Best of Toronto
The Best Chicken Wings in Toronto
Finding the best chicken wings in Toronto should be easy. The wing is a simple thing, and our cravings are generally straightforward. We want a lot of meat on our bones and we want a sauce that pushes the limits of our tolerance for heat. We want to be comfortable and take our time. We want beer and friends and a good location because the wing experience is almost as much about the company and atmosphere as it is about the meat.
Luckily, there are places all over the city that are looking to facilitate this good and simple need. And for those who insist their chicken wing cravings are more complicated? There are just as many places offering alternatives to the pub or Buffalo style.
Words by Emily Thomas. Photos by John Mani
Allen's
Manhattan Capon Wings are offered in place of "chicken" at this classy joint. They're served drenched in delicious, mouthwatering spicy/sweet/sour sauce beside blue cheese dressing with real blue crumbled on top. They do it this way because they respect the meat and they respect you. (FYI Capon = more fatty = more delicious). More »
Peter's Cajun Creole Pizza
This little place is tucked around a corner at Queen and Parliament, which might explain why it often gets overlooked in favour of bigger and louder chicken establishments. I just know it's not the wings' fault. They are huge, golden and crispy, spicy beside a big wide bowl of Frank's hot sauce, straight up. More »
Rebel House
You won't exactly find "chicken wings" at this Rosedale resto. They're baked, not fried, and are so tender that they will come apart in your hand. Eat them with a knife and fork. They come with sour cream and chive sauce, kettle fries and pleasant, confident service. More »
Duff's Famous Wings
Duff's wings range in hotness from mild to death and Armageddon, measuring pepper intensity with a scientific system of Scoville Heat Units...it is serious here. Indeed these wings taste "famous" with a recipe that hails from the Buffalo vicinity itself. Factor in wait time. It gets busy. More »
All Star Wings and Ribs
The self-proclaimed "hottest spot in Richmond Hill and Markham" offers an outrageous number of wing flavours to choose from. I'm not sure how anyone stumbles onto a favorite amongst hundreds, but the recommended ones go down really well. They are pure fatty battered, crunchy on the outside and hella tasty. More »
Bistro on Avenue
This place kicked off the St. Louis franchise and retains that original and local charm. Regulars line the bar or dart in and out for take-out. The waitresses know first names, and the owner/founder and Chef, Louis Nemes, hangs around talking to customers. Simply, the same great wings as the downtown St. Louis, but a way better atmosphere to eat them in. More »
St. Louis
I appreciate St. Louis. There are no surprises here. Big, plump, tasty wings in a basket with excellent fries and pre-packaged dill sauce. Good pub fare in food, atmosphere and service. I imagine that this is exactly what ninety percent of people go out for when they have a wing craving. More »
Squirly's
Get an excellent pound of grilled wings here for a really decent price on Tuesday nights. They are juicy and fatty and the "Hot" variety goes beyond regular bbq or Frank's hot sauce with a more distinct spicy jerk flavour. More »
Mitzi's Sister
Their oven roasted wings in slightly unconventional flavours like Maple Chipotle and Sweet Chili and Lime are bigger than most. They taste hearty and thick with a sweetness in the sauce that sticks to the meat that sticks to your bones. The atmosphere is hushed, nice and gentle. More »
The Wheat Sheaf
The Wheat Sheaf is entirely comfortable and unintimidating, like the basement of a childhood friend whose dad likes Hockey and Neil Young. The wings are solid, if indistinguishable from any solid sports pub. Come here for the great half price deals Sunday to Tuesday and the really friendly service. More »
Discussion
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I used to love the wings at Wheat Sheaf and than one day I went and they changed! They seemed smaller and didn't taste the same...maybe we hit them on a bad night or something. I'll just have to go back and try, oh darn. As a matter of fact, I think I'll have to try most of these places now!
Wingporium on Islington is fantastic. That is all they do and they do it well.
Sneaky Dee's also has some surprisingly good wings as well.
MILL STREET BREW PUB HAS THE BEST WINGS
Einstein's is sorely lacking from this list. They are top five in this city for sure and much better than Wheat Sheaf, St. Louis and Duff's combined.
I'm no connoisseur, so I may get booed out of the thread by purists :], but I found KC Wings (@ Yonge & Gerrard) to be quite reasonable... good price, big enough... but what really impressed me was the wide variety of flavours. Orange ginger? Mexican? Hot Hawaiian honey? Intriguing!
I'm surprised St Louis is on there, we had one back when I lived in London, ON and they were best known for having overpriced terrible food.
I'm still hoping that one day Toronto will have a Ring-A-Wing. Oh the saucy, saucy goodness.
I hate to say it but the Madison's wings are pretty darned good.
But Peter's Cajun are THE BEST THE BEST THE BEST
no einstein's come on! i've been a wing fanatic for years and they are consistently, big, juicy with great sauce...a serious ommission.
I know it is not downtown so it must be ignored by you guys, but you need to get to Etobicoke and try Sloppy Joe's wings.
I have had wings from Allen's, Duff's, St Louis, and the Wheat Sheaf and can say with confidance that the wings at Sloppy Joe's are far better than all of the above noted.
BISTRO is # 1
simply amazing, more of a engrained sauce on the wings compared to other st louis
St. Louis is VERY hit and miss... and I don't want to risk gettin a bad chicken wing.
Foggy Dew has tasty wings and great deals during Leaf games :)
Where can i get Buffalo-style chicken wings without going to Buffalo? The wings here are all too sweet and drenched in BBq sauce! Oh how i wish the Anchor Bar delivered!
In regards to above.
Duff's is buffalo style.
No einstein's...
Seriously brings into question the validity of this list.
I am a wing connoisseur, sometimes making the drive to Buffalo just to visit the Anchor Bar. Some other GTA favourites not yet mentioned include:
The Wingery (Oakville)
Wild Wing Restaurants (Various Locations)
Turtle Jacks (Various Locations)
The Clarkson Pump/Pump House Grille Co. (Mississauga)
Rubicon Grille (Mississauga)
Moose Winooskis (Brantford)
the wings at Crown and Dragon pub, 890 yonge st. are pretty decent too. the canadian tire staff would agree...
Actually, Einstein's was in our initial list of 15 but we ended up just going with the top 10.
Yeah, it's a complete WTF that Einstein isn't on this list.
UM...... WHOEVER PUT THIS LIST TOGETHER HAS NEVER GONE TO EIN-STEIN.... WTF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE READING THIS ENTRY ARE MISSINFORMED... PLEASE... EIN-STEIN HAS BETTER WINGS THAN MORE THAN HALF THIS LIST AND THEN SOME,...... WHEREAS I AGREE (sort of) THAT THE WHOLE WINGS EXPERIENCE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT THE MEAT BUT ALSO ABOUT THE COMPANY; GREAT WINGS ATTRACT GREAT COMPANY AND EIN-STEIN'S WINGS ARE MY DEFINITE #1, BESIDES THEIR $10 PITCHERS ARE THE PERFECT DRINK TO PAIR THEM WITH.... THIS MAY BE THE FIRST "BEST OF" ENTRY THAT I UTTERLY DISAGREE WITH AND BY THE LOOK AT THE OTHER POSTS, I MAY NOT BE THE ONLY ONE
Just ordered 2 orders from Peter's Cajun Creole Pizza for pick-up. I'm excited to try them.
Gooey, stikcy, finger licking chicken wings. When you are done your tour, come check me out and I can help clean that gunky fat from inside the bod.
Meghan
(Certified Nutritionist)
+1
Tue and Thu are cheap wing nights, 50c each with a drink, 15 wings and 2 Sprites (roughly $17) makes my gut happy.
this list is so out of touch it's frightening. please, get someone who knows what they're talking about to come up with another list in order to do chicken wings in this city justice. St. Louis? "big, plump, juicy" are you kidding me? Anchor Bar in Buffalo will show you what big, plump and juicy actually is. Sneaky Dee's, as Sippy mentioned, has excellent wings. Will admit I haven't tried Einstein's wings yet but after reading the comments I will ASAP. West End Pub in Hamilton, ON (Emerson & Royal, for those adventerous enough to visit the Hammer) is unreal. Possibly the best wings I've had in Canada... Go on a Monday when they're cheap if you want to see what chicken wings should be.
I don't know why you only listed 10 places here when so many of your other best-ofs have included more. Does controversy drive pageviews?
Here are the five we left out: Sneaky Dee's, Ein-Steins, Cadillac Lounge, Clinton's and Southside Louie's
St. Louis is overpriced, for what you get, and they have money-grubbing policies. Their wings+fries don't come with any celery or carrots, so I asked how much it would cost to get those on the side. They told me a buck fifty, which is a bit high, but I got it anyway.
They charged me a buck fifty, yes. And then they brought me 6 pieces of celery and carrots INSTEAD of fries. And when I complained, they said I could buy a side of fries for 4.50
So.
I think BlogTO needs to make it more clear that their "best of" lists are not decided by one writer, but by submitted answers from the blog readers themselves. Don't blame the editors - blame yourself for not voting for you favorite spot.
(That said, I still don't understand why St. Louis continually makes the list each year.)
Those Capon wings at #1 just sounds snobby.
Who wants to eat wings at a Rosedale resto?
Duff's is much too vinegar based.
All Star Wings are just shite. Lots of flavors, and they are all bad.
I voted St.Louis. Maybe not the trendy or cool choice but you just can't beat their "hotter than hell"! The place I run to when I have a wing craving.(although my ever expanding girth has forced me to ignore my cravings)
Will try Allen's burgers. They sound good. (but capone wings at #1 is an embarrassment!)
I would just like to make a note, that I dipped my finger in the HOT (not armageddon or death, just hot) sauce at Duff's, and ate it...and I thought I was going to die. But their wings are awesome, and the one at Bayview/Eglinton has an amazing little gelato place down the street!
I might just be a huge wuss though.
(side note: CHAD!! LONG TIME NO SEE!)
I can't believe that All Stars is only at #5 on this list. These are bar none the BEST wings I've had in the Toronto area. The wings are HUGE and meaty, seasoned, breaded and cooked to perfection, and they have a ridiculous number of flavours in different spice levels from mild to insanely hot to satisfy anyone. The only reason why they'd get points deducted is the fact that they are all the way up in Richmond Hill.
I love Wing Machine + they are great just plain + also important they have awesome Spicy Fries*
terri-o's on the Danforth.
I feel I need to make a revision on my previous comment. I had 20 Death wings from Duff's a couple days ago and they were amazing. Scorching hot and delicious! (Much better than the medium-hot wings I tried a couple months ago) If you are looking for a truly spicy wing that is also very tasty, go Duff's!
Two big thumbs up for Squirly's grilled wings!
While not your typical 'wing joint', I've always been a fan of the Bedford Academy's curry wings. Not so big on Duffs - way too saucey in my opinion.
SNEAKY DEES has the best wings in the city. Big and tasty.
Plus the place has atmosphere, history and is open very late.
I don't know how St. Louis makes these lists... their food is so frozen - brutal.
Has anyone honestly tried their wings??
Oh how I love wings.
I totally agree with the person who said St.Louis shouldn't be on the list - their wings smell like feet (I guess if you get the super hot ones you can't tell as much).
Yes! Terri-Os! right on Tim.
But, surprise, Pho Hung (Happy Cow) has amazing wings - deep fried to crispy deliciousness with a butter sauce - butter! :)
Sneaky Dees really should have made the list.
Louis Nemes, founder St. Louis Bar & Grill and Bistro on Avenue is expanding! Well, not him personally but his Bistro restaurants are. Combining the success of St. Louis Bar & Grill with the popular Bistro On Avenue, founder Louis Nemes presents Bistro on Dufferin. Same great wings and ribs, great Bistro ambiance, together to bring you simply the best Wings & Rib experience anywhere!
Join the group "Bistro on Dufferin" to get a 15% off coupon http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=44351128266&ref=mf
Sloopy Joe's in Long Branch (Lakeshore/Brownsline) has large tasty wings.
Lee's Thai Spring Roll on Queen/Landsdowne has excellent wings too.
King George's Arms.. Scarborough
I believe the titles of the reviews on this site should be altered. If the decor of an establishment, or the fact that the chef talks to the customers gets bonus points in your review you really aren't talking about just the food. Bistro and all the St.Louis locations out there, including the spot found in the Food Building at the Ex, pretty much serve the same variation of the chicken wing. If atmosphere plays a part in the review, I can see Bistro getting a spot in the top 10, but St.Louis really should share that real estate. I wonder why the second Toronto location of Duff's located on College was visited instead of the first found on Bayview.
hottest wings in gta drive north to king city little place called rockfords bar and grill have apocalypse wings that are sick the hottest probably in ontario love hot stuff but these were crazy have to sign a waiver to eat them if you finish them there free if you finish them they also have great wings 25 diffrent flavours and they use fresh never frozen wings from a local supplier
I just hit up he Wheat Sheaf for the frst time in a while.
Honestly, i would have to say the wings were off the charts good.
Sauce (medium) was perfect, wings were big and Juicy.
Now, the joint wasnt to busy at the time, could have made a difference then past times i went.
Regardless; great wings with a couple rickards white....
Slammin'
Worth the drive to King City...had to try the Rockfords Apocalypse wings. I've had hot wings before but these are off the fricken charts.
I was just wondering if this Terri O's restraunt had a sister franchise on Airport Rd/Dixon (??). If so I was there in the late 1980's and found their wings the best!! I believe they baked the wings, and rolled them in dry spices. I have never had a more pleasurable wing meal ever. (Yes I have been to the "Anchor" and other US joints around the country). Would anyone know the recipe for the Terrio O's wing mix?
BIG UPS TO ALL STAR WINGS
NEROS EPILOGUE AND EPHESTIUS ARE SOME GANGSTA WINGS .... DONT EVEN BOTHER GOING FOR THE REGULAR MILD,MEDIUM,HOT CAUSE YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME IF YOU WANT WINGS WITH FLAVOUR GO TO ALL STARS. ITS BY 10 GET 5 FREE ON MONDAYS SO BASICALLY YOU GET 2 LBS OF WINGS FOR 10$ BRRRRRRRRRAP
I must admit Einsteins is very consistent... 'The office' out in Etobicoke had the best wings in town. Now that they're gone id probably have to say Einsteins is the best... always consistent. Duffs on the other hand although tasty are not very consistent in size and juiciness.
TAAPS out at like Mccowan and finch... They have some crazy fall of the bone wings (I think it's close to all-stars?).
Looking forward to trying Allen's!
St Louis' Hotter than Hell? Try Duff's Armageddon... The hottest wings I've ever eaten in a restaurant!!!
I agree with Brad on the comment about Sloppy Joe's wings in Etobicoke, on Lakeshore Blvd. They have by far the best wings in the city. Better than any wings on this list by a mile, and they are WAY bigger. They look like steroid turkey wings and they taste amazing. Tuesday and Thursday are the wing specials, but get there early, it gets busy fast.
Fossil & Haggis in Scarborough (Military Trail & 401) is really good
Hi,
The best chicken wings are at a place called Pizzaland, which is located at pharmacy/lawrence in SCARBOROUGH, PRA PRA. The wings are super juicy and showered in bbq sauce..OH BABY... best of all, they are 110% halal. The service is great. Well worth a try. It will put bistro, st.louis to the side man.
for size and taste allstars easily wins.einsteins and duffs not in same league but damngreat
This place just opened on the corner of King & Bathurst just beside Second Cup. ok these wings are the best wings in town!! the place was packed, they have 1 wing & 40 flavours
mc sorely's on bayview are the best - bbq not deep fried goodness.
try 'em.
Yeah, I'm just going to go ahead and say that ein-stein should be in the top ten at least somewhere. Consider the ball dropped.
king & Bathurst..think its called wing factory..I stick to BBQ ..done really care for buffalo sauce,...their spicy BBQ tastes the same as duff but its like 12$ more for 50 wings..the price counts too $1 a wing is straight disrespect LOL..all stars thumbs down,st louis things down...will check einsteins ,..prices should have been included..in this list..duffs at bayview & st clair are more consistent ...
Romeo, Are you talking about The Football Factory at Queen and Bathurst?
Gotta check out this story about wingers and dingers
http://wp.me/pIDFN-2r
It's Wing Company, they are at the corner of King & Bathurst and they are amazing!! The wings are hot, fresh with fantastic flavors. Move over wing companies there is a new wing in town, The Wing Company. Romeo you cannot find wings, good ones anyway for under a buck! by the way all orders at The Wing Company come with big roaster wings, fries, veggies and dip!! how can you go wrong. For the record check this place out...oh and they now deliver 7 days a week.
Best chicken wing are at Wing Machine at Parliamrnt north of Gerrard. Baked and more healthy
LOL every place you listed is outside Toronto. Get with it. Like I am driving to Oakville for a $9 meal. To other posters: St. Louis is not hit and miss. They are consistent. They are a frickin chain. That's what chains do. You also don't get wings to be healthy. Duffs' wings are pretty good, but not stellar, and their beer sucks the big one. For a wing place, you'd think they'd have more beer. I think they are Greek, so what do they know about beer anyway?
Einstein's should be #1 and yet it's not even in the top 10.
Whoever does these reviews don't know what good wings are, and I eat a lot. I mean a lot.
The best wings I every had were from the small town called Bradford,On. About 30 min north of Toronto. The Village Inn hotel. They were the first wings in Canada around 1967 or so and I would say still the best. I remember going there way back in the 70's when people didn't even know what Buffalo wings were. The line up for the kitchen was way out the door and down the sidewalk. Its not as packed as it was years ago but the sauce recipe is still the same,. AWESOME! Better than in buffalo.
Russ
Wing Lover
Yeah wing company at queen and Bathurst...taste exactly the same as duffs...Toby's 411 college $10 pitchers of beer/alcohol ..& half price wings on weds...2lbs with fries and veggies for $9 ...can't go wrong...tried einsteins would love to know why 3 times I did take out 3 times the price was different...but the wings were great!!!
Wait till the American chain Buffalo Wild Wings comes to town and then you'll know what good chicken wings are like!
So buffalo wild wings.. Not just wild wings that is all over Toronto?...went to wild wings at yonge and Carlton ...wing covered in batter..thumbs down...einsteins,tobys,duffs..& hoops on tues or thurs when half price
ok I DID like the Wing Company, but I have no idea what they've done. Their wings are the tiniest things I've ever freaking seen! This whole "half price' thing is baloney. I am a pretty tiny girl who gets full easy, and I ate 16 wings and was still hungry. I'm so disappointed! The very first time I ordered from there (I think it was the first week they opened), I was so impressed! Now....I don't think I'd order there again. Plus I think they've changed their sauce. It is certainly not the same as the first few orders I made. SUCKS!
Go to tobys 411 college(at Bathurst) on Wednesday for 1/2 price wings comes with fries and veggies plus $10 pitchers of beer(just ask which are on special) or $10 pitchers of rum & coke or vodka and whatever ...$20 will get u two lbs, fries and a pitcher and u will be full... DJ Law spinning 90's hip hop
The Wing Company has the same sauces as always!! the wings like everother wing company in Canada will get bigger wings and sometimnes smaller wings. It is not half price...it is 50% more wings on all orders. Every comment you make about all restaurants are negative. Get over it and speak the truth!!
EMS make ur way over to tobys on Wednesday for 1/2 price wings with fries and veggies, and $10 pitchers of beer...or rum/vodka ...if u want ur belly full 411 college just east of sneaky dees...with Dj law spinning 90's hip hop...I only endorse tobys and einsteins now lol duffs fell off
Rob...when are the half price or 50% more days?...Iol
$10 pitcher of beer? Um, I want to enjoy my beer. If I want to save money, it might be on toilet paper, not what I put into my mouth. Drink real beer, not that horrible mass-produced swill the two large brewers in Canada...whom are actually American. Get into a microbrew. Otherwise you might as well have McCain's freeze dried wings to go along with that horse froth.
Man u specialze in ignorance they change what is $10 every week...but sure..whatever floats ur boat
No, "Romeo", I know quite a lot about beer.
Hey I have a tip for you. If you want to save money, you can dumpster dive on 2 weeknights in Chinatown. There MUST be food amongst all that cardboard. What floats my boat is good food and great beer.
I agree with a lot of the West GTA suggestions, especially The Wingery in Oakville. I would also like to suggest House of Wings Restaurants in Oakville and Tony and Jim's Pizza in Brampton.
One place I would avoid at all costs is Arizona B Bar and Grill near the airport. Not only are the waitresses rude, but they spent all their time chatting with each other instead of taking orders. The worst part was a couple of the wings my friend got were pink in the middle. I would have complained, but my friend didn't want to make a scene. We were both scared to continue eating so we left. I will never go there again.
Not on the list but Kelsey's Restaurants wings are sensational!! (2 for 1 Wings on Thursday + All you can eat wings Sunday-Wednesday). They also have some $3.99 pint deal on right now.
Anyway, I'm a huge wing guy and in terms of quality and value Kelsey's is right up there. (Queensway + York Mills/Leslie)
Patrick's list is more accurate. Wings in Toronto are more often than not disappointing, and any "best of" list which doesn't include both Turtle Jack's and The Wild Wing lacks credibility. St.Louis, really?
Turtle jacks are okay but Wild Wing is nasty. I've gone twice and I don't get the appeal. I prefer buffalo style not the shake and bake breaded crap from Wild Wing. Their novelty is their wide variety of flavours but most are just combinations of the same basic sauces. Pineapple teriyaki chipotle? No thanks.