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A variety of wings from Jack Rose’s Wing Club menu
A variety of wings from Jack Rose.
Jack Rose [official]

Where to Find Hot, Tender Wings Around D.C.

Standout options for Cajun-style, crispy Korean, Hennessy wings, and more

by Missy Frederick, Tierney Plumb, and Travis Mitchell Updated
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A variety of wings from Jack Rose.
| Jack Rose [official]
by Missy Frederick, Tierney Plumb, and Travis Mitchell Updated

While D.C. cooks have been known to spike chicken wings with everything from Old Bay seasoning to creme fraiche sauce, classic hot wing sauce still reigns supreme for many people. The pandemic only increased demand, leading kitchens across the city to add wings of all flavors to their menus that are here to stay.

For those looking to satisfy a craving for the messy snack, irresistible wings built with varying heat levels, sauces, rubs, and proteins (chicken, vegetarian seitan, and even duck) can be found at select dive bars, carryouts, and fancier restaurants around town.

Some of D.C.’s best sports bars, including the Brighton, Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, and Union Pub, also do wings very well. With plenty of NFL to watch this Thanksgiving Day, followed by a first-ever game on Black Friday and throughout the holiday weekend, here are 18 superior spots to order football-friendly wings for takeout, dine-in, or delivery in everything from small to party-platter portions.

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Dive Bar and Grille

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Need a quick bite to eat just off I-95? Dive Bar & Grill in Savage Mill (largely a Pittsburgh mini-chain) offers a casual, wide-ranging bar menu that includes some excellent wings. The Cajun and Old Bay dry rubs are best bets, but there a ton of sauce options for either dipping or tossing — even five different variations on the standard buffalo. 

8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763
(240) 736-1040
(240) 736-1040

CHIKO

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Double-fried dry spiced chicken wings are on the menu every day at Chiko, the popular Chinese-Korean counter with other locations in Dupont Circle and Shirlington. Order online for pickup or delivery here.

7280 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 968-0053
(301) 968-0053
A wings sampler at Chiko.
Chiko

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Wingo’s Glover Park (Wisconsin Ave)

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This Glover Park wings haunt has more than 20 sauces to choose from, including options dubbed “bite me” and “nuclear” on the hottest end of the scale. For something more unique, try the mango habanero, lemon pepper, or hot garlic.

2218 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-6576
(202) 878-6576

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

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Although the bourbon, honey and habanero “whiskey wings” remain the signature here, Jack Rose now offers fried and grilled wings in a variety of flavors. Heat ranges from mild garlic truffle Parmesan to a kicking option with harissa and herbed feta. Check out the Jack Rose Wing Club section of the menu for takeout through Tock or delivery via Caviar and Doordash.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-7388
(202) 588-7388
Jack Rose Dining Saloon offers party platters of wings.
Jack Rose [official]

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Oohh's & Aahh's

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The soul food standby on U Street and Georgia Avenue NW fixes wings as either an appetizer or an entrée (accompanied by two sides). Fried chicken pieces are finished in traditional buffalo sauce, teriyaki, lemon pepper, or a barbecue sauce reminiscent of D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce. Order online here.

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 667-7142
(202) 667-7142
Fried wings from Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Fried wings from Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Oohh’s & Aahh’s [official]

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Boundary Stone

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Bloomingdale’s go-to pub coats its destination wings in an award-winning honey hot sauce, whiskey barbecue, or daring “Triple H” hot honey and habanero, served with homemade bleu cheese dressing on the side. Vegetarian seitan versions (pictured) cost $1 more.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

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KoChix Chicken

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While many D.C. residents get their crispy Korean chicken fix from mega-chain Bonchon, Shaw diners in the know flock to this family-run carryout from chef-owner Karen Park. There are three flavors for wings or drums: soy garlic, mild honey spicy, and hot honey spicy. Order online here for an individual portion or a family style 40-pack for $61.99.

400 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-3468
(202) 232-3468

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Stoney's (Multiple locations)

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This neighborhood hangout may have built its reputation on grilled cheese, but its wings are exactly what they should be: spicy, while retaining their crispiness.

1433 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 234-1818
(202) 234-1818

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Duffy's Irish Pub (Dupont Circle NW)

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Arguably D.C.’s most famous wings, Duffy’s version leans traditional: fried in peanut oil and served with a choice of sauces. They’re half-priced on Wednesdays. The bar staff here even uses wings as garnishes for Bloody Mary cocktails. Order for pickup or delivery or reserve a table for indoor seating and outdoor seating. A second location is en route to Capitol Hill.

2153 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 296-0560
(202) 296-0560

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Ghostburger

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Beef isn’t the only way to order at Shaw’s new burger and cheesesteak bar. The wings are coated with a spicy, buttery Fresno chile sauce, and served with a side of ranch dressing. Order online for pickup or delivery.

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 827-5237
(202) 827-5237
Fresno chile wings from Ghostburger
Fresno chile wings from Ghostburger
Leah Judson/For Ghostburger

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Upstairs Rooftop at The Morrow

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Head to the top of NoMa’s chic new Morrow hotel to enjoy monumental city views and delicious duck wings by chef Nick Stefanelli. The creative order comes covered in a sweet Thai chili glaze, scallions, pickled red onion, and orange zest.

222 M St NE Suite 1201, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 280-2288
(202) 280-2288

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Stan's

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A D.C. staple for over 30 years, this downtown dive offers chicken wings fried or baked — the former is the way to go — with a tangy-sweet mumbo sauce for dipping. Order delivery or takeout online or go there yourself.

1029 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4488
(202) 347-4488

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Present Company Public House

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Located inside D.C.’s oldest firehouse, this pub cranks out Nashville-style hot wings sure to bring on a sweat. Orders are dressed with whiskey, maple, dill, ranch, and shaved celery. Takeout orders are accepted over the phone.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 289-1100
(202) 289-1100

Also featured in:

Maketto

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Crispy chicken wings with cumin glaze are the popular bar snack that eats like a meal. Full-sized drums and carefully trimmed flats are slathered in spicy-sweet sauce, dusted with crushed peanuts and parked atop a bowl of steamed rice studded with toasted nuts and crispy crust.

1351 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972

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In A Minute Cafe

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This Capitol Heights soul food carryout from veteran catering chefs Reginald Mack and Steven Wilson coats its wings in a sweet Hennessy sauce, with buffalo and honey pepper options too. Order takeout or delivery here.

9244 E Hampton Dr #203, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
(240) 390-7146
(240) 390-7146
Hennessy wings from In a Minute Cafe
Hennessy wings from In a Minute Cafe
In a Minute [official]

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Boardwalk Bar & Arcade

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Available on weekends only, the Wharf’s giant arcade bar goes big on football game days with lip-smacking orders of juicy wings that just entered the fold this fall.

715 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 481-0044
(202) 481-0044
Boardwalk just added grilled wings to its menu.
Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

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Hops N Shine

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Hops & Shine, with its backyard tented beer garden in an unassuming Del Ray strip mall, flies under the radar as a solid spot for bar food, ranging from tots to fried pickles. And you can’t go wrong with its crispy wings, brined in beer before frying and available in 13 different rubs and sauces, including some atomic ones. Cauliflower and boneless wings can also be ordered in varieties ranging form chimichurri to lemon pepper.

3410 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305
(703) 566-1509
(703) 566-1509

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Hard Times Cafe (Multiple locations)

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Local chili chain Hard Times grills its wings, and its “original Texas” style is geared towards diners with a high tolerance for heat. Other varieties include chile-lime and sweet red chili. Hard Times also has boneless wings. Other locales sit in Rockville and Springfield.

1404 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 837-0050
(703) 837-0050

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Dive Bar and Grille

8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763

Need a quick bite to eat just off I-95? Dive Bar & Grill in Savage Mill (largely a Pittsburgh mini-chain) offers a casual, wide-ranging bar menu that includes some excellent wings. The Cajun and Old Bay dry rubs are best bets, but there a ton of sauce options for either dipping or tossing — even five different variations on the standard buffalo. 

8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763
(240) 736-1040
(240) 736-1040

CHIKO

7280 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814

Double-fried dry spiced chicken wings are on the menu every day at Chiko, the popular Chinese-Korean counter with other locations in Dupont Circle and Shirlington. Order online for pickup or delivery here.

7280 Woodmont Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 968-0053
(301) 968-0053
A wings sampler at Chiko.
Chiko

Wingo’s Glover Park (Wisconsin Ave)

2218 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

This Glover Park wings haunt has more than 20 sauces to choose from, including options dubbed “bite me” and “nuclear” on the hottest end of the scale. For something more unique, try the mango habanero, lemon pepper, or hot garlic.

2218 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 878-6576
(202) 878-6576

Jack Rose Dining Saloon

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

Although the bourbon, honey and habanero “whiskey wings” remain the signature here, Jack Rose now offers fried and grilled wings in a variety of flavors. Heat ranges from mild garlic truffle Parmesan to a kicking option with harissa and herbed feta. Check out the Jack Rose Wing Club section of the menu for takeout through Tock or delivery via Caviar and Doordash.

2007 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
(202) 588-7388
(202) 588-7388
Jack Rose Dining Saloon offers party platters of wings.
Jack Rose [official]

Oohh's & Aahh's

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001

The soul food standby on U Street and Georgia Avenue NW fixes wings as either an appetizer or an entrée (accompanied by two sides). Fried chicken pieces are finished in traditional buffalo sauce, teriyaki, lemon pepper, or a barbecue sauce reminiscent of D.C.’s iconic mumbo sauce. Order online here.

1005 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 667-7142
(202) 667-7142
Fried wings from Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Fried wings from Oohh’s & Aahh’s
Oohh’s & Aahh’s [official]

Boundary Stone

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Bloomingdale’s go-to pub coats its destination wings in an award-winning honey hot sauce, whiskey barbecue, or daring “Triple H” hot honey and habanero, served with homemade bleu cheese dressing on the side. Vegetarian seitan versions (pictured) cost $1 more.

116 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 621-6635
(202) 621-6635

KoChix Chicken

400 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

While many D.C. residents get their crispy Korean chicken fix from mega-chain Bonchon, Shaw diners in the know flock to this family-run carryout from chef-owner Karen Park. There are three flavors for wings or drums: soy garlic, mild honey spicy, and hot honey spicy. Order online here for an individual portion or a family style 40-pack for $61.99.

400 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-3468
(202) 232-3468

Stoney's (Multiple locations)

1433 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005

This neighborhood hangout may have built its reputation on grilled cheese, but its wings are exactly what they should be: spicy, while retaining their crispiness.

1433 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 234-1818
(202) 234-1818

Duffy's Irish Pub (Dupont Circle NW)

2153 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037

Arguably D.C.’s most famous wings, Duffy’s version leans traditional: fried in peanut oil and served with a choice of sauces. They’re half-priced on Wednesdays. The bar staff here even uses wings as garnishes for Bloody Mary cocktails. Order for pickup or delivery or reserve a table for indoor seating and outdoor seating. A second location is en route to Capitol Hill.

2153 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 296-0560
(202) 296-0560

Ghostburger

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001

Beef isn’t the only way to order at Shaw’s new burger and cheesesteak bar. The wings are coated with a spicy, buttery Fresno chile sauce, and served with a side of ranch dressing. Order online for pickup or delivery.

1250 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 827-5237
(202) 827-5237
Fresno chile wings from Ghostburger
Fresno chile wings from Ghostburger
Leah Judson/For Ghostburger

Upstairs Rooftop at The Morrow

222 M St NE Suite 1201, Washington, DC 20002

Head to the top of NoMa’s chic new Morrow hotel to enjoy monumental city views and delicious duck wings by chef Nick Stefanelli. The creative order comes covered in a sweet Thai chili glaze, scallions, pickled red onion, and orange zest.

222 M St NE Suite 1201, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 280-2288
(202) 280-2288

Stan's

1029 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005

A D.C. staple for over 30 years, this downtown dive offers chicken wings fried or baked — the former is the way to go — with a tangy-sweet mumbo sauce for dipping. Order delivery or takeout online or go there yourself.

1029 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
(202) 347-4488
(202) 347-4488

Present Company Public House

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Located inside D.C.’s oldest firehouse, this pub cranks out Nashville-style hot wings sure to bring on a sweat. Orders are dressed with whiskey, maple, dill, ranch, and shaved celery. Takeout orders are accepted over the phone.

438 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 289-1100
(202) 289-1100

Maketto

1351 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Crispy chicken wings with cumin glaze are the popular bar snack that eats like a meal. Full-sized drums and carefully trimmed flats are slathered in spicy-sweet sauce, dusted with crushed peanuts and parked atop a bowl of steamed rice studded with toasted nuts and crispy crust.

1351 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 838-9972
(202) 838-9972

In A Minute Cafe

9244 E Hampton Dr #203, Capitol Heights, MD 20743

This Capitol Heights soul food carryout from veteran catering chefs Reginald Mack and Steven Wilson coats its wings in a sweet Hennessy sauce, with buffalo and honey pepper options too. Order takeout or delivery here.

9244 E Hampton Dr #203, Capitol Heights, MD 20743
(240) 390-7146
(240) 390-7146
Hennessy wings from In a Minute Cafe
Hennessy wings from In a Minute Cafe
In a Minute [official]

Related Maps

Boardwalk Bar & Arcade

715 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024

Available on weekends only, the Wharf’s giant arcade bar goes big on football game days with lip-smacking orders of juicy wings that just entered the fold this fall.

715 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
(202) 481-0044
(202) 481-0044
Boardwalk just added grilled wings to its menu.
Tierney Plumb/Eater DC

Hops N Shine

3410 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305

Hops & Shine, with its backyard tented beer garden in an unassuming Del Ray strip mall, flies under the radar as a solid spot for bar food, ranging from tots to fried pickles. And you can’t go wrong with its crispy wings, brined in beer before frying and available in 13 different rubs and sauces, including some atomic ones. Cauliflower and boneless wings can also be ordered in varieties ranging form chimichurri to lemon pepper.

3410 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305
(703) 566-1509
(703) 566-1509

Hard Times Cafe (Multiple locations)

1404 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Local chili chain Hard Times grills its wings, and its “original Texas” style is geared towards diners with a high tolerance for heat. Other varieties include chile-lime and sweet red chili. Hard Times also has boneless wings. Other locales sit in Rockville and Springfield.

1404 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 837-0050
(703) 837-0050

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