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From sweet honey barbecue to fiery buffalo, here’s where to find everyone’s favorite game-day snack
Game day or not, the demand for good wings never wavers. Juicy and handheld, wings are an excellent vessel for flavor — and though they’re messier than the average knife-and-fork chicken dinner, there are few better ways to eat chicken. From sweet honey barbecue to fiery buffalo sauce, here are 15 places around the Twin Cities to get a wing fix.
Note that these restaurants are listed geographically.
Read MoreSpring Street Tavern, an understated spot in Northeast Minneapolis, is known on equal par for its karaoke nights and great wings. Choose between four sauces: a hot-honey barbecue, tangy buffalo, a house-made dry rub, and the lemon pepper curry dry rub. (Heat lovers should opt for the latter.)
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This cozy Northeast sports bar is a haven for wing lovers seeking refuge from busy downtown Minneapolis. Ray J’s is known for its jumbo wings, which cater to tame and adventurous taste buds alike. Instead of the bleu cheese or ranch that accompanies the wings, ask for Ray J’s homemade garlic sauce to add some zing. (That said, Ray J’s blue cheese is homemade.)
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A family-owned restaurant since 1988, Tootie’s is filled with dive bar memorabilia, from pool tables to arcade games and pinball machines. Tootie’s stellar wings are served in huge portions with a plethora of dry rub and sauce options, from a traditional five-spice dry rub to a chili plum sauce.
The wings from Khue’s Kitchen are beyond crispy — they’re coated in the crunchiest, most satisfying breading. These wings get a little kick from chili oil and topping, but they’re also the tiniest bit sweet and fragrant with the help of a complex spice blend.
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Wendy’s House of Soul serves some fantastic wings. If you’re in the mood for sauce, choose between the barbecue, the jerky jerk, and the hot. But don’t skip the dry rubs: Wendy serves a lemon pepper, a ranch, a Rebel, and a house dry rub called SOULWINGS. For brunch, make it a plate of chicken and waffles. Note that as of early January, Wendy’s House of Soul is relocating — keep an eye on Instagram for the announcement of a new location in North Minneapolis opening on January 16.
A downtown Minneapolis institution since 1906, the Monte Carlo is a historic time capsule — the l decor emulates old-school supper clubs and steak houses. But the wings steal the show: Served “Beijing-style,” they’re packed with spices, but served without sauce. Swap the standard carrots and celery for the grilled asparagus or broccoli spears, which make an excellent pairing.
Located near the Warehouse District in downtown Minneapolis, Runyon’s was one of the first local restaurants to introduce buffalo wings to its menu in 1984. Patrons from all walks of life pull up to Runyon’s bar stools and tables, whether they’re sports fans catching a game at Target Field or art lovers leaving the latest play or concert downtown. The walls are decorated with historic photos of Minneapolis.
Tracy’s Saloon & Eatery is an underrated wing spot in Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood. Stock up on vinyls, cassette tapes, and CDs at the nearby Electric Fetus, then stop by for a basket. Whether it’s the oyster sauce or Ethiopian berbere dry rub, Tracy’s sauces satiate any taste.
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Smoke in the Pit, a circa 1998 barbecue spot on Chicago Avenue, serves beautifully smoked chicken wings. Pair an order with a slab of ribs and sides like mac and cheese and baked beans. When the weather’s nice, head to nearby Powderhorn Park for a picnic — for the time being, Smoke in the Pit is takeout only.
Cedar Inn has satisfied wing aficionados far and wide since its 1942 debut. The vibe inside is equal parts neighborhood sports bar and tavern. Known for its jumbo buffalo wings — some call them “pterodactyl wings” — Cedar Inn slathers its wings with a choice of six sauces and three dry rubs. A mix of the hot buffalo and Asian sticky sauces gives a powerful punch of flavor.
Northbound Brewpub & Smokehouse is known for its applewood-smoked wings, which are tossed in sauces ranging from an Alabama white — made with mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices — to a finely tuned apricot chipotle, which expertly blends sweetness with a little smoke.
There are few better neighborhood spots for a draft beer and a basket of wings. Bull’s Horn keeps it simple, serving its wings with either a classic dry rub or buffalo sauce. (Don’t sleep on the dill-brined fried chicken, either.)
Bonchon’s chicken wings are double-fried in a light batter with a choice of soy garlic, spicy, or half-and-half sauce. They’re crispy without being greasy, and densely flavorful. Add a side of kimchi for a little added kick.
Find some fantastic stuffed chicken wings at the food court in HmongTown Marketplace. Crammed with bean thread noodles, herbs, and ground meat, these wings are reassembled into a meaty masterpiece. Drizzle them with chili sauce to add some heat.
D-Spot has a huge, inventive list of scratch-made sauces and dry-rubs. True spice hounds should opt for the fiery Seizonsha or Scorpion King wings, but there are many other choices for the less bold — like the Lalapalooza, made with lavender and peppercorn, or the Canadian, made with bourbon and brown sugar.
Spring Street Tavern, an understated spot in Northeast Minneapolis, is known on equal par for its karaoke nights and great wings. Choose between four sauces: a hot-honey barbecue, tangy buffalo, a house-made dry rub, and the lemon pepper curry dry rub. (Heat lovers should opt for the latter.)
This cozy Northeast sports bar is a haven for wing lovers seeking refuge from busy downtown Minneapolis. Ray J’s is known for its jumbo wings, which cater to tame and adventurous taste buds alike. Instead of the bleu cheese or ranch that accompanies the wings, ask for Ray J’s homemade garlic sauce to add some zing. (That said, Ray J’s blue cheese is homemade.)
A family-owned restaurant since 1988, Tootie’s is filled with dive bar memorabilia, from pool tables to arcade games and pinball machines. Tootie’s stellar wings are served in huge portions with a plethora of dry rub and sauce options, from a traditional five-spice dry rub to a chili plum sauce.
The wings from Khue’s Kitchen are beyond crispy — they’re coated in the crunchiest, most satisfying breading. These wings get a little kick from chili oil and topping, but they’re also the tiniest bit sweet and fragrant with the help of a complex spice blend.
Wendy’s House of Soul serves some fantastic wings. If you’re in the mood for sauce, choose between the barbecue, the jerky jerk, and the hot. But don’t skip the dry rubs: Wendy serves a lemon pepper, a ranch, a Rebel, and a house dry rub called SOULWINGS. For brunch, make it a plate of chicken and waffles. Note that as of early January, Wendy’s House of Soul is relocating — keep an eye on Instagram for the announcement of a new location in North Minneapolis opening on January 16.
A downtown Minneapolis institution since 1906, the Monte Carlo is a historic time capsule — the l decor emulates old-school supper clubs and steak houses. But the wings steal the show: Served “Beijing-style,” they’re packed with spices, but served without sauce. Swap the standard carrots and celery for the grilled asparagus or broccoli spears, which make an excellent pairing.
Located near the Warehouse District in downtown Minneapolis, Runyon’s was one of the first local restaurants to introduce buffalo wings to its menu in 1984. Patrons from all walks of life pull up to Runyon’s bar stools and tables, whether they’re sports fans catching a game at Target Field or art lovers leaving the latest play or concert downtown. The walls are decorated with historic photos of Minneapolis.
Tracy’s Saloon & Eatery is an underrated wing spot in Minneapolis’s Seward neighborhood. Stock up on vinyls, cassette tapes, and CDs at the nearby Electric Fetus, then stop by for a basket. Whether it’s the oyster sauce or Ethiopian berbere dry rub, Tracy’s sauces satiate any taste.
Smoke in the Pit, a circa 1998 barbecue spot on Chicago Avenue, serves beautifully smoked chicken wings. Pair an order with a slab of ribs and sides like mac and cheese and baked beans. When the weather’s nice, head to nearby Powderhorn Park for a picnic — for the time being, Smoke in the Pit is takeout only.
Cedar Inn has satisfied wing aficionados far and wide since its 1942 debut. The vibe inside is equal parts neighborhood sports bar and tavern. Known for its jumbo buffalo wings — some call them “pterodactyl wings” — Cedar Inn slathers its wings with a choice of six sauces and three dry rubs. A mix of the hot buffalo and Asian sticky sauces gives a powerful punch of flavor.
Northbound Brewpub & Smokehouse is known for its applewood-smoked wings, which are tossed in sauces ranging from an Alabama white — made with mayonnaise, vinegar, and spices — to a finely tuned apricot chipotle, which expertly blends sweetness with a little smoke.
There are few better neighborhood spots for a draft beer and a basket of wings. Bull’s Horn keeps it simple, serving its wings with either a classic dry rub or buffalo sauce. (Don’t sleep on the dill-brined fried chicken, either.)
Bonchon’s chicken wings are double-fried in a light batter with a choice of soy garlic, spicy, or half-and-half sauce. They’re crispy without being greasy, and densely flavorful. Add a side of kimchi for a little added kick.
Find some fantastic stuffed chicken wings at the food court in HmongTown Marketplace. Crammed with bean thread noodles, herbs, and ground meat, these wings are reassembled into a meaty masterpiece. Drizzle them with chili sauce to add some heat.
D-Spot has a huge, inventive list of scratch-made sauces and dry-rubs. True spice hounds should opt for the fiery Seizonsha or Scorpion King wings, but there are many other choices for the less bold — like the Lalapalooza, made with lavender and peppercorn, or the Canadian, made with bourbon and brown sugar.
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