Chicken wings in Toronto run the gamut from conventional pub grub offerings to sticky Asian-inspired styles. From fried Buffalo wings and gochujang-spiced Korean varieties to smokehouse specialties and tandoori baked flavours, this quintessential finger food is as diverse as the city itself.
Here are my picks for the top chicken wings in Toronto by neighbourhood.
ANNEX
Mr. Tonkatsu deals in crispy Japanese karaage chicken wings ($12) as well as saucy styles ($14) painted with sweet or spicy sauces.
AVENUE & LAWRENCE
Drums & Flats is a dedicated wing joint that offers the choice of just drumettes, just flats, or mixed. You can order them wet, dry, or double dipped in over a dozen flavours including mango jerk and Ragin' Cajun.
BAYVIEW & LEASIDE
Authentic Buffalo wings ranging from mild to Armageddon are the specialty at Duff's. Order a single flavour by the pound for $11.50 with celery and dill dipping sauce on the side.
BABY POINT
Marky's BBQ Smokehouse serves up tender smoked wings ($11) with house-made BBQ sauces including mild, spicy, and Carolina Gold.
BALDWIN VILLAGE
Move over blue cheese, Ramyun wings ($5.45 for 3pcs, $11.45 for 7pcs) at Mo'Ramyun are best dipped in garlic mayo and gochujang. The unique riff on Korean fried chicken are encased in crispy noodles and deep fried to a golden hue.
BEACHES
Hog Wings at Hogtown Smoke start with organic chicken wings seasoned with a spicy rub. They smoke for two hours in the wood fired pit then take a bath in the deep fryer before being painted in a choice of sauce. Each order sells for $16 per pound and comes with house-made chipotle ranch dip.
BLOORCOURT
Get your wing fix at Hurricane's Roadhouse where a pound of wings ($11) can be had grilled or fried and tossed in a choice of 10 sauces including Cane's sweet heat, honey garlic or jerk.
CABBAGETOWN
Crispy chicken wings ($12.38) coated in a spicy Cajun rub are the house specialty at Peter's Cajun Creole.
CLUB DISTRICT
Scorpion Wings ($14) add variety to the taco-centric menu at La Carnita. Confit wings here are deep fried 'til crisp then tossed in a fiery chili sauce.
THE DANFORTH
15 bucks buys a plate of big, juicy chicken drummies at Auld Spot Pub. Have them sauced in classic Buffalo style or opt for honey hot, BBQ or scotch bonnet flavours.
DISTILLERY DISTRICT
Mill Street Brew Pub recommends a pint of 100th Meridian Organic Amber Lager to go with its wings ($14). Order hot chili garlic, honey garlic, jerk BBQ or Korean BBQ style wings served with pickled carrots and celery with tzatziki on the side.
DUNDAS WEST
The Dyno wings at Hanmoto aren't your typical chicken wings. An order of these features goyza filling stuffed into a de-bonned wing that's deep fried and finished with a drizzle of Kewpie mayo and a sprinkling of nori, cilantro and hot peppers.
EAST YORK
La Famiglia Pizza is the type of pizzeria that everyone outside the delivery zone should be envious of. Not only does this joint offer pizzas, pastas, hot subs and garlic knots, but the wings are lustful. 10 pieces with celery and blue cheese are $10 and available in classic sauces or Italian style with a garlic parm coating.
ETOBICOKE
Crispy, pub-style wings at Orwell's are big, juicy, and as spicy as you want them. Go on wing nights to take advantage of cheap specials that see wings sold for as little as $0.69 each.
FINANCIAL DISTRICT
Real Sports serves up massive and flavourful flappers by the half dozen for $14.75 in 10 flavours including Thai sweet chili, spicy jerk, and garlic parmesan.
JUNCTION
Indie Ale House does wings ($13) in three styles; an ultra hot papaya habanero, spiced maple liquorice, and an Italian inspired style seasoned with peperoncini, parm and oregano.
KENSINGTON MARKET
Deep fried wings at The Dirty Bird come in flavours like dry & dirty, Buffalo, sticky honey garlic, and tear inducing jerk BBQ. Order them by the pound ($12), half pound ($6), or piled on top a maple buttered waffle with a choice of side ($14).
KING WEST
Get your wet naps ready at the Wheat Sheaf because the specially seasoned wings served 10 per order for $12 demands that you roll-up your sleeves and dive right in. Customary carrots, celery and blue cheese dip are included while the selection of sauces ranges from mild to suicide.
KOREATOWN
Crispy breaded wings dominate on the menu at Clinton's Tavern where a pound will set you back just $10.25. Sauces on the side include varying degrees of hot sauce plus unique options like sweet chipotle mustard or the house-made honey garlic sauce.
LITTLE ITALY
All-you-can-eat wings are on offer every Wednesday at Night Owl for $15. Devour as many as you can within the two hour time limit in flavours like General Tso and sweet hoisin.
MARKHAM
Blazing fire chicken wings are the thing to get at Home of Hot Taste. The Korean fried chicken joint sells a pound for $15 or two pounds for $27.50.
NORTH YORK
Bistro on Avenue is a precursor to the St. Louis chain of chicken joints and best known for its textbook perfect Buffalo wings. An order with fries and the signature sauce comes to $12.
OSSINGTON
Hawker Bar slings wings by the pound ($12) or half pound ($7) glazed in sweet and sticky chili soy glaze that pleasingly packs just a touch of heat.
PARKDALE
The menu at Duggan's advertises chicken wings ($13) four ways: jerk fried, lemon pepper, Cajun, and sweet n' hot. Have 'em accompanied by classic blue cheese dip or herb aioli (+$1).
QUEEN WEST
Bar Hop Brewco serves up apple wood smoked wings drenched in sweet and spicy honey chipotle sauce and finished with fresh tomatoes, scallions and Quebec blue cheese.
RIVERSIDE
Aft Kitchen & Bar
brines wings ($14) then smokes them low and slow before flash frying them for added crunch. House BBQ sauce adds a final hit of smoky flavour. Each order includes a pile of frites.
RONCESVALLES
Barque Smokehouse bills three styles of plump, pit-smoked wings including dry rub, sweet heat and chipotle. Order each flavour by the pound for $12.
ROSEDALE
Almost two dozen unique flavours of giant wings served baked or fried are on the menu at the Crown & Dragon. Standouts include the baked tandoori spiced Bollywood and the sticky and sweet classic Coke glaze over fried wings. Visit Tuesdays and Thursdays for half price wings from 5 p.m. to close.
SCARBOROUGH
Jumbo wings at the Tara Inn are so big they're sold in fives ($7.95), sevens ($10.50) and 10s ($10.50). Choose from over a dozen flavours including classic pub styles, tandoori, and sesame Sriracha.
ST. CLAIR WEST
For a fish and chip joint, Fresco's serves up some pretty stellar wings. A half pound with any side (deep fried pickles included) and a dip (blue cheese, ranch, or chipotle) costs just $10 and comes in a choice of flavours including my personal fave, smoked lime tequila.
ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
The Jersey Giant is a Toronto institution where orders of flats and drumettes fly out of the kitchen. A pound for $12 can be had smothered in a classic array of sauces as well as chipotle BBQ and hot honey garlic.
WEST QUEEN WEST
Jumbo grilled wings ($10.50) at Squirly's boast crispy skins and tender meat. Mild, medium, or hot flavours are the only options, and each order is lightened up with the inclusion of a salad (garden, Caesar, or seven grain).
YONGE & DUNDAS
Meaty slow smoked wings coated in dry rub seasoning at Lou Dawg's are sold by the pound for $11. Have them au naturel or tossed in one of the finger licking house BBQ sauces.
YONGE & EGLINTON
K-Wings at Korean Cowboy are served ten per order with fries for $15. Choose sauces that vary in degree of spiciness ranging from mild soy glaze and spicy butter to the hottest flavour dubbed Tomorrow's Regret.
YORKVILLE
The Pilot slings wings by the pound for $12 with veggie sticks and ranch dip supplied on the side to offer reprieve from spicy flavours like kamikaze and red vindaloo curry.
What did I miss? Disagree with my selections in the comments.
Lead photo from La Carnita