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The Wing King's Guide To The Best Wings In Buffalo

National Buffalo Wing Festival founder Drew Cerza has made it his mission to promote his hometown's iconic dish. Here are what he deems the best wings in town.

Born and raised in the city of Buffalo, New York, Drew Cerza is a passionate ambassador for his hometown's eponymous dish: the Buffalo wing.

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Drew Cerza, Buffalo, NY's "Wing King", is the founder of the National Buffalo Wing Festival, and co-creator of the Buffalo Wing Trail; a self-guided tour through 14 storied wing joints. A tireless ambassador for Buffalo wings, he has been featured on Food Network and the Travel Channel. Whether he's judging competitions, promoting local eateries or handing out hot wings in a chicken suit, Cerza has one mission: to give wings the global spotlight they deserve.

"Fiery, crisp and delicious, the Buffalo wing is an American culinary icon," says Cerza, better known as the "Wing King". "It's more than bar food; it's the centrepiece of festivals, Super Bowl parties and food challenges, showcasing our love of bold flavour and communal eating."  

Buffalo wings – chicken (not buffalo) wings doused in a mixture of Frank's Red Hot sauce and melted butter – were created serendipitously at the city's Anchor Bar in the 1960s, where the tangy, spicy combination, served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing, was an instant hit. "In time, the bar's late-night improvisation became a game-day staple – and a global phenomenon," says Cerza.

While spicy chicken wings are now found on bar and restaurant menus all over the world, the traditional Buffalo version with crispy skin, a juicy centre and cayenne-spiked sauce still reigns supreme. What's the secret to their trademark texture? The wings must be fresh – never frozen – and dry before saucing, Cerza explains: "after ensuring total wing coverage, you need to use fresh cooking oil; that ensures that the moisture's locked in and the [skin] is crisp."

There's a sense of pilgrimage in tasting wings where they originated, and over time, the city has built a wing culture. In 2002, Cerza founded the Buffalo Wing Festival which further helped cement the city's status as the US' wing capital. The party returns this Labor Day weekend (30-31 August) to celebrate Buffalo's signature snack. "I've seen strangers become friends over a basket of wings," says Cerza.

Here are Cerza's favourite wings in Buffalo. Getting sucked into local debates – blue cheese vs ranch; drumsticks versus wingettes – is optional.

Buffalo's Anchor Bar is where the legend of the Buffalo wing was born (Credit: Alamy) 1. Best for the OG wing: Anchor Bar

By now, the story has become local lore: one night in 1964, Teressa Bellissimo, Anchor Bar's co-owner, whipped up a snack for her son and his friends. "She grabbed a bag of chicken wings, [which back then were] considered scraps for stock, deep-fried them and tossed them in a flavouring that combined butter and Frank's Red Hot Sauce," says Cerza. "Anchor Bar is where it all began and you can't do better than pay homage to the place where the original recipe was born."

Despite its hallowed status, the bar is unpretentious with memorabilia-lined walls. And the wings themselves are crispy on the outside, lightly coated in sauce. "The bar still follows the time-tested formula, with each plate served along a side of celery and tangy blue cheese dressing," Cerza says. "Order the traditional medium [spiced] and taste where it all started."

The Anchor Bar, which has expanded to seven other states, has always prided itself for its Italian-American offerings, so Cerza recommends also trying their spicy garlic Parmesan or honey garlic wings. "You can taste these authentic Italian flavours melding with the Buffalo wing flair!"

Website: anchorbar.Com

Address: 1047 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14209

Phone: 716-883-1134

Instagram: @og_chickenwing

Duff's restaurant is known for serving some of the spiciest wings in town (Credit: Jalen Wright) Duff's Famous Wings is where Buffalo indulges its spice lovers. "Duff's always raises the heat as their take on traditional wings," says Cerza. "If you order medium, you get medium-hot; order hot, you get extra hot. This is probably the best local take. They have a 'death sauce' that I have tried. I ate three wings and paid for it… it was painful but oddly enough still had flavour."

The no-frills spot thrives on consistency, drawing generations of locals with its classic wing, Cerza says. The energy is loud and unapologetic, with families, students and after-work regulars all tucking in elbow-to-elbow.

"They also have a char-BBQ wing that is drenched in BBQ sauce and finished on the grill for a savoury, smoky flavour. Don't forget the lemon-pepper wings, two flavours that work together like peanut butter and jelly. This one is a dry rub," he says.

Cerza notes that there always been a friendly rivalry between Duff's and Anchor Bar over who serves the best wings. His suggestion? Don't leave without trying both.

Website: duffswings.Com

Address: 3651 Sheridan Dr, Amherst, NY, 14226

Phone: 716- 834-6234

Instagram: @duffswings

The Gress family has been serving some of Buffalo's finest wings since 1981 (Credit: Getty Images) 3. Best generational recipe: Nine-Eleven Tavern

At Nine-Eleven Tavern, wings are a family legacy served with pride. Cook Mark Gress arranges the wings like petals around a central bowl of blue cheese, sauce pooled just enough to tempt without drowning. "The plating is pure poetry; appealing to the eye and the tongue," Cerza says.

This small tavern, which has been serving wings since 1981, offers a choice of mild, medium and hot, served with the classic blue cheese or ranch dressing. Tucking into the wings amid the wood-panelled walls, neon beer signs and quiet neighbourhood setting makes it feel like you're eating in someone's home.

"The tavern is now run by Gress' daughter, Paige, who still uses his original recipe," Cerza says. "They are delectable and the key ingredient is simplicity. That is balanced by the heat; it's ideal to dip your wings in blue cheese dressing to add some additional flavour."

Website: nineeleventavern.Com

Address: 11 Bloomfield Ave, Buffalo, NY 14220

Phone: 716-825-9939

Instagram: @nineeleventavern

Gabriel's Gate is a classic Buffalo tavern with a lively atmosphere (Credit: Alamy) 4. Best old-school bar: Gabriel's Gate

Housed in a 19th-Century brick building in the Allentown neighbourhood, Gabriel's Gate teems with character.

Celebrate Buffalo's finest

As Buffalo wing culture evolves, Frank's Red Hot Sauce and butter are often set aside for a dizzying range of sauces and marinades, from garlicky Parmesan and Korean gochujang to maple bacon and Caribbean jerk. "Regional flavours have crept in as chefs become more creative," says Cerza. The National Buffalo Wing Festival is the perfect place to taste unusual and creative wing flavours such as Maple Bacon Jalapeno and Spicy Loganberry.

"There's even a Peanut Butter and Jelly variant and a French Toast wing," Cerza adds. His favourite? "Cajun Honey Butter Barbeque. It combines four fantastic flavours."

The vintage tavern interior, with a polished wood bar, leaded windows and exposed beams, pairs perfectly with the hearty, communal platters of wings.

"The bar has a great atmosphere and is the kind of place where you can nurse a pint while chatting with strangers or claim a booth for a long evening with friends," Cerza says. The wings are meaty and perfectly sauced, their smoky aroma making them ideal for sharing over conversation, he adds; noting that the lively tavern itself is ideal for business lunches, date nights and guys' nights out.

Gabriel's Gate is known for its consistency. "The wings are basic, nothing fancy, but always have the perfect blend of hot sauce and butter," says Cerza. "The BBQ wings are bursting with an intense smoky flavour."

Website: fooddiscoveryapp.Com/buffalo/gabriels-gate

Address: 145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201

Phone: 716-886-0602

Instagram: @gabrielsgate

Mulberry Italian-American restaurant also serves great wings (Credit: Jalen Wright) 5. Best under-the-radar wing: Mulberry Italian Ristorante

Mulberry Italian Ristorante may be known for its Italian-American classics, but the restaurant's wings are a hidden treasure: crisp-skinned and generously coated in rich sauces, from buttery garlic to spice.

"The spicy Calabrian honey wings offer a sweet-heat flavour. This involves a honey infusion with Calabrian peppers – the perfect balance between spice and sweetness. No need for a dipping sauce for this one," Cerza says. "The Tre White's Spicy BBQ wings, named after Tre White of the Buffalo Bills, deliver a smoky BBQ taste with a spicy twist and a little twang."

The softly lit dining room, lined with framed photographs and warm red walls, creates a sense of intimacy. "It's the sort of place where you can split a plate of wings, then linger over pasta and wine, making the night stretch out just a little longer," Cerza says.

Buffalo Wild Wings' Bottomless Apps Deal Is Ending. Here's When.

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change.

The time to devour infinite onion rings and chips and salsa with your hot wings is now.

Buffalo Wild Wings' Bottomless Appetizers deal, which granted parties of four or less endless rounds of two appetizers at a time for $9.99, is expected to exit menus nationwide soon. The national wing chain confirmed to USA TODAY that Tuesday, Aug. 19 will be its final day.

The chain's appetizers include onion rings, mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, Hatch queso and chips and salsa.

The limited-time offer is available all day for dine-in customers at participating locations, though the company warned prices may be higher in five states, including California, New York, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and Alaska. Parties of five or more will have an additional upcharge.

Buffalo Wild Wings offered bottomless appetizers for $9.99 for a limited-time starting June 27, 2025.

The $9.99 endless appetizer deal, which started in June, comes after the chain brought back its beloved and limited-time all-you-can-eat deals on wings and fries in April.

Dine-in customers nationwide had the option to enjoy endless boneless wings and fries for $19.99, and the deal allowed use of brand's 26 sauces and dry rubs.

The chain also offers a $24.99 option for customers ordering traditional or mix and match wings.

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Buffalo Wild Wings' Bottomless Apps deal is ending

Are You Bold Enough For Buffalo, New York's Hottest Wings?

Buffalo wings aren't just a food—they're a fiery test of courage that originated right here in my hometown.

I've spent years braving the spiciest offerings across Western New York, often with watery eyes and a burning tongue to show for it.

If you think you've had hot wings, but haven't experienced Buffalo's authentic heat hierarchy, you're in for a tongue-scorching awakening.

1. Buffalo: The True Home Of The Chicken Wing © Reddit

Back in 1964, Teressa Bellissimo created culinary history at the Anchor Bar when she deep-fried some chicken wings and tossed them in hot sauce for her son and friends. Little did she know she'd launched a global phenomenon!

I still remember my first authentic Buffalo wing experience. The crispy skin, the perfect sauce-to-meat ratio, and that distinctive vinegar-butter-cayenne punch that can't be replicated elsewhere. Trust me, I've tried wings in 27 states.

What makes Buffalo wings special isn't just heat—it's technique. Properly fried (never breaded), sauced (not drowned), and served with real blue cheese (never ranch if you're a purist). When you're in Buffalo, you're experiencing the original, not some watered-down imitation.

2. Five Fiery Sauces Only The Brave Can Handle © Murder Farm

My friend Mike once challenged me to try 'Armageddon' sauce at Duff's. Halfway through wing number three, I couldn't feel my lips and was seeing through tears. Consider that your warning about Buffalo's truly volcanic options.

Wild Willy's 'Reaper Madness' combines Carolina Reaper peppers with habaneros in an unholy alliance that should require a liability waiver. Over at Bar-Bill Tavern, their 'Suicidal' sauce isn't just named to scare tourists—it's legitimately face-melting.

Gabriel's Gate offers 'Satan's Fury' that builds heat deceptively, while Elmo's 'Cajun from Hell' combines complex spices with serious burn. The truly insane should seek Doc Sullivan's 'FDNY' sauce—a five-alarm challenge that's humbled firefighters.

3. Duff's vs. Anchor Bar: Heat Legends In Buffalo © Roadfood

The great wing rivalry of Buffalo has me constantly switching allegiances. Anchor Bar might have invented the wing, but Duff's famous warning—"medium is hot, hot is very hot, and very hot is very, very hot"—isn't marketing hype; it's a public safety announcement.

Last summer, I brought my Texas friend who boasted about his heat tolerance to Duff's. He ordered "very hot" despite my advice and spent the next hour nursing a pitcher of water while questioning his life choices. Anchor Bar offers more consistent heat levels, perfect for first-timers, while Duff's caters to heat-seekers.

The difference goes beyond spice levels. Anchor Bar wings tend to be larger with a crispier exterior, while Duff's offers juicier wings with sauces that penetrate deeper. Both have earned their legendary status for good reason.

4. Hidden Taverns Where Locals Get Their Wings © Step Out Buffalo

Nine-Pine Tavern doesn't advertise, has no website, and you'll drive past it three times before finding it. Yet on Wednesdays, the tiny parking lot overflows with locals seeking their garlic-parmesan-hot fusion wings that changed my definition of perfection.

Kelly's Korner looks like your typical neighborhood dive, but their "Smitty" style wings—a double-fried technique with a sauce that's been perfected since 1967—creates a caramelized exterior that haunts my dreams. Meanwhile, Blackthorn Restaurant serves wings so good that South Buffalo residents keep them secret from downtown tourists.

The truly adventurous should venture to Gene McCarthy's in the Old First Ward where their whiskey-infused hot sauce reflects the neighborhood's Irish heritage. Or try Mammoser's in Hamburg, where locals argue their 1948 recipe predates the Anchor Bar's claim to wing fame.

5. Why Tourists Miss Out On Buffalo's Best Spots © Bon Appetit

My cousin from California once insisted we go to a chain restaurant for wings while visiting Buffalo. I nearly disowned him on the spot! The biggest mistake tourists make is following outdated guidebooks to the same few spots.

Buffalo's wing culture thrives on neighborhood pride. Each area claims their local joint makes the best wings, and they're often right in different ways. South Buffalo favors sweeter sauces, while North Buffalo tends toward traditional heat. The East Side specializes in dry-rubbed varieties that tourists rarely discover.

Timing matters too—locals know Tuesdays at Wellington Pub means fresh-never-frozen wings at half price. And never, ever ask for ranch dressing unless you want to be immediately identified as an outsider. Buffalo is a blue cheese town with deeply held wing traditions that reward those willing to explore beyond the famous names.

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