The Best Chicken Wings in Salt Lake City: A Comprehensive Review

A staple of backyard parties, family gatherings, and watch parties, chicken wings have brought family and friends together for decades with their hot sauces, sweet coatings, and ever-so-satisfying bites. These days, if you do a search for chicken wings in restaurants, you're likely to come up with a choice of sports bars, sandwich shops, food trucks, Korean restaurants, and Southern shops. It's clear that the wings have transcended cultural barriers, which is why when we talk about origins, there are many to investigate.

Buffalo wings are the first to come to mind. This popular chicken wing style was born (where else?) in the city of Buffalo, New York. The prevalent story is that Italian-born Frank and Teressa Bellissimo first served these sauce-smothered avian parts to their son in 1964 and eventually in their restaurant, Anchor Bar. But another story says that John Young, a Black Buffalonian, was there serving wings on a busy Jefferson Avenue way before then. Young's wings were served with a mombo sauce that Buffalo councilman James Pitts called the "lip-smacking, liver-quivering sauce (that) titillated our taste buds down to our toes."

Korean fried chicken is another style that's captured the hearts of many with midnight cravings. Crispy, messy, and perfect with a glass of beer, these chicken wings are the stuff of dreams that got their start thanks to the popularity of cheap cooking oil in Korea and a sweet and spicy yangnyeom seasoning. Chain stores like KyoChon and Bonchon serving these delectable wings quickly opened, introducing innovations like soy fried chicken, garlic chicken, and even curried fried chicken. As these shops have made their way overseas and onto our plates, they've also inspired local chefs to elevate the humble bird on a plate.

So, where should you go to find the perfect finger-licking bite? Here are some of the best places to get chicken wings in Salt Lake City:

Top Chicken Wing Spots in Salt Lake City

Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club

The best wings in Salt Lake City are at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club, where premium-quality ingredients combine with unforgettable experiences. At Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club, your Salt Lake City wings are bursting with flavor and pair perfectly with your favorite game playing from one of the high-quality LED screens in the restaurant. The interactive activities make us unique compared to other wing places in Salt Lake City. Nothing pairs better with delicious wings than watching your favorite team get the win. Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club always delivers on game day with community-building events that involve all the fans.

When you’re looking for a wing place near the Delta Center, you want to make sure it’s close enough that you won’t miss any action while grabbing a bite before the game. Luckily, Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club is a quick five-minute drive to the Delta Center or an easy 10-minute walk. However, it’s not just about convenience; you want wings packed with flavor. Our menu is filled with wings crafted to satisfy every palate with a variety of styles to choose from. Try the crispy wings to add some extra texture, or go with the classic tenders that practically melt in your mouth.

Salt Lake City has its fair share of classic wing spots, like Wingstop and Buffalo Wild Wings, which both offer fast-food-style wings if you need something quick. Here, you’ll try wings that raise your expectations to the next level. Premium ingredients and bold flavors, like the zesty Salt and Lemon Pepper wings or the rich heat of Spicy Korean Gochujang, will completely change what you thought wings were supposed to taste like.

Pairing your wings with a well-poured brew is easy at Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club. The three distinct bar areas mean you’ll never have to wait long or go far for a refreshing drink to complement your wings. A huge selection of locally brewed beers allows you to support your Utah brewers while chowing down on your favorite wing flavors. If you’re the type to stick with what you like, we have you covered. There are classic brand names, like Coors Light or Guinness, that you can be sure will go great with whatever wing style you choose.

You might encounter some TVs and big crowds at traditional wing spots, but you’re missing out on having an entire experience when you sit down at a Salt Lake City wings restaurant. Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club offers so much more than just great Salt Lake City food. Our venue has three distinct sports bar areas in Salt Lake City that give you options for picking your favorite spot, and once you’re done eating, we have interactive rooms that keep the energy high.

Trolley Wing Company

Trolley Wing Company (Multiple locations, trolleywingco.com): Trolley Wing Company is probably the most consistent local spot for chicken wings. Wings are all they do, they've got a plethora of sauces that range from mild to atomic, and this is one of the only places nearby where one can attempt an insane hot wings challenge. I also like that Trolley Wing Company has vegan wings for our plant-based diners who crave the spectacle of hot wings. Fans of boneless wings-otherwise known as chicken strips-will be out of luck here, as bone-in is the only way to go.

Where the sauce menus at most places are bound by their heat levels, Trolley Wing Company lets you pick your sauce flavors and then decide on how hot you want them to be. I believe Trolley Wing Company's atomic heat level is quite adequate for hardcore fans of spicy food. I've never attempted their hot wings challenge, because it uses the words "flaming," "hot" and "enema" in sequential order, and it requires a legal waiver. I can, however, vouch for their atomic heat levels, which will put a nice fire in your hole all the same.

Wing Nutz

Wing Nutz (Multiple locations, mywingnutz.com): If you're after a sports-bar vibe and don't really want to go as extreme as Buffalo Wild Wings-which will not be showing up elsewhere on this list, since it's like the Cheesecake Factory of hot wings joints-Wing Nutz is a great spot to hang out. Their wings (and a lot of their sides) are baked instead of fried, which has always been an interesting take on wings. The meat-to-bone ratio at Wing Nutz is what you'd want from your hot wings-their wings have a good bit to chew, which is always a plus.

Speaking of which, I really like the variety of sauces on parade here. It's one of the few places that offers a Carolina mustard sauce, which nicely captures the vinegary acid of good Carolina barbecue. On my most recent visit, I did have to note that their spicier sauces didn't quite debilitate me as much as I was hoping for.

Zulu Piri Piri Chicken Grille

Zulu Piri Piri Chicken Grille (Multiple locations, zulugrille.com): I wouldn't necessarily call Zulu Grille a "wings place," but hear me out. I was once brave enough to order an entrée from Zulu "Africa hot," which is their apex heat level. Despite their warnings, I was naïve enough to follow through with my order, and it remains one of the spiciest things I have ever eaten. As it turns out, getting something served "Africa hot" is still something that isn't afraid to make you pay for your sins.

I think I have a pretty high tolerance for spicy food; I don't necessarily go in for spicy food challenges because I'm no good under pressure, but when I have time to smolder, I usually can hang with the heat. While I am proud to say that I finished the six wings that come in an order from Zulu, it was definitely a painful experience. I'm not going to say that they're the spiciest wings in town, but I have yet to experience something that burns so good.

Other Highly-Rated Wing Restaurants in Salt Lake City

Here's a list of other top-rated restaurants for chicken wings in the Salt Lake City area, based on Yelp data:

#1 - Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)- Address: 3490 South State St.
#2 - Rating: 4.4/5 (29 reviews)- Address: 133 Regent St.
#4 - Rating: 4.3/5 (158 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 2704 South State St. Mr.
#7 - Rating: 3.8/5 (39 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 2121 McClelland St.
#10 - Rating: 3.7/5 (264 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 3971 Wasatch Blvd.
#12 - Rating: 3.1/5 (130 reviews)- Price level: $- Address: 777 South State St.
#14 - Rating: 3.0/5 (201 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 4790 South State St.

You shouldn’t have any trouble finding a good wing special or happy hour deal in Salt Lake City. Satisfying your craving without breaking the bank is easy, and most of the special deals happen during specific times of the day, like late afternoon or early evening. Since these deals are time-sensitive, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and arrive early. Popular spots fill up fast when specials are going, especially during game days or on weekends.