There’s no such thing as the perfect chicken wing. It’s true! Some folks want a classic, vinegar-heavy buffalo sauce that immediately clears the sinuses. Others are on a lifelong quest for the ultimate sweet-and-spicy dry rub. Even still, some wing spots stand above the rest. And we’re celebrating them with a list of North Jersey’s 10 Best Chicken Wings.
Our list showcases the wing spots in North Jersey raising the bar for what to expect from wing night. We’re talking legendary institutions serving up 400+ flavor combinations, old-school pubs deep-frying fresh jumbo wings using generations-old recipes, and even wing joints toeing the line of heresy by tossing up wild dessert wings covered in Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Whether you need to track down the best sports bars for wings during Sunday football, or you’re simply looking for North Jersey’s Best Chicken Wings, you’re in the right place.
Listen to The Best of New Jersey Podcast!
The 10 Best
North Jersey Chicken Wings
Featured From Hudson County:
Wing Bar
Where: 684 Bergen Ave, Jersey City
Details: This women-led wing spot is co-owned by Morgan Kulessa. Since opening in Fall 2023, Wing Bar has become a neighborhood staple known as much for their exceptional hospitality as they are for their wings. Their wings come in orders of 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, and 50, or can be ordered as part of a combo with choice of side and drink. Some of their must-try sauces include Hudson Heat (spicy buffalo with house habanero sauce), Honey Old Bay (a sweet and salty house special) and fan favorite Bird Sauce (their housemade sweet and savory “everything” dip). Besides wings, locals love their tenders, chicken sandwiches, and believe it or not, their smash burgers. In fact, the go-to order for Wing Bar aficionados is wings with Bird sauce plus one smash burger. Don’t miss their daily specials + $1 Wing Wednesdays. Wing Bar is open until midnight or later every day and offers takeout/delivery for those late night wing cravings.
| Visit Their Website | Order Online | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 201-253-9660 |
Featured From Bergen County:
Buffalo’s
Where: 261 Hackensack St, Wood-Ridge
Details: Buffalo’s Chicken prides themselves on their juicy jumbo wings as well as their variety of homemade sauces. All sauces are made in micro batches at a time to ensure quality and freshness. With nearly 20 sauce flavors to choose from, there is something for every palate. Popular options include the Urban Bourbon, Spicy Honey BBQ, Lemon Pepper, and high-heat Numb Ya Face. These unique sauces come from generations-old recipes from up and down the East Coast. family recipes Wings come in orders of 6, 12, 20, and 25 for individuals, or as platters for groups. (Platters start at 50 wings and go up to 100 at a time.) Boneless wings are also available, alongside their popular Buffalo’s Fried Chicken. (We recommend their 4-piece fried chicken meal, which comes with two sides.) Not sure what to get? The Wing Sampler provides three different sauces and 15 wings, allowing patrons to experiment with different flavors.
| Visit Their Website | Order Online | Follow on Instagram | Follow on Facebook | Call 201-728-4717 |
Featured from Essex County:
The Old Canal Inn
Where: 2 E Passaic Ave, Nutley
Details: The Old Canal Inn is one of the oldest bars in the area, dating back to 1934. They deep fry their fresh Jumbo wings until they have that perfect crunch. Wings come with a choice of 11 different sauces, with two in particular being favorites among long-time customers. The first is their garlic buffalo sauce, and the second is an Old Canal Inn original creation, Thermo Nuclear. To make this special sauce, Co-owner Mark Conca uses fresh long hots and Habanero peppers as the base. Patrons can order single portions of wings or go for the 25-wing platter. When it comes to drink pairings, Old Canal Inn has plenty of options to choose from. They have over 100 craft beers available, including favorites such as Allagash, Chimay, and Samuel Smith. Likewise, their popular sour options include Bronx City Island and Neshaminy Creek. After enjoying a platter of wings, head to the shuffleboard room for darts and other fun.
| Visit their Website | Follow on Instagram | Call 973-284-1272 |
Chick Wings & Things
Where: Rockaway
Details: From humble beginnings as a popular New Jersey food truck, Chick Wings & Things is now a brick and mortar. The wings here are all-natural, with no artificial ingredients and no artificial hormones, and all sauces are homemade. Other menu highlights include brisket or pulled pork mac n cheese, shrimp Po Boys, and crispy chicken Po Boys. Fans of their food truck have nothing to worry about, either. Owners Karen and Rockeem continue to offer their food truck catering services for special occasions and food festivals.
Jimmy Geez Sports Bar & Grill
Where: Haledon | Oak Ridge
Details: Jimmy Geez is a switch hitter of sorts, typically appearing in either our list of NJ’s Best Sports Bars, or here. The reason is because their colossal wings and selection of sauces keeps patrons coming back all NFL season long. (And then throughout the rest of the year for other live sports.) Favorites from the wet sauce menu include Garlic Teriyaki, Mango Habanero, Nashville Hot, and Parmesan Peppercorn. They also have some standout dry rubs, including Caribbean Jerk, Everything Seasoning, and Jimmy’s Secret Rub.
Knotty Pine Pub
Where: Wharton
Details: This local favorite flies under the radar, despite their neighborhood accolades. But patrons swear by the wings, especially in flavors like Honey Garlic, Bloody Mary, and Thai Chili. However, longtime fans know the real stars of the menu are their signature KPP Style and Motor Oil sauces. The former packs a lot of heat, while the latter is a mix of sweet and heat. Owners Jim and Leslie Hill are known in town for their wonderful and welcoming demeanor. Likewise, they employ some of the area’s best bartenders.
Marley’s Gotham Grill
Where: Hackettstown
Details: Marley’s Gotham Grill is the place to go for even the pickiest of wing eaters. Guests can select between bone-in, bone-out, gluten-free, or tofu wings, as well as a whopping 400+ sauces. (They even do Falafel wings.) That’s a bigger combo of spices, cheeses, and mix-ins than any other menu in the state. From the adventurous Raspberry Chimichurri to the classic BBQ, Marley’s has a flavor for every wing fan. Plus, they regularly add new sauces to the list, so there’s always something new to try. Don’t ask us to choose a favorite!
Sharky’s
Where: Clifton | Boonton
Details: Sharky’s is a casual bar and restaurant known for their chicken wings, tenders, and shrimp. Both North Jersey locations boast a massive sauce list, featuring over 30 options. Flavors range from “hell” to mild lemon pepper butter sauce, so there is truly a sauce for every taste. Wings come in orders of 10, 16, 25, 50, or even 100, meaning Sharky’s can easily serve any party size. Of course, their fan-favorite wings and tenders also make them an attractive sports bar destination during the NFL season.
The Straphanger Saloon
Where: Hackensack
Details: The Straphanger has about as much social media presence as the original Wild West saloons of the 1600s. Their concise menu of crowd-pleasing bar favorites includes options like pizza, chili cheese fries, and pepper-jack stix. But locals know the gem of the menu is their wings, classically served with celery and blue cheese. The Straphanger offers just five sauces, mastering the art of Buffalo, BBQ, Sweet Chili, Spicy Garlic, and Jerk. Fans of lightly-breaded wings will particularly love this spot.
Wingman by Blue 42
Where: Lincoln Park
Details: Blue 42 Restaurant in Elmwood Park is a local institution and one of the area’s most popular sports bar. Now, the team is back at it with Wingman, a brand new concept in nearby Lincoln Park. The menu features burgers, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, and of course, wings served either boneless or bone-in. (They also offer cauliflower bites as a vegan alternative.) Wingman boasts over 100 sauce options, more than a dozen dry rubs, and a handful of dessert sauces like Nutella Oreo, S’mores, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
Click Here To See More Best of New Jersey Lists.
North Jersey Chicken Wings FAQs
Top (Hero) Photo: © Buffalo’s / Website