Located just a few minutes off the hustle and bustle streets of Auli’i drive in Kailua Kona, rests a little chicken joint serving Nashville hot chicken in 7 different levels of heat. If you are not there for the perfectly cooked and deliciously seasoned chicken accompanied by scratch made dipping sauces, then you must be there for the live music and twelve rotating beers on tap.
Willies hot chicken is situated in a new and upcoming area and is surrounded by a handful of restaurants, although that doesn’t seem to deter customers from filling their tables. It is a semi self-serve establishment. You find a table, send someone to stand in line to place the order, then you wait for your food to be delivered to your numbered table. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. We chose to sit outside and enjoy the sunset!
The menu is pretty simple. Fried chicken, sandwiches, fried fish, sides, salads and ice cold beer. So why talk about this chicken joint if it’s simple? Simply because it’s damn good! The perfectly moist seasoned and spiced chicken with a crispy crunchy skin, and scratch made sauces ranging from ranch, spicy remoulade, to fireball maple are the reasons. Willie’s Chicken is great for all ages. While I was sitting there enjoying my meal, I was already thinking about my next visit, before my vacation was over.
The energy is great, environment feels safe and clean, and the food is amazing. Make this a stop on your trip!
Willies Chicken, where they give you the bird!