Talking Buffalo's 2024 Chicken Wing Rankings & Tiers

This Is Fun.... And A Little Bit Stressful

This is the fourth time I’ve put out my personal ranking/tiers of wing spots for Western New York but first since late 2022. We’ll call this long overdue—at least for me it is.

Originally, I simply ranked all the spots I’ve had wings in from first to worst. I quickly realized doing that can be deceiving, because in a region so flush with great wings like Western New York, being ranked 20^th and 30^th feels so fall apart when in reality the quality of the wings are nearly the same and belong in the same grouping. So on that premise I got the 92 spots I’ve had broken down into seven separate tiers.

Here’s my seven tiers with a brief explanation of each.

Mt. Rushmore: The four undisputed championship wing spots of Western New York.

The Elite: The next best thing—right on the brink of being immortalized.

All-Pro: Perhaps not MVP material but categorically deserving of being discussed among the best.

Solid Starter: You certainly won’t be complaining. Exactly what the description reads—solid.

Depth Chart: You can do far worse but at this point — significantly better as well.

Roster Bubble: If left with few other options these places may suffice, but I can’t recommend them.

Waiver Wire: I’d rather eat pizza or something else.

There’s three things I definitely need to note before revealing my latest list. One is there being a small handful of places on this list that have recently closed shop (that sucks). Two is to offer apologies to literally dozens of places I’ve yet to try including a handful of spots that have become pretty well known for wings—such as Mallwitz’s Lanes, Main & Hamlin & Riverfield 865.. You can bet them and as many others as possible will be included in the next installment.

Lastly and most important---this exercise is quite literally the opinions of one person, me. That’s it, the end. I don’t take myself too seriously and nor should you. What’s great or mediocre for me may be completely different for you. Wings or any food really may be the most subjective thing on earth. 

That said, I understand I have a pretty good following between content creating and wing reviews/takes, so I’m often sought for my opinions. I do take the task of being honest how I feel about places to heart because I want my recommendations or lack of one to be authentic and credible. My goal’s to not steer anyone wrong while not being outwardly a jerk about wing spots I don’t love. Almost all these spots have something fun and delicious to offer, even if not wings.

So on that note, let’s get cookin shall we…..

TIER 7 NOTES: I just couldn’t get behind the wings at any of these places, but that’s not to say for many of them there’s not other things that are amazing. To name a few Wiechec’s Lounge has the bomb fish fry, Mooney’s macaroni & cheese is to die for and Glen Park, who I have dead last for wings has a great beef on weck. I also love the pasta dinners at Pasquale’s. Again, I feel an obligation to be honest with the people who consider my opinions but I’m not burying anywhere either. One other thing about their tier—I’ve heard enough good things about Kettle’s that I’ll need to give them another shot, maybe I just had a bad wing experience.

TIER 6 NOTES: Shout-out to Mineo’s South for having a top five steak hoagie in WNY in addition to good pizza and Pat’s Pizzeria just crushing it with subs, but this group consist of spots that I’m probably passing on the wings and can’t with a good conscious recommend them to others. It’s also unfair to some places like Essex Street Pub, who don’t even try to pride themselves on having the bomb wings but is one of the coolest watering holes you’ll find anywhere. I expect Dwyer’s Irish Pub to be contested by fans for being this low in my tiers. Sorry, just found their wings extremely overrated—and I had em twice. Ditto for Grill at the Dome, I do like smacking some golf balls around and having a beer at their bar afterward though.

TIER 5 NOTES: Starting to get into territory where it’s not about disliking any of these sports for wings, they’re decent if not better—-I just know there’s several spots I’m hitting first if wings are primarily on my mind. Maybe I’d move Vinny’s up a tier if I ever had their wings sober instead of at 1am. It’s literally one of my favorite three bars to drink at in Western New York. I also should’ve considered Jokers up a tier as well. Striker’s is really good—-for a bowling alley and Bella Pizza has arguably a top three pizza in this region. God, I love Bella Pizza for pretty much everything except wings. Outsiders may be shocked to see Anchor Bar, the OG this low—sorry? Swannie House is also a popular name but I don’t love their wings. RIP to a few places that’ve recently closed since I had this list compiled—Murph’s and Rush Creek.

TIER 4 NOTES: To be “overrated” means a lot of others think very fondly of you. On that premise, I consider Gabriel’s Gate one of the most overrated wing places in Western New York. Love the restaurant as a whole and their wings are fine, I like em—but they aren’t as good as 25-30 of other spots in this region, period. This is the tier where I feel maybe the wings aren’t the best of the best but they’re all pretty good to really good spots. In other words, I’m in if you tell me you want these spots for wings. what most in this tier lack is consistency—one time you go there and the wings are top 10 and the next time they’re incredibly meh. The Big Tree, O’Neill’s, Cole’s and Goodbar far into that section.

Looking at this group I think Blackthorn and Prohibition are on the verge of graduating to All-Pro tier. Having Mammosers this low is probably going to be hotly debated and maybe rightfully so. The Lenox Grill recently closed and Dalmatia Hotel is soon doing the same—that sucks.

TIER 3 NOTES: We’re at the point where you can’t go wrong with any of these, all are “All-Pro” level that on any given day can easily be a top 10 spot in the region. Special shout-out to Imperial Pizza, La Nova ,Sports City Pizza Pub and Macy’s Place Pizzeria—-all known primarily for their pizza but also have borderline elite restaurant wings as well. I think these four constitute the best wings & pizzas and combination you’re going to find anywhere in Western New York.

Judy’s is great and worth the haul if you don’t live out near Niagara Falls. Forty Thieves, Amherst Ale House, Gene McCarthy’s and Moor Pat are popular spots that live up to the billing. Potters Field is an incredibly sneaky spot to get great traditional wings and speaking of which, Klimek’s Tavern in North Tonawanda is not only one of the most underrated wing spots there is, but it’s one helluva fun dive bar as well.

TIER 2 NOTES; The description captures these spots perfectly, the elite. I truly feel any could contend for a spot on the Mt. Rushmore and none would be a ridiculous choice. Wingnutz is maybe the most polarizing wing in all of Western New York because it’s so incredibly unique—-people have a strong opinion on it one way or the other. Personally I’m not a huge fan of the texture but their tenderness and sauce is absolutely as good as anyone.

Casey’s Black Rock, Kelly’s Korner (in North Buffalo) and Adolf’s are what Buffalo tavern life should be all about—— incredible neighborhood dives with character and killer, killer wings. It’s hard to think Mulberry and not jump to their elite Italian food menu but holy crap are their wings good. Don’t sleep on (I sure don’t) The Audubon North and their wings cooked on the grill depending on what kind you get and last but not least is Belt Line Brewery, who’s All Dressed as well as their traditional 716 wings are so good I came really (really) close to having them on the Mt. Rushmore. They’re THAT good and it’s criminal more don’t talk about them among the best of the best.

TIER 1 NOTES: This latest Mt. Rushmore have something in common that maybe the other great spots are just slightly lacking—-consistency. Not only are these best of the best but you know what you’re getting each and every time. The rise of Sonny Red’s over the past few years has been dramatic in going from underground sleeper few outside of Lackawanna knew about to one of the more trendy spots in the region. It should be, as their brick oven pizza among other menu items are great as well as the interior and vibe of the place. They have a variety of solid wings but for me their hot and medium wings are on point each and every single time. I’ve held em out of the Mt. Rushmore of wings for as long as I can, maybe out of selfishness, kinda like one of those “Keep Buffalo a Secret” campaigns, but the word is out now. Sonny Red’s has officially become a destination spot.

I’d like to hate on Bar Bill because it feels each and every person speaks of them as the best ad nauseum and feels like the exclusive recommendation these days for tourists and incoming athletes, but reality is their wings are good as advertised and deserve the distinction. They are this generation’s Anchor Bar in terms of local and outsider reputation but in their case, live up to the considerable hype.

Quite frankly, the traditional wings at Elmo’s are not much more than above average, but their medium cajun double dipped or honey mustard cajun double dipped are as good or better than what you’ll get anywhere. This makes for great debate, as many will point out my rankings/tiers should be based primarily on a traditional flavor level playing field but nah, I’m not excluding a place from my Mt. Rushmore that I’ll often take a good 35-40 drive to get to. Just like Sonny Red’s and Bar Bill, Elmo’s is destination wing worthy.

In the end, who takes a medium or hot wing and creates magic better than anyone else? For me, that’s straight up Nine Eleven Tavern, back in the top spot once again. Look, I get the slander from critics because everything about the wing experience can be a headache——from less open hours than most, to parking, to still being a cash only place (old school!), only medium or hot flavors to choose from (sorry signature flavor buffs) and lacking tables because of it’s small size. They also to know my knowledge don’t take reservations so going there on a limb and getting a table without waiting for a hour if at all can feel like winning the lottery. End of the day though, everything else goes away. There’s not a fully cooked wing coming from the kitchen and onto your plate anywhere in Western New York and maybe even the world more enjoyable than Nine-Eleven Tavern. In front of you that plate’s perfection (and if you don’t get their fries alongside it you’re a monster).

Til next time folks…

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