Head to your nearest fortune teller, and she’ll predict sticky fingers in your future. Because across North Texas, you’ll find ample places to enjoy a wide variety of plump, tender chicken wings. Whether you’re an all-flats or all-drums kinda person (or you like the variety of both), you’ll find flavors like buffalo, barbecue, Thai, and Vietnamese that entice the senses. And they can be found in some of the most unexpected of places.
Beyond your local brewpub or sports bar, you might discover some of the best wings in your neighborhood are at a pho shop or gearhead social club.
Whether you’re catching a big game, hanging out with friends at happy hour, or sneaking out for a well-earned treat, there are wings for every occasion. Venture to these spots around town to get your fix.
Victory Tap Sports Lounge
This upscale Plano sports bar made its debut in June as a neighborhood spot to watch a game, grab happy hour, or spend some quality time with friends over brunch. Rather than being sold by a specific number of pieces, wings here come by the pound in spicy buffalo, Texas dry rub, Thai chili garlic, Texas peach BBQ, or hot honey, served with pickled veg and housemade ranch dressing. 5973 W. Parker Rd., Plano, victorytaptexas.com
Assembly Ice House
Assembly Ice House hasn’t even been open a year and it’s already expanded, adding an adults-only lounge, perfect for retiring to after loading up on double-fried wings in the main dining room. Before hitting the fryer, wings get brined in pickle juice for 24 hours, adding a unique twist that works well with Assembly’s 10 sauces and rubs, especially the Buff y Que combo of buffalo and BBQ for a little sweet heat. 6185 Assembly Park Blvd., Plano, assemblyicehouseplano.com
WokStar Chinese
Now with a second West Village location, WokStar is slowly expanding its music-filled Chinese-food presence. In addition to its show-stopping hand-thrown noodles, you’ll find wings on the bar menu for late-night noshing. Crispy Sichuan-style wings come coated with dry chili, Sichuan peppercorn, garlic, and scallions. Pair with a jar of sake or an ice-cold Lucky Buddha beer. Multiple locations, wokstarchinese.com
Pecan Lodge
Famous for its smoked meats and sometimes hours-long line to get in, Pecan Lodge offers wings that encapsulate the flavors of southern barbecue. Wings are brined in the restaurant’s signature brisket rub, smoked, fried, then tossed in a choice of buffalo, spicy barbecue, and dry rub. Balance out the heat with a side of Pecan Lodge’s fantastic potato salad. 2702 Main St. Dallas, pecanlodge.com
Asian Mint
Chef Nikky Phinyawatana adds Thai flair to a finger food favorite. At any one of Asian Mint’s five Dallas-Fort Worth locations, guests can order pad Thai wings, a zesty variety that is covered in Asian Mint’s signature Thai sauce and garnished with onion crisps, for a crunchy bite. Pair these wings with a sake mojito. Multiple locations, asianmint.com
Bad Chicken
Its name might suggest otherwise, but Bad Chicken serves up some of the best wings in East Dallas. Here, the wings are smoked, then flash-fried, and covered with a sauce of choice or dry rub from an impressive list of 27 options. Add in an order of curly fries, and you’ve got one heck of a combo. 5014 Ross Ave., Dallas, badchicken.com
Derby Restaurant Dallas
Located inside a car enthusiast social club called the Shop, Derby Dallas serves up great wings with a side of southern hospitality. Derby’s wings are dry-rubbed with a house spice blend, and fried to a perfect crisp. Presented with a side of smoky barbecue sauce, these wings serve as the perfect comfort food while watching a game, or checking out some automotive gear. 9100 John W. Carpenter Fwy., Dallas, derbyrestaurants.com
Valley Wings
The crew at Valley Wings does not skimp on flavor. At this Far North Dallas joint, guests can order wings seasoned with a succulent dry rub, or a mouthwatering wet dip, for a total of 20 flavor selections. Sauces include buffalo, cajun, Korean barbecue, and for a touch of heat, mango habanero. If you’re feeling ravenous, add on an order of the chicken alfredo fries. 7989 Belt Line Rd. #110, Dallas, valleywingsdallastx.com
Gas Monkey Icehouse
Gas Monkey’s wings are served “naked”, or without breading, allowing for maximum flavor. Guests can order their wings with buffalo, lemon pepper, whiskey barbecue, or honey sriracha sauce, or have them Richard’s Style. Named after Gas Monkey co-owner Richard Rawlings, Richard’s Style wings come tossed in fiery Gas Monkey Skidmark Sauce, a smoky ghost and chipotle pepper blend. 4545 Destination Dr., The Colony, gasmonkeyicehouse.com
Stan’s Blue Note
Often called one of Dallas’ best sports bars, Stan’s Blue Note lives up to the hype—especially when it comes to its food. Come for the game, stay for all of the beers on tap and the jumbo chicken wings. They’re served up with only three sauce choices, including Frank’s original hot sauce, porter barbecue sauce, and sweet pepper Thai, which creates much easier decision-making. 2908 Greenville Ave., Dallas, stansbluenote.com
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
Ngon owner Carol Nguyen puts love into every one of her plates, including the nuoc mam chicken wings. The wings arrive covered in caramelized fish sauce, and topped with peppers and onion crisps, resulting in zesty, savory Vietnamese flavor. Try them with the Da Lat chill cocktail, a fruit-forward martini crafted with vodka and Soho lychee. 1907 Greenville Ave., Dallas, ngonvietkitchen.com
Over Under
One of Dallas’ oldest mixed-use communities, the Village, continues to grow, with Over Under a favorite of the neighborhood. Over Under is a sports and hangout bar known for its unique wing flavors. Beyond traditional styles like buffalo and barbecue, there are globally-inspired variations like jerk, habanero-mango, and gochujang-sesame. 5625 Village Glen Dr., Dallas, thevillagedallas.com
Winsome Prime
Winsome Prime is a ritzier alternative to some of the patio bars and hangouts around town. The restaurant’s signature wings are fried and seasoned with just the right amount of truffle lemon pepper sauce. Each bite makes for a soulful experience with a hint of refinement. Find them on the happy hour, dinner, and brunch menus. 331 Singleton Blvd., Dallas, winsomeprime.com…