NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Hot, spicy, mild, fried, smoked – regardless of how they are prepared, chicken wings are an American staple, especially during football season. Wings have come a long way from their humble beginnings in Buffalo, New York, where they became popular in the 1960s. Today, inventive variations have popped up in establishments across the country, some of which have earned rave reviews and praise. The Takeout recently compiled a list of the best chicken wings in each state, with selections based on multiple factors, including customer reviews, reader surveys, local news coverage, and wing contests. These are five of the best chicken wing destinations across the country, from Oregon to New York. CHICKEN WING PRICES ARE LOW: HERE’S WHY YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT MAY NOT LOWER PRICES Chicken wings, popularized in Western New York in the 1960s, have become a staple of American restaurants. (iStock)Fire on the Mountain – Portland, Oregon This locally owned and operated restaurant has been around since 2005 and is known for its innovative, freshly made sauces, which are available in unique flavors like Spicy Peanut, Raspberry Habanero, and Jamaican Jerk. Its Buffalo Lime Cilantro sauce won first place in the Creative Spicy category at the 2018 National Buffalo Wing Festival, and that same year the restaurant took third place in the Craft Wings category. MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INVENTED BUFFALO WINGS AND DESTROYED THE ENTIRE CHICKEN INDUSTRY Fire on the Mountain also offers a rotating “sauce of the month,” as well as vegan wings. Scovilles – Salt Lake City, Utah Restaurants across the country are putting creative spins on chicken wings with sweet, spicy and smoky flavors. (iStock) The Scoville Scale measures the spiciness of chili peppers, so, as the name suggests, Scovilles in Salt Lake City likes to bring the heat. Guests can choose from a variety of sauces and dry dressings, including Scotch Bonnet, Ghost Pepper, Carolina Reaper and spicier selections. Those who don’t love extreme heat opt for milder flavors like Cajun Honey BBQ and Buffalo Cilantro Lime. Scovilles earned the title of “Best Wings” in Salt Lake City Weekly’s 2025 “Best of Utah” awards, with an article raving about the wings’ crispiness and spiciness. Topeka, Kansas This Topeka restaurant is no stranger to chicken wings. Their wings were crowned “Best Wings” by the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Community Choice for five consecutive years, from 2020 to 2024. They also received the title of “King of Twisted Wings” at the Topeka Wing Fling in 2021, thanks to their hybrid of Buffalo sauce and lime-pepper dressing. and Tweener sauces at Wings Etc., The Takeout noted. A recent roundup named the best chicken wing places in the country, based on reviews and contests. (iStock) Ale Emporium — Indianapolis, Indiana CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER Serving Indianapolis since 1982, one of Ale Emporium’s most popular items is the Hermanaki wing, a giant crispy, sweet and spicy wing topped with a secret blend of spices, along with the restaurant’s signature house special sauce and teriyaki. Ale Emporium also does the classics well: Their Buffalo wings were praised by Axios Indianapolis in 2024. CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS Bar-Bill Tavern – Buffalo, New York Wing spots from Oregon to New York are gaining recognition for their signature sauces and creative preparations. (iStock) Would a chicken wing roundup really be complete without mentioning Buffalo? Home of the Buffalo Wing, the city has no shortage of places to spruce up the wing. Although Bar-Bill Tavern isn’t where the Buffalo Wing was originally created, it’s a place that’s holding its own and serving some of the best wings in the area, according to locals and Visit Buffalo Niagara. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen told Barstool Sports Radio in 2019 that Bar-Bill Tavern was his favorite local place to get wings. Sadie Chafe is a writer on the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.
