KFC's Nashville Hot Chicken not hot enough?

Is KFC Nashville Hot Chicken hot enough?

KFC gets kudos, despite its lack of spicy kick like the original Nashville specialty

Last month Kentucky Fried Chicken began selling one of Nashville’s signature dishes nationwide.

Its new Nashville Hot Chicken described as “a spicy bird with a savory burn,” has been pretty popular so far --and according to the company has been the most successful product test in the company’s recent history.

It’s loaded with cayenne pepper and smoked paprika and comes in two styles: the bone-in version that includes one breast or a combo of one thigh and one drumstick and the boneless tenders. Both are slathered in Nashville-style sauce, a few pickle slices on top, a side of coleslaw and a buttermilk biscuit.

It even comes with a warning label on the box that says, "Warning: you are about taste the best spicy chicken you ever had."

So is it? We took the streets of New York City to find out what people really think.

In terms of heat, it’s up there and give a slow burn that hits "the back of the throat" one taster commented. Generally, it got thumbs up for taste.

But for heat junkies, it doesn’t come close to the original Nashville-style chicken, which loads on cayenne and chili powder mixed with sugar, granulated garlic, paprika, salt and pepper.

To be fair, the chain admitted it worked and then reworked the recipe more than 15 times. Its team of tasters and chefs went on recon missions to Nashville for inspiration and after trying it out on consumers, who “commented it was too spicy,” they pulled back on the spice.

The smoked paprika dust in the KFC mix give the dish a pleasant kick, noted another taster.

The chicken fits right into the growing craze for hotter and hotter foods that's pitting spicy fried chicken at the center. Carla Hall, of "Top Chef" and "The Chew" fame, is set to open a Nashville-inspired hot fried chicken spot in New York and Washington, D.C., and chains like O'Charley's and Jim 'n' Nick's have their own version.

While KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken may be at the top of the list, fast food connoisseurs looking for heat would still probably opt for Popeyes super-spicy Ghost Pepper Wings and Spiced Pepper Barrel Tenders marinated in Tabasco.