I enjoyed the Memphis chicken wings at Q bbq in La Grange, and thought it was one of the best things on the menu.
They first brine them, then smoke them, rub 'em and then fry them to order.

Another vote for Toons. Found myself there this afternoon and they were perfect. Crispy, meaty, and the blue cheese dressing is the best I've ever had (it reminds me of Green Goddess supper club dressing for some reason). Washed down with a couple Gumballheads and it was a bright light on a rough afternoon.

d4v3 wrote:Although I agree with many around here that Great Seas makes some of the best Korean style chicken wings in town, I couldn't let this thread get re-buried without mentioning one of my very favorite (but very obscure) purveyors of that style of wings, Zip'z on Howard street. Zip'z oriental wings are fine examples of Korean fast-food style chicken wings. They are sweeter and more citrusy than Great Seas wings, crunchier too. By default they are pretty hot(although I always ask for them spicy). They are not shaped into those little drumettes either (but they are cheaper). I know there are those around here that dislike the Korean sweet and fruity crispy fried approach to fast food chicken, but if that is your thing, Zipz wings are definitely worth checking out. Personally, I find them totally addictive. It should be noted that on the Zipz menu 2 pieces is actually one wing broken in two, so 20 pieces is really 10 wings (though they are pretty big ones).

In the Carton

On a Plate


Zip'z Ice Cream and Chop Suey
(773) 465-8868
1635 W Howard St,
Chicago, IL 60626

Places I've been meaning to visit: Stop 4


Right off the Howard Red Line Stop

Not much else I need to say except thanks for the heads up and I couldn't agree more. I actually ordered chicken wings and they came out fried with hot sauce on them. I then looked at the menu closer and saw they also have Oriental chicken aka Oriental Wings. Well it wasn't a terrible mistake because the whole fried wings were perfectly fried and the only thing holding them back from Harold's territory was the sauce. It was pretty standard, but the wings were damn good.


Zip'z Chicken Wings

Since I ordered a 5 piece wings with fries and pop that came out to $5 with tax and I wasnt stuffed, I had to get the d4v3 rec'd Oriental wings and I'm damn glad I did.

They cut these wings at the joint and you can get them with white rice (fried a little extra) or fries and they come in number sizes from 8 pieces ($5) to 50 ($25). I got a ton of white rice considering the price on an 8 piece. Everything was described as is by d4v3 and this is the best meal I've had for $5 in a while. I'll be back for more real soon. It was also one of those places that had some character. All the people coming in and out were regulars and knew the happy Asian couple who own it and were happy to be seeing them. One young (and pretty dumb) dude even decided to empty a Philly. Swisher, White Owl or one of them and proceeded to fill it in the corner while he waited for his chicken sandwich, then stepped outside and lit it while he waited.


Zip'z Oriental Wings

Is anything else on the Oriental food menu good? I was tempted. Thanks for sharing, good stuff.

I would say Chucks Southern Comfort in Burbank.
Try the Jamaican Jerk Wings with mango salsa.Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Seems like a lot of bitching around here.........

Mikey wrote:I enjoyed the Memphis chicken wings at Q bbq in La Grange, and thought it was one of the best things on the menu.
They first brine them, then smoke them, rub 'em and then fry them to order.

They actually know how to cook something????????

It didn't take you long to start bitchin'!

[quote="shooter mcgavin"]I would say Chucks Southern Comfort in Burbank.
Try the Jamaican Jerk Wings with mango salsa.Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

i like these as well very taste

Evanston Chicken Shack's site said they do buffalo wings now (is this actually new?) so I had to try some. They're meaty and delicious, but a bit less wet than I like 'em. I would definitely choose these over buf joe's any day.

Best? Maybe not. Best value? Less than nine dollars for 11 full wings, and an extra buck gets you fries and some gourmet bread. I'd say so.

Mundelein’s Franks for the Memories restaurant claimed two prizes at this past weekend’s National Buffalo Wing Festival.

The popular eatery, which introduced Buffalo-style chicken wings to Lake County in the mid-1980s, won the Chairman’s Award for Festival Spirit and placed third for its recipe in the traditional medium sauce competition.

The festival was Saturday and Sunday in Buffalo, N.Y., birthplace of the spicy poultry dish. It was the first time Franks competed in the event.

“It was amazing,” restaurant owner Jim Schultz Jr. said Wednesday. “I slept with (the trophy). I cuddled with it on the way home.”

http://dailyherald.com/article/20110907/news/709079795/

Any updates?

Stalwart

Small's Smoke Shack often has wings as a special. Sometimes they're fried, sometimes smoked, and you never know what type of sauce Joaquin will come up with, but they've always been a treat.

Now that I think about it, please disregard the above. They already run out before I get there half the time.

recent wisdom from the forum on sources for excellent wings?

annak wrote:recent wisdom from the forum on sources for excellent wings?

In no particular order, here are some of my favorites:

Barn & Co.
Great Sea
Toons (who is having a wing centric event next weekend)

I've come to accept that my love of Buffalo joes is mostly due to nostalgia. But it's still my favorite wings in the area

If you're looking for a good Korean take (sweet and crunchy) dong ah in Lincolnwood has a good version.

I regularly crave the wings at Pearl's Southern Comfort.

Bird's Nest remains best in class in terms of wings, IMO. The place as a whole is not as good as the wings though.

Dak on Granville has also been very good. But I'll have to give Sol's a try for comparison sake.

bweiny wrote:Dak on Granville has also been very good. But I'll have to give Sol's a try for comparison sake.

Sol's is good, but a completely different style of wing. Best described as gloopy sauces with the wings broken into drummettes and flats, as opposed to the crispier whole wings at Dak. I enjoy them both, but comparing them would be like comparing Vito & Nick's to Pizzeria Due.

Toons and Pearl's

Big Brick's has some pretty darn good wings

Agree on Toon's

Nick's House, in Arlington Heights. Go with the Traditional Hot, though the Vietnamese are excellent. Peanut Butter and Jelly wings are interesting, and if you're really up for an adventure give the Molten Lava a shot.

Cafe Orient 33 on Kedzie just north of Lawrence has pretty awesome Korean wings. I also really have been enjoying Budacki's wings (they are huge and do them in a bunch of styles including Korean since it's the same owner as Crisp).

Cafe Orient 33
4829 N Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

I'm going to add one not named yet. There have been some great places added, but we have been pleased with Wild Wings & Slots in Westchester. The owner is quirky, and the place is relatively new but he turns out a great product with his wings.

Wild Wings and Slots
10446 W Cermak Rd
Westchester, IL 60154

http://www.whyberwyn.com/featured/calli ... ken-wings/

Just Berwyn but there are some good places in the mix.

Down to the final 5 on Tuesday.

MikeL wrote:Nick's House, in Arlington Heights. Go with the Traditional Hot, though the Vietnamese are excellent. Peanut Butter and Jelly wings are interesting, and if you're really up for an adventure give the Molten Lava a shot.

Tried searching but could not find an address. Could you update?

I've been getting my wing fix at the Landmark Inn in Northbrook for a couple years. They're substantially-sized, not over-fried, and good sauce. I always order them right away when the waiter comes to get our drink order because they take about 20 minutes or so. The place has surprisingly good food in general for a neighborhood bar. Nice deck in the summer. And they're across the street from Graeter's Ice Cream.

1352 Shermer Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 559-1919

Panther in the Den wrote:http://www.whyberwyn.com/featured/calling-all-wing-lovers-voting-is-now-open-for-berwyns-best-chicken-wings/

Just Berwyn but there are some good places in the mix.

Down to the final 5 on Tuesday.

Final 5

http://www.whyberwyn.com/shop-berwyn/be ... t-contest/

Going to visit them all Saturday afternoon

My favorite chicken wings in Chicago is Wings Etc. in Crystal Lake. Their wings are large, crispy and always served with excess sauce that allows you to dip the wings in additional sauce. They don't charge you for splitting your order between flavors. It will be a stop when I get to Crystal Lake in September.

I kind of miss them as many of the places in Southern Arizona serve their chicken wings with ... beans and rice.

jlawrence01 wrote:My favorite chicken wings in Chicago is in Crystal Lake.

Not even close to Chicago. 50 miles away.