Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Here’s part of the Bold Life restaurant review of Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack down in Arden, as reviewed by Mackensy Lunsford. Sounds great. I’m up for some seriously hot wings. And I’m also up for a serious foodie to give me the real run down on who around Asheville has the best chicken wings, period. I want a real side-by-side tasting and review.
Rumors of a restaurant serving mercilessly hot, delicious fried chicken have been floating around. Now Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack may be on its way to becoming a legend. Local culinary cognoscenti swap Simpsons-esque tales about the ominously named ghost chili. Should diners be brave (or foolhardy) enough to ask Rocky for the sauce that comes with the extra hot chicken — dubbed Mt. St. Hell No on the menu — they are reportedly in for a ride.
The ghost chili sauce, in the words of one Rocky’s devotee, “has a fantastically smoky flavor. Five seconds into eating it, the flavor disappears and you get light-headed and lucid. It’s pretty much psychedelic.” As almost delightful as that sounds coming from a man with an iron will and stomach, another taster at the table with a less stout constitution reportedly had to excuse himself to work some things out in the parking lot for a while.
Indeed, Rocky’s Chicken is, in my professional opinion, “not playing around.” This is clear from the get-go, even from the outside of the restaurant — a blue brick box that is, quite frankly, not much to look at. The menu offers only fried chicken in heat levels from plain to extra hot, slaw and potato salad and states in no uncertain terms that Rocky’s serves some “serious fried chicken.” Rocky himself holds court behind the bar while spicing, dredging and frying his chicken to southern-fried rock. He then serves it directly on two fat slices of white bread that absorb the chicken fat that runs red as it mingles with the spicy dry rub. He runs a constant commentary as he does so, greeting newcomers and the faithful alike as they straggle in for lunch.
I stopped by at 11 o’clock today to find that Rocky’s is gone!!!! The phone number doesn’t work either! Please, please tell me that he’ll be back! He made the best wings in Asheville, hands down. Such a sad day.
No, no, no! I pulled in from Orlando last night and ran to Rockys today only to find him packing things up. Lease problems have shut him down, hopefully only temporarily. I only had the pleasure of enjoying his chicken once last fall. Watch for Rocky in a new location soon, sadly it will too late for me. Good luck Rocky.
I found it today, it’s the old Zooka Bar ( just past Enmark gas ). Great wings but you have to get there early because he only sells so much wings and when they are gone he closes his doors. Great guy to get to know.
Rocky’s is the bomb. Best yard bird in the ville. Warning: If you choose to ask for the "Hot" — you do so at your own peril. Be brave, be bold, and eat that chicken. Seriously, support this business — this guy’s chicken is the best around, even if ya wimp out and opt for the plain. I once went there on a Saturday afternoon, ordered the medium and watched "Jaws" on his TV, while Rocky deadpanned every single line of dialogue from memory. It was the quintessential gastronomical experience. Hot Chicken that fired up the endorphin levels of my brain, and a shark that gave me childhood nightmares. All-in-all it was one of the most satisfying — yet disturbing — eating sessions of my life. Vegans will never know the complex joy of eating Rocky’s Hot Chicken.
Stewart.
"For every animal you don’t eat, I’m going to eat three." -Maddox
Didn’t MtnX do a wing taste off a while back? Maybe they should hold new one with Rocky’s coming and Wild Wings dying.
I can eat some seriously hot food, and enjoy it. My warning is to watch out for this place. You had better be seriously prepared when you go in there because it’s the hottest chicken I’ve had.
Right near Diamond Brand on H-ville Hwy.
"Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight." Albert Schweitzer
http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_chickens.asp
grm, i found it:
2603 Hendersonville Rd (Hwy 25 ), Arden. 828-242-3390 is the number listed.
Can’t seem to be able to find the address, Can’t sell chicken if you can’t find it.