Top Chicken Wing Spots Across America

Chicken wings, whether saucy, spicy, mild, fried, or smoked, are a beloved American food, particularly during football season. They have come a long way since originating in Buffalo, New York, during the 1960s. Now, creative variations appear in restaurants nationwide, winning rave reviews and accolades.

The Takeout recently identified the best chicken wings in every state, based on factors like customer reviews, reader polls, local news, and competitions. Below are five standout chicken wing destinations from Oregon to New York.

Fire on the Mountain — Portland, Oregon

This eatery, established in 2005, is known for its fresh, inventive sauces. Unique flavors include Spicy Peanut, Raspberry Habanero, and Jamaican Jerk. The Buffalo Lime Cilantro sauce won first place in the Creative Spicy category at the 2018 National Buffalo Wing Festival. In that year, it also secured third in the Craft Wings category. Fire on the Mountain offers a rotating “sauce of the month” and vegan wings.

Scovilles — Salt Lake City, Utah

Named for the Scoville scale that measures chili pepper spiciness, Scovilles brings the heat with sauces and dry rubs like Scotch Bonnet, Ghost Pepper, and Carolina Reaper. Milder flavors include Cajun Honey BBQ and Buffalo Cilantro Lime. It won “Best Wings” in Salt Lake City Weekly‘s 2025 “Best of Utah” awards, praised for its crispy and saucy wings.

Wings, Etc. — Topeka, Kansas

Wings, Etc. has been awarded “Best Wings” by the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Community Choice for five years from 2020 to 2024. The restaurant earned the “Twisted Wing King” title at the 2021 Topeka Wing Fling for its Buffalo sauce and lime-pepper rub mix. Popular sauces include Hot-Honey Garlic and Tweener.

Ale Emporium — Indianapolis, Indiana

Operating since 1982, Ale Emporium is famous for its Hermanaki wing, a crispy, sweet and spicy jumbo wing with a secret spice blend and special house sauce with teriyaki. Its Buffalo wings were praised by Axios Indianapolis in 2024.

Bar-Bill Tavern — Buffalo, New York

In Buffalo, where the Buffalo wing began, Bar-Bill Tavern is renowned for serving some of the best wings in the area, according to locals and Visit Buffalo Niagara. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen named Bar-Bill Tavern his favorite spot for wings during a 2019 interview.

Writer Sadie Chafe contributes to the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.