From no-frills classics to high-end remixes, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy chicken wings in metro Detroit. Indulge in the best the area has to offer at these 12 hot spots. And don’t forget to ask for ranch — are you even from the Midwest if you don’t?
Anita’s Kitchen
The Lebanese restaurant may be revered for its hummus, chicken shawarma, and fattoush, but it’s also worth a visit for its chicken wings. Available at the eatery’s Ferndale and Lake Orion locations, the crispy Joe’s Wings are tossed with zip sauce and served with creamy feta dressing and carrots. $11/6-piece, $16/10-piece, $32/20-piece, $65/50 piece. Anita’s Kitchen, various locations; anitaskitchen.com.
Broasted Brothers
As its name would imply, this family-owned eatery specializes in broasted chicken. Individual wings ring in at $1.69 a piece, and wing meals, which come with several pieces of chicken, one side, a biscuit, and a drink start at just $11.99. Sauces include Buffalo, BBQ, Mango Habanero, Bleu Cheese, Blackened Dry Rub, and Lemmon Pepper Dry Rub. For an after-dinner sweet, try one of the restaurant’s flavor-burst milkshakes. Broasted Brothers Plymouth, 15171 N. Sheldon Road, Plymouth; broastedbrothers.com.
Brown Iron Brewhouse
With locations in Royal Oak and Washington Township, Brown Iron Brewhouse offers a variety of in-house dining and catering/party selections and was voted one of the top three wing places in ‘Best of Detroit 2022.’ Try wings tossed in honey siracha BBQ sauce and garnished with green onions or boneless wings breaded and tossed in chipotle buffalo BBQ sauce, served with celery and peppered blue cheese dressing. Their wings are appetizers, so be sure to save room for your main. Brown Iron Brewhouse, various locations; browniron.com.
Chicken Shack
It wouldn’t be a chicken wing roundup without a shout out to one of metro Detroit’s longest-standing establishments. Founded in 1956, Chicken Shack offers a variety of à la carte options as well as value meals and buckets. Sauce choices are BBQ or Hot N Spicy. Sides include potatoes, French fries, onion rings, coleslaw, corn, and green beans. Overall, it’s a simple menu, but its ability to stand the test of time makes it a standout locally. Chicken Shack, visit chickenshack.com for locations.
Detroit Wing Co.
Voted the Best Wings – Suburb 2019 by Hour Detroit readers, Detroit Wing Co. first began in Eastpointe and now has locations across the metro area. The restaurant offers up 19 signature sauces — including Hot Garlic, Buffalo, Cajun, Honey Chipotle, Honey BBQ, Butter Cheese, and others — to coat its classic and boneless wings. Detroit Wing Co. also offers tenders, sandwiches, fries, mac n’ cheese, onion rings, poutine, salads, and more. Detroit Wing Co., visit detroitwingco.com for locations.
Flowers of Vietnam
For a flavorful spin on the classic, stop by Flowers of Vietnam in Southwest Detroit for its dinner-time Caramel Chicken Wings. The wings are Korean fried and served with rau mau. Flowers of Vietnam, 4440 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; flowersofvietnam.com.
Mavrix Restaurant & Bar
2023 Finalist for ‘Best Wings’ in ‘Best of Detroit,’ Mavrix offers “a little somethin’ for everyone.” The restaurant’s dining menu offers a full wing menu with your choice of traditional, boneless, or grilled boneless wings. Choose your heat (mild, medium, hot, or nitro) and pick from a wide variety of sauces including Lemon Pepper, Cajun, Bourbon BBQ, Sweet & Sassy, and Honey Zing. All wings come with celery and ranch or bleu cheese. Get them in quantities of five, 10, 15, 25, 50, or, 100. Mavrix Restaurant & Bar, 50308 Schoenherr Road, Shelby Township; 586-532-0148; eatatmavrix.com.
Penny Red’s
Penny Red’s, one of the eateries offered by the Shinola Hotel, means business when it comes to chicken. Its finely curated menu only features chicken sandwiches, buckets of “Damn Fine Fried Chicken,” and tasty sides like Sidewinder Fries, Dang Tangy Slaw, and Crispy Brussels Sprouts. Penny Red’s, 1445 Farmer St., Detroit; pennyreds.com.
SavannahBlue
Expertly mixing interesting flavors, SavannahBlue offers up contemporary northern soul food. The restaurant’s House Dry-Rub Wings are sugar-brined, rubbed in smokey pepper, and served alongside barbecue molasses. Order other shareables like black eyed peas, deep fried ribs, or the catfish fritters, or pick an entrée like braised oxtail or the SB Jerk Burger. SavannahBlue, 1431 Times Square, Detroit; savannahbluedetroit.com.
Second Base
This neighborhood joint doesn’t try too hard to impress. Instead, Second Base serves up solid takes on bar classics with games like pool, darts, pinball, and keno, and menu items like burgers, sandwiches, and appetizers. The Second Base Wings come with sweet and spicy sauces. Second Base, 1309 E. Nine Mile Road., Ferndale; secondbaseferndale.com.
Sweetwater Tavern
The Detroit restaurant has been named Best Wings – City 2019 by Hour Detroit readers and one of the top chicken wing restaurants in the U.S. by Thrillist. Sweetwater gets its wings delivered every morning from Eastern Market. They’re marinated for 24 hours before being soaked in spices then fried. To get the best of the restaurant’s offerings, opt for a combo like the Rib and Wing Combo, BBQ Rib Tip and Wing Combo, or Chicken Strip and Wing. Sweetwater Tavern, 400 E. Congress St., Detroit; sweetwatertavern.net for more information and Sweetwater Express locations.
Union Woodshop
The self-described “hand-crafted, wood-fired joint” specializes in all things barbecue. From sandwiches to burgers and pulled pork to ribs, there’s plenty to satisfy your cravings. Choose from classic wings or Nashville Hot Wings, served with table sauces. Add blue cheese dressing and celery on the side for an extra $3. Union Woodshop, 18 S. Main St., Clarkston; unionwoodshop.com.
This post has been updated for 2024.
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