In our epic bracket to find the Triangle’s best wings, these flew high above the rest
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Belly busters: Your bracket results for the Triangle’s best food
It’s that time of year when you’re probably busy filling out your tournament bracket. Luckily, you got ahead of the game by voting in our recent brackets for the Triangle’s best pizzeria. And coffee shop. And burger joint. And the best wings. What should we feast on next?
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Triangle diners dug into the blazing hot chicken wing scene before this year’s Super Bowl, as pubs, sports bars, Korean restaurants and takeout joints competed to wear the top chicken wing crown.
The Champion
Heavenly Buffaloes, the top Triangle chicken wing shop, started as a tiny shack in Durham. But it has grown into one of the state’s top Buffalo-sauce-slinging brands, now with four locations in three cities.
Founded by Dain Phelan and Mark Dundas, Heavenly Buffaloes prevailed with 23,000 votes in the final round, a staggering figure still eclipsed by the number of wings they sell on Super Bowl Sunday.
The Runner-Up
Sports bars know chicken wings, and My Way Tavern fries them up with care. Owner Andrew Stafford grows the hot peppers himself that make it into My Way’s hottest wings, sprinkling a little love in there with all the heat.
The Final Four
Triangle wing lovers managed to whittle the wing scene down to juggernauts, as Hillsborough’s Wooden Nickel Pub and Woody’s Sports Tavern, located in Cary and Raleigh, joined Heavenly Buffaloes and My Way Tavern in an epic wing showdown.
The Elite Eight
This round showcased the diversity of the Triangle’s greatest chicken wings, featuring the piri piri version from Zweli’s Kitchen and the delicate crunch of M Kokko’s Korean fried chicken. Triangle institutions Buffalo Brothers and Apex Wings also serve up popular versions of classic wings. All four made it to this round, along with our ultimate Final Four.
The Sweet Sixteen
518 E. Williams St., Apex. 919-387-0082 or apexwings.com
525 E. Broad St., Fuquay Varina. 919-557-7675 or aviatorbrew.com/smokehouse
1235 Hurricane Alley Way, Raleigh. 919-851-6203 or backyardbistro.com
705 Willard St., Durham. 919-902-0520 or boricuasoul.com
Five locations in Wake County. buffalobrothers.com
1807 W. Markham Ave., Durham. 919-237-2358 or heavenlybuffaloes.com
2816 Erwin Road, Suite 205, Durham. 919-797-2456
407 W. Franklin St., Chapel Hill. 919-914-6717
311 Holland St., Ste. B, Durham. 919-908-9332 or m-restaurants.com/m-kokko
522 St. Mary’s St., Raleigh. 919-900-8273 or mywaytavern.com
301 W. Center St., Holly Springs. 919-285-2412
419 Brooks St., Wake Forest. 919-849-8947 or otfalls.com
5800 Duraleigh Road, Suite 100, Raleigh. 919-783-5448 or sharkysnc.com
Soo Cafe
2815 Brentwood Road, Raleigh. 919-876-1969
335 W. Main St., Durham. 919-797-0413 or viceroydurham.com
2900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. 919-546-9111
313 E. Main St., Carrboro. 919-537-8271. wingsover.com
113 N. Churton St., Hillsborough. 919-932-0134 or thewnp.com
8322 Chapel Hill Road, Cary. 919-380-7737 or woodysportstavern.com
205 Wolfe St., Raleigh. 919-833-3000
4600 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd., Suite 26, Durham. 984-219-7555 or zwelis.com
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "In our epic bracket to find the Triangle’s best wings, these flew high above the rest."
