A little history…
The first chicken wings were served in 1964, at a little bar called the Anchor Bar (yes, located in Buffalo, N.Y.). The wings actually used to be thrown away as scraps – until Teressa Bellissimo was looking to cook up a late-night snack for her son and his hungry friends. She threw the wings in a fryer and covered them in her “secret sauce.” Clearly, they were a huge hit and now you can find chicken wings all over the world.
While Charleston has some of the best BBQ in the world, “Buffalo wings” (they just call them “chicken wings” up North), are unbreaded, covered with Frank’s Red Hot, and served with a side of celery and blue cheese. Please, for the love of Teressa and Frank Bellissimo, not ranch. PSA: this style can be a little hard to come by in the Lowcountry.
Based on our experiences + input from our readers, We’ve compiled a list of recommendations of where to get wings any day of the week in Charleston. From Buffalo-style to smoked – here’s where to find the best wings in the Holy City.
Just don’t forget the blue cheese
Downtown
Charleston Beer Works, 480 King St.
📸: @chasbeerworks
Order: Monday is wing night. Purchase 12 wings + get 6 free. Dave, the Brand Ambassador + Bar Manager is from Buffalo. Be sure to yell “Go Bills!” while you’re there.
Moe’s Crosstown Tavern, 714 Rutledge Ave.
📸: @moescrosstowntavern
Order: Try the MOE HOTTER.
Tommy Condon’s, 106 Church St.
📸: @tommycondons_chs
Order: Try the wings tossed in Buffalo sauce – 8 for $12.
The Griffon, 18 Vendue Range
📸: @thegriffonpub
Order: Known for their “world famous buffiyaki” wings.
James Island
Garage 75, 4130 11745 Folly Rd. Ste. G, James Island
📸: @garage75ji
Order: Dine-in and get 20 wings for $12 on Thursdays. Now that’s a deal!
Mount Pleasant
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Tru Blue’s House of Wings, 1039 Johnnie Dodds Blvd, Mount Pleasant
📸: @trublueshouseofwings
Order: Snag 5 wings + fries for just $7 on Tuesdays.
North Charleston
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Neighborhood Taphouse, 2110 Greenridge Rd. Ste. C, North Charleston (second location at 5101 Ashley Phosphate Rd. coming soon)
📸: @neighborhoodtaphouse
Order: The smoked wings with Buffalo sauce + blue cheese. We also recommend the Buffalo chicken dip.
West Ashley
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D.D. Peckers Wing Shack, 1660 Savannah Hwy., West Ashley
📸: @ddpeckers.sc
Order: Try the d.d. Pecker Sampler – 25 wings in five flavors for $27.
Gene’s Haufbrau, 817 Savannah Hwy, West Ashley
📸: @genescharleston
Order: Serving up both wet wings + dry. Try the Buffayaki for a sweet and spicy twist.
Hunley’s Tavern, 1750 Savannah Hwy, Unit J, West Ashley
📸: @hunleys.charleston
Order: For this Buffalo sports bar, we recommend trying the wings in hot, medium, or mild with blue cheese (but they have plenty of other flavor options, too).
Summerville
The Icehouse Restaurant, 104 E. Doty Ave., Summerville
📸: @theicehousesc
Order: Monday is “Wing Night” – 12 wings for $9.99 4-6 p.m.
Madra Rua Irish Pub, 2066 Main St., Summerville
📸: @madraruapubsummerville
Order: It’s $.50 extra, but our readers recommend the blackened.
Montreux Bar & Grill, 127 Richardson Ave., Summerville
📸: @montreaux127
Order: If you’re brave enough to try the xx hot, cool your mouth down with their house-made bleu cheese.
Multiple Locations
Charleston Sports Pub, multiple locations
📸: @charlestonsportspub
Order: Every Wednesday is wing Wednesday. 20 jumbo wings for $14.99.
Home Team BBQ, Multiple locations
📸: @hometeambbq
Order: The dry-rub smoked chicken wings are a very high recommendation from many of our readers.
Famulari’s, Multiple locations
📸: @famspizza
Order: Offering both fried + oven-baked, but we recommend going with the fried.
Other places to get wings as recommended by our readers: Rusty Bull Brewing, The Alley, Swig and Swine, Mac’s Place, Steel City Pizza Co., Minero, Smoke BBQ, Hannibal’s Kitchen, Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint, Smoky Oak Taproom, Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Bohemian Bull, Vinny’s Pizza, Andolini’s Pizza, Ink N Ivy, The Royal American, + Prohibition
Disclaimer: This list is not intended to be exhaustive and was created based on reader recommendations. Did we leave out your favorite place to purchase wings? Share it with us in the comments below.
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