Special Report

The Best Spot for Chicken Wings in Every State

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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.

Click here to see the best spot for chicken wings in every state

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.

Courtesy of Wemo's Wings

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

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Courtesy of That Wing Place

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

Courtesy of Valley Wings

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

Courtesy of Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

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

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Courtesy of BiG AL'S Pizzeria

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

Courtesy of CD's Wings

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

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Courtesy of Dew Drop Inn

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

Courtesy of Stanley's Tavern

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

Courtesy of Tailor M. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q

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

Courtesy of Hilo Town Tavern

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

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Courtesy of Bodacious Pig Barbecue

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

Courtesy of Del Seoul

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

Courtesy of Ale Emporium

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

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Courtesy of Smokey D's BBQ

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

Courtesy of Q39 South

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

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Courtesy of Against the Grain

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

Courtesy of Blue Oak BBQ

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

Courtesy of Blaze

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

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Courtesy of Full On Craft Eats & Drinks

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

Courtesy of Wicked Wing Co.

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

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Courtesy of Detroit Wing Company

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

Courtesy of D-Spot Restaurant

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

Courtesy of The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen

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

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Courtesy of Kim A. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Desperado Sports Tavern

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

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Courtesy of Chicken Coop Sports Bar and Grill

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

Courtesy of Kelly J. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Wing-Itz

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

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Courtesy of Tank G. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Todd R. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of B. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Ron W. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Kay Z. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of Grady H. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Chick-n-Beer

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

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Courtesy of Andrew H. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Vince W. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Brass Monkey

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

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Courtesy of Anna W. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Steve D. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of Austin K. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Thomas C. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Lala P. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of Joi W. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of Van M. via Yelp

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

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Courtesy of Cha:n

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

Courtesy of Mark C. via Yelp

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

Courtesy of The Sports Nut

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

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Courtesy of Khyati C. via Yelp

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

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