Discover Authentic Cajun Eats At Spicy Boys In Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Published March 21, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
Author
Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
Tennessee is best known for its fried chicken and creamy banana pudding, and in Music City, you’ll find plenty of eateries boasting Nashville hot chicken. The state is so firmly ensconced in classic southern eats that finding a meat-and-three is as common as your standard grocery store, but we stumbled across a quirky and quality Cajun-inspired restaurant hiding in plain sight right in East Nashville. Spicy Boys may use New Orleans as its muse, but the character in this unique dining spot is all Tennessee.
Spicy Boys is located in a historic East Nashville home on McFerrin Avenue, just across the street from the ever-popular Mas Tacos Por Favor and burger joint, The Pharmacy. Built in 1936, the restaurant’s initial structure gives a nod to the Nashville neighborhood, but the menu transports folks straight to the Big Easy.
Owner Justin Gardner Cheney claims to be the original "spicy boy," and his training as a soul food chef instills the menu with communal traditionalism. There is no pretension here, no formalities. Only homespun hospitality and traditional Cajun food and New Orleans-inspired meals.
You will find Louisiana beers on the menu, including the popular Abita brand, and you can order a frozen daiquiri at the bar if you’re feeling feisty. Sure, you can’t take your daiquiri to-go like you can on Bourbon Street, but the colorful interior design and small touches like Café du Monde coffee tins will make you feel like the French Quarter is just outside.
The menu is chock full of gumbo, po’boys, and andouille sausage. Try the Natchitoches meat pie if you’re looking for a traditional meat hand pie, and entrees like the fried shrimp platter are served with two sides.
Make sure you try the roast beef debris fries if you’re feeling a little traditional, and the gumbo is served with classic Cajun chicken and smoked andouilles sausage. Don’t skip on the boudin, either! It’s a Cajun dining staple.
No New Orleans craving should go ignored, so make sure you visit Spicy Boy’s from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. from Tuesday to Sunday. The eatery is closed on Mondays.
What a neat place to eat! You can learn more about Spicy Boys in Nashville, Tennessee either on its official social media pages or website. Happy dining, friends!
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