While D.C. cooks have been known to spike chicken wings with everything from Old Bay seasoning to crème fraiche sauce, classic hot wing sauce still reigns supreme for many people.
While D.C. cooks have been known to spike chicken wings with everything from Old Bay seasoning to creme fraiche sauce, classic hot wing sauce still reigns supreme for many people. The pandemic only increased demand, leading kitchens across the city to add wings of all flavors to their menus that are here to stay.
For those looking to satisfy a craving for the messy snack, irresistible wings built with varying heat levels, sauces, rubs, and proteins (chicken, vegetarian seitan, and even duck) can be found at select dive bars, carryouts, and fancier restaurants around town.
Some of D.C.’s best sports bars, including the Brighton, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, and Union Pub, also do wings very well. With plenty of NFL to watch this Thanksgiving Day, followed by a first-ever game on Black Friday and throughout the holiday weekend, here are 18 superior spots to order football-friendly wings for takeout, dine-in, or delivery in everything from small to party-platter portions.
Dive Bar and Grille
Need a quick bite to eat just off I-95? Dive Bar & Grill in Savage Mill (largely a Pittsburgh mini-chain) offers a casual, wide-ranging bar menu that includes some excellent wings. The Cajun and Old Bay dry rubs are best bets, but there a ton of sauce options for either dipping or tossing — even five different variations on the standard buffalo.
CHIKO
Double-fried dry spiced chicken wings are on the menu every day at Chiko, the popular Chinese-Korean counter with other locations in Dupont Circle and Shirlington. Order online for pickup or delivery here.
Wingo’s Glover Park (Wisconsin Ave)
This Glover Park wings haunt has more than 20 sauces to choose from, including options dubbed “bite me” and “nuclear” on the hottest end of the scale. For something more unique, try the mango habanero, lemon pepper, or hot garlic.
Jack Rose Dining Saloon
Although the bourbon, honey and habanero “whiskey wings” remain the signature here, Jack Rose now offers fried and grilled wings in a variety of flavors. Heat ranges from mild garlic truffle Parmesan to a kicking option with harissa and herbed feta. Check out the Jack Rose Wing Club section of the menu for takeout through Tock or delivery via Caviar and Doordash.
Oohh's & Aahh's
The soul food standby on U Street and Georgia Avenue NW fixes wings as either an appetizer or an entrée (accompanied by two sides). Fried chicken pieces are finished in traditional buffalo sauce, teriyaki, lemon pepper, or a barbecue sauce reminiscent of D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce. Order online here.
Boundary Stone
Bloomingdale’s go-to pub coats its destination wings in an award-winning honey hot sauce, whiskey barbecue, or daring “Triple H” hot honey and habanero, served with homemade bleu cheese dressing on the side. Vegetarian seitan versions (pictured) cost $1 more.
KoChix Chicken
While many D.C. residents get their crispy Korean chicken fix from mega-chain Bonchon, Shaw diners in the know flock to this family-run carryout from chef-owner Karen Park. There are three flavors for wings or drums: soy garlic, mild honey spicy, and hot honey spicy. Order online here for an individual portion or a family style 40-pack for $61.99.
Stoney's (Multiple locations)
This neighborhood hangout may have built its reputation on grilled cheese, but its wings are exactly what they should be: spicy, while retaining their crispiness.
Duffy's Irish Pub (Dupont Circle NW)
Arguably D.C.’s most famous wings, Duffy’s version leans traditional: fried in peanut oil and served with a choice of sauces. They’re half-priced on Wednesdays. The bar staff here even uses wings as garnishes for Bloody Mary cocktails. Order for pickup or delivery or reserve a table for indoor seating and outdoor seating. A second location is en route to Capitol Hill.
Ghostburger
Beef isn’t the only way to order at Shaw’s new burger and cheesesteak bar. The wings are coated with a spicy, buttery Fresno chile sauce, and served with a side of ranch dressing. Order online for pickup or delivery.
Upstairs Rooftop at The Morrow
Head to the top of NoMa’s chic new Morrow hotel to enjoy monumental city views and delicious duck wings by chef Nick Stefanelli. The creative order comes covered in a sweet Thai chili glaze, scallions, pickled red onion, and orange zest.
Stan's
A D.C. staple for over 30 years, this downtown dive offers chicken wings fried or baked — the former is the way to go — with a tangy-sweet mumbo sauce for dipping. Order delivery or takeout online or go there yourself.
Present Company Public House
Located inside D.C.’s oldest firehouse, this pub cranks out Nashville-style hot wings sure to bring on a sweat. Orders are dressed with whiskey, maple, dill, ranch, and shaved celery. Takeout orders are accepted over the phone.
Maketto
Crispy chicken wings with cumin glaze are the popular bar snack that eats like a meal. Full-sized drums and carefully trimmed flats are slathered in spicy-sweet sauce, dusted with crushed peanuts and parked atop a bowl of steamed rice studded with toasted nuts and crispy crust.
In A Minute Cafe
This Capitol Heights soul food carryout from veteran catering chefs Reginald Mack and Steven Wilson coats its wings in a sweet Hennessy sauce, with buffalo and honey pepper options too. Order takeout or delivery here.
Boardwalk Bar & Arcade
Available on weekends only, the Wharf’s giant arcade bar goes big on football game days with lip-smacking orders of juicy wings that just entered the fold this fall.
Hops N Shine
Hops & Shine, with its backyard tented beer garden in an unassuming Del Ray strip mall, flies under the radar as a solid spot for bar food, ranging from tots to fried pickles. And you can’t go wrong with its crispy wings, brined in beer before frying and available in 13 different rubs and sauces, including some atomic ones. Cauliflower and boneless wings can also be ordered in varieties ranging form chimichurri to lemon pepper.
Hard Times Cafe (Multiple locations)
Local chili chain Hard Times grills its wings, and its “original Texas” style is geared towards diners with a high tolerance for heat. Other varieties include chile-lime and sweet red chili. Hard Times also has boneless wings. Other locales sit in Rockville and Springfield.