When it comes to finger licking, lipsmacking chicken wings in Pennsylvania, you’re in for a real treat. From classic Buffalo wings to BBQ and Asian sticky wings, this state has it all. Sure, Philadelphia is a huge foodie hub but you’ll also find tasty wings all across the state.
The perfect bar snack, afternoon snack, kinda of everytime snack, here’s our picks of the best wings in PA.
Best Chicken Wings In Pennsylvania, How do these rankings work?
1. Joe’s Famous Wings & Wieners – Leola
This wonderfully sticky wings are famous in Lancaster County and beyond, with over 30 fantastic flavours to choose from. The wings are big and juicy, fried until perfectly crispy and then slathered in your choice of sauce with celery and creamy blue cheese on the side.
We suggest you come with friends and order the 20-wing sampler with four wing flavours for the full experience.
2. Fat Head’s Saloon – Pittsburgh
This mega popular, multi-state craft brewery has over 40 craft beers to sip on as well as a tempting menu of pub fare that’s on another level. Their smoked wings are dry rubbed, smoked, then char-grilled to perfection. As for the sauces? Choose from sauces such as pineapple BBQ, jalapeno cheddar or spicy parm. Delicious.
3. Byrne’s Tavern – Philadelphia
Byrne’s is well known as one of the best places for wings in Philly, and has been a go-to joint for almost 40 years now. These tender, fall-off-the-bone wings come in servings of 12 to 100 and are best eaten with an order of the Irish bar’s popular potato logs. This is a feast you’ll be returning for time and time again.
4. Odis 12 Sports Bar & Grill – Erie
Odis 12 has won countless awards for their plump and flavoursome wings, so you can be sure these are some of the tastiest chicken wings in Pennsylvania. With over 150 flavours there’s always a new style of wing to try at this lively sports bar. Choose from a PB&J inspired PB&J sweet chili grape drizzles with an Indian peanut satay sauce, or go for raspberry chipotle BBQ & jalapeños.
5. Alliger’s House of Wings – Sayre
With a name like ‘House of Wings’, you can be sure that the folk here know more than a thing or two about what makes a delicious chicken wing. If you can handle the heat, try their fantastic hot sauces. They’re with Super Cayenne Pepper, that registers at 120,000 on the Scoville scale (a measure of chili pepper hotness)!
6. Cafe Soho – Philadelphia
The chicken wings from Cafe Soho are somewhat of a Philly legend, and we guarantee you any food-loving local will point you in this direction if you ask them where to find the tastiest wings in the city. Their twice-fried Korean-style chicken wings come in two style: spicy and a special garlic and soy sauce. Order them both, as you won’t regret it.
7. Cheu Noodle Bar – Philadelphia
This hip ramen bar might look unassuming from the outside, but step inside and you’ll find a funky mishmash of Asian-esque eats. The ramen is divine, but the crowds in the know flock here for the black garlic wings. This crispy wings have a crunchy coating with a rich garlic flavour and come topped with lime, cilantro and sesame seeds.
8. Spak Brothers – Pittsburgh
This Garfield pizza joint might be best known for its pies, but the wings here a real local favourite. Smothered in droolworthy sauces such as hickory BBQ, seasoned salt or garlic parmesan, the wings here tick all the boxes in terms of size and flavour. Plus, they even have seitan wings for all you veggies and vegans out there!
9. Kelly’s Pub & Eatery – Scranton
Crispy, succulent and oh-so tasty are just some of the words used to describe the wings at Kelly’s Pub & Eatery in Scranton. They’ve won awards for these wings in Northeast Pennsylvania, too. With sauces such as X-Mild, Mild, Medium, Hot, X-Hot, BBQ, Caesar, Honey BBQ, Garlic, Hot BBQ, Old Bay and Honey Dijon, you’re spoiled for choice. Be sure to stop by for Kelly’s Wednesday Wing Night for wings that are only $.50 a piece!
10. Wishbone – Philadelphia
It’s all about that signature pretzel crust at Wishbone: the wings here are freshly made in small batches throughout the day with a delicious crust spiked with pretzels and spice. And on the inside? You’ll be biting into seriously juicy tender meat, full of flavour with hints of buttermilk and cider. Chicken wings in Pennsylvania don’t get much better than this.
11. DeuxWings – Easton
The smokey wings at DeuxWings are a firm favourite among Easton locals, who love them the fact that the wings here are ‘unlike anywhere else’. Expect generously sized wings – no tiny wings here! – with a menu of over 50 creative sauces to slather on top. Customer favourites include the BBB (butter, bacon and bourbon) and the raspberry honey chipotle.
12. Bigham Tavern – Pittsburgh
This local watering hole ticks all the boxes for a cosy neighborhood bar, with live sports, a friendly crowd, ice cold beers and incredible bar fare. The wings here are a must-order, with 50 sauces to choose from and your pick of classic bone-in or boneless. Plump, meaty and messy, you’ll want to grab extra napkins for this tasty snack.
13. David’s Mai Lai Wah – Philadelphia
David’s Mai lai Wah is a Philadelphia institution for late night eats, as the kitchen stays open until 3am to serve up Hong Kong and Cantonese staples. There’s plenty of tempting dishes on the menu, but none is more revered than the chicken wings. The salt and pepper wings are mixed with sliced chile peppers for an extra kick.
14. Saloon of Mt. Lebanon – Pittsburgh
Going strong since 1976, this oldschool-style tavern has a menu full of classic comfort food that’s perfect for sharing. There’s lots to tempt you, but the juicy wings are an essential order. With sauces such as Thai chilli, garlic butter, classic Buffalo or a cajun dry rub, you’ll be in total wing heaven here.
15. R Bar and Grill – Nanticoke
What started off in 2011 as a small family joint has now moved to a larger premises with a menu of all your favourites, including over 80 wing sauces and dry rubs! One bite into these plump and tender wings and you’ll see why they’ve been voted some of the best wings in the area. There’s a chocolate bacon sauce, cheesy salsa and plenty of other unique flavours.
16. Underdog Sports Bar & Grill – Harrisburg
What’s not to love about the classic wings at this Harrisburg sports bar? They’re famous for their buffalo wings: Underdog typically sells more than 40,000 wings each Superbowl Sunday! While the traditional Buffalo flavour is most popular, there’s other delicious sauces to try too. Highlights include the Jack Daniels or mango habanero.
17. American Bar & Grill – Lancaster
American Bar & Grill is the sort of neighbourhood corner bar everyone wishes they had in their ‘hood. Always buzzing with a lively and local crowd, beers flowing and a pub grub menu of simple eats cooked to perfection. There’s 14 different flavours to choose from, but be sure sure to get at least one order of the Thai peanut! It’s a real gem.
18. Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings – Pittsburgh
This popular wing joint has expanded all over the state in recent years and is well loved for its huge wing menu of over 100 sauces. There’s no fuss or frills here, just quality chicken wings that are always cooked the perfect crispiness and tender and juicy on the inside. And really, that’s all you need.
19. McGarrey’s Oakwood Cafe – Erie
For great value food and a family friendly atmosphere, McGarrey’s Oakwood Cafe never lets the side down. They’re locally famous for the huge, overstuffed Reuben sandwich, but the wings here are up there with the best chicken wings in Pennsylvania. Dripping with a spicy and tangy buffalo sauce, they’re finger licking-worthy.
20. The Chicken Coop – Wilkes-Barre
The Chicken Coop is the perfect place to come if you’re a fan of extra crispy wings, as these bad boys have a satisfying crunch to each bite. The wing meat it super juicy, and there’s a great variety of sauces from mild to extra hot. We suggest you come with friends and order as many different flavours as you can.
21. Buffalo Bills Roadhouse – New Kensington
The wings here at Buffalo Bills Roadhouse stand out from the rest as they’re oven baked instead of being deep fried. That means they’re that little bit healthier, so we take that to mean you can eat more of these beauties! With 13 different sauces, the wings here are so popular, they prepare 1 1/2-tons of chicken wings in a single week.
22. Winger’s – Villanova
We can’t get enough of the flavoursome wings at this Villanova spot. Winger’s’ wings are fried to perfection and evenly coated with homemade sauce. Dig into traditional wings, boneless wings or chicken tenders – you can have them just the way you like it here. One word: yum.
23. Varga Bar – Philadelphia
This colourful and fun pin-up themed bar and restaurant is a hotspot for its Happy Hour deals and food menu of small bites that have a chef-driven edge. Case in point is their irresistible duck confit chicken wings. They come with a caramelized honey & sherry vinegar glaze, housemade blue cheese and crudite for dipping, and are an eternally popular Philly dish.
24. Murphy’s Pub – Swoyersville
As the name suggests, Murphy’s Pub is a traditional Irish bar, so you can expect great beers, good craic and all sorts of classic comfort dishes on the menu. The pizza here is amazing (with thick and saucy Sicilian, traditional round and New York style thin crust), but the wings are unbeatable. Jumbo and juicy, add on sauces such as hot horseradish ranch or Sriracha honey garlic.
25. Rams Head Bar and Grill – West Chester
Rams Head is an ‘American version of a British Gastropub’, serving up local and international craft beers and spirits as well as a food menu that’s worth visiting for alone. Their 1.5lb of crispy fried wings are tossed in your choice of sauce (the Asian glaze is great!) and make for the perfect snack to go with that beer…
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