Why settle for traditional Buffalo-style wings during football season when you can turn up the volume with other flavors? Check out these restaurants and bars that carry alternative wing sauces. (Most include Buffalo, so we’re just listing other types here).
Some may score the touchdown you’ve been looking for this season.
Jake Melnick’s: www.jakemelnicks.com; 41 E. Superior St.; 312-266-0400
Flavors: If you’re seeking juicy wings with robust flavor, look no further. Melnick’s has a number of variations, including PB&J. The wings are coated in a Thai peanut sauce and paired with a raspberry chipotle jelly for dipping. The salty-sweet combination was impressive. Other standout sauce selections on the menu include firecracker (sweet Thai chili and Sriracha), XXX (habanero, ghost pepper and scorpion), super hot and poncho’s (grilled, garlic and cayenne). Prices vary.
Dak Korean Chicken Wings: www.dakwings.com; 1104 W. Granville Ave.; 773-754-0255
Flavors: Two sauces are offered: spicy barbecue sauce with Korean red pepper paste, and Dak sauce with soy garlic and ginger. Five wings for $9 or 10 wings for $17.
The Fifty/50: www.thefifty50.com; 2047 W. Division St.; 773-489-5050
Flavors: Jumbo-style wings, including boneless, come with a choice of sauces: tangy barbecue, spicy garlic, bourbon barbecue, teriyaki and smoky barbecue. Also, wings soaked in cinnamon-maple marinade and smoked over applewood for two hours. Prices vary.
Cactus Bar & Grill: www.cactuschicago.com; 404 S. Wells St.; 312-922-3830
Flavors: The very serious sounding Death Valley Wings, along with traditional choices, come with these sauce choices: spicy garlic, chipotle lime garlic and sweet Thai chili. $8 per order.
Bird’s Nest Bar: www.birdsnestbar.com; 2500 N. Southport Ave.; 773-472-1502
Flavors: Having voted them the best wings in Chicago (July 2004), we can honestly say these are a Chicago eat everyone has to try. Options include hot teriyaki, honey barbecue and hot barbecue. A basket of 10 wings is $10.
More Top Picks Best Driver Bit Sets
Barn & Co.: www.barnandcompany.com; 950 W. Wrightwood Ave.; 773-832-4000
Flavors: Pitmaster Gary Wiviott’s smoky wings come with choices of two sauces — chipotle, garlic butter (more on those here), habanero — and/or two rubs — lemon pepper, jerk and gunpowder. $10.
Harding Tavern: www.thehardingtavern.com; 2732 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-697-9340
Flavors: Sauces include Thai and scorpion barbecue (made with scorpion peppers). $8.95.
Gators Wing Shack: www.gatorswingshack.com; 1719 N. Rand Road, Palatine; 847-705-0555
Flavors: More than a dozen variations, including teriyaki jalapeno, barbecue Mexican hot, jalapeno Buffalo and teriyaki garlic. Prices start at $9.70 for 10 pieces.
Buffalo Wings and Rings: www.buffalowingsandrings.com; multiple locations; check website for addresses; 773-579-9464
Flavors: Choose a chicken style, pick your sauce and then pick your heat tolerance. Sauces include cool wasabi, sweet Thai chili, peach habanero and fajita tequila lime. Prices vary. Currently holds the title of Chicago’s Best WingFest 2015 “Best of Fest” Champions.
High Dive Chicago: www.highdivechicago.com; 1938 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-235-3483
Flavors: Pineapple habanero, sweet chili, spicy barbecue and traditional barbecue. $10.
Mr. Brown’s Lounge: www.mrbrownslounge.com; 2301 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-278-4445
Flavors: Jamaican jerk wings on weekdays. $12. They also serve fried wings on Sunday, with choices of barbecue sauce or orange sauce.
Rodan Chicago: www.rodanchicago.com; 1530 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-276-7036
Flavors: Sauces include coconut curry, jalapeno ginger, Rodan sauce and Thai chili Buffalo. Eight wings will cost you $11 to $15.
Output Lounge: www.outputlounge.com; 1758 W. Grand Ave.; 312-929-2515
Flavors: Sauces include hot chipotle, roasted garlic barbecue, spicy barbecue, High Output (hot), teriyaki and more. Prices vary.
Buffalo Joe’s: www.buffalojoesevanston.com (visit website for locations)
Flavors: If you need a large order of wings – or even just enough for you – this place has what you need. Sauces include the traditional mild, spicy and barbecue; however, the Suicide Sauce sounds dangerous: Extra jalapenos and hot sauce are layered on top of an already suicidal creation. Prices vary.
Ten Mile House: www.tmhevanston.com; 1700 Central St., Evanston; 847-905-0669
Flavors: The Evanston location sells smoked chicken wings as a starter. They are made with Aleppo pepper, citrus, TMH wing sauce and house-made ranch. $10.
Lindsey Compton is a freelance writer.
Twitter @LindseyCompton