Super 7: Chicken Wings
Don't claim the 305 until you've spent an entire Sunday at Sports Grill
Sports Grill
If you’re new to Miami, there are several initiations you need to go through before you can claim the 305. Getting your car towed in South Beach. Asking for directions in Hialeah. Also: Spending an entire Sunday scarfing wings at Sports Grill. This suburban institution is the consensus pick for Miami’s best wings, frying then grilling them before dipping them in a delicious array of sauces.
Pro tip: The best sauce is the Dale sauce, which, in a very un-Miami turn, is actually pronounced “Dale,” like an Ohio auto mechanic. Not “Dah-lay,” like Pitbull. @sportsgrill // Various location
Mangrove
Wings aren’t just limited to the hot sauce covered variety. In Miami, wings also mean jerk wings, and nobody’s making them better than this downtown Jamaican restaurant hidden near Government Center. I’m a fan of sliding up to Mangrove’s bar and trying whatever crazy new rum they got in from the Caribbean, then pairing it with these sweet, spicy beauties like some DIY island version of an omakase tasting.
Pro tip: Go a little later at night. Mangrove’s dining room transforms into a cool Jamaican party, sometimes with live music, after the dinner crowd dies down. @mangrove.miami // 103 NW 1st Ave., Downtown
Keg South
The fun thing about people who are new to Miami is they assume everything west of I-95 is pretty much the Everglades. That’s how spots like Keg South stay blissfully local, where the phrase “well, in New York…” will get you kicked out faster than disparaging Dan Marino. Their wings are the after-sports snack kids who grew up in South Dade remember, and remain just as meaty and delicious as an adult.
Pro tip: The burger is also one of Miami’s best, so save room for that too. @keg_south // 10407 S. Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest
The Brightside
The pressure to have great wings when you market yourself as a Buffalo Bills bar is immense. Like, Josh Allen in the playoffs immense. But The Brightside doesn’t choke, and delivers wings many from Western New York will say are almost as good as the stuff back home. The only difference is that when you finish your basket of wings and walk outside, you’re not immediately covered in 14 inches of lake effect snow.
Pro tip: Check the football schedule before you go. If the Bills or Ohio State Buckeyes are playing, it’s going to be a madhouse, and you’ll need to reserve a table.
Insta: @thebrightsidemia // 1720 SW 22nd St., Coral Way
Hole In The Wall Tavern
There are a few things in the world worth braving US-1 traffic all the way to Palmetto Bay. Now that I think about it, the wings at Hole in the Wall Tavern are pretty much the only one. So, as you sit in the inevitable backup at The Falls, and then again at 152nd, remember the pot of garlicky gold that awaits you at this neighborhood bar.
Pro tip: While you may be tempted by Hole in the Wall’s array of sauces, the garlic one is what made them famous. @holeinthewallflorida // 14421 S. Dixie Hwy., Palmetto Bay
Off Site Nano Brewery
Wings and beer are a time-honored pairing. And nowhere does that mix better than this hole-in-the-wall brewery in Little Haiti. Its wings are smoky, juicy snacks that go well with some of Off Site maltier beers. The beer selection rotates regularly, though, so ask your bartender and they’ll point you in the right direction.
Pro tip: The corn dog at OFF SITE is life-changing, so make sure you order that, too. Bonus tip: The bathroom is impossible to find, so take it easy on the beer.@offsite.miami // 8250 NE 2nd Ave., Little River
Batch Gastropub
Another of Miami’s great chicken deals (that doesn’t involve live birds and a regrettable trip to Hialeah) comes on Mondays at Batch, where they’ll serve you all the boneless wings you handle for $17.50. Are boneless wings actually wings? A chicken would probably say no, but are you really trying to argue semantics while eating your body weight in spicy fried poultry?
Pro tip: Besides great wings, Batch also has one of the best bourbon selections in the city. If you’re into the brown stuff, sample one before going wing-crazy. @batchmiami // 30 SW 12th St., Brickell