Best restaurants for wings in 50 major cities
Few foods capture the spirit of American comfort quite like chicken wings. With their hot sauces, sweet coatings, and ever-so-satisfying bites, The staple of backyard parties, family gatherings, and watch parties has brought family and friends together for decades.
The dish's origin story remains somewhat unclear. The prevalent version is that Italian-born Frank and Teressa Bellissimo first served sauce-smothered Buffalo wings to their son in 1964 and eventually in their restaurant, Anchor Bar, in Buffalo, New York. But another story says that John Young, a Black Buffalonian, was there serving wings on a busy Jefferson Avenue way before then. Young's wings were served with a mombo sauce that Buffalo councilman James Pitts called the ""lip-smacking, liver-quivering sauce (that) titillated our taste buds down to our toes.""
Ever since, chicken wings have evolved into a culinary canvas, inviting endless experimentation with sauces, rubs, and global influences, while staying true to their roots as the ultimate shareable comfort food. These days, if you do a search for chicken wings in restaurants, you're likely to come up with a choice of sports bars, sandwich shops, food trucks, Korean restaurants, and Southern shops.
Across the nation, regional wing styles tell their own delicious stories. Buffalo still reigns supreme with its tangy, buttery heat, while the South leans into crispy fried wings glazed in sweet and spicy sauces. In the Midwest, dry-rubbed wings get slow-smoked to perfection, and on the West Coast, chefs play with bold Asian-inspired flavors like soy, ginger, and chili.
Some cities celebrate heat and competition with ""wing challenges,"" while others elevate wings to gourmet status with craft beer pairings and house-made dips. So, where should you go to find the perfec wing? To find the best wing spots in 50 major cities around the country, Stacker compiled a list using data from Yelp as of September 2025. To be considered, a restaurant needed at least 500 votes. If fewer than three restaurants in the city had at least 500 votes, the minimum threshold was lowered to 250, and then further to 50.
Read on to see where you might want to head for your next fiery, finger-licking bite.
Phoenix, Arizona: Crust Brothers Pizza
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (839 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 7342 E Shea Blvd Unit 111 Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Read more on Yelp
Los Angeles, California: Gol Tong Chicken
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (2,537 reviews)
- Categories: Korean
- Address: 361 S Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90020
- Read more on Yelp
Sacramento, California: Viet Ha Noodles & Grill
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (822 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 2417 Broadway Ste A2 Sacramento, CA 95818
- Read more on Yelp
San Diego, California: Pizza e Birra
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (1,354 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 3625 India St Ste 101 San Diego, CA 92103
- Read more on Yelp
San Francisco, California: Hot Sauce and Panko
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,426 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 1468 Hyde St San Francisco, CA 94109
- Read more on Yelp
Denver, Colorado: The Brutal Poodle
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (581 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1967 S Broadway Denver, CO 80210
- Read more on Yelp
New Haven, Connecticut: Sandra's Next Generation
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (661 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 636 Congress Ave New Haven, CT 06519
- Read more on Yelp
Washington, D.C.: Cane
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (687 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 403 H St NE Washington, DC 20002
- Read more on Yelp
Miami, Florida: Urban Rrasoi - Kendall
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (354 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 13720 SW 88th St Miami, FL 33186
- Read more on Yelp
Orlando, Florida: Thai Island Orlando
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (597 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 2522 S Semoran Blvd Orlando, FL 32822
- Read more on Yelp
Tampa, Florida: Hiccups & Churroholic
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (251 reviews)
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Address: 13030 N Dale Mabry Hwy Tampa, FL 33618
- Read more on Yelp
Atlanta, Georgia: Local Expedition Wood Fired Grill
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (516 reviews)
- Categories: Wraps
- Address: 1110 Hammond Dr Ste 15 Sandy Springs, GA 30328
- Read more on Yelp
Honolulu, Hawaii: Thai Bistro Suksabay
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (521 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 98-199 Kamehameha Hwy Ste C2 Aiea, HI 96701
- Read more on Yelp
Boise, Idaho: Han's Chimaek Korean Fried Chicken & Beer
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (184 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Bar
- Address: 1716 S Broadway Ave Boise, ID 83706
- Read more on Yelp
Chicago, Illinois: The Warbler
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (559 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 4535 N Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL 60625
- Read more on Yelp
Indianapolis, Indiana: King Dough Indy
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (521 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 452 N Highland Ave Indianapolis, IN 46202
- Read more on Yelp
Louisville, Kentucky: Shack in the Back BBQ
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (386 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 10706 W Manslick Rd Fairdale, KY 40118
- Read more on Yelp
New Orleans, Louisiana: Manchu Food Store & Chinese Kitchen
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (262 reviews)
- Categories: Seafood
- Address: 1413 N Claiborne Ave New Orleans, LA 70116
- Read more on Yelp
Boston, Massachusetts: SOJUba
- Rating: 3.8 / 5 (563 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1265 Boylston St Boston, MA 02215
- Read more on Yelp
Baltimore, Maryland: The Local Fry
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (499 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 711 W 40th St Ste 152 Baltimore, MD 21211
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Maine: Sun Vietnamese Restaurant
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (85 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 699 Forest Ave Portland, ME 04103
- Read more on Yelp
Detroit, Michigan: Johnny Z's Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (204 reviews)
- Categories: Salad
- Address: 28210 Harper Ave Saint Clair Shores, MI 48081
- Read more on Yelp
Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bar Brava
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (54 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1914 N Washington Ave Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Read more on Yelp
Kansas City, Missouri: 1981 K Chicken
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (69 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 10412 Mastin St Overland Park, KS 66212
- Read more on Yelp
St. Louis, Missouri: Shaking Bowl
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (142 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 5544 Telegraph Rd St. Louis, MO 63129
- Read more on Yelp
Omaha, Nebraska: bb.q Chicken 132nd Center Omaha
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (80 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Shop
- Address: 2521 S 132nd St Omaha, NE 68144
- Read more on Yelp
Charlotte, North Carolina: McKoy's Smokehouse and Saloon
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (955 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 4630 Old Pineville Rd Charlotte, NC 28217
- Read more on Yelp
Raleigh, North Carolina: Soo Cafe
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (382 reviews)
- Categories: Asian Fusion
- Address: 2815 Brentwood Rd Raleigh, NC 27604
- Read more on Yelp
Albuquerque, New Mexico: K Style Kitchen
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (103 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 6001 Winter Haven Rd NW Ste G Albuquerque, NM 87120
- Read more on Yelp
Las Vegas, Nevada: Lucino's Pizza
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (619 reviews)
- Categories: Cheesesteaks
- Address: 3035 E Tropicana Ave Ste E F Las Vegas, NV 89121
- Read more on Yelp
Buffalo, New York: Duffs Famous Wings
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (287 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 4545 Transit Rd Eastern Hills Mall Williamsville, NY 14221
- Read more on Yelp
New York City, New York: Peeps Kitchen
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 (92 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 55 McGuinness Blvd S Brooklyn, NY 11222
- Read more on Yelp
Cincinnati, Ohio: Northside Yacht Club
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (303 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 4227 Spring Grove Ave Cincinnati, OH 45223
- Read more on Yelp
Cleveland, Ohio: Noble Beast Brewing
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (533 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1470 Lakeside Ave E Cleveland, OH 44114
- Read more on Yelp
Columbus, Ohio: Star Kitchen Cafe
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (75 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1471 S High St Columbus, OH 43207
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Oregon: Mama Chow's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (297 reviews)
- Categories: Chinese
- Address: 2415 SE 35th Pl Portland, OR 97214
- Read more on Yelp
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Down North Pizza
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (173 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 2804 W Lehigh Ave Philadelphia, PA 19132
- Read more on Yelp
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Crafty Jackalope
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (254 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 608 Washington Ave Bridgeville, PA 15017
- Read more on Yelp
Providence, Rhode Island: Den Den Korean Fried Chicken
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (567 reviews)
- Categories: Noodles
- Address: 182 Angell St Providence, RI 02906
- Read more on Yelp
Charleston, South Carolina: H & R Sweet Shop
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (65 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 102 Royall Ave Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
- Read more on Yelp
Memphis, Tennessee: Ball Hoggerz BBQ
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (92 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 1404 Airways Blvd Memphis, TN 38114
- Read more on Yelp
Nashville, Tennessee: Hattie B's Hot Chicken
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,617 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 5209 Charlotte Ave Nashville, TN 37209
- Read more on Yelp
Austin, Texas: Tso Chinese Takeout & Delivery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (628 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 3909 N Interstate Hwy 35 Ste E-5 Austin, TX 78722
- Read more on Yelp
Dallas, Texas: Ricky's Hot Chicken
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (750 reviews)
- Categories: Halal
- Address: 100 S Central Expy Ste 18 Richardson, TX 75080
- Read more on Yelp
Houston, Texas: Pepper Salt
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 reviews)
- Categories: Fast Food
- Address: 5257 Beechnut St Houston, TX 77096
- Read more on Yelp
San Antonio, Texas: Parry's Pizzeria & Taphouse
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (502 reviews)
- Categories: Sports Bars
- Address: 5311 N Loop 1604 W Ste 114 San Antonio, TX 78249
- Read more on Yelp
Salt Lake City, Utah: bb.q Chicken South Salt Lake
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (60 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 3490 S State St South Salt Lake, UT 84115
- Read more on Yelp
Richmond, Virginia: Manchu
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (105 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 2914 North Ave Richmond, VA 23222
- Read more on Yelp
Seattle, Washington: The Pizza Gallery
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (298 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1117 SW 128th St Burien, WA 98146
- Read more on Yelp
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Bullwinkles at the Galleria
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (72 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 18900 W Bluemound Rd Ste 100 Brookfield, WI 53045
- Read more on Yelp
Note: This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by Stacker's editorial team to ensure accuracy, reliability, and alignment with our editorial standards.
This story features data reporting by Rob Powell and was adapted from a Stacker article originally written by Carren Jao.
