Cheap chicken wings in Toronto aren't really all that cheap these days and generally hover around $9 to $12 a pound in the absence of a special. For the best value, it's smart to adopt one of three strategies: order en masse, snag a combo with sides or beers, or, take advantage of nightly specials.
Here's a round-up of 25 joints that offer finger-licking chicken wings on the cheap.
SEE ALSO:The best chicken wings in Toronto
A-OK Foods
This West Queen West snack bar doesn't do specials, but comes in slightly cheaper than average on a regular basis. Spicy chili-spiced Chino Wings and KFC (that's Korean Fried Chicken) Wings go for $9.50 each order and are available late night on weekends.
All Star Wings and Ribs
This York Region franchise does wings in 200+ flavours and is known for accommodating big groups and big appetites. While a single order goes for $11, ordering in quantities of 30, 50 or 100 can drop the price down to $1 a wing or less.
Bishop and The Belcher
Taking wing specials seriously, this Bloor East bar does 3lbs. of wings for only $12 on Wednesday nights; on Sundays, 2lbs of wings with fries and onion rings are only $11; and on Tuesdays, 1lb of bourbon BBQ wings go on special with fries and slaw for $13. Sauces include unique flavours like chipotle, sriracha and sesame garlic.
Bistro on Avenue
This Avenue Road joint is the OG of Buffalo-style wings in Toronto and the predecessor of the Chick' n' Deli and St. Louis franchises. Here, a regular order with fries goes for $10 and a large order is $16. Weekday lunch specials will slash a couple bucks off from 11am to 3pm.
Clinton's Tavern
This tavern near Christie Pits does the first pound of crispy fried wings for $9 but save a dollar on the next pound, and save $2 on the third. Sauces are served on the side in flavours like hot, medium, BBQ, Thai chili and housemade honey garlic. Occasional $6 specials are advertised on facebook.
Crown & Dragon
This Rosedale pub does wings in 30 novel flavours like Honeycomb Heaven and baked Bollywood. The first pound costs $11, but order in bulk for up to three additional pounds at $10 each. All day on Sundays and after 5pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays; take $3 off each order with a drink purchase.
Czehoski
This West Queen West eatery serves up chicken wings for $12 an order in mild, medium, hot, BBQ or suicide with crudités and blue cheese dip on the side. On Tuesdays starting at 5pm, $15 will get you a pound and a pitcher of Pabst Blue Ribbon.
Drums N Flats
Pick from drummettes or flats and have them fried dry, wet or double dipped then doused in one of 12 sauces. This North Toronto joint does wings to spec' for $11.50 per pound (2lbs. for $22) served in papered baskets with veggie sticks and buttermilk dill or blue cheese dip.
Duff's
Three GTA locations specialize in classic Buffalo wings available in varying degrees of heat. On Tuesday nights, ten wings with celery and creamy dill or blue cheese dip are only $7.25 with the purchase of a drink. Week-round, the best value can be had when ordering 20 at time in combos with fries and a pitcher of pop or beer for $29.25 to $41.25.
Einstein Cafe & Pub
Situated across from UofT, this College Street bar does $10 plates of meaty over-sized wings with chunky blue cheese dip. Have them naked; in the standard medium to hot varieties; or try the house specialty, a honey garlic and BBQ sauce mix.
Fresco Fish & Chips
Situated in Kensington Market, this tiny fish and chip shop happens to do pretty decent wings too. The one pound combo is $11 and includes a choice of sides like fried pickles or breaded mushrooms and either blue cheese, ranch or chipotle dip.
GameDay on College
This College Street sports bar does single orders of traditional, breaded or boneless wings in a choice of 40+ sauces or seasonings for $11 — greater discounts applied when ordering en masse. On Tuesdays, wings and a pint of Molson are on for $14, and, Wednesdays are dedicated to half price wings.
Hurricane's
This Bloorcourt roadhouse does ten varieties of wings grilled or fried by the pound for $11 (2lbs. for $20 or 3lbs. for $29). Each order includes shoestring fries and veggie sticks with blue cheese dip. On Mondays and Tuesdays, 2-for-1 specials are offered all day.
Lou Dawg's
Lou's two downtown locations dry rub then slow smoke their juicy jumbo wings before dousing them in one of three Southern style sauces. Here a pound will set you back $10, or, take advantage of Mondays and Wednesday $5 specials with a drink purchase.
Mill Street Brew Pub
This Distillery District brew pub regularly offers wings at $12 per pound (2lbs for $22) in flavours like Jamaican Jerk BBQ plus all the old faves; medium, hot or honey garlic. Go on Tuesday nights for 55¢ wing specials offered with a drink purchase.
Oddseoul
This popular Ossington Avenue bar slings fingerlicking, Korean-style fried poultry, painted with a sweet and spicy glaze. While the $5 snack sized portion isn't suitable for a meal, it'll satisfy a hankering in a pinch.
Opera Bob's
The kitchen at this Dundas and Ossington pub tosses wings in a choice of six tried and true sauces including hot and honey and the full gamut from medium to suicide. Each order goes for $10 and includes a side of fries and veggies.
Peter's Cajun Creole Pizza
This pizza joint on Parliament at Gerrard does spicy and smoky cajun seasoned chicken wings for $11.25. Not too bad considering that delivery is free.
Sloppy Joe's
Regularly, this family owned and operated Etobicoke establishment serves ten wings for $11 (20 wings for $20). Go Tuesdays and Thursdays for the best value when the pub grub specialty is offered up for 50¢ a wing.
Right Wing
This midtown sports bar at Yonge and Eglinton does wings by the pound for $12 an order. Pick from jumbo or bistro sized, and, choose from dozens of unique sauces and rubs like Baja Chipotle or even Wing Poutine. On Mondays after 5pm the Wing-O-Mania special kicks in with a half price discount.
Squirly's
This West Queen West bar near Trinity Bellwoods regularly serves up jumbo grilled wings in mild, medium or hot for $9 an order including a choice of fresh salad. Tuesday wing night specials start at 4pm and feature a pound of wings for just $6.50.
Tara Inn
This Scarborough joint serves up jumbo, meaty wings doused in a choice of sauce. Five wings go for $9, seven for $11 and ten for $13, but, go on Mondays for the best value when the pub grub favourite is served ten at a time for only $6.80.
The Pilot
This landmark tavern and jazz den is generally a budget destination by Yorkville standards, though wings are $11 per pound (2lbs for $20) and they don't do specials. Done in classic pub styles and sweet chili or lemon pepper variations, the wings are tasty enough but the real reason to go is for the glorious rooftop patio.
The Roy
This public house on Queen East does roaster wings by the pound for $11 (two for $18) in medium, hot, honey garlic or BBQ. Wing nights on Mondays and Wednesdays start at 5pm and drop the price per pound down to $6 with a beverage purchase. All orders are served with carrots, celery and blue cheese dressing. Add fresh-cut chips for $2.
Yakitori Bar
This Baldwin Village restaurant dubs its offerings "Seoul Street Food meets Tokyo Grill" and does spicy chilli pepper and rice battered wings for $9, as well as, a grilled option served a la carte for $5. Better still, $10 combos include fries and a choice of sauce like kimchi honey, teriyaki or sesame garlic.