Helen's Hot Chicken Smyrna

We decided to stop in and try Helen’s for the first time and we are so glad we did. We had the catfish combo, chicken tender combo, gizzards and spicy fried pickles. The breading on everything as great! The flavor was great. The gizzards and chicken tenders were mild and just right. (We couldn’t watit to dig into the tenders before taking a photo.) The catfish we ordered plain and the seasoning is anything, but plain. The breading isn’t thick and overwhelming. The spicy pickles are a must! We also had their okra and fries as side and these were cooked well. We also tried the fruit tea which was a bit sweet, but goes very well with the spice. We’ll definitely be back!

The food was AMAZING! I have been know to drive distances to eat delicious food and this stop most definitely did not disappoint. The fried catfish (which I have tried all over middle tn) was perfectly breaded in traditional cornbread batter with a nice kick of spicy. The fish was fried also to perfection! And don’t get me started on the FRIED OKRA!! Proportions were really good for the price. The only thing I must say that is missing off this menu is collards/turnip greens and Mac&Cheese. I really liked the interior design they have going as well. Looking forward to my next trip in to get another helping of deliciousness!

I was greeted with a welcome and smile upon entering Helen’s. Josh provided exceptional service. I ordered a mild catfish combo with a side of okra. Everything was cooked fresh and tasty! I’m a Mississippi girl, so I don’t play about my catfish. Seasoning was A1 so I’ll be back ^_^

I'm a Memphian and a Memphian raved to me about how good the food was at this location even saying the wings were extremely good. Anyone who knows Memphis knows we have the best wings and more wing places than BBQ places so the way she spoke about this Helen's got my attention! I finally stopped and had a taste for some catfish! I got the mild catfish combo. It was so freaking good! It was just spicy enough that adding hot sauce made it perfect! I loved the fact that it was hard fried but the meat itself was so soft and juicy! I can't overstate how perfect it was! The fries were just fries no surprise there but that catfish is the star! The catfish at this Helen's is definitely by far better than the other Helen's I've been to AND the customer service HERE is night and day! It was so welcoming that I dined in although I planned to just take it home when I got there! Salute to the owner and the staff!

My husband and I enjoyed an early lunch and it was delicious! The spices were excellent and everything was fresh and tasty. Some of the best catfish I’ve had in some time. Highly recommend stopping by. If you are in a rush I recommend calling your order in. We didn’t mind waiting. Quality over speed everyday.

My family & I ate at Helen’s Hot Chicken and received excellent customer service. The food was spectacular. We ordered the “hot” chicken tenders, fries, & potato salad. Everything was freshly prepared & well-seasoned! And they make their own ranch sauce in-house, which was really good. The owner was very hospitable and explained each of the spice levels/flavors to us. He made sure our dine-in experience & orders were perfect! We will definitely be back again soon!!

I had the mild chicken tenders with fries, my husband had the hot chicken tender with fries. The mild had a good flavor, but wasn’t hot (I’m a baby about spicy foods.). My husband said the hot was the perfect amount of spicy without being overwhelming, and he said the flavor of the sauce itself was really good. The wait is around 15 minutes for tenders if you’re eating on, but they have the wait times listed and it’s all fresh. The fries and chicken were cooked to order. The ranch is homemade it seems and tastes great too. Great place!

When we came we met the owner, Joshua. He was so courteous and patient, giving us detailed descriptions of the menu items as well as the spice levels. While the food did take a while to come out (30+ minutes), it was well worth it. Everything was cooked fresh and to perfection. The chicken was so juicy and crispy and the French fries were perfectly seasoned. The food is definitely worth trying, and I would recommend ordering ahead to avoid the long wait.

I eat at this place almost 3 times a month. Not only is the food absolutely delicious, but the prices are great and so are the workers. They make everyone feel welcome and even build relationships with their customers. Everytime I walk in there I am greeted by name. I love everything about Helen’s and would 10000% recommend.

We ordered chicken & waffles (1 with wings and 1 with tenders - both mild). I took a break from stuffing my face so I could leave a review. Everything was delicious! The chicken was hot and seasoned to perfection. The waffles were warm, crispy, and sweet. The owner was pleasant and the food was ready in less than 20 min! Couldn’t have asked for a better first experience. We will definitely be back!

Stopped by on a whim. Was heading to another restaurant. Glad I checked this restaurant out. The music was awesome and so was the food. I ordered the wingettes, fish sandwich, and fruit tea. I was surprised to receive two catfish filets with the sandwich meal. I chose the mild for both fish and chicken. The food was delicious. The service was great. I had to visit a second time in the same week. This time we met Josh the owner. It was a pleasure meeting you. My son really likes your chicken. We will visit again.

P.S. The food is cooked when ordered. Call ahead or plan to wait. Either way it will be great.

Helen’s Smyrna is my favorite location. It’s always a vibe from the music to the people. Josh & his entire staff are always smiling, patient and respectful. My friends & I honestly eat here like once a week or every other week. We have not had a bad experience yet. The food is always hot & fresh. Be sure to check them out!

I'm not much of a review writer but I'll say this. The folks here are super nice and I enjoyed my visit. I'm terrible with names, but the nice lady who took my order was very helpful and talked me in to the Catfish. I'm leary of fish.... She was right! It was so good that I got another order to go...
I also met two of the guys from the back, (Names???) Very kind and social... Over all I had a great experience at Helen's Hot Chicken and I will go back!

Get “Hella” as your season for your chicken. Amazing flavor and not overwhelmed by the heat. Helen’s is my new lunch spot!!!

Stopped in for the first time today. Customer service was amazing. This was my first hot chicken experience and it did not disappoint. The chicken was juicy and the heat was just right. The fruit tea was great as well. Can’t wait to try the catfish next time.

They offer plain, mild, hot and hella. We got the mild and it packed plenty of heat. Everything was made fresh to order and worth the wait. We will definitely be back.

5 + stars or (🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥) for Helen’s and the amazing cashier (Dean) who took my order! I couldn’t have been happier to have found this amazing hot chicken, locally. Don’t travel if you’re in the market for some delicious hot chicken. Or do travel if you want to try some amazing hot chicken and you’ve already tried the other places. The okra was so crispy and had some of the most delicious flavors. Same for the chicken! I’m really glad I decided to stop in and give Helen’s a try. I’ll be back!

The restaurant was clean and the food is delicious. I don't even like okra and their Fried Okra was delicious. I order the Whiting Fish Sandwich Combo with Fries, Hot Sauce and Mustard. The best Southern food I've had in Tennessee.

Update: Came back 8 months later and met the owner, Joshua, he was very attentive and ensured my food was fresh. This time I got the Hot Whiting Fish Sandwich (sandwich only). The fish is so good that you don't really need a side. I always have bottled water. You'll need it, because this is truly spicy. I haven't tried the Hot Chicken yet, but I will next time.

WORTH-the-WAIT. Josh, the owner is happy to explain the heat levels to you in depth, and will ensure you that you will be back....which is true... so come hungry. but not starving! 😅 as there will be a wait; however, 🍗 IS worth it!!
I purchased 2 Wingette Dinners, which included 8-piece chicken w/a side and drink for approx $30 bucks. I got one mild which was full of flavor and still a bit of a twang. and one "Hella-Hot" which is ONLY for the brave at heart who can handle it. The chicken was still full of flavor and hot as hell! There's a kiosk to place your, but we ordered at the counter.. there was a stream of to-go orders coming in so obviously folks love the chicken.The dining room was clean with AWESOME music playing. I ordered take-out, but ended up eating as dine-in because it did take a minute for my chicken.. NOTICE the cook times when you place your order which i missed,, so no fault to Josh, it was still worth it!! Maybe y'all should advertise as "cook-to-order" 😋.

Probably the best fried chicken i have had in my life. The “Hot” was perfectly flavored. The “Hella” was the perfect amount of heat but be careful it definitely builds up on you quickly.

Staff was extremely friendly. Highly recommend eating here.

The food, man the food is ON POINT THE TEA, I got the chicken wingettes & waffles with fries!!! I couldn’t wait to eat my food as soon as I got in the car I was going in on my fries, which were seasoned very well! The lady that helped me with my order was Dean & she was super friendly & informative about my orders wait time. Definitely worth the wait!!