Chicken wings — that messy appetizer that bar patrons are always after, often debating which destination has the best offering. The Lowcountry is, of course, filled with fried chicken, but it also has its fair share of establishments serving some quality chicken wings. Whether the occasion calls for smoked, fried, charred, dry-rubbed, or lathered in hot sauce, these destinations are the undisputed best stops in Charleston for that essential bar snack.
New to the map this update: Coast Brewing Co., the Tattooed Moose, and Heavy’s Barburger. Selections are listed geographically, from north to south.
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Nigel’s Good Food is a North Charleston staple (with multiple locations). Folks travel far and wide for their very popular Geechie Wings. The chicken is battered, fried, and tossed in a homemade sweet-and-sour wing sauce.
The wings at the Tattooed Moose are large and saucy. Pick from Buffalo, Asian-style, Nashville hot, or habenero honey mustard.
Coast Brewing Co. is known for its stellar beers, but the kitchen menu is just as great. What sets the wings apart from all others? The kitchen marinates the bird in kölsch and fries them in beef tallow, lending even more umami flavor to the chicken. Choose from Buffalo, lemon pepper, or clarified butter.
North Charleston’s Holy City Brewery pairs its beers with an extensive bar food menu — including wings. The chicken is smoked and then fried. Customers can choose from nine selections of rubs and sauces, including Nashville hot, Carolina Gold barbecue, honey sambal, and more.
King BBQ co-owner Corrie Wang grew up in Buffalo, New York, so husband Shuai Wang had to put out some real-deal Buffalo wings covered in the distinctive tangy, buttery red sauce. They are only available on Sundays and pairs well with the Bills games on the television. They have also offered Sichuan wings as a special.
When Heavy’s first opened, Charleston was curious about the burgers, but word about the wings (and how good they are) quickly spread. The restaurant offers jumbo drums and flats tossed in Red Ranger sauce, the Wright sauce (a zesty honey garlic), or lemon pepper dry rub.
Home Team BBQ’s smoked chicken wings are dry-rubbed with a touch of sweetness and served with a side of Alabama white sauce. Customers looking for an extra kick can add the Death Relish for good measure. Cool it down with a frozen Gamechanger — the restaurant’s take on a painkiller.
The Royal American on Morrison Drive has a long list of cheap beer and food for guests looking to kick back. The Magic Wings are crispy and best finished with a spritz of lime, best followed by a sip of Miller High Life. The spice comes from Sichuan peppercorns.
Moe’s Crosstown, a cave of a sports bar, takes pride in its pub fare offerings, and the wings reflect, as they come freshly prepared with lots of meat on the bone. Find 15 different sauce options, including the sweet and spicy hot honey mustard and the diabolical Moe Hotter.
Stop by rollicking Vietnamese restaurant Pink Bellies for the garlic “KFC” wings. Despite the moniker, these are far superior to anything the fast food chain puts out. Chef Thai Phi covers the chicken in a sweet soy glaze and tops it with bleu cheese and pickled daikon.
Most regard Prohibition for its nightlife or as a place to have a great cocktail, but the speakeasy-style restaurant also has some of the best wings in the Lowcountry. Chef Greg Garrison uses a Memphis dry rub, and the charred wings sit on top of an irresistible Gorgonzola ranch.
King Street’s Charleston Beer Works is a place to drink beer, watch sports, and consume lots of chicken wings. The sports bar offers 15 different sauces, and patrons can order up to 100 wings at a time.
Sports bar the Brick offers tons of wing flavors to pair with beers and football. There are 18 flavors, including Old Bay, garlic Parmesan, Buffalo ranch, and more.
Barbecue spot Swig & Swine offers smoked wings in a variety of flavors: dry rub, barbecue, peanut butter and jelly, Alabama white, Tabasco honey, hot honey mustard, and white hot.
This renowned dive bar offers multiple sauce options on its chicken wings, most notably its famous “buffiyaki” creation. Make sure to bring an extra dollar bill, as the Griffon’s walls are covered in George Washingtons stapled on by visitors looking to leave their mark.
Customers can order regular or boneless wings at Charleston Sports Pub locations across the Lowcountry. There’s 17 different flavors, and it offers a family wing box with 40 wings and French fries for $59.99.
Nigel’s Good Food is a North Charleston staple (with multiple locations). Folks travel far and wide for their very popular Geechie Wings. The chicken is battered, fried, and tossed in a homemade sweet-and-sour wing sauce.
The wings at the Tattooed Moose are large and saucy. Pick from Buffalo, Asian-style, Nashville hot, or habenero honey mustard.
Coast Brewing Co. is known for its stellar beers, but the kitchen menu is just as great. What sets the wings apart from all others? The kitchen marinates the bird in kölsch and fries them in beef tallow, lending even more umami flavor to the chicken. Choose from Buffalo, lemon pepper, or clarified butter.
North Charleston’s Holy City Brewery pairs its beers with an extensive bar food menu — including wings. The chicken is smoked and then fried. Customers can choose from nine selections of rubs and sauces, including Nashville hot, Carolina Gold barbecue, honey sambal, and more.
King BBQ co-owner Corrie Wang grew up in Buffalo, New York, so husband Shuai Wang had to put out some real-deal Buffalo wings covered in the distinctive tangy, buttery red sauce. They are only available on Sundays and pairs well with the Bills games on the television. They have also offered Sichuan wings as a special.
When Heavy’s first opened, Charleston was curious about the burgers, but word about the wings (and how good they are) quickly spread. The restaurant offers jumbo drums and flats tossed in Red Ranger sauce, the Wright sauce (a zesty honey garlic), or lemon pepper dry rub.
Home Team BBQ’s smoked chicken wings are dry-rubbed with a touch of sweetness and served with a side of Alabama white sauce. Customers looking for an extra kick can add the Death Relish for good measure. Cool it down with a frozen Gamechanger — the restaurant’s take on a painkiller.
The Royal American on Morrison Drive has a long list of cheap beer and food for guests looking to kick back. The Magic Wings are crispy and best finished with a spritz of lime, best followed by a sip of Miller High Life. The spice comes from Sichuan peppercorns.
Moe’s Crosstown, a cave of a sports bar, takes pride in its pub fare offerings, and the wings reflect, as they come freshly prepared with lots of meat on the bone. Find 15 different sauce options, including the sweet and spicy hot honey mustard and the diabolical Moe Hotter.
Stop by rollicking Vietnamese restaurant Pink Bellies for the garlic “KFC” wings. Despite the moniker, these are far superior to anything the fast food chain puts out. Chef Thai Phi covers the chicken in a sweet soy glaze and tops it with bleu cheese and pickled daikon.
Most regard Prohibition for its nightlife or as a place to have a great cocktail, but the speakeasy-style restaurant also has some of the best wings in the Lowcountry. Chef Greg Garrison uses a Memphis dry rub, and the charred wings sit on top of an irresistible Gorgonzola ranch.
King Street’s Charleston Beer Works is a place to drink beer, watch sports, and consume lots of chicken wings. The sports bar offers 15 different sauces, and patrons can order up to 100 wings at a time.
Sports bar the Brick offers tons of wing flavors to pair with beers and football. There are 18 flavors, including Old Bay, garlic Parmesan, Buffalo ranch, and more.
Barbecue spot Swig & Swine offers smoked wings in a variety of flavors: dry rub, barbecue, peanut butter and jelly, Alabama white, Tabasco honey, hot honey mustard, and white hot.
This renowned dive bar offers multiple sauce options on its chicken wings, most notably its famous “buffiyaki” creation. Make sure to bring an extra dollar bill, as the Griffon’s walls are covered in George Washingtons stapled on by visitors looking to leave their mark.
Customers can order regular or boneless wings at Charleston Sports Pub locations across the Lowcountry. There’s 17 different flavors, and it offers a family wing box with 40 wings and French fries for $59.99.