Just in time for Super Bowl festivities, we've got some of the best chicken wings in the city. Even if you're not a football fan, you can celebrate like one.
Scott Youkilis takes his wings at Hog & Rocks seriously–twice fried (first low and slow, like a confit, and the second a flash for crisped skin), and doused in "Youk's special hot sauce," a heated, smokey mix of red jalapenos, chiles d'arbol, and red padrones. They'll have the game playing on Sunday, and running after 2:30 pm, $6 whiskey barrel punch, and appetizer specials.
These wings are not only tangy, sweet, spicy and delicious, but they stay super crisp. Their secret? House made roasted rice flour is a solid enough coating to withstand the sauce over time. Once fried, wings are coated in a generous portion of sauce, consisting of Serrano chiles, lime, cilantro, sweetened with a little honey, and the funk of a little fish sauce. Enjoy some for their Super Bowl party, 11:30 am onward, where they'll have Sapporo and appetizer specials, like edamame hummus, yakitori, and fried brussels sprout chips. A projector and HD TV at the bar will be showing the game.
Terence Luk doesn't play with party-sized wings at Hot Sauce and Panko. His jumbo wings are brined for optimal juiciness, steamed, and then fried. He comes in at 6 am everyday to make the 15-20 sauces on the menu. Try the Thai satay wing special, coated in turmeric and a sweet peanut sauce. Keep in mind they're maxed out for Super Bowl, so you'll have to enjoy these jumbo wings post-Sunday.
Christian Ciscle, owner of Wing Wings, par-bakes free-range wings and drums in the morning, and then fries them off to order. Once fried, wings take a swim in the sauce of your choice. Try the Angry Korean: Gochujang, soy, sesame, ginger, and garlic, topped with green onion and a dusting of sesame seeds. The Wing Wing flavor is also nice, with Indonesian soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chili, and sweet molasses notes. They're offering party packs for Sunday: 50 wings for $55 (with two sides) and 100 wings for $110 (with four sides). Ciscle recommends calling in now to pre-order Super Bowl orders. Head over to their site to see Super Bowl menu changes.
San Tung is no stranger to Chicken Wing roundups, for good reason. The dry wings and drums have crisped skin gleaming in sweet, gingery, garlicky goodness, while a sprinkling of Szechuan peppers brings the heat.
It is dark, it is cave-like, and there are many screens showing sporting events of all kinds. For the manliest of options, Kezar Pub on Stanyan has some of the best standard wings on this list–buffalo, baked, or barbecue–flanked with celery, carrot, and bleu cheese dressing. Open all day on Sunday, from 6 am to 2 am.
Little Star may be known for their deep dish Chicago-style pizza, but their wings shine, too. These baked wings achieve a drier status than many of the wings on this list, a characteristic that general manager Wes Middleton says makes people crazy for them. They start out with a marinade full of flavorful spices rich in garlic and onion. Once baked, a whole pound of wings (about a dozen per order), is paired with carrots and house bleu cheese dressing. No televisions means enjoy your wings to-go this weekend.
Where do you go for some good chicken wings in San Francisco?
