In Uptown, a gangster-inspired wing spot uses halal chicken, citing the meat is of higher quality. Badabing Wings offers both wet and dry-rubbed wings and a multitude of flavors. They also serve fried cauliflower prepared the same way for vegetarians. 

While seemingly everyone is going crazy for Southeast Asian-style wings, Great Sea has been serving tangy and sweet drumettes for decades; the lollipop-style wing was created in Chicago, and Great Sea popularized them. Despite the restaurant’s sale, new ownership has carried over the deliciousness and copied the techniques of Great Sea’s founders. Grabbing a bottle of sauce for the road is popular here.

While some publications may describe Filipino food as a trend, Bayan Ko — the Filipino and Cuban hybrid in Lincoln Square — proves there’s nothing fleeting about heritage. Lawrence Letrero and Raquel Quadreny have melded island cultures at this tiny spot near the Montrose Brown Line. Chef Letrero’s wings are sticky with a finger-licking-worthy adobo glaze. The chicken is succulent and perfectly cooked.

This Lincoln Park sports bar has been dominating local wing competitions, getting high marks for mild and barbecue sauce varieties. The Bourbon Barbecue wing is probably the highlight, a sweet and smoky treat. All wings at Broken Barrel are smoked over oak for four hours. The intriguing option is customers can opt for grilled wings over deep fried and while the skin isn’t as crispy, the smokey flavor rises, and the seasonings come through a little cleaner. Honey habanero and garlic Buffalo are two other choice options.

This Korean chicken chain has a few suburban spots, plus locations in Edgewater, Lincoln Park, and Chinatown. These are giant, crispy wings available in a variety of sauces. The wings’ size will have fans returning for more. Eaters will find plenty of succulent meat underneath the breading. For fans of sweet and savory, this is where to visit.

The owner of Toon’s in Lakeview opened another bar at the intersection of Clybourn and Webster, next to deep-dish saviors Pequod’s. It would be a power move to order a pizza from Pequod’s and wings from Beck’s, as ownership brought over the same Buffalo wings to Lincoln Park. The sauce has just enough stickiness and the wings are fried to perfection. The bar has a patio, but the wings are also available for carryout.

Uncle Remus has three locations in the city and another in the suburbs. Its wings are crispy and batter-fried, then smothered with a tangy and spicy sauce.

According to legend, Buffalo wings originated at the Anchor Bar, a restaurant in Buffalo, New York. Dr. Bird’s, a Jamaican restaurant off the Polish Triangle in Noble Square, opened its first location in Buffalo, but their wings aren’t the traditional type. These juicy morsels of meats are jerk rubbed and smoked with hickory. The taste is subtle and aromatic. The wings come full-sized, making them a two-handed affair.

Wicker Park’s venerable sports bar keeps on going, even as the neighborhood goes increasingly family friendly. It’s all about the wings here, available in traditional fried or smoked. There’s a variety of sauces, but the “OG Buffalo” is the best.

This Chicago sports bar has been around since 1992 in Streeterville, meaning the Bears fans have had only one Super Bowl appearance to celebrate since the bar’s been open. But fans can’t blame the Buffalo wings. These moist pieces of meat have a decent amount of red pepper spicy, aren’t too messy, and are well-balanced. While the Buffalo is the king, there are seven other sauces including sweet Thai chili and the Irish ghost (which is a Buffalo variant with ghost pepper powder).

The variety of wings at Output puts most spots to shame, with unique sauce flavors like lemon pepper and roasted garlic barbecue. It’s right near the United Center in West Town. There’s also a location close to Wrigley Field. This might be the best “traditional” wing in town.

Phlavz started as a jerk chicken truck, then graduated to restaurant status in University Village. The wings have great flavor (it’s a little disappointing that they’re so tiny: ownership should work on that) and are blackened with that familiar jerk seasoning. The jerk sauce on the side is a secret weapon: sweet, tart, and with a touch of heat. These are quality chicken wings.

HaiSous and the more casual Cà Phê Đá next door both serve these terrific crispy wings which come on a bed of rice. They’re kept whole and coated with a sticky glaze that packs some umami thanks to the fish sauce. Aromatic herbs augment the experience and there’s the fun of tearing the wings in half.

In 2019, Cleo’s Southern Cuisine opened in Bronzeville serving Creole and Southern food. The restaurant’s signature dish may be its chicken and waffles, which feature fried chicken breaded with a very tasty coat of seasonings. Customers will get full-sized wings with the option to get one of five sauces drizzled on top. The best is the “honey hot,” which won’t make diners sweat and allows them to enjoy the crunchy chicken underneath. All the sauces are delicious, and it would be prudent to ask for them on the side. A second location is in the West Loop at 190 N. Wells Street.

Lemon pepper wings are among the more than 30 sauce options at this wing specialist. This Black woman-owned restaurant serves battered or naked wings. The Gold Butter option is among the more unique sauce choices. Prepare to wait on busy days.