While football season remains temporary, hot wings are forever. Whether you’re looking to pick a place for the upcoming game, or just want a solid plate of crispy wings, these 15 places have what you need. From super spicy sauces to tangy lemon pepper to classic Buffalo, there’s no wrong way to enjoy this iconic dish.
King of Wings
When using a name of power there better be some clout behind the moniker, and King of Wings in Wheat Ridge doesn’t disappoint. Not only is the chicken cooked to perfection, but comes out balanced too thanks to owners Eddie Renshaw and Evan Pierce’s dedication to sauces that highlight both heat and seasoning without overpowering the wings.
You can order wings tossed in a Cajun dry rub, honey mustard, garlic hot Buffalo, spicy Thai, and XXXHot, among others. The casual eatery also makes its own blue cheese and serves local beers on tap. 7741 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge, kingofwingstaphouse.com
Fire On The Mountain
A cornerstone of Denver’s wing scene, Fire On The Mountain boasts a huge sauce program to accent the fried chicken wings. Housemade options range from classic Buffalo to Jamaican jerk to spicy peanut to raspberry habanero. Heat levels get clearly marked for each one, allowing diners to choose anything from mellowly mild to aggressively spicy.
Are you really feeling the heat? Try out the restaurant’s El Jefe challenge like chef Manny Barella did, you might be sorry, or you might win bragging rights. 3801 W. 32nd Ave., Denver; 300 S. Logan, Unit 102, Denver, fotmdenver.com
CD’s Wings
If the name CD’s Wings sounds familiar, it should. After all, the original location in Westminster earned its reputation through a sauce lineup featuring serious heat and chile-forward flavor. The hot wing program moves from familiar Buffalo into progressively hotter house sauces designed to linger and build. For a short while the company franchised south of Denver, but now it’s back to just the first spot and going strong 19 years in. 7685 W. 88th Ave., Westminster, cdswings.com
M.S.T. Denver
The chicken wings at MST Denver get brined for hours before ever hitting the fryer. Once there, the kitchen crisps up the wings in beef tallow. Just as the preparation stands out, so do the sauces.
Of course you have the traditional honey mustard and lemon pepper, but others have us curious such as Malort and Red Bull orange, spicy Chicago barbecue, and hot fermented honey. Served with fresh carrot and celery slices, diners also choose the dip: Blue cheese dressing or the housemade creamy ranch in regular or spicy. 2200 Market St., Denver, mstdenver.com
Golden Flame Hot Wings
Golden Flame Hot Wings in Aurora delivers classic, no-frills wings in the kind of laidback environment one wants to get messy in. With 21 housemade sauces to choose from, including Mountain Berry, Garlic Parmesan, Lemon Pepper, and Tango Mango, there’s something for everyone. You can even get boneless “wings” if you want to keep it classy. 18757 E. Hampden Ave., Ste 156, Aurora, gfhwings.com
Genna Rae Wings & More
Genn Dickerson has run his small wing shop in the Whittier neighborhood since 2016, and it remains a favorite with the locals and other hot wing lovers. The menu proves simple with wings sold by quantity, accompanied by burgers, sandwiches, jerk chicken, and fried catfish. Diners can order the hot wings in flavors that speak to Dickerson’s Caribbean roots, including Honey Hot, Pineapple-Mango Habanero, Jerk Sauce, Island Zing, and more. 1819 E. 28th Ave., Denver, gennaraeswings.com
Ace Eat Serve
Ace Eat Serve’s chicken wing program is a standout for bold flavors and playful execution. The wings come dressed in addictive Asian-inspired sauces such as the sweet-and-spicy Tiger Wings, zesty Bird’s Eye Wings with a tom yum dry rub, and the fan-favorite Lucky Dragon Wings finished with chili mayo and sesame. Crispy, saucy, and built for sharing, they fit right in with the restaurant’s energetic, ping-pong-fueled atmosphere. 501 E. 17th Ave., Denver, aceeatserve.com
The Piper Inn
A true Colorado classic, The Piper Inn is a no-frills neighborhood bar that’s earned a cult following for the chicken wings. Each batch gets fried crisp and tossed to order in one of three staple flavors including Buffalo sauce, Chinese-style with oyster sauce, or garlic dry rub. There’s also a seasonal special, which changes regularly. Here portions are generous, prices are refreshingly reasonable, and the vibe is as unpretentious as it gets. 2251 S. Parker Rd., Denver, piperinn.com
Great Divide Brewing & Roadhouse
In the heart of RiNo, Great Divide Brewing & Roadhouse has elevated the classic bar wing to give diners something that’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and with plenty of flavor. On that note, choose from dry rub or sauce, including Creole dry rub, garlic parmesan, Korean hot, Nashville hot dry rub, hot honey, and more.
All wing orders come with carrots, celery, and either ranch or bleu cheese dressing. No matter which direction you go to, it’s all perfect alongside a pint of the brewery’s Yeti or Titan IPA. 3040 Blake St., Denver, greatdividebreweryandroadhouse.com
Wing Slingers
With a location in Littleton and one in Westminster, Wing Slingers has the south and northern suburbs of Denver covered. There’s nothing fancy about this 15-year-old eatery, but the homemade sauces coating the crispy wings make a visit worthwhile. The lineup ranges from classic Buffalo and medium heat, to spicy blends like Garlic Hot and Bear Hot, which incorporates three types of chilies. 8458 Federal Blvd., Westminster; 7325 E. Iliff Ave. Denver, wingslingerswings.com
Stoney’s Bar & Grill
Baskets of crispy wings take center stage at this sports bar, where diners can request their wings coated in craveable sauces like classic buffalo, extra-hot, sweet BBQ, and garlic parmesan. It’s the ideal game-day bite, especially when paired with an ice-cold beer and a seat in front of one of Stoney’s massive HD TVs or wall-sized projectors.
A longtime favorite for Broncos, Nuggets, Rockies, and Avalanche fans, all four Stoney’s locations blend great bar food with a high-energy atmosphere. Multiple locations, stoneysbarandgrill.com
Small Batch Smokehouse
Chef Scott Durrah’s Small Batch Smokehouse, which changed its name from the Jerk Pit last November, makes smoked wings tossed in traditional jerk seasoning that will have you coming back for more. The intimate spot features a 20-seat bar, so it’s definitely a cozy place to eat. But add on a smoked whiskey flight and you’ll soon be chatting to all your neighbors. 3210 Wyandot St., Denver, lohismoke.com
MAKfam
Chef Kennith Wan’s Mala wings bring the heat in a way that’s layered, aromatic, and delighfully delicious. Tossed in a housemade glaze tingling with Sichuan peppercorns and chiles, each bite delivers a sweet numbness that’s all at once intriguing and addictive. Crispy on the outside and juicy within, it’s the only type of chicken wing this South Broadway hot spot makes, and it’s still a favorite. 39 W. 1st Ave., Denver, makfam.co
G-Que BBQ
Smoked wings reign at G-Que BBQ, where championship pitmaster and owner Jason Ganahl brings competition-level precision to every batch. The wings get slow smoked for a big, meaty flavor, then tossed in sauces that run the gamut from classic Buffalo and sweet-heat to bolder, barbecue-forward finishes that let the smoke shine.
Serious fans should check out the Wing Club, a monthly membership that delivers a weekly coupon for a five-piece order, making it easy to work through the sauce lineup one visit at a time. Multiple locations, gquebbq.com
Smokin’ Yards BBQ
At Smokin’ Yards there’s only one type of hot wing, and, unsurprisingly, it’s smoked. Add on the flavor of choice from the lineup of homemade sauces, found at each table for your sampling pleasure. Each order comes with a side of fries and ranch for just $16.99. Bonus, you can get the same great wings by stopping at the Idaho Springs location when driving up to the mountains. 900 W. 1st Ave., Denver, smokinyards.com
