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.
Source: Courtesy of Wemo's Wings
Alabama: Wemo’s Wings
> Location: Mobile
> Wings to try: Honey mustard
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Source: Courtesy of That Wing Place
Alaska: That Wing Place
> Location: Anchorage
> Wings to try: Garlic parmesan
24/7 Wall St.
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
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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
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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
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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
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Source: Courtesy of Bodacious Pig Barbecue
Idaho: Bodacious Pig Barbecue
> Location: Eagle
> Wings to try: Brined, smoked, and fried
24/7 Wall St.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Source: Courtesy of B. via Yelp
New York: 911 Tavern
> Location: Buffalo
> Wings to try: Traditional Buffalo-style
24/7 Wall St.
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
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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
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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
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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
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Source: Courtesy of Austin K. via Yelp
Tennessee: Thunderbird
> Location: Nashville
> Wings to try: Pecan-smoked
24/7 Wall St.
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
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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
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Source: Courtesy of Cha:n
Washington: Cha:n
> Location: Seattle
> Wings to try: Korean fried
24/7 Wall St.
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
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Source: Courtesy of Khyati C. via Yelp
Wyoming: The Bird
> Location: Jackson Hole
> Wings to try: Hot sesame ginger
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