Chicken wings have become a national obsession, and the recipe for success has changed dramatically since the dish’s birthplace in Buffalo, New York. What started as a regional specialty has spread across the country, with restaurants experimenting with everything from spicy sauces to smoked preparations. Some of the best examples now come from cities far beyond the original home of the wing.
The Takeout recently compiled a list of the best chicken wings in every state, drawing on customer reviews, reader polls, local news coverage and wing competitions. The result is a snapshot of the current landscape, showing where the country’s best wings are being served. Here are five destinations that stand out, each with its own approach to the classic recipe.
Fire on the Mountain, Portland
Fire on the Mountain opened in Portland, Oregon, in 2005. The locally owned and operated eatery has built its reputation on inventive sauces, made fresh on-site. The menu includes flavors like Spicy Peanut, Raspberry Habanero and Jamaican Jerk. One standout is the Buffalo Lime Cilantro sauce, which won first place in the Creative Spicy category at the 2018 National Buffalo Wing Festival. That same year, the restaurant took third place in the Craft Wings category.
The restaurant also rotates a “sauce of the month” and offers vegan wings for customers with dietary restrictions.
Scovilles, Salt Lake City
Scovilles in Salt Lake City takes its name from the Scoville scale, which measures the spiciness of chili peppers. The restaurant specializes in bringing the heat, offering an array of sauces and dry rubs. Options include Scotch Bonnet, Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper, along with other spicy selections. For those who prefer a milder experience, the menu also includes Cajun Honey BBQ and Buffalo Cilantro Lime.
Scovilles earned the title of “Best Wings” in Salt Lake City Weekly’s 2025 “Best of Utah” awards. The write-up praised the wings for their crispiness and sauciness.
Wings, Etc., Topeka
Wings, Etc. in Topeka has spent years in the spotlight, winning local awards repeatedly. Its wings were crowned “Best Wings” by the Topeka Capital-Journal’s Community Choice for five consecutive years, from 2020 through 2024. In 2021, the restaurant took the title of “Twisted Wing King” at the Topeka Wing Fling, thanks to its Buffalo sauce and lime-pepper rub hybrid.
Customers particularly enjoy the Hot-Honey Garlic and Tweener sauces, according to The Takeout.
Ale Emporium, Indianapolis
Ale Emporium has been serving Indianapolis since 1982. One of its most popular items is the Hermanaki wing, a crispy, sweet and spicy jumbo wing covered in a secret spice blend, along with the restaurant’s special house sauce and teriyaki. The wing is named after a Greek dish, though the restaurant’s version is distinctly American.
Ale Emporium also handles the classics well. Its Buffalo wings were praised by Axios Indianapolis in 2024.
Bar-Bill Tavern, Buffalo
No wing roundup is complete without a stop in Buffalo, the city that gave the world its namesake dish. The area has plenty of places to get a wing fix, and Bar-Bill Tavern is one of them. While the restaurant is not where the Buffalo wing was originally created, it holds its own and serves some of the best wings in the area, according to locals and Visit Buffalo Niagara.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen told Barstool Sports Radio in 2019 that Bar-Bill Tavern was his favorite local spot to get wings.
Comparing the Five Destinations
The five destinations share a few common threads. All offer unique sauces, and four of the five have won awards or recognition from local outlets. The list also shows a range of approaches, from the spicy extremes of Scovilles to the mild options at Wings, Etc. and Ale Emporium.
| Destination | Location | Signature Item | Award / Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire on the Mountain | Portland, Oregon | Buffalo Lime Cilantro sauce | First place, Creative Spicy, 2018 National Buffalo Wing Festival |
| Scovilles | Salt Lake City, Utah | Scotch Bonnet, Ghost Pepper, Reaper sauces | Best Wings, Salt Lake City Weekly’s 2025 “Best of Utah” |
| Wings, Etc. | Topeka, Kansas | Buffalo sauce and lime-pepper rub hybrid | Best Wings, Topeka Capital-Journal, 2020–2024; Twisted Wing King, Topeka Wing Fling, 2021 |
| Ale Emporium | Indianapolis, Indiana | Hermanaki wing | Praised by Axios Indianapolis, 2024 |
| Bar-Bill Tavern | Buffalo, New York | Buffalo wings | Favorite local spot, per Josh Allen, Barstool Sports Radio, 2019 |
The Takeout’s methodology is worth noting. The list draws on customer reviews, reader polls, local news coverage and wing competitions, which means the selections aren’t just based on critics’ opinions. That mix of data gives the picks a democratic foundation, rooted in what actual diners and local publications have said.
The five destinations share a few common threads. All offer unique sauces, and four of the five have won awards or recognition from local outlets. The list also shows a range of approaches, from the spicy extremes of Scovilles to the mild options at Wings, Etc. and Ale Emporium.
For fans of chicken wings, the takeaway is simple. Whether you’re in Portland, Salt Lake City, Topeka, Indianapolis or Buffalo, there’s a place nearby serving some of the best wings in the country. The only question is which sauce you’ll pick first.