Chicken wings are one of the best-loved snacks. The one-time discarded chicken parts are now a staple item at bars and restaurants and come in huge variety of styles and seasonings. While wings are often presented the same way, that is, as ‘best buffalo wings in Chicago‘ — anyone who has eaten them at multiple venues knows there’s a huge spectrum of the actual final taste and presentation of said wings.
It is said that the buffalo wing was invented in 1964 at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York – hence the name – by Terressa Bellissimo, though there are also others who claim to have invented the snack. In their traditional form they are served hot with a side order of celery and carrot sticks with a blue cheese dressing or, when outside of New York, with a ranch style dressing
Chicagoans are well known for their love of chicken wings no matter the season. Some of the best buffalo wings in Chicago, for instance, are Korean with other styles including traditional Buffalo, jerk, with blue cheese and many, many more types. There’s a huge variety of eateries and bars to choose from all over the city and its surrounding areas. There are chicken wing shacks, barbecues and even fine dining restaurants that serve the humble buffalo wing.
Whether wing lovers need sustenance for a streaming binge, or if a sports fan needs something to nibble during the big game there are a myriad of options on offer. While some would argue that the wing is just a vehicle for a great sauce others say that there’s much more to it. Wing size is an important element, as some once-great chicken joints have cut corners and switched to skimpy wings. The way that they are fried an battered is another point of differentiation with as many methods as there are purveyors.
The Korean lollipop style, for example, comes with a soy-based sweet and sour sauce poured onto well-fried wings that are so tender the meat comes off the bone.
From classic buffalo-style to naked grilled wings to smoked wings there’s a million great ways to do Wings and Chicago has the restaurants for all styles. None of them will disappoint you in your craving to get a drum or a flat between your fingers, and yet they all offer something different and delicious and it’s worth doing a tour of the best of them when you come to town.
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