Chicago’s Best Chicken Wings
A Taste of the City’s Diverse Flavors
While Buffalo may not have made it to the Super Bowl, you can bet plenty of folks will be diving into that city’s famous wings at parties everywhere this Sunday. But Chicago has its own take on the classic dish, with a variety of flavors and styles that showcase the city’s culinary diversity.
Cà Phê Dá and Dang Good Wings: A Vietnamese Twist
Buffalo may have served as inspiration, but there’s no denying the chicken wings at Cà Phê Dá and Dang Good Wings in Pilsen take their cue from Vietnam.
“I wanted to treat it like Buffalo wings where I dredge it, and then fry it and have a sauce separately and tossing in it,” said Thai Dang, the chef and owner.
Marinated in fish sauce, sugar, chilies, and garlic, the wings are dredged in cornstarch and rice flour before being fried for the first time. “Which gives it this really crispy texture on the outside,” Dang said.
They’re fried a second time to-order, then tossed in a vibrant, lip-smacking sauce of fish sauce, sugar, fresh Thai chilies, garlic, and scallions. A riff on the Buffalo version contains sriracha and Thai chile, balanced by sugar and garlic. Both flavors are dang good.
Crisp: Korean-Style Wings
Korean fried chicken – both as sandwiches and wings – has been the heart of the menu at Crisp in Lakeview the past 18 years. The style is notable for its two-step frying, as well as the saucing options.
“We do pressure fry at the beginning, so it coats and makes it nice and juicy – forms a shell – and then we do a second open fry to really get it crisp, and then it’s infused with some sauce on the outside,” said owner Jae Lee.
The crispy bird is doused in one of two sauces, finished with sesame seeds and scallions. “Seoul Sassy is a soy-ginger-garlic, more like a sweet soy glaze; Crisp BBQ is based on a gochujang – it’s a smoky, sweet pepper paste – so it has that familiar flavor of barbecue sauce but not tomato-based; it’s a little more spicy,” Lee said.
Great Sea: Gam Pong Chicken Wings
Up in Albany Park, Great Sea is one of a handful of restaurants still serving Gam Pong chicken wings.
“In the early 1980s, a lot of ethnically Chinese Koreans moved to Albany Park, and they made this dish that was actually something they made back in Korea, but they noticed that wings in the United States were so cheap, so they said instead of doing the whole chicken, let’s just use wings,” said Monica Eng, co-author of the book “Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites.”
Unlike wings at your favorite bar, these are transformed, thanks to the creators’ ingenuity. “But it’s kind of messy, so let’s make a little handle by Frenching the wings and making them lollipop wings,” she said. Great Sea also makes a different sauce than its competitor down the street. “Made it spicier, stickier, and sweeter, and they actually sell the sauce here now,” said Eng.
Other Options
There are also other options for Korean-style wings in the Chicago area, including Bonchon and CM Chicken, both with multiple locations.
Where to Go
Cà Phê Dá – Dang Good Wings
1800 S. Carpenter St.
773-999-1800
Crisp
2940 N. Broadway
773-697-7610
Great Sea Restaurant
3253 W. Lawrence Ave.
773-478-9129
Bon Chon
9 locations in the Chicago area
CM Chicken
6 locations in the Chicago area
Conclusion
Chicago’s chicken wings may not be as well-known as Buffalo’s, but they’re definitely worth trying. With a variety of flavors and styles to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy and sweet or crispy and savory, Chicago’s got you covered.
FAQs
Q: What is the best way to order chicken wings in Chicago?
A: Try Cà Phê Dá – Dang Good Wings, Crisp, or Great Sea for a unique and delicious take on the classic dish.
Q: What is Gam Pong chicken wings?
A: Gam Pong is a Korean-style dish that originated in the early 1980s in Albany Park. It’s made with marinated wings, crispy fried, and served with a sweet and spicy sauce.
Q: Are there other options for Korean-style wings in Chicago?
A: Yes, there are several other options, including Bonchon and CM Chicken, both with multiple locations.
