27 Best Places For Chicken Wings In New Jersey
A good plate of chicken wings is sure to hit the spot. And while the deep fried, hot-sauce-doused versions are served most everywhere, there’s plenty to do with a wing beyond Buffalo.
It may be wing sacrilege, but most bar wings are nothing special: gooped and gunked with the same old Buffalo wing sauce found the world over.
That’s why I chuckle when I see a bar declaring, “world famous Buffalo wings.” I already know what they’re going to taste like, and usually the wings are spindly, besides. And don’t get me started about that ridiculous celery and blue cheese or ranch.
There are just a few traditional Buffalo wings on our list of NJ’s best wings. Instead, the places on our list make wings that shine, and they’re all over the chart: sports, craft beer and neighborhood bars; barbecue and soul food spots; Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian restaurants, and more.
(Note: This list is unranked and in no particular order.)
Back Bay Ale House
Vibe: Back Bay Ale House is indeed a house: a cheerful hangout at overlooked Gardner’s Basin near the Atlantic City Aquarium. At Back Bay there’s a downstairs bar an upstairs dining room and a patio.
Our Picks: No run of the mill Buffalo wings here. There are just jerk wings, dry rubbed with Jamaican spice. Order them dry or with JuJu sauce, a hot, peppery, tomatoey taste bomb.
Back Bay Ale House 800 N. Hampshire Ave, Atlantic City (609) 449-0006 backbayalehouse@hotmail.com www.backbayalehouse.comDominic’s Tavern
Vibe: A popular and unpretentious neighborhood bar serving wings and American comfort food.
Our Picks: The kitchen does wings right. Instead of the usual scrawny bar wings, the ones here are pleasingly plump, with a good crunch. There are 11 sauces, and the fat daddy, a vinegary Buffalo, is not to be missed.
Dominic’s Tavern 100 E. Browning Rd, Bellmawr (856) 931-4742 chris@dominicstavern.com www.dominicstavern.comParagon Tap and Table
Vibe: An inviting gastropub with numerous craft beers and an outdoor patio. Conveniently located just off the Garden State Parkway
Our Picks: Choose from 10 sauces for the wings. We recommend the Voodoo and the Ginger Glaze.
Paragon Tap and Table 77 Central Ave., Clark (732) 931-1776 Info@paragonnj.com www.paragonnj.comSharky’s Wings and Raw Bar
Vibe: Sharky’s is a very popular sports bar with a devoted following
Our Picks: Our favorites are the blackened (a no-nonsense sauce) and the Nashville Hot
Note: Locations also in Booton and Alpha, NJ
Sharky’s Wings and Raw Bar 545 Highland Ave., Clifton (973) 473-0713 www.sharkyswingsnj.com/east/menuThe Broadway Bar and Grill
Vibe: The building housed Nelly’s Long Bar for 50 plus years. The funky houseboat interior and easy going ambiance and scrumptious wings set the Broadway apart.
Our Picks: Keep it simple. These are big and crispy wings, first deep fried, then finished on the grill. Any sauce is redundant.
The Broadway Bar and Grill 106 Randall Ave., Point Pleasant Beach (732) 899-2772 www.facebook.com/thebroadwaybarandgrill/Broadway Hot and Honey Chicken
Vibe: Housed in a strip mall that replaced the great Circus Drive-In, New Jersey’s best-ever-drive-in eatery. It’s a bustling joint. Aflame in neon with murals of Elvis, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Jimi Hendrix.
Our Picks: The wings are huge and wonderfully crunchy. Our fave, the Sweet Southern Heat
Broadway Hot and Honey Chicken 1861 NJ-35 Unit 102, Wall Township (732) 820-6765 Info@BroadwayChicken.com www.broadwaychicken.comTreno Pizza Bar
Vibe: A casual Italian eatery and wine bar with enclosed patio serving dynamite meatballs and exquisite Tuscan wings
Our Picks: The Tuscan wings, with garlic, parmesan, chili flake and rosemary, are fat, cheesy and audacious
Treno Pizza Bar 233 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township (856) 833-9233 trenoevents@pjspub.com www.trenopizzabar.comMs. Heaven’s
Vibe: Cozy, welcoming spot for mouthwatering wings and southern classics
Our Picks: The wings are colossal and especially toothsome. The Fat Boys sauce is sweet, spicy, and garlicky, and lemon pepper dry rub is proof you don’t need to overwhelm to have great wings. Don’t sleep on the garlic parmesan, Old Bay Butta, and Blazing Buffalo.
Ms. Heaven’s 45 S. Broad St., WoodburyContact: (856) 202-5448
HOB Tavern (Heart of Bordentown)
Vibe: Old school corner pub serving spirits and comfort food
Our Picks: There are six sauces, including PB and J. (Yes, peanut butter and jelly) The flavor is more jelly than peanut butter, and trust us it will grow on you. Our favorite: jerk
HOB Tavern (Heart of Bordentown) 146 2nd St., Bordentown (609) 291-7020Blue 42 Restaurant and Bar
Vibe: Laid back sports bar with Green Bay Packers memorabilia featuring events such as karaoke, beer pong, and live DJs.
Our Picks: One of the biggest sauce menus (about 150) in New Jersey. The sauces range from sweet heat, jerk, and atomic to cool ranch Dorito, parmesan peppercorn and honey hot. Our favorite is the mojito lime dry rub, once again proof that you don’t need sauce for amazing wings.
Blue 42 Restaurant and Bar 158 Market St., Elmwood Park (201) 773-0970 blue42bar@gmail.com www.blue42bar.comDolsot House
Vibe: THe Dolsot House is not a house but a small crowd-pleasing restaurant focusing on Korean food. You can do an order of 10 wings half one way, half another.
Our Picks: You can’t go wrong with the soy ginger and spicy wings. They are large, plump, and crunchy. And if you have never tried Korean fried chicken, now is the time.
Dolsot House 404 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill (856) 216-0090 cherryhill@dolsothouse.comPho 99
Vibe: A small intimate room with beautiful decor and natural lighting. If you are just going to sports bars to satiate your cravings for wings, you are missing opportunities. Some of the best wings are found at ethnic spots like Pho 99 (Vietnamese).
Our Picks: The knockout sauce here is the mango, packed with tropical sweetness
Pho 99 55 New Jersey Highway 36, Eatontownwww.order.toasttab.com/online/pho99eatontown
The Station Bar and Grill
Vibe: Casual spot for craft beers, wings, burgers, pastas, cheesesteaks, and wraps.
Our Picks: Disregard the other sauce selections on the menu and just order the Brian Brother’s Wings. A slightly honey-ish, super-grilled flavor elevates these to the upper echelon of Jersey Wings.
The Station Bar and Grill 99 Center Street, Garwood (908) 233-4455 www.thestationbarandgrill.comTim’s Po Boys and Wings
Vibe: A casual place serving Cajun classics (po-boys, gumbo, jambalaya), Korean, and wings.
Our Picks: Ignore the pedestrian Buffalo sauce, but the Spicy Gochriyang (chili pepper paste) and Spicy Carolina are among the most distinctive in New Jersey.
Tim’s Po Boys and Wings 409 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne (973) 949-3347 hello@timspoboysandwings.comThe Corner Bar
Vibe: Dive bar, neighborhood bar, roadhouse…you get the idea. Inviting and comfortable.
Our Picks: The wings are huge and delicious. Best sauces: Buffalo (not your standard), BBQ, sweet chili.
The Corner Bar 1002 US-40, Pilesgrove(856) 769-9804
Midlands Brew House
Vibe: A former neighborhood bar that has been reborn into an expansive, two story restaurant and bar with 48 beers on tap and a prolific 60 TVs.
Our Picks: The guava Thai chili sauce is unique, not your usual assembly line Thai dipping sauce.
Midlands Brew House 374 N. Midland Ave., Saddle Brook (201) 797-0070 info@midlandbrewhouse.comChicken Kitchen
Vibe: Chicken Kitchen is a spartan, strip mall, wing joint that’s been open for 30-plus years.
Our Picks: Get them sauced. Indulge in these fat and crunchy beauties.
Chicken Kitchen 423 Shrewsbury Plaza, Shrewsbury (732) 542-8030www.thechickenkitchennj.weebly.com
Buffalo’s Chicken
Vibe: A modest, southern style joint offering spicy wings, BBQ, ribs, and fried chicken
Our Picks: Notwithstanding the name, Buffalo’s Chicken is not a homage to Buffalo wings. They have an assortment of stellar sauces including Lemon pepper, jerk, urban bourbon (our favorite), and Misery, made with ghost pepper chiles. We like to also go naked; the plain wings are other-world-crispy and crunchy.
Buffalo’s Chicken 261 Hackensack St., Wood Ridge (201) 728-4717 buffaloschicken@gmail.com www.buffaloschicken.comMt. Royal Inn
Vibe: Mt. Royal is a section of East Greenwich, Gloucester County, and the Mt. Royal Inn is a sprawling locals hangout with tons of history; it’s been open since 1762.
Our Picks: This is one place that does Buffalo wings right: peppery, smoky, scrumptious.
Mt. Royal Inn 137 Kings Hwy., Mt. Royal (856) 423-3030 byron@mri1762.com www.mtroyalinn.comCarpe Diem
Vibe: Carpe Diem is a spirited, clubby enclave: a hardwood floor hangout that feels like a private club (in the best sense). Photos of 151 famous people (Skakespeare, Steve McQueen, Raquel Welch, Jules Veme) adorn the walls.
Our Picks: Sweet chili and honey sauces are a cut above, but go with the house (blend of Frank’s Red Hot and honey).
Carpe Diem 1405 Grand St., Hoboken (201) 792-0050 carpebarhoboken@gmail.com www.carpediemhoboken.comPattenburg House
Vibe: A sprightly, historic saloon serving classic American bar food and craft beers with live music, patio, and pool.
Our Picks: The kitchen turns out some great wings (grilled or fried). Choose from five sauces. Our favorites are the garlic parmesan and the Gold Rush.
Pattenburg House Where: 512 City Rd. 614, Asbury (908) 246-9407 Pbhtavern@gmail.com www.thepattenburghouse.comMorgan’s Island Grill
Vibe: A cozy, casual, Caribbean cafe serving traditional Jamaican dishes ( jerk chicken, curry chicken, curry goat, oxtails) and more.
Our Picks: Jerk and hot are highly recommended.
Morgan’s Island Grill 110 Mercer St., Hightstown (609) 308-2108 goodfood@morgansislandgrill.com www.morgansislandgrill.comTaphouse 15
Vibe: A fashionable taproom featuring a creative menu, local craft beers, cocktails, and wine.
Our Picks: You can get wings that are applewood smoked and then char-grilled in a Hot Honey or Bourbon Buffalo sauce (these are outstanding).Regular wing sauces are honey BBQ, garlic parmesan, mango habanero, Buffalo, and Bang Bang.
Taphouse 15 75 NJ-15, Wharton (862) 437-1300 generalmanager@taphouse15.com www.taphouse15.comMaMa Chicken
Vibe: Fried chicken, Korean dishes and food market offered in a warm welcoming atmosphere.
Our Picks: Try your wings three ways: crispy, spicy soy garlic, and sweet & spicy. Bet you can’t choose which is best.
MaMa Chicken 252 Broad Ave., Palisades Park (201) 461-7900 www.facebook.com/MamaChickenMarley’s Gotham Grill
Vibe: A bustling, lively restaurant and bar offering an extensive menu from burgers to pasta. Home to 300+ wing sauces
Our Picks: No one takes wings more seriously than Bruno Pascal, co-owner of Marley’s. The wings are big, fat, and creatively spiced. We especially like the Kickin’ Chicken (crushed red garlic, orange peel, red bell pepper, onion), Chimi Chuni (parsley, crushed red pepper, garlic, olive oil, and vinegar), Bea Irish Man (Bailey’s Irish Cream, Jameson, brown sugar, and butter), and The GodFather (cherry peppers, mozzarella, garlic, basil, and tomato sauce).
Marley’s Gotham Grill 169 Main St., Hackettstown (908) 852-2446 marleysgothamgrill@gmail.com www.marleysgothamgrill.netPeck Peck Chicken
Vibe: A delightful, tiny, mom and pop eatery serving Korean style fried chicken and simple sides.
Our Picks: The three flavors (soy garlic, sweet and spicy, salt and pepper) are top notch. Add a drumstick; they are enormous.
Peck Peck Chicken 250 Degraw Ave., Teaneck (201) 530-5858 www.peckpeckchicken.comDi Paolo’s Italian Ristorante
Vibe: Classy, family-owned, Italian restaurant serving traditional Italian fare, seafood and steaks.
Our Picks: You might be surprised to learn that an upscale Italian restaurant serves some of the best wings in New Jersey. But trust us, their grilled Sicilian wings are a delicious delight. Their plump wings are grilled with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt and then roasted with caramelized onions, rosemary, crushed chili pepper, and shaved parmigiano. The result is wing nirvana! Bon appetit!
Di Paolo’s Italian Ristorante 28 Broad St., Penns Grove (856) 299-4645 www.dipaolosrestaurant.com