Toronto has a diverse restaurant scene when it comes to the top tier wings. From smokehouses to snack bars and pubs, there are some serious options for chicken wing lovers in the city. These restaurants don’t just make the best chicken - they offer unique and flavour-packed sauces too. Here are the best wings in Toronto. [Photo credit: Jennifer D’Agostino]
With origins south of the border in Amherst, New York, Duff’s Famous Wings have been around for almost 50 years. Duff’s served its first pound of famous Buffalo wings in 1969, and haven’t stopped since, opening a Toronto location in 1998. The wings come in 16 flavours including the extremely spicy Armageddon. Wings are available for take-out and the wing special is on Tuesday nights from 5 p.m. until close.
The wings at Barque Smokehouse are smoked, naturally. Known for superb smoked meats, this should come as no surprise. The smoked wings come three ways: rub, sweet heat or chipotle. The wings start in a 24-hour brine, make their way to the smoker and then are grilled just before they hit the diners’ plates.
Located on King West, Wheat Sheaf doesn’t mess around when it comes to wings. It offers the standard sizes like single and double, but if you’re really hungry or in a large group, go for the Slam Dunk - a bucket of 50 wings. The sauces include mild, medium, hot, suicide, BBQ, smokey BBQ, honey garlic and buckets come with carrots, celery and blue cheese dip. There’s also a special flavour every month.
Hawker Bar’s Singaporean chicken wings are crunchy and spicy. Flash fried twice, the wings are rubbed with chili salt and Sichaun pepper. Before they get the fried and rub treatment, the wings are marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil and Shaoxing wine overnight, which gives them that tender interior.
Crown & Dragon is known for its wing nights, which happen three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)! Dragon Wings, as they’re known, are available in a whopping 18 sauces. All the sauces are made in-house and include classics like Dragon’s Breath, hot and peppery and non-traditional options like Classic Coke, made with cola for a sweet and sticky finish.
Grand Electric, a trendy barbecue spot in Parkdale, offers two types of wings on its menu. The Mission Wings are dusted in mole with valentinas sauce, crema and sesame seeds, while the Mexi Wings are tossed in barbecue sauce and garnished with green onion. The wings are best paired with one of the signature cocktails, and in the warmer months, best enjoyed on the backyard patio.
Often touted as “The Best Wings in the World,” Allen’s has been living up to that title with its Manhattan Capon Wings. Unlike its Buffalo-style counterpart, Manhattan Capon Wings are not breaded and have a spicy, sweet and sour sauce. Allen’s serves its wings with a side of blue cheese dressing. Take out is available.
Located in North York, Bistro on Avenue serves classic pub wings. Available in two sizes, the sauces include mild, medium, spicy, honey garlic, barbecue and Cajun. For catering options, the wings are available in platter sizes of 100, 150, 200 and 300 wings. They must be ordered at least 30 minutes in advance.