I posted on my socials about places in metro Detroit for the best chicken wings. Man, I got a ton of responses. You guys like your wings!

Of course, I had to deal with jokers saying the best place for wings is at the Little Caesars Arena. (rimshot) I don’t know, lately I’m not even sure they’re that great.

Truth be told, I don’t eat a ton of wings throughout the course of a year. Maybe that’s surprising for someone who grew up in Buffalo, New York. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good wing but I try to stay away from fried food the best I can.

Rumor has it that the owner of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo “invented” the Buffalo wing in 1964. I say invented in parenthesis because there are many variations of why and how the wing was started. From tossing the wings into the deep fryer as a late-night snack for their son and his friends to putting them out at midnight on a Friday during Lent for the Catholics that were in the bar, to other stories. No matter where the truth lies, wings have been a popular food choice for the past six decades. Hell, I can remember 5-cent wing nights. Those days are long gone.

I thought I’d ask you guys for your favorite spots and I got a lot of different places from the east side, to the west side, to downriver. I couldn’t include every single place you picked, but I tried to get a broad overview of some of the places that got multiple “votes”.

My pick for the best spot for wings is the twelfth restaurant. And by how many of you also picked this local establishment, many of you agree.

Happy eatin’!

• sugarbush tavern in chesterfield

  According to Facebook follower, Rich Demucha “The Sugarbush Tavern in Chesterfield on 21 mile and 94. I go there every Saturday my sons love them.” I may have to take a trek to the east side to try them for myself.

  Sugarbush Tavern | Good Beer, Better Food, Great Atmosphere!

  A full-service restaurant and bar offering a vast menu of local favorites from Wings, Perch (Zander Filet), and our famous BBQ Ribs.

• pete's garage in monroe

  Dominik Mekenzie on Facebook piped in with this place. “It’s not metro Detroit but if you are willing to make a drive come to Monroe Michigan and stop at Pete’s garage. Personally the best wings in Monroe!” Well. I would consider that “metro Detroit”, so I guess that counts. 

  Pete's Garage Restaurant - Monroe, MI

  Chill bar & grill serving American, Italian & Mexican fare in a relaxed setting with eclectic decor....

• huron river BBQ

  This place chimed in to promote their wings, so I’ll include them. “We have some pretty good breaded wings… naked wings too but those aren’t every day, we post on FB when we have those ready.” 

  Sounds like a ride on the Harley down to Rockwood to give these a try.

  huronriverinnbarbq.com - Simply the best BBQ!

  The scent of our wood-smoked BBQ will immediately draw you in and make you pull up a chair. We pride ourselves in serving a deliciously filled menu with some of the best BBQ you've ever tasted.

• oxford tap room

  Lots of you mentioned this place. I’ll have to get up there and give them a taste. Plus, I think they have a bike night too.

  Oxford Tap Room | Best american food in Oxford, MI

  Oxford Tap Room Official Website. Save Money Ordering Directly Here. Healthy Options. Fast Service. Friendly Team. Top Rated.

• detroit wing company

  A lot of you also suggested this place. I wasn’t really looking for “chain” places, but because so many of you picked them, now I’m curious. Plus, they have the word “wing” right in the name, so it has to be good, right?

  Homepage - Detroit Wing Company

  Detroit Wing Company is centered around our passion for the food we serve, and we deeply respect the restaurant business as it should be. We're proud of our 20+ signature chef-driven sauces made from fresh, high-quality ingredients.

• wing snob

  This is another chain type of place, but once again, wing is right in the name. The main page on their site says “We just have better wings” so this might be another place to give a try.

  Home

  Yeah, we sell wings. Can't decide between traditional or boneless? Order it "50/50" and we'll split them up for you! Not in the mood for wings? How about some chicken tenders? Going the veggie route? Try our cauli-wings! Pair up your wing choice with one of 23 flavored fries options.

• hooters

  Yes, someone said Hooters. I have to admit, I LOVE their wings. They’re big and greasy and as I said earlier, I don’t eat them all the time because they’re not great for you.  As far as I know, the only location left around here is the Taylor location.

  Hooters Restaurants | Online Ordering, Takeout, Delivery

  At Hooters, you'll find craveable food and wings, cold beer, sports, and of course, Hooters Girls. View our menu online and find a location near you. Order online for takeout or delivery!

• one under craft beer and eats

  One Under Craft Beer and Eats won the 2023 Detroit Free Press chicken wing challenge. Sounds like I’ll be making a trip to Livonia in the future. Thanks for the heads-up from everyone who picked One Under.

  Home * One Under Craft Beer + Eats

  workplay. One Under Craft Bar + Eats is your destination for sports, live music, and great food. And, don't forget to have your next work meeting and take your Zoom calls while "working from home" with our fast, reliable WiFi. If you enjoy watching the game with great food, then One Under is the place to be!

• the Charlevoix

  The Charlevoix finished second in the 2023 Detroit Free Press contest, so I’ll put them on our list. They were picked multiple times as well.

  The Charlevoix

  Landing in a comfortable space somewhere between bar and restaurant, The Charlevoix is a true neighborhood joint. Comprised of four simple sections (Snacks, Wings, Tacos, & Po' Boys), our menu offers an elevated take on drinking food staples - adding just enough creativity to keep things interesting while exercising enough restraint to know when not to touch a classic.

• fairway sports bar and grill in Eastpointe

  The Fairway Sports Bar and Grill got a few mentions as well. Just by looking at this Yelp review, all I see are wings!

  Fairway Sports Bar & Grill - Eastpointe, MI

  Delivery & Pickup Options - 22 reviews and 24 photos of FAIRWAY SPORTS BAR & GRILL "I'm writing this review and basing my stars on what this place is. It's an old school 1950's bar. Nothing fancy.... Pool table over here, jukebox over there, some TV's and some booze being served.

• the south lyon hotel

  Yes, this is my hometown bar, but I’ll be honest, their wings are awesome! Big, juicy, and just fantastic. If you’re ever out that way, give them a try, you’ll thank me!

  South Lyon Hotel Restaurant | Carry-Out is Back!

  South Lyon Hotel Restaurant | Carry-Out is Back!

• Sweetwater tavern

  Personally, the best wings I’ve ever had. About ten years ago, I ran into Ed Roland from Collective Soul at a festival in Louisville. When I told him I was from Detroit, he couldn’t wait to tell me about a place in Detroit where he had the best wings. It took me about a year and a half, but one day I found myself downtown by Sweetwater. I had to give them a try. He was right….they are great wings! Since then I’ve eaten there with Jesse James Dupree from Jackyl and Ray West from Spread Eagle. It’s worth the trip downtown to have their wings. This place had the most picks by you guys on socials, and for good reason.

  Sweetwater Tavern - Welcome To Sweetwater Tavern

  Named amongst the best wings in the country! A Bricktown institution housed in one of the Motor City's oldest buildings (well, at least the original location is... they've got four now), Sweetwater ditches the practice of offering a bajillion different sauce options to specialize in only one, and it's frequently heralded as Michigan's best wing.

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