Thank goodness for Buffalo, N.Y., without which we wouldn't be celebrating National Chicken Wing Day on July 29.
Wings had been thought of as the throw-away part of the chicken until an enterprising chef at Buffalo's Anchor Bar whipped up a batch of wings in hot sauce nearly 60 years ago, and a national craze was created.
Now you can get wings at just about any bar, restaurant or grocery store, and you can get them in just about any flavor you can imagine. Want them mild? No problem. Looking to burn your tastebuds? That's available, too.
Earlier this summer, our Florida Dining and Entertainment Teamof staffers from around the Sunshine State picked their favorite places to get fried chicken. We've done it again, this time for wings, coming up with 15-plus spots from around the state with great flats and drums to get your fingers sticky and your belly filled.
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Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza and Wings
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Wings has 22 Florida locations. To find one, visitACFP.com.
Put away your Buffalo-sauce expectations and settle in for a different kind of chicken wing treat: flavorful flats and drums roasted in a coal-fired oven and topped with roasted, caramelized onions. Such are the original roasted wings at the Broward County-based Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and Wings, a homegrown chain that’s expanded to more than 60 locations after opening its first pizzeria in Fort Lauderdale in 2002. Luckily for me, six of those locations are in Palm Beach County, one of them close enough for when the hankering for wings hits.
The wings are tossed in a marinade of garlic, rosemary, lemon and other seasonings before they are roasted in a coal-fired oven. The result is a nicely charred yet juicy wing that’s infused with the garlic-herb flavors. The roasted onions on top add a layer of decadence. The wedge of focaccia on the side is good for soaking up the juices. Wings are offered in batches of five ($9.99), 10 ($16.99) and 20 ($29.99).
In addition to the original roasted wings, Anthony’s offers other wing varieties as well — dry rub, garlic Romano, hot honey, Sweet Caroline BBQ and, yes, Buffalo. I can’t vouch for those. I can’t bring myself to order anything but the original. — Liz Balmaseda, The Palm Beach Post
Also appears on:Best wings in Palm Beach County? Our food team has these favorites.
Black Sheep on Broadway
128 SW Broadway St. in Ocala; (352) 622-1207; theblacksheeponbroadwayocala.com
Advertised as a “cozy take on a Gastropub,” Black Sheep opened in 2019 and offers “InfamousWings” with a choice of sauces: mild, Buffalo, hot, roasted garlic parmesan, sweet heat or the house “Sheep Sauce,” which is a sweet blend of bacon and bourbon, according to Meigan Sardinia, who is co-owner along with Amy Cannatella. “All our chicken is fresh, not frozen, and we marinate the chicken overnight and bake it (before) frying,” Sardinia said. Diners have called thewings“just right.” — Andy Fillmore, Ocala Star-Banner
Also appears on:Best restaurants for chicken wings in Marion County
Bleu Bird Wings
5156 SW 34th St., Gainesville; (352) 672-6364; bleubirds.com;
Opened in February 2019, Bleu Bird Wings quickly gained a strong following and it's easy to see why. Its jumbo chicken wings are served hot and crispy and come with your choice of 24 sauces or dry rubs. Aside from the more traditional lemon pepper or hot buffalo sauces, you also can choose to excite your taste buds with Carolina Reaper, Mango Habanero or a Louisiana Cajundry rub. Catering for a large crowd or a group of hungry tailgaters? Blue Bird also offers 30-piece, 50-piece and 100-piece options. —Alan Festo, The Gainesville Sun
Brewster’s Tavern
1454 Main St., Sarasota; (941) 343-2380;brewsterstavern.com
One of downtown Sarasota’s best restaurants, Brewster’s Tavern on Main Street serves its awesome "ale wings" using flawless technique: brined, slow baked and then flash fried to order beforebeing tossed in one of their signature sauces. My current favorite is theirtruffle Buffalo “truffalo”sauce paired with the tavern's "truffle fries" and a side of their jalapeno ranch. In addition, Brewster’s serves wings in a couple of delicious dry rubs: blackened and lemon pepper. The wings are sold at "market price," with a half-dozen priced at $11.99 earlier this month. And for deals, it doesn’t get any better in Sarasota than Brewster’s “$1 wing Wednesdays.” —Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Also appears on:Best chicken wing restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton and across Tampa Bay
Buffalo Chips
26620 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs; (239) 947-1000; buffalochipsrestaurant.tv
Before you step foot into this upscale dive in Bonita Springs, you’ll know how serious it is about wings: “Home of the Wing King” and “Over 12 Million Wings Served” are plastered on the restaurant’s ginormous buffalo-logoed sign near the rear entryway. The city’s oldest family-run restaurant opened in 1982 and, according to our server, has had the same owner, same cook and same award-winning secret wing sauce recipes the entire time. And they do not disappoint. The true Buffalo-style wings are plump, juicy, crispy, chewy perfection. Order them anywhere from BBQ (lip-smacking sweet) to Death (good luck with that). Medium, Zippy Cajun, Suicide and Thai Chili are the most popular in ascending heat order, but you won’t go wrong with whatever you choose. The Wing King will see to that. — Robyn George, The News-Press
Also appears on:Celebrating National Chicken Wing Day on July 29? Where to find our SWFL favorites
Buffalo Jack's Legendary Wings and Pizza
11275 Emerald Coast Parkway, Destin; (850) 424-6288; buffalojackslegendarywings.com
People can be skeptical when trying something described as "legendary." Rest assured, these wings live up to the hype: crispy exterior, juicy interior. The sauce isn't too overpowering; you can still get the flavor of the chicken with each bite. Winning "Best in Destin" in 2021, this establishment brings a New Orleans flair to everything on the menu. Just don't mind the massive buffalo overlooking the bar that is always decorated in keeping with the time of year. — Collin Bestor, Northwest Florida Daily News
Also appears on:Best restaurants for wings in Okaloosa County
Christo's Sports Bar & Grill
2903 Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach; (850) 708-1878; www.christossportsbar.com
Boasting an array of TVs scattered throughout the venue, Christo's Sports Bar & Grill is a great option for those wanting to enjoy wings while cheering on their favorite sports team. Its wings come in orders of five, 10, 20 and 50, and they are available in mild, hot, ring of fire, flaming A, flaming BBQ, wild whiskey BBQ, honey habanero, garlic parmesan and teriyaki. Christo's also has two dry rub options: black magic and lemon pepper. Nathan Cobb — Panama City News Herald
Also appears on:Best restaurants for wings in Panama City and Panama City Beach
Chumley's Depot
1929 Depot Drive, Melbourne; (321)208-5766; facebook.com/ChumleysDepot
Tucked away on a side street in downtown Melbourne, Chumley's is the quintessential hole-in-the-wall. It's in an old depot, so it's right on the railroad tracks. When a train goes by, the old building shakes and bartenders offer up $1 Jell-O shots. Regulars come for the camaraderie, the karaoke and the sports on TV. And they come for the wings.
The wing menu isn't huge: teriyaki and barbecue sauces; blackening, Cajun, lemon pepper and yogi dry rubs; mild, medium and hot. But wing fans on the Space Coast know to ask for the Marcus Sauce, a tongue-blistering blend of heat and flavor created by owner Marcus Darnell. Darnell takes pride in only serving fat, meaty wings, all the better to dredge through that addictive Marcus Sauce. —Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAY
More about Chumley's:Bar's founder leaves legacy at Florida Tech and in downtown Melbourne
Dick’s Wings & Grill
14 Florida locations, including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, Callahan, Fleming Island, Nocatee and Starke; dickswingsandgrill.com
A really dedicated wing connoisseur could order a different variety of wings for lunch every day for an entire year at Dick’s Wings & Grill — they boast 365 varieties in their signature wing flavors. The company started in Jacksonville in 1994 and now has 14 locations around the Sunshine State, plus two in Georgia and plans for Tampa and Dallas.
With that many options, it might seem overwhelming, but ordering is fairly simple. First, decide if you want traditional or boneless. Then decide between seven heat levels ranging from none at all to the scary-hot Dick’s Secret Sauce (when it’s hotter than “Great Balls of Fire” and “Firestorm,” you know they aren’t fooling around). Add a flavor (“Florida Girl,” “Caribbean Jerk” and “FL/GA Lime” are among the options) and get winging. — Tom Szaroleta, The Florida Times-Union
Also appears on:12 places to celebrate National Chicken Wing Day in Jacksonville
Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill
1320 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; (727) 822-4562;fergssportsbar.com
Found in the shadows of the Tampa Bay Rays’ Tropicana Field, Ferg's is a St. Petersburg landmark and one of the best sports bars in Florida — and like all superior sports bars, Ferg's serves excellent wings. They're generously breaded with all the buttery goodness best enjoyed tossed in their hot sauce. Need more heat? Go nuclear! There are also various other flavors, including the local favorite pairing of blackened and hot teriyaki, which I will have to try on my next visit to the 'Burg. The wings, by the way, were listed on the menu at the bar as "market price," which earlier this month was $17.75 for 10 wings tossed in medium sauce and $9.50 for five wings tossed in hot sauce, which, again, had the perfect amount of kick to complement the breading. —Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Also appears on:Best chicken wing restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton and across Tampa Bay
Ford's Garage
Multiple locations throughout Florida;fordsgarageusa.com
Founded in Fort Myers and headquartered in Tampa, Ford's Garage is best known for its dazzling build-out and delicious burgers. However, you will want to begin with an order of Ford's Classic Wings ($15.99). Cooked to crispy perfection, they can be tossed in Buffalo, bourbon BBQ, or Nashville hot sauce. I'm sure the other two choices are fine, but I promise you will not be disappointed by the Music City-style option. —Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Also appears on:Best chicken wing restaurants in Sarasota, Bradenton and across Tampa Bay
Germain's
220 NW Eighth Ave., Gainesville; (352) 554-4545; germainsgnv.com
This pop-up turned brick-and-mortar restaurant that opened in December 2022 is known for its chicken sandwiches, but its wings are just as good. Cooked to perfection and with the right amount of sauce, these wings are crispy on the outside and meaty in the middle, and are sure to satisfy any game-day craving. Choose from Buffalo, Hot Honey, Angry Sauce or Garlic Parmesan. You can even have them tossed in ranch or honey mustard. — Alan Festo, The Gainesville Sun
Hurricane Grill & Wings
30 locations in Florida; hurricanewings.com
Hurricane Grill & Wings might be the most famous spot on the Treasure Coast for chicken wings. The nationwide chain started in 1995 on Hutchinson Island in Fort Pierce. It opened as Chris’ Hurricane Bar and Grill on Seaway Drive on South Beach and was named after founder Chris Russo, who was only 22. The most popular menu items were chicken wings and cold beer. The restaurant became a franchise and since has expanded to 29 locations in Florida, as well as locations in Alabama, Arizona, California, Kansas, New York and Texas. The restaurant chain is famous for its variety of 35 flavors for chicken wings. Some signature sauces include Roasted Garlic Inferno for serious heat fans, Coco Loco with heat from habanero and cool from coconut, Gold Rush with spicy honey mustard, Cyclone with sweet and spicy chili sauce, and Kogi Secret Weapon with sweet garlic soy sauce. — Laurie K. Blandford, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
Island Wing Company
1370 Market St., Tallahassee and numerous other Florida locations; (850) 692-3116; islandwing.com
The message here is "get baked." Wings, that is. And fries. The popular franchise restaurant is bright and airy with lots of giant screens for sports and roomy outside seating. The baked wings, touted as lower in fat, are crispy and flavorful, dry or saucy, with heat ratings from the mild Sweet Bourbon BBQ to the dangerous sounding Scorpion ($3 extra, gloves recommended). Wings start at $10.95 for six traditional; $9.95 for boneless or veggie versions and go up to $44.95 for 30. Pick your sauce, including Buttermilk Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Wasabi Ranch and more. — Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat
Also appears on:Dip into 9 favorite Tallahassee restaurants to score chicken wings
Midnight Tavern
2800 Davis Blvd., Naples;(239) 732-5400;midnighttavernfl.com
Midnight is a misnomer: Jake Leventhal's terrific pub with grub designed for instant gratification stays open until 2 a.m. attracting many hospitality workers looking to satisfy their post-shift munchies. Early in the day, you’re more likely to encounter local shorts-wearing seniors getting into Bob Seger and other '70s rockers on the afternoon playlist.As for the terrific wings, six is the magic number for sauce choices AND a BOGO deal running through Sept. 30: buy six, get six, save $11. It’s OK to mix and match sauces. Personal favorites include mild (anything but), Thai chili, honey-garlic and barbecue. While you’re at it, it would be a mistake to skip “Emma’s Loaded Taters,” a mashup of hash browns with old-school potato-skin fixings: cheese, bacon and scallion. Terrific co*cktails too. — Diana Biederman, Naples Daily News
Oak & Stone
Sarasota, Bradenton, Naples and St. Petersburg;oakandstone.com
The Sarasota-founded Oak & Stone restaurants, which include a downtown Bradenton location featuring one of the best rooftop bars in Florida, should be visited for many reasons, from the craft beer wall to the thin-crust artisan pizzas to their famed slow-roasted oven wings. Soaked overnight and teeming with savory flavor through and through, their original wings are topped with a Buffalo-style wing sauce and a generous serving of blue cheese crumbles, with a side of ginger honey mustard sauce for dipping (eight for $16).
The O.G. wings are still my favorites, but in recent years, Oak & Stone has added a bunch more flavors that I appreciate. I'm especially fond of the "Sweet Seoul" ones tossed in sweet chili gochujang with green onions and sesame seeds, served with a side of sweet chili sauce for dipping, as well as the "Asian Zest" wings tossed in honey-lime sriracha, topped with green onions and served with ranch. Barbecue fans will want to try the "Carolina Gold" or "Bourbon Sticky" wings, which both started out as specials but now have permanent spots on the menu. If you love garlic like my Italian relatives, don't deny yourself the "Garlicky Parm" wings covered in grated parmesan and a creamy garlic sauce that could double as a vampire repellent. —Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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O’Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar
427 Old Main St., Bradenton; (941) 896-8860;obricks.comDrum or flat? It can be a tough decision, one you often are forced to make in a split-second while lunging for a rapidly diminishing basket of wings. Not at O’Bricks, located on Old Main Street, which happens to be one of the best restaurants in Bradenton. O’Bricks' wings are named after co-owner (and wing creator) Mike Carter, served whole, and grilled to crispy perfection with a delectable blend of chopped garlic and other assorted herbs that Carter keeps secret. The Fred Flintstone-sized wings piled on a plate ($16) are then accompanied by carrots and a gravy boat brimming with chunky Maytag blue cheese dressing, which you’ll definitely want to use for occasional dipping. —Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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Twisted Birch Sports Bar & Grill
1279 Admiralty Blvd., Rockledge; (321) 208-7616; twistedbirchgrill.com
Twisted Birchhas bottomless mimosas for Sunday brunch, gorgeous views of the Turtle Creek golf course and the game on TV.
It's also got wings. Lots of them. They're the first thing on the menu, fried to your preferred level of crisp and tossed in sauce.Sauces range from mild to nuclear and include Bee Stung, Old Bay dry rub and Garlic Parmesan. We recommend the Mango Habanero, coated in sweet, tropical heat. —Suzy Fleming Leonard, FLORIDA TODAY
Also appears on:Rockledge sports bar wins the Big Dance in our March Madness Best Wings Bracket
