuinely the real deal, not marketing heat.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Boneless Wings | Any heat level, with dippin’ sauce | $9.60 |
| 6 Classic Wings | Bone-in, any heat level | $12.00 |
| 10 Boneless Wings | Great for sharing, or not | $13.20 |
| 10 Classic Wings | Bone-in crowd favorite | $18.00 |
| 15 Boneless Wings | Party-size box | $19.20 |
| 15 Classic Wings | Party-size box, bone-in | $26.40 |
| 20 Boneless Wings | Biggest boneless box | $24.00 |
| 20 Classic Wings | Biggest bone-in box | $33.60 |
🥪 Sammies: Chicken Sandwich Prices
Joella’s calls them Sammies, and they’re the sleeper hit of the menu. The Big Classic is the headline act at about $10.50, a crispy tender on a soft bun with pickles and your heat level. The Big Pimento at around $11.75 swaps in homemade pimento cheese and it is unfairly good.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Big Classic | Crispy tender, pickles, dippin’ sauce | $10.55 |
| Big Pimento | Tender + homemade pimento cheese | $11.75 |
| Big Slaw | Tender + sweet vinegar slaw | $11.75 |
| 2 Classic Sliders | Two mini sammies | $10.55 |
| 3 Classic Sliders | Three mini sammies | $13.55 |
| 2 Pimento Sliders | Pimento cheese minis | $11.75 |
| 3 Pimento Sliders | Pimento cheese minis, three pack | $14.75 |
| 2 Slaw & Aioli Sliders | Slaw + garlic aioli minis | $11.75 |
| Vegan Classic Sammie | Soy-based patty version | $11.75 |
Big Pimento vs Big Classic: Which Sammie Wins?
Look, the Big Classic is the safe bet and it never disappoints. But the Big Pimento? That pimento cheese melts into the hot tender and creates this creamy, spicy, tangy bite that the Classic can’t quite match. If you only try one, make it the Pimento.
🐔 Nuggz Menu Prices
Nuggz are Joella’s boneless chicken breast bites, bigger and meatier than standard nuggets, and they come in any heat level. The 8-count at about $9.00 is the go-to snack box.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Nuggz | Boneless bites, any heat level | $9.00 |
| 12 Nuggz | Best value per piece | $11.40 |
| 16 Nuggz | Sharing box | $13.80 |
| 30 Nuggz | Feeds a small crowd | $24.00 |
🧇 Chicken & Waffles Prices
What’s the deal with Joella’s chicken and waffles? On the Joellas hot chicken menu you get 2 Jumbo Tenders (or wings) served over a crisp waffle with your choice of maple syrup or Spiked Honey for about $12.00. The Spiked Honey adds around 60 cents. That sweet-hot combo is one of those flavors that sounds wrong until you try it, and then you get it completely.
🍟 Southern Sides Prices
Sides are the unsung heroes here, and at $2.99 each they are some of the cheapest items at Joella’s Hot Chicken. Everything is made in-store daily. The Creamy Mac & Cheese with that four-cheese sauce and panko crumb? Order it. The Parm Garlic Fries? Order those too. I’m not sorry.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Creamy Mac & Cheese | 4 artisanal cheeses, panko crumb | $2.99 |
| Crispy-Thin Fries | House-cut, seasoned | $2.99 |
| Parm Garlic Fries | Tossed with garlic + parmesan | $3.74 |
| Fried Pickles | Crispy, tangy, addictive | $3.99 |
| Green Beans with Bacon | Stewed with bacon + onion | $2.99 |
| Sweet Vinegar Slaw | Homemade vinegar dressing | $2.99 |
| Red-Skin Mashed Potatoes | With gravy or Kick’n gravy | $2.99 |
| Collard Greens with Bacon | Slow-stewed, vinegary bite | $2.99 |
| Kale Crunch Salad | Kale, lemon zest, currants, almonds | $2.99 |
| Potato Salad | Classic red potato style | $2.99 |
| Homemade Dippin’ Sauces | Bama White, JoJo, Pimento Ranchero | $0.50 |
| Spiked Honey Drizzle | Sweet heat add-on | $0.60 |
🍰 Desserts & Drinks Prices
Save room. The Banana Puddin’ is the sleeper star of the whole menu, creamy pudding layered with fresh bananas and vanilla wafers, and regulars swear it’s the best restaurant banana pudding they’ve had. It runs about $3.99 and it never survives the ride home in my experience.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Banana Puddin’ | Layered with fresh bananas + vanilla wafers | $3.99 |
| Pie in a Jar | Keep the jar; cookies & cream, strawberry, caramel apple | $4.99 |
| Nutella Poppers | Fried puff pastry, Nutella, powdered sugar | $3.99 |
| Lil’ Chicks Tender Meal | Kids: 1 tender, 1 side + drink | $5.99 |
| Lil’ Chicks Wing Meal | Kids: 1 wing, 1 side + drink | $5.99 |
| Cheesy Chicks | Kids chicken with cheese | $7.20 |
| Fountain Drinks | Refills available | $2.25 |
| Bottled Water | Chilled | $2.25 |
📦 Feed the Flock: Family & Catering Prices
How much does Joella’s Hot Chicken catering cost in 2026? Family packs start at $49.99 for four and Hot Boxes start around $78. The Bird Pack at $49.99 feeds 3-4 people with 12 tenders or wings, two quart sides, bread and a gallon of tea or lemonade, which is honestly one of the better family deals in the chicken world.
| Item | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Pack | Feeds 3-4; 12 tenders/wings, 2 quart sides, bread, gallon drink | $49.99 |
| Chicken Platter | Feeds up to 12; wings or tenders, 2 heat levels, dippin’ sauce | $27.00 |
| Family Pack for Four | Feeds 4 | $49.99 |
| Family Pack for Six | Feeds 6 | $69.99 |
| Family Pack for Eight | Feeds 8 | $89.99 |
| Hot Box 25 Tenders | Catering box | $84.00 |
| Hot Box 50 Tenders | Catering box | $168.00 |
| Hot Box 100 Tenders | Big event catering | $336.00 |
| Hot Box 50 Classic Wings | Bone-in catering box | $78.00 |
| Pan of Mac & Cheese | Feeds a crowd | $48.00 |
| Quart of Mac & Cheese | Smaller catering side | $19.20 |
🌡️ The Six Heat Levels, Explained
Every piece of chicken at Joella’s gets brushed with one of six heat levels, and choosing right matters. Here is the honest rundown from someone who has tried all six.
Joella’s Hot Chicken Heat Levels
| Level | Name | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | No heat at all, just well-seasoned crispy chicken. Perfect for kids and spice skeptics. |
| 2 | Spiked Honey | Sweet and mild with a twang. Served on the side. Great starter heat. |
| 3 | Ella’s Fav | Flavor with a little heat. The crowd favorite, warm without any suffering. |
| 4 | Tweener | Medium heat. Noticeable kick, no regrets. My personal everyday order. |
| 5 | Hot | Fiery heat. You’ll feel it in your lips and you’ll love it. Have a drink ready. |
| 6 | Fire-In Da-Hole | Waiver-worthy. Genuinely brutal. Sign it, eat it, tell everyone about it. |
📊 Nutrition Information
Joella’s does not publish a full official nutrition PDF, so treat the numbers below as honest estimates based on comparable fast-casual chicken plates. The chicken itself is all-natural, antibiotic-free and hormone-free, brined and hand-breaded in-store. Grilled tenders are the lightest path, Southern heat skips the extra oil brush, and the Kale Crunch Salad side is your friend if you want balance with your indulgence.
| Menu Item | Estimated Calories |
|---|---|
| 3 Jumbo Tenders + 1 Side | ~900–1100 |
| 3 Grilled Tenders + 1 Side | ~600–750 |
| Big Classic Sammie | ~750–900 |
| 10 Boneless Wings | ~900–1100 |
| 12 Nuggz | ~600–750 |
| Creamy Mac & Cheese (side) | ~350–450 |
| Crispy-Thin Fries (side) | ~300–400 |
| Banana Puddin’ | ~400–500 |
💰 Deals & Money-Saving Tips
Joella’s isn’t a coupon-heavy chain, but there are real ways to pay less. Here’s what actually works.
Ways to Save at Joella’s Hot Chicken
- Delivery app promos: DoorDash regularly runs 20% off orders of $25+ and $6 off $30+ at Joella’s, plus the 6-wing specials at $12. Check the app before ordering in-store prices.
- The Lunch Special: the $12.00 Lunch Special is the cheapest full plate on the menu, a smaller tenders plate that easily covers one hungry person.
- 12 Nuggz at $11.40: best protein-per-dollar on the board if you’re feeding yourself, cheaper per piece than the 8-count.
- Feed the Flock math: the Bird Pack at $49.99 for 3-4 people beats buying individual $10.20 plates once you hit three mouths.
- Sides are $2.99: load up on sides instead of a second entree. Two $2.99 sides plus a $10.55 sammie is a feast under $17.
🕐 Opening Hours
What are Joella’s Hot Chicken hours? Most locations open at 10:30 AM daily. Typical hours are Monday through Thursday 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday and Saturday 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Some locations stay open later on weekends, so check your local store’s hours on the official site before heading out.
📖 About Joella’s Hot Chicken
Joella’s Hot Chicken was founded in Louisville, Kentucky in 2015 by Tony Palombino, who named it with a nod to Southern hospitality and his own family traditions. The concept took Nashville-style hot chicken and gave it a Kentucky twist, all-natural, antibiotic-free chicken, brined and hand-breaded in-store, brushed with six signature heat levels, and paired with scratch-made Southern sides. It worked. Joella’s grew into the largest hot chicken restaurant brand in the United States, with 17+ locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Florida and Georgia, and new stores opening every year. Fans rate it around 4.5 out of 5 across thousands of Google reviews, with the friendliest-staff reputation in fast casual and a vegan chicken option that actually gets ordered twice.
❓ Joella’s Hot Chicken Menu: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular item on the Joella’s Hot Chicken menu?
The 3 Jumbo Tenders plate at about $10.20 is the runaway bestseller. Big, hand-breaded tenders brushed with your chosen heat level, one scratch-made Southern side and a dippin’ sauce. The Creamy Mac & Cheese is the most-ordered side by a mile.
What are the cheapest items at Joella’s Hot Chicken?
The cheapest items at Joella’s Hot Chicken are the Southern sides at $2.99 each, homemade dippin’ sauces at $0.50, and the Spiked Honey drizzle at $0.60. For a full meal, the Lil’ Chicks kids’ plates at $5.99 and the $12.00 Lunch Special are the best values.
What are the six heat levels at Joella’s Hot Chicken?
Southern (no heat), Spiked Honey (sweet and mild, served on the side), Ella’s Fav (flavor with a little heat), Tweener (medium), Hot (fiery) and Fire-In Da-Hole (waiver-worthy, the hottest level). All six come free on every order.
Does Joella’s Hot Chicken deliver?
Yes, Joella’s Hot Chicken delivers through DoorDash and other delivery apps at most locations. Watch for app-exclusive promos like 20% off $25+ and $6 off $30+, and note that delivery menu prices usually run a bit higher than in-store.
How much does Joella’s Hot Chicken catering cost in 2026?
Joella’s Hot Chicken catering prices start at $27.00 for the Chicken Platter (feeds up to 12) and $49.99 for the Bird Pack or Family Pack for Four. Hot Boxes start at $78.00 for 50 wings or $84.00 for 25 tenders, scaling up to 300-piece boxes for big events.
What are Joella’s Hot Chicken hours?
Most Joella’s Hot Chicken locations open at 10:30 AM daily. Typical hours are Monday-Thursday 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, Friday-Saturday 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM, and Sunday 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. Hours vary slightly by location.
Does Joella’s have a vegan option?
Yes. The Vegan Chicken plate (2 soy-based patties with a side) is about $10.20, and there are vegan sammie versions at $11.75. The patties are made from soy, pea, carrot, beetroot, potato and seasonings.
Is there a Joella’s Hot Chicken near me?
Joella’s has 17+ locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Florida and Georgia, with new stores opening in metro Atlanta and beyond. Use the location map below or check joellas.com for the nearest restaurant.
Are Joella’s Hot Chicken prices the same at every location?
No. Prices shown here are 2026 national averages and vary by location. Delivery app prices also run higher than in-store prices, so ordering direct or in-store usually saves a few dollars.
What comes on the Joella’s chicken and waffles plate?
Two Jumbo Tenders or three Jumbo Wings served over a crisp waffle with your choice of maple syrup or Spiked Honey (about $12.00). The Spiked Honey adds roughly 60 cents and is absolutely worth it.
Prices last verified: 2026-10-21. Official menu: joellas.com
📍 Find Joella’s Hot Chicken Near You
⭐ Joella’s Hot Chicken Google Reviews
Google Rating: 4.5/5 across thousands of reviews. What do customers praise most? The consistently juicy tenders at every heat level, the genuinely friendly staff, the Creamy Mac & Cheese, and that Spiked Honey drizzle. The most common gripe is occasional dryness during peak rushes and small side portions at some locations. Overall, it’s one of the best-loved hot chicken chains in America.
🔗 Related Menus
Craving more chicken? Check out these related menus:
One last thing before you go: if you’ve never had real Nashville-style hot chicken, Joella’s is the gentlest possible introduction, and at $10.20 for that tenders plate, it might be the best ten bucks you spend this month. The Joellas hot chicken menu has something for every spice tolerance, so grab some napkins and go find your heat level.
