While seemingly everyone is going crazy for Southeast Asian-style wings, Great Sea has been serving tangy and sweet drumettes for decades. Despite the restaurant’s sale, new ownership has carried over the deliciousness and copied the techniques from Great Sea’s founders. Grabbing a bottle of sauce for the road is popular here. The restaurant relocated to a building across the street from the original space in April.

Crisp introduced Korean-style wings to a larger audience in Chicago, and there's great satisfaction in ripping into a massive “Seoul Sassy” wing that's not too spicy nor sticky. These are full wings that aren’t separated.

Chiya Chai may serve some of the best teas in Chicago, but its easy to forget that the kitchen produces some delicious Nepalese and Indian dishes too. Neither of those countries are known for chicken wings, but the restaurant’s “Hot Curry Wings” are slightly sticky with a tamarind, cumin, and ginger. They’re well balanced without too much heat. Order green chutney as a side to complete the experience in Logan Square.

Landbirds is a Logan Square wing emporium that specializes in lollipop-style, deep-fried wings. The chicken is then spun in a choice of house sauces. The sticky rice will come in handy if customers order them super spicy.

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 there 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.

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.

Jerk seasoning can be a gimmick when not executed well. There are no gimmicks at Soule in West Town, where a compact menu produces tangy collards, fried or blackened catfish, and some of the best shrimp and grits in the city. The jerk wings are also flavorful with nice hints of clove and nutmeg give way to a little heat. Open for takeout. Note: Soule is closed until December 1.

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.

Perilla, which took over the San Sao Korean BBQ in River West, is a modern take on Korean food from the perspective of those born in America. The wings come in the form of Korean fried chicken. The glaze is sticky and thick, with the appropriate levels of ginger, sweet, and spice — the perfect example that Perilla is about more than grilled items. 

Just before the New Year, Phlavz opened in University Village, as the ownership — which ran a jerk chicken truck — graduated to restaurant status. 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.

Bonchon, a cult favorite Korean chicken wing chain, arrived in Chicago to long lines in Chinatown. The restaurant features wings with a soy glaze that aren't very messy. It's not the spiciest wing, but there's tons of flavor. There are also locations in Wicker Park and suburban Glenview.

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 options 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.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the flavor possibilities at Wings Around The World. Ownership takes a Baskin Robbins approach with 34 flavors, trying to represent flavors around the...globe? If eaters are feeling saucy, try the “Cosmic Curry,” but the Buffalo and honey barbecue are great versions of traditional favorites.

Nita’s Gumbo has two locations, one in Avalon Park and a second in suburban Country Club Hills. Gumbo is the specialty of the house. But what if someone could combine gumbo and wings into one dish? Well, Nita’s Gumbo is innovating. The sauced the wings are tossed in are what amounts to be a “cajun roux,” and they come in various spice levels. Nita’s has created a unique and addicting taste.