Joella's Hot Chicken To Open 1st Florida Eatery In Largo Friday

LARGO, FL — Capitalizing on Tampa Bay's love of fried chicken and waffles, Joella's Hot Chicken will open its first Florida restaurant Friday, Sept. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at 10150 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

The first 100 diners outside the Largo restaurant on opening day will be eligible to win free hot chicken for a year.

Joella's Hot Chicken will follow up with a second restaurant with a drive-through at 7893 113th St. in Seminole this fall. Your hot chicken cravings just got a lot easier to satisfy.

Specializing in 100 percent antibiotic-free, hormone-free, all-natural chicken, the "hot" in Joella's Hot Chicken refers to both the temperature and the spiciness.

Diners can order chicken to taste including the ultimate Fire-In Da-Hole option.

The menu includes chicken fingers, chicken wings, thighs and legs, breasts and wings, vegan chicken (soy-based pea, carrot, beetroot, potato and seasonings), half birds, chicken and waffles as well as chicken salad and chicken breast sandwiches topped with a choice of sweet vinegar slaw and garlic aioli or homemade pimento cheese.

Diners can also opt for a salad wedge with peppadews, cheddar cheese, bacon, red onion and ranch sauce or a kale crunch salad with currants, toasted almonds, lemon zest dressing and Parmesan cheese.

Sides include creamy mac & cheese, crispy-thin fries, potato salad, sweet vinegar slaw, Parmesan garlic fries, green beans with bacon, red-skin mashes potatoes and gravy, and collard greens with bacon.

Joella's is equally well-known for its desserts including Nutella Poppers sprinkled with powdered sugar, Banana Puddin' and Pie-In A-Jar.

“Bringing our flavorful hot chicken to Florida is something we’ve been looking forward to for quite a while,” said Christina Happel, regional vice president of operations for Joella’s.

Founded in 2015, Joella's Hot Chicken is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.