Cities With the Highest Rated Wing Spots

Ask any American which foods are synonymous with football, and it’s more likely than not that chicken wings will come up. In fact, Americans are projected to devour around 1.47 billion chicken wings this coming Super Bowl weekend, reaffirming the fact that wings are one of the most popular foods on game day.But great wings aren’t just about game-day cravings — they’re also a point of local pride. From neighborhood pubs to regional favorites, different cities across the country boast their own top-rated chicken wing spots.

In this study, we analyzed thousands of Yelp listings for restaurants in the Chicken Wing category across the 100 largest U.S. cities to uncover where you’ll find the best wings in the nation. We also looked at which cities have the most wing joints per capita to see where people have the most access to chicken wings.

Which Cities Have the Best Wing Spots?

Using Yelp’s most recent data, we analyzed restaurants listed under Yelp’s “Chicken Wings” category to identify which U.S. cities have the highest-rated wing spots. Rankings are based on average Yelp star ratings, while top restaurants in each city meet a minimum threshold of 20 reviews to ensure reliability.

Below are the top five U.S. cities with the highest average Yelp ratings for chicken wing restaurants:

1. Los Angeles, California (Average rating: 4.07)
   Los Angeles ranks highest overall. ChickenBully leads the city as its top-rated chicken wing restaurant, earning a five-star rating across 62 Yelp reviews — an impressive feat in one of the nation’s most competitive dining markets.
2. New York, New York (Average rating: 3.97)
   New York follows closely behind, with PaPa Chicken holding the city’s top spot in the chicken wing category. The restaurant maintains a 4.9-star Yelp rating based on 37 reviews, standing out in a densely populated restaurant scene.
3. Atlanta, Georgia (Average rating: 3.90)
   Atlanta ranks third, led by Local Expedition Wood Fired Grill. The restaurant holds a 4.8-star Yelp rating with more than 1,200 reviews, reflecting strong and sustained customer approval within the chicken wing category.
4. Houston, Texas (Average rating: 3.88)
   Houston’s highest-rated chicken wing restaurant is Birdside HTX, which earns a 4.9-star rating on Yelp from 21 reviews. The city’s placement highlights strong performance among wing-focused restaurants with consistent customer feedback.
5. Chicago, Illinois (Average rating: 3.82)
   Rounding out the top five, Chicago is led by Meetch’s Wings & Things, which holds a 4.8-star Yelp rating across 28 reviews. The city’s rankings reflect steady customer satisfaction within the chicken wing category.

Which U.S. Cities Have the Most Wing Spots?

Below are the top five cities with the highest per capita concentration of wing restaurants:

1. Birmingham, Alabama (21.54 restaurants per 100K)
   Birmingham leads the nation by a wide margin, reflecting the city’s deep-rooted Southern food culture, where fried and sauced comfort foods remain staples. A strong local dining scene and demand for casual, affordable fare likely contribute to the city’s unusually high concentration of wing spots.
2. Buffalo, New York (19.62 restaurants per 100K)
   As the birthplace of the Buffalo wing, it’s no surprise that Buffalo, New York ranks second. Wings are woven into the city’s identity, driving sustained demand and supporting a dense network of restaurants dedicated to perfecting the classic dish.
3. New Orleans, Louisiana (17.04 restaurants per 100K)
   New Orleans’ food culture thrives on bold flavors and shareable dishes, making wings a natural fit. The city’s vibrant bar and live-music scene also helps sustain a high number of wing-serving establishments.
4. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (16.44 restaurants per 100K)
   Oklahoma City’s strong showing likely reflects its combination of sports culture, casual dining preferences, and a growing restaurant landscape. Wings remain a popular option for group gatherings and game-day meals, supporting steady demand across the metro.
5. Raleigh, North Carolina (15.05 restaurants per 100K)
   Raleigh rounds out the top five, supported by a mix of college sports fandoms and a fast-growing population. As the metro expands, casual dining options, including wing restaurants, continue to scale alongside it.

The Highest Rated Chicken Wing Restaurant in Each City

Looking beyond overall city averages, we also identified the single highest-rated restaurant serving chicken wings in each major U.S. city.

Closing Thoughts

As Super Bowl weekend approaches, the data highlights how central chicken wings are to local food cultures, with highly rated wing restaurants thriving in both major dining hubs and community-driven markets.

For restaurant owners, periods of increased foot traffic can bring both opportunity and added risk. From staffing and inventory to equipment and liability exposure, game-day surges place additional pressure on day-to-day operations.

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Methodology

To identify the U.S. cities with the best chicken wings, we analyzed thousands of restaurants listed in Yelp’s Chicken Wings category across the 100 largest U.S. metro areas. For each city, we calculated the average Yelp star rating among qualifying restaurants, including only establishments where chicken wings were listed as a featured menu item.

We also measured which cities have the most wing-serving restaurants per 100,000 residents and identified the highest-rated wing restaurant in each city. To qualify, restaurants needed at least 20 total reviews, with ties broken by review count. Not all restaurants are located directly in the heart of the city, as Yelp also groups in surrounding close areas.

Fair Use

You are welcome to use, reference, and share non-commercial excerpts of this study with proper attribution. If you cite or cover our findings, please link back to this page so readers can view the full methodology, charts, and context.