Super 7: Chicken Wings

Don't claim the 305 until you've spent an entire Sunday at Sports Grill

Photo by Corey Watson on Unsplash

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

Caribbean-inspired wings from Mangrove (Photo Courtesy of Mangrove)

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

Wings from The Brightside (Photo Courtesy of The Brightside)

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 152^nd, 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

Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill

In a city where dining out often feels like a gamble, Flanigan’s is one of the only sure bets in the area. Flanny’s delivers per-pound, perfectly seasoned consistency every single time. It might not be the "fanciest" culinary experience in the 305, but it’s a very good product at a fair price in a place that feels like home no matter which location you go to. You know exactly what you’re getting, and that is a rare luxury in Miami.

Pro tip: If you love volume, you go on "Wing It Wednesday," where you get 10 free wings with every pitcher from open to close. The strategy is simple: Buy a pitcher, get wings. Repeat. Go at happy hour (11am-7pm; 9pm to close) to really score a deal. @flanigansfl // Various locations