Looking for the best chicken wings in North Carolina? You won’t be disappointed. As well as having some of the best barbecue in the US, this state has all sorts of wings to feast on, from Carolina-style mustard sauces to classic buffalo.
Make your way from Asheville to Raleigh and lots of spots in between for a wing feast fit for a king.
This local chicken shack is all about “Nashville style” hot chicken and southern soul food. What makes the wings here so good? It’s all in the basics. They prepare their unique fried chicken to order, with each batch starting off as ‘plain’. From there, they can add the spice from mild to extra hot (lots of folk just love it without the spice, so get a few styles to share).
Meaty, crispy and downright droolworthy are just a few words that come to mind when describing the wings here. With more than 25 fabulous wing flavors made fresh daily, these guys set the standard very high indeed for chicken wings in North Carolina. Choose from sauces such as Hot Honey BBQ or Ginger.
No prizes for guessing that Buffalo Brothers specialises in messy, saucy and delicious Buffalo-style wings. Dripping in a rich buffalo sauce with just the right amount of kick to it, the wings are plump and meaty. This place was actually created and founded in Buffalo NY, so it’s the real deal.
This neighborhood pub-style restaurant has over 100 beers with 18 on tap, a pretty outdoor terrace and live sports. It’s the wings though, that makes Fat Dog’s one of the top spots in Greensboro. All of their wing sauces are original recipes and range from a garlic parm rub to traditional Buffalo. Order more than you think, because you won’t be able to get enough of these.
Come for lunch or dinner at this friendly local grill, but whatever you do, make sure to order the chicken wings. You can choose between classic wing-in or boneless style, with a tempting menu of sauces to slather ’em in. Our picks? You can’t go wrong with the charred Cajun rub or jerk & teriyaki sauce.
You really can’t go wrong with a chicken wing feast at Lynnwood Grill. Serving up perfectly juicy, saucy wings, you can wash them down with their very own award-winning microbrews from Lynnwood Brewing Concern. Choose between bone-in or boneless, with creative sauces such as a raspberry habanero.
Apex locals will swear up and down that this wing joint has the best wings in all of North Carolina. And you know what? It’s hard to disagree. The chicken wings here are known for being extra crispy, and come served with celery, blue cheese or ranch a thick slice of Texas toast. It’s a truly delicious feed.
Whether you swing by here for the weekly Trivia Night on Tuesdays or pop in on the weekend, Chow Pizza Bar in Raleigh always serves up their amazing wings. These go above and beyond standard bar grub, with jumbo smoked & grilled wings that are slathered in sauce of your choosing. Try the Pappy’s Ride BBQ if you can handle the heat.
For a portion of wings that will have you licking your fingers for every last morsel, come to Chex Grill & Wings in Charlotte. Here, you’ll be able to take your pick from over 35 amazing wing flavors that are guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds. Top choices include the Hawaiian Blaze or Strawberry Hot.
Duckworth’s Grill knows that the secret to the perfect wing is time and dedication, which is why these mouthwatering bad boys are among the best in the state. Specialty wings here are made with 17 different ingredients from an old family recipe, and are fried crispy then quickly char-grilled before being sauced with this vinegar based sauce.
Heavenly Buffaloes sure does serve up some heavenly wings. The wings at this popular Chapel Hill joint have just the perfect sauce-to-wing ratio so every bite is full of flavour. With two other locations in Greensboro and Durham, you’ve plenty of opportunity to try these bad boys. There’s 19 wet sauces to choose from, seven dry rubs and even vegan wings and sauces!
Located in the heart of the Outer Banks, this is a beautiful place to come for home cooked Southern food with a modern twist. Friendly staff, the rhythm of local musicians playing live tunes nightly and some of the best wings in North Carolina await. Dig into smoked jumbo wings with choice of Cheerwine BBQ, truffle sea salt, or honey hot sauce.
Clouds Brewing has three locations in NC (including one in Durham with a full restaurant and 50 taps, including another 10 tap self-pour beer wall|!), and the wings here are a must-eat. The juicy wings here come with all sorts of tasty sauces, including garlic parmesan, maple bacon, dry rub, IPA bbq, teriyaki, buffalo, thai dragon, or mango habenero.
Ronni’s Restaurant has been serving up the tastiest wings in Clemmons since 1984, so make it your business to try these. Full of flavour and nice and juicy, order a huge portion of these for a big feed. There’s the classic Buffalo sauce in various degrees of heat or other yummy sauces.
Waldo’s Wings has been serving the ‘hottest wings and the coldest beer’ in Winston-Salem since 1991. With that claim to fame, there’s no way you should pass up a chance to take a bite of these wings. Top sauces to slather on include a Bourbon glaze or honey citrus pepper.
With 99c wings and a laidback, homey vibes make Haywood Lounge a local favourite in Asheville for chicken wings. The sauce has the perfect level of spiciness and tangy flavours and coats the tender wings perfectly. Add on some super crispy fries on the side and you’ve the ultimate feast.
Fu Wangz might be small, but the flavours here are seriously mighty. Wings are made fresh-to-order, tossed gently in your choice of 20 unique house-made Fu Flavors, from traditional Buffalo to wild Honey Mango BBQ. Regulars shout about the Citrus Tuscan Garlic wings here. They’re a dry rub wing coated with flavor you won’t believe.
Overtime Sports Pub has all the elements of a longstanding sports bar, with a lively atmosphere, welcoming staff and delicious bar bites. The wings come served with crunchy celery and ranch or bleu cheese on the side. With all sorts of lip smacking wet sauces to choose from as well as dry rubs, you’ll be in wing heaven here.
Every dish they create at Luella’s is scratch-made labor of love from start to finish, and the wings are a real highlight. Using old family recipes, these smoked wings have an incredible flavour and smokiness. Choose from Luella’s Sweet Love Sauce, Hot Mama, or Ring of Fire, and ask for the Ancho Ranch Dressing on the side.
Burgers, buffalo wings, BBQ, high-def TVs, sports, cornhole, poker, live music on the patio, and more? Rally Point Sport Grill ticks all the boxes for a night out with friends. The wings here are big on flavour and come with creative sauces. We love the Spicy Thai Peanut sweet and spicy with a slight kick!
You can’t come to Henderson without sampling some of the wings at Kangz Wangz. In fact, one bite of these beauties will have you telling everyone you know that they’re some of the best wings in North Carolina. Sounds too good to be true? Come here to check them out for yourself.
Bubba’s 33 has all the comfort food dishes you could ever desire. Burgers, pizza, beers and of course, wings. Order the classic wings with signature sauces or go wild with their hickory-smoked chicken wings tossed in a raspberry chipotle glaze.
Serving Hickory-Smoked Barbecue & Deli Sandwiches for over 25 Years, Duck Deli is as popular and as quaint as its location. Their smoked wings are a real local favourite, with a spicy kick that goes down a treat. All the smoked meats are cooked daily on site, so grab some extra food to take away while you’re here.
Dame’s Chicken and Waffles is famous for its fluffy waffles that are perfect to eat any time of the day. With their homestyle fried chicken on top and a side of the ‘World Famous Shmears’, it’s proper old school Southern perfection. Soul food doesn’t get much better than this…
Hef’s is a casual spot for classic fare such as pizzas and Reuben sandwiches, as well as downright tasty wings. They’re crispy on the outside and wonderfully plump and juicy on the inside. With an ice cold beer in hand, it’s the perfect cheat meal.
