According to the National Chicken Council, approximately 1.42 billion (yes, billion) chicken wings were consumed on Super Bowl Sunday this year. Since the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, jump-started their popularity back in 1964 by creating their now iconic Buffalo wings, they have become a national phenomenon.Â
From pizzerias to dive bars to barbecue joints, wings are ubiquitous. What started as an inexpensive byproduct of chicken processing, typically discarded or thrown into the stock pot, is now in such high demand that the supply chain can’t keep up. (Did you know that nearly all chickens in the U.S. are raised in these 34 states?)
To assemble a list of places to find the best chicken wings in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed and extrapolated from listings, rankings, and reviews on numerous websites, including Food & Wine, Thrillist, Men’s Journal, Eat This Not That, Tasting Table, Mashed, The Daily Meal, Food Network, Insider, Big Seven Travel, Yelp, and numerous regional and local sites. Â
Some of these restaurants are devoted solely to wings and offer multitudes of sauces and spices to choose from. R&R Extreme Wings, a small chain in Indianapolis with three locations, has 18 different sauces including sweet chili, lemon pepper, bourbon, garlic parmesan, and Cajun.
The list also includes sports bars, barbecue spots, chicken-and-waffles eateries, and other restaurants that happen to have a dedicated wing following. For example, Chik’n & Mi in Louisville is an Asian fusion fried chicken and soup restaurant where fried wings come glazed in sweet soy sauce or hot jeow bong (Lao chili) sauce. (Other Asian countries, including Thailand, Korea, and Japan, have their own fried chicken culinary traditions. Here is the best Japanese fried chicken in the U.S. and Canada.)
Most often the wings come deep-fried and then glazed in a flavorful condiment – but sometimes they come dry rubbed, smoked, grilled, and even served without a slathering of sweet or spicy sauce. Some restaurants serve whole wings, while others split them into a drumette and a wingette, discarding the wing tip.
Alabama: Yo’ Mama’s
> Location: Birmingham
Alaska: That Wing Place
> Location: Anchorage
Arizona: Valley Wings
> Location: Phoenix
Arkansas: Wing Shack Bar & Brill
> Location: Little Rock
California: Charcoal
> Location: Venice
Colorado: CD’s Wings
> Location: Westminster
Connecticut: J. Timothy’s Taverne
> Location: Plainville
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Delaware: Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
> Location: Wilmington & Pike Creek
Florida: House of Wings
> Location: Miami
Georgia: Wing Spot
> Location: Covington
Hawaii: DB Grill
> Location: Kapolei (Oahu)
Idaho: Bodacious Pig Barbecue
> Location: Eagle
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Illinois: Crisp
> Location: Chicago
Indiana: R&R Extreme Wings
> Location: Indianapolis
Iowa: Jethro’s BBQ
> Location: Numerous locations
Kansas: Pam’s Wings with Things
> Location: Wichita
Kentucky: Chik’n & Mi
> Location: Louisville
Louisiana: Bayou Hot Wings
> Location: New Orleans
Maine: Gritty’s
> Location: Portland, Freeport, & Auburn
Maryland: Delia Foley’s
> Location: Baltimore
Massachusetts: Wicked Wing Co.
> Location: Worcester
Michigan: Wing Doozy
> Location: Grand Rapids
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Minnesota: D-Spot
> Location: Maplewood
Mississippi: Fairley’s Wings & More
> Location: Hattiesburg
Missouri: Gobble Stop Smokehouse
> Location: Creve Coeur
Montana: Desperado Sports Tavern
> Location: Missoula
Nebraska: Addy’s Sports Bar & Grill
> Location: Omana
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Nevada: Wing King
> Location: Las Vegas
New Hampshire: Wing-Itz
> Location: Dover, Newmarket, & Portsmouth
New Jersey: Wingin It
> Location: Jersey City
New Mexico: Wings Gone Wild
> Location: Albuquerque
New York: Anchor Bar
> Location: Buffalo
North Carolina: Apex Wings
> Location: Apex
North Dakota: The Fish & Chicken Shack
> Location: Fargo
Ohio: Woddy’s Wing House
> Location: Columbus
Oklahoma: Chick-n-Beer
> Location: Oklahoma City
Oregon: Hot Mama’s Wings
> Location: Eugene
Pennsylvania: Hunt’s Wing Hut
> Location: Ridley Park
Rhode Island: Bangin Wings
> Location: Johnston
South Carolina: One Hot Mama’s
> Location: Hilton Head Island
South Dakota: T.C.’s Referee
> Location: Sioux Falls
Tennessee: Hattie B’s
> Location: Nashville
Texas: The Tavern
> Location: Austin
Utah: Wing Coop
> Location: Salt Lake City
Vermont: Bluebird Barbecue
> Location: Burlington
Virginia: WingsWay
> Location: Virgnina Beach
Washington: Wing Dome
> Location: Seattle & Kirkland
West Virginia: Baked Craft Wings
> Location: Hurricane
Wisconsin: TomKen’s Bar & Grill
> Location: West Allis
Wyoming: The Bird
> Location: Jackson Hole
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