Home

 › 

Food

 › 

The Best Spot for Chicken Wings in Every State

The Best Spot for Chicken Wings in Every State

Chicken wings — along with every other edible part of the bird — have been eaten in North America at least since the 1500s. “Wings” per se, on the other hand, are a much more recent phenomenon, tracing their popularity to Buffalo, New York, in the mid-20th century.

Being more precise than that is a little tricky. Some restaurants have always served whole or half roast chickens. Because wings don’t have a lot of meat on them, however, it was usually just breasts, thighs, and drumsticks that made it to the table. Wings got tossed into the stock pot — or even the trash. 

There are rumors that an unnamed establishment in Washington, D.C. began offering wings by themselves in the 1950s, but then the scenario shifts to Buffalo. In 1961, one John Young, a transplant to the city from Alabama, started serving breaded and deep-fried wings with “Mumbo sauce,” a bright red, tomato-based condiment a bit like barbecue sauce, invented in D.C

By the late 1960s or early ‘70s, Buffalo’s Anchor Bar introduced a snack of deep-fried wings with hot sauce, as did a competitor, Duff’s Famous Wings. By the late 1970’s, Buffalo wings had become a thing, not just in New York State but around the country.

Today, there are nationwide chains built almost entirely around this formerly disdained part of the chicken, including Buffalo Wild Wings and Wingstop, and they feature on the menus at fast-food operations (KFC, Pizza Hut, Domino’s, etc.), dinner-house chains (P.F. Chang’s, Outback, and Hooters, among others), and all manner of barbecue joints, sports bars, dive bars, and other venues. (For more dive-bar information, read about the best dive bar in every state.)

Most wings these days are deep-fried, though some are grilled or smoked. Some purveyors serve whole wings, while others separate them into the drumette and the flat portion, usually discarding the tips. (These are the 30 best fried chicken places in America.) 

The main difference between various versions, however, is in the sauces or rubs that they’re covered or served with. These are often sweet-and-spicy, sometimes with seasonings that give them a Thai, Korean, Cajun, Jamaican, or other distinct flavor.

24/7 Tempo has compared chicken-wing assessments on dozens of review sites, both crowd-sourced and professional, to arrive at this list of the best spot for chicken wings in every state.

Source: Courtesy of Wemo's Wings

Alabama: Wemo’s Wings
> Location: Mobile
> Wings to try: Honey mustard

Source: Courtesy of That Wing Place

Alaska: That Wing Place
> Location: Anchorage
> Wings to try: Garlic parmesan

Source: Courtesy of Valley Wings

Arizona: Valley Wings
> Location: Phoenix
> Wings to try: Honey hot

Source: Courtesy of Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

Arkansas: Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
> Location: Little Rock
> Wings to try: Mojo Cajun

Source: Courtesy of BiG AL'S Pizzeria

California: BiG AL’S Pizzeria
> Location: Maywood
> Wings to try: Sweet and spicy

Source: Courtesy of CD's Wings

Colorado: CD’s Wings
> Location: Westminster
> Wings to try: Traditional Buffalo-style

Source: Courtesy of Dew Drop Inn

Connecticut: Dew Drop Inn
> Location: Derby
> Wings to try: Cajun taco butter

Source: Courtesy of Stanley's Tavern

Delaware: Stanley’s Tavern
> Location: Wilmington
> Wings to try: Smoky bourbon barbecue

Source: Courtesy of Tailor M. via Yelp

Florida: House of Wings
> Location: Miami
> Wings to try: Lemon pepper garlic

Source: Courtesy of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

Georgia: Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q
> Location: Atlanta
> Wings to try: Hickory-smoked

Source: Courtesy of Hilo Town Tavern

Hawaii: Hilo Town Tavern
> Location: Hilo
> Wings to try: Teriyaki garlic

Source: Courtesy of Bodacious Pig Barbecue

Idaho: Bodacious Pig Barbecue
> Location: Eagle
> Wings to try: Brined, smoked, and fried

Source: Courtesy of Del Seoul

Illinois: Del Seoul
> Location: Chicago
> Wings to try: Soy, chile, and garlic

Source: Courtesy of Ale Emporium

Indiana: Ale Emporium
> Location: Indianapolis, etc.
> Wings to try: Hermanski

Source: Courtesy of Smokey D's BBQ

Iowa: Smokey D’s BBQ
> Location: Des Moines
> Wings to try: BBQ smoked

Source: Courtesy of Q39 South

Kansas: Q39 South
> Location: Overland Park
> Wings to try: Chipotle BBQ

Source: Courtesy of Against the Grain

Kentucky: Against the Grain
> Location: Louisville
> Wings to try: Buttery lemon pepper

Source: Courtesy of Blue Oak BBQ

Louisiana: Blue Oak BBQ
> Location: New Orleans
> Wings to try: Kung pao

Source: Courtesy of Blaze

Maine: Blaze
> Location: Bangor
> Wings to try: Thai chili lemongrass

Source: Courtesy of Full On Craft Eats & Drinks

Maryland: Full On Craft Eats & Drinks
> Location: Rockville
> Wings to try: Old Bay

Source: Courtesy of Wicked Wing Co.

Massachusetts: Wicked Wing Co.
> Location: Worcester
> Wings to try: Maple bacon bourbon BBQ

Source: Courtesy of Detroit Wing Company

Michigan: Detroit Wing Company
> Location: Eastpointe, etc.
> Wings to try: Honey chipotle

Source: Courtesy of D-Spot Restaurant

Minnesota: D-Spot
> Location: Oakdale
> Wings to try: Pesto

Source: Courtesy of The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen

Mississippi: The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen
> Location: Jackson
> Wings to try: Smoked BBQ with white sauce

Source: Courtesy of Kim A. via Yelp

Missouri: Bogart’s Smokehouse
> Location: St. Louis
> Wings to try: VooDoo

Source: Courtesy of Desperado Sports Tavern

Montana: Desperado Sports Tavern
> Location: Missoula
> Wings to try: Spicy teriyaki

Source: Courtesy of Chicken Coop Sports Bar and Grill

Nebraska: Chicken Coop
> Location: Kearney and Grand Island
> Wings to try: Jalapeño garlic

Source: Courtesy of Kelly J. via Yelp

Nevada: Nacho Daddy
> Location: Las Vegas, etc.
> Wings to try: Grilled

Source: Courtesy of Wing-Itz

New Hampshire: Wing-Itz
> Location: Portsmouth, etc.
> Wings to try: Thai peanut

Source: Courtesy of Tank G. via Yelp

New Jersey: Peck Peck
> Location: Teaneck
> Wings to try: Salt & pepper

Source: Courtesy of Todd R. via Yelp

New Mexico: Nexus Brewery & Restaurant
> Location: Albuquerque
> Wings to try: Red chile barbecue

Source: Courtesy of B. via Yelp

New York: 911 Tavern
> Location: Buffalo
> Wings to try: Traditional Buffalo-style

Source: Courtesy of Ron W. via Yelp

North Carolina: Apex Wings
> Location: Apex
> Wings to try: Garlic parmesan

Source: Courtesy of Kay Z. via Yelp

North Dakota: Sickies Garage
> Location: Bismarck
> Wings to try: PB&J

Source: Courtesy of Grady H. via Yelp

Ohio: Flavor 91 Burger Bistro
> Location: Whitehall
> Wings to try: Ethiopian dry rub

Source: Courtesy of Chick-n-Beer

Oklahoma: Chick-n-Beer
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Wings to try: Gochujang

Source: Courtesy of Andrew H. via Yelp

Oregon: Fire on the Mountain
> Location: Portland
> Wings to try: Jamaican jerk

Source: Courtesy of Vince W. via Yelp

Pennsylvania: Hunt’s Wing Hut
> Location: Ridley Park
> Wings to try: Sweet heat

Source: Courtesy of Brass Monkey

Rhode Island: Brass Monkey
> Location: Providence
> Wings to try: Creole dry rub

Source: Courtesy of Anna W. via Yelp

South Carolina: D’s Wings
> Location: Cayce
> Wings to try: Citrus Kick

Source: Courtesy of Steve D. via Yelp

South Dakota: T.C.’s Referee Sports Bar & Grill
> Location: Sioux Falls
> Wings to try: Hot Fever

Source: Courtesy of Austin K. via Yelp

Tennessee: Thunderbird
> Location: Nashville
> Wings to try: Pecan-smoked

Source: Courtesy of Thomas C. via Yelp

Texas: The Hay Merchant
> Location: Houston
> Wings to try: Caramelized fish sauce

Source: Courtesy of Lala P. via Yelp

Utah: Wing Coop
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Wings to try: Tiger teriyaki

Source: Courtesy of Joi W. via Yelp

Vermont: Honey Road
> Location: Burlington
> Wings to try: Sweet harissa

Source: Courtesy of Van M. via Yelp

Virginia: My Mama’s Kitchen
> Location: Norfolk, etc.
> Wings to try: General Tso’s

Source: Courtesy of Cha:n

Washington: Cha:n
> Location: Seattle
> Wings to try: Korean fried

Source: Courtesy of Mark C. via Yelp

West Virginia: Ridge View BBQ
> Location: Dunbar
> Wings to try: Hickory-smoked

Source: Courtesy of The Sports Nut

Wisconsin: The Sports Nut
> Location: La Crosse
> Wings to try: Sports Nut combo

Source: Courtesy of Khyati C. via Yelp

Wyoming: The Bird
> Location: Jackson Hole
> Wings to try: Hot sesame ginger

To top