The 30 Best Chicken Wings In America

The chicken wing has long since earned its place in American culinary lore, going from the oft-overlooked and rejected part of the bird to a celebrated treat that graces pub menus and five-star dining restaurants alike. For many, it all starts with the Buffalo wing. According to Time, the iconic recipe — deep-fried, then slathered in Frank's hot sauce and butter — was developed in Buffalo, New York, a former Rust Belt town that's morphed into a cultural and foodie destination near the Canadian border. 

Since the inception of the Buffalo wing in 1964, plenty of other variations on the flapper have become part of the culinary landscape including Asian-style, BBQ, and even cheese-topped preparations. So whether you like flats or drums, classic Buffalo-style or an innovative spin, there's a wing out there that will warm your heart. From the East Coast to Alaska, restaurants are stepping up their wing game and putting some genuinely delicious dishes on their menus. Here are some of the best options you can find across the U.S.

Illinois-based 17th Street Barbecue is cranking out some fantastic wings that bear the name of the restaurant, which has locations in Murphysboro and Marion. 17ST wings are first smoked and then grilled to perfection before being smothered in plenty of yummy wing sauce. What makes these wings stand out is the intense hit of smoke, tang, and sweetness — the use of applewood chips and a generous sprinkle of garlic salt help the cause. Thanks to the spot-on grilling recipe, the wings are crisp and fresh before they hit the sauce, ensuring that they never get too soggy.

To eat them correctly, leave the fork and knife behind. Instead, dunk these meaty gems in bleu cheese or ranch dressing with your bare hands. You'll get to savor every sauce-coated bite with a cooling hit of the creamy dips to temper the spice. It's no wonder that 17th Street Barbecue made these wings one of its trademark menu items.

Flanigan's Seafood Bar and Grill has 23 locations across South Florida. With a casual and welcoming vibe, good beer selection, and great menu, the chain brings the heat and flavor, especially when it comes to its wings which are some of the best in the Sunshine State. Although you can get wings hot, medium, BBQ, or mild, it's the medium wings that really make us stand up and pay attention. These wings are juicy perfection with a subtle balance of spice and a fantastic sauce consistency.

Dip them in bleu cheese for the ultimate contrast of spicy wing and cool creamy decadence. You can also get some crudité to round off your meal — carrots are always great though it's tough to beat a celery and buffalo wings pairing. One of the best aspects of Flanigan's is that you can order for one or make it a party with the restaurant's massive wing platters.

The best wings don't have to be dripping in sauce. Pluckers Wing Bar, with locations all over the Lonestar State and one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, takes advantage of some tasty dry rubs that won't have you wiping your fingers every three seconds. The chili lime dry rub wings are the perfect example, marrying the ultra-compatible flavors of bright lime, sea salt, and spicy chili into one mega-flavorful, decadent, sauceless wing.

Since Pluckers originated in Texas, it's no surprise that its wings are larger than life too. Expect mammoth, meaty wings that are enough for a meal all on their own. Sharing is encouraged but certainly not required at Pluckers, and with plenty of flavors on the menu, you can always order more. Also, this Texan chain offers regular specials and happy hours, so you can get your fill without draining your wallet.

Bright and flavor-forward, the lemon pepper wings from Atlanta, Georgia's Wing Factory strike all the right familiar flavor notes while still delighting your taste buds with a bit of the unexpected. Lemon and pepper are traditional flavors for chicken breast entrees, so they're naturally delicious on chicken wings, too, especially when coating that crispy fried chicken skin. If you're looking for a milder alternative to spicy wings, this option is a great bet, especially when paired with a cup of bleu cheese and veggies.

Combine those amazing chicken wings with a friendly, accommodating staff plus a laid-back atmosphere, and you have a winning combination. Wing Factory also has plenty of big-screen televisions and plenty of mouthwatering sides to go along with your wings. The tots and fries are great, or you can simply go with celery and carrot sticks if you want to do the healthier thing.

Another wing superstar hailing from Buffalo, New York, Gabriel's Gate is a Western New York institution famous for its mammoth burgers and saucy plates of traditional wings. If you want to stick with tradition, try the restaurant's classic hot wings which are served with a generous side of bleu cheese, carrots, and celery. While you can technically get ranch with your wings in Buffalo, bleu cheese is the preferred condiment. It cuts through the spice on the wings and gives you a satisfying finish.

The classic hot wings are buttery, spicy, and intensely flavorful. If you crave a little more heat in your diet, you can always get them "suicide hot." Just be warned; Buffalonians don't play around when it comes to their iconic food. It's always better to get your wings milder and then turn up the heat if you need more spice.

Those who want a fruit-forward twist along with fiery heat will love Wing King's mango habanero wings. These bright, amber-colored beauties pair cooling, tropical mango with one of the hottest chile peppers on the planet for a fun combo that will make wing lovers sigh in contentment. Wing King specializes in unique flavors and styles, offering Las Vegas diners some 100 sauces and flavors to choose from, ranging from the traditional to the deliciously out there. All of them are tried and tested and designed to please even the pickiest of palates.

Although the mango habanero wings are dripping in robust, intense sauce, it still works well with the chicken. You'll enjoy perfectly fried wings, juicy chicken meat, spice, and fruit in every single nibble. Be prepared to get your hands dirty because these wings are messy. But take one bite, and you'll understand why it's all completely worth it.

Georgia's Three Dollar Cafe might be locally famous for its coffee and friendly service, but this gem has another trick up its sleeve: great wings. The mini-chain serves up big, generous plates of both boneless and traditional wings, mixed with seemingly any sauce or rub that you can imagine. The dry boneless wings are a great dine-in or take-away option. They're a true crowd-pleaser, crisped to perfection, and seasoned with a flavorful dry-rub spice blend that's mild while still packed with taste. 

Dry Boneless Wings are delicious and appropriate for almost everyone. While certain wing varieties might be too hot or "out there," Three Dollar Cafe hits the universal sweet spot with juicy, white meat chicken, a crispy exterior, and a tasty dry rub. Get them with bleu cheese, ranch, and celery, or go all out and order a mammoth plate of fries to savor alongside your wings.

Hockessin, Delaware's 2 Fat Guys American Grill is a dine-in or take-out place with a welcoming vibe and a menu of American comfort food favorites. If you're looking for the classics done right, this place has got you covered, especially when it comes to its wings. The restaurant specializes in big old plates of wings dripping with different sauces and served hot and fresh to order. Stop by around happy hour for deals on wings and suds, or bring the whole family for a great dining experience.

The garlic butter wings, in particular, are something to write home about. It all starts with plump chicken wings, deep-fries them, and then adds all of the finishing touches. The wings are bathed in a rich buttery sauce infused with tons of garlic. It's a fantastic accompaniment to the chicken and crisp, fried skin. Vegetarians can swap out regular wings for carrot ones and still get the same great flavor; meat-free.

Hot Sauce and Panko to Go is another Californian restaurant making big waves in the wing business. Located in San Francisco, the restaurant serves traditional varieties of wings like Buffalo and barbecue, but the Korean fried wings are the order of choice. Although Hot Sauce and Panko to Go specializes in an iconic bar food, it doesn't skimp on the presentation. Every batch of wings is made fresh to order, sauced evenly, and presented beautifully. The Korean fried wings get a little extra pizzazz from a light glaze of gochujang sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.

It's the gochujang sauce that takes these wings into orbit. It's tangy, sweet, and just a little spicy, hitting all the right flavor notes. Order your wings with a side of potato wedges or fries for an unforgettable meal that will leave you hungry for more.

For some of the best chicken wings in the country, you have to actually leave the continental United States and fly north, way north. Anchorage, Alaska's 907 Wingman, is a great place to get hot wings in the coldest state in the union. Although all of its wing varieties are very tasty, we have a soft spot for Korean Zing. These succulent, massive wings get topped with tangy and spicy Korean Zing glaze, then chives and sesame seeds. The flavors are spot-on, and the different textures make these wings even more memorable. They're fun to eat.

Pick up your Korean Zing wings in a personal 10-pack, or go big with 40 or 50 wing orders. It's perfect for sharing. You can also get your Korean Zing fix with boneless wings. Then, grab some extra bleu cheese, carrots, and celery, and you have a crowd-pleasing, comfort food meal.

J. Timothy's Taverne in Plainville, Connecticut, is a fun little eatery in a historic building that's been serving hungry locals for years. Although you can find plenty of delicious dishes on its menu, many people flock here for one specific thing; chicken wings. You can certainly get conventional chicken wings at J. Timothy's Taverne, and they're bound to be delicious, but if you're on the prowl for something new, exciting, and mouthwatering, try the Dirt Wings.

Dirt Wings are a J. Timothy's Taverne specialty, the end-product of a detailed and specific process that yields super flavorful and crispy wings. Basically, the chefs sauce and fry each wing twice. The double treatment seals in the original sauce, making them super succulent and delicious. As the story goes, the wings got their name from a long-time patron who'd always request that his wings get the double-dip.

If you've never considered the eclectic combination of fish sauce and chicken wings, HaiSous is here to set the record straight and open up a whole new flavor world to you. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the Vietnamese specialist serves caramelized fish sauce wings that are a thing of beauty. They have a robust, meaty, sweet flavor that will have you ordering your second batch while you're still chowing down on the first. The presentation is beautiful: Flats and drums are stacked high and sprinkled with shallots and garlic; but this dish offers far more than a great Instagram pic.

The sauce nails that coveted umami flavor. It's intense while not too overpowering, and each wing is perfectly coated. You'll get the proper meat to sauce ratio every time, enjoying layers upon layers of flavor. If there was ever a haute cuisine chicken wing, HaiSous' caramelized fish sauce wings are it.

Points East Pub is on the lower east side in Milwaukee, Wisconsin — the perfect place to watch the Green Bay Packers win big in Lambeau Field (you are in Wisconsin, after all) while eating great food. The bar was established in 1994 and, since then, has been frying up excellent wings. So, if you're looking for a good game-day meal and incredible beer, look no further than Points East Pub.

On the menu, you'll find the pub's best chicken meals listed under "Our Famous Wings," and you can order them in six-count increments of up to 18 pieces. While they may seem extraordinary, the secret to the massively delicious recipe goes back to basics. First, the generous first and second-joint wings are fried. Then, they get hand-dipped in a secret sauce before being grilled. That's right, these wings only come in one flavor, but once you taste it, you won't care. The owner of Points East Pub, Lori Hassett, told TMJ4 News that their sauce is a closely-held secret; only two people know the recipe, and she is one of them. Finally, on the side, you'll get celery and blue cheese or ranch dressing to help quench the spice if it's too much.

There's only one limiting factor for the bar: Points East Pub only allows adults over the age of 21 to enter, so know that not everyone in the family will be able to enjoy the wings.

Chicken and Guns is a food cart featured in Portland, Oregon's Cartopia. It opened in 2008 and offers a wide variety of options from poutine to Egyptian cuisine and, of course, wings. Chicken and Guns specializes in a limited menu, and it serves primarily chicken and crispy potatoes (known as "guns"). Though the wings are not a featured item, they are still outstanding.

When you order your wings, they'll come with sweet aji amarillo chili and habanero carrot sauces. This way, you can customize the flavor profile of your meal. Like the rest of its chicken, the food cart's wings are produced from free-range chickens and are grilled using Oregon white oak wood.

With their mouthwatering sauces and perfectly-made food, this spot may very well be home to some of the tastiest wings you can find in Portland. Not only is the chicken moist, smoky, tender, and well-cooked, but it's seasoned generously too. In fact, the meat is so great on its own, that you may find that you don't need the sauces to compliment it. However, if you love to dip your wings like we do, consider asking for a side of their Peruvian aji or chimichurri sauce for something extra special.

Order some "guns" to go with your main course for a complete meal. These potatoes are crisped to perfection and topped with lemon, salt, pickled onions, and some of that awesome aji sauce.

No one does hot wings like Nashville, and Hattie B's Hot Chicken may know Nashville hot better than anyone. The restaurant serves its chicken throughout the city. It also has locations in Memphis, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Las Vegas. As a chain, it's come to know its way around this classic dish and offers it in several levels of spicy, from no heat to extremely hot: southern, mild, medium, hot, damn hot, and shut the cluck up. The final spice level should be ordered only by the most confident of hot chicken lovers. But, don't say we didn't warn you.

At Hattie B's, there are several different types of traditional chicken pieces to order: small dark (leg and thigh quarter), small white (breast and wing quarter), wings (three whole wings), or a half bird (breast, thigh, leg, and wing). To compliment your wings, add some homemade sides like the southern green beans to get your veggies in or the pimento mac and cheese to really solidify that incoming food coma. Be sure to also ask for a ranch, blue cheese, or even honey mustard sauce to help mellow out the spice; no matter what level you choose, it'll build, and you'll want relief. If you're nervous, order your first batch of wings mild, and see how that feels. It's easy to add some heat with the next one up, but you'll be pretty uncomfortable if you start too spicy, too early.