Thank you, Cameron Sanderson, for “chicken wing, chicken wing, hot dog and baloney, chicken and macaroni!” Did you sing along? There is not a moment that I do not think of chicken wings and then loudly, embarrassingly sing this song.
But here’s the thing about chicken wings: they can come from anywhere. Well, chickens, obviously, but you get the point. Food service has a way of taking a wing and making it its own.
So we set out to break down a few spots around Owensboro where you can get great wings — and what they’re doing to earn a spot in your game night, wing night, or random Tuesday rotation. Don’t worry, we know there are so many more places to get wings, and we will get to them. Just consider this our first crack at getting your hands on this delicacy.
Before we get into where to go, let’s talk origin story. Wings are more tied to a city than a single restaurant — and I am absolutely not getting into that debate. I like to believe it was The Anchor Bar, because that would mean Teressa Bellissimo invented them, and there is nothing a woman can’t do, so of course she did the thing.
But what everyone can agree on is that Buffalo wings began in Buffalo, New York, nearly 60 years ago, and we’re still arguing about drums versus flats today.
What we’re not arguing about? Fried versus baked versus smoked, because it’s obviously fried. I’m also not arguing over breaded, because I didn’t order traditional fried chicken; I ordered a chicken wing.
We are also not talking about boneless wings. Frankly, that’s a glorified chicken nugget, and I am not down for it. I do not like chicken in nugget form. At all. Tenders I can accept, but don’t use the word boneless or popcorn or form it into a dinosaur and try to convince me it is anything more than what it is: a nugget. NOPE TO THE NUGGETS. End of rant. Moving on.
So where can you get them in Owensboro? Everywhere! But here’s how we broke it down:
National chain restaurant
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s made its Owensboro debut 20 years ago this year, and the Bratcher family has been slinging chicken wings ever since. With 12 sauces and five dry rubs, the options are broad. Our personal order was a mix of drums and flats, fried extra crispy, with blackened seasoning, and a side of ranch (it’s a theme you will continue to see). We like a crackle to our chicken. I am weak when it comes to heat, and the blackened gives me just the right amount. Chef Will, on the other hand, can take the heat and would have preferred it, but I got my way this time.
Regional chain restaurant
Mister B’s Pizza and Wings hails from Henderson and is the newest arrival to our chicken wing offerings. They have 13 house-made wing sauces, 12 dips, and five modifications, and all that makes a math problem I do not know the answer to. The internet says the answer is 3,900, and I believe everything I read on the internet. Although these wings are smaller in stature than the other options we tried, Mister B’s prides itself on fresh wings, never frozen or precooked. We ordered 10 wings, mild, with a side of their house wing dip, extra crispy. Wing dip is what you get when ranch and blue cheese get married. You can pretty much slather it on anything, and it immediately ups the flavor profile.
Pizza restaurant
PeezO’s is known for some seriously heavy pizza toppings, but they also deliver on the large-and-in-charge chicken wing. Sixteen sauce and rub options, you can order a 100-piece on their website, but let’s be clear, they are only rocking the ranch. Don’t try to get fancy with the carrots or celery either; I did not see that as an option. But the wings are big! They come drenched in sauce, and they were bright red in color. I forced Chef Will to stay true to my mild order with ranch. Extra crispy wasn’t listed as an option, but it’s okay, because they did not arrive soggy!
Food truck
J’s Good Grub rolls up loud and in charge, and his wings do the same. Big wings, big flavor. Now the ranch comes prepackaged in a cup, but we are going to let that go because they are rolling in a tight space, and nobody is perfect. This sauce has some kick to it, and I got the mild, but it’s the kind of heat that makes you want to eat more, not the kind that makes you want to drink milk. But don’t worry, of their 14 sauce offerings, you can run the flavor profile from sweet to spicy and find the perfect fit for your Scoville tolerance. Add a side of Cajun ranch fries, and it’s the dinner of champions.
They have what?
And now for the oddest place I have had wings in Owensboro: a Mexican restaurant. It’s not just for chicken, cheese, and rice anymore. We hit not one but two local haunts that are serving up their version of buffalo chicken wings.
El Molcajete Mexican Cuisine’s wings come hot, mild, BBQ, or mango habanero. But they also arrived with two little cups — one full of red salsa and one flavor-and-spice hit of neon green salsa, all made in-house. Salsa instead of ranch. Yes. Do it. Dip it.
And then we hit Jordy’s, and this is a different experience. Chef Will sent me here. I laughed. Apparently, he knew about these wings way before I did. They come how they come. No different flavoring options, no choices, no special order. You take it like it’s served. The sauce is hot, then it’s sweet, then it’s hot again. I ate it off the chicken wing and then off my fingers because I was confused but happy. So, I am really not sure what category these go in because, well, other than the fact that they are fried and chicken, it’s a completely unique experience. And they come with chips and salsa. I have nothing else to say. Chef Will would like to remind everyone that Tuesdays are not just for tacos! Order the wings, too.
Hungry for more
So, there you have it. Our wing review. We know we missed some gems. Probably one of your favorites, and that’s fine. We know you’ll tell us all about it. Loudly.
But this is not a one-and-done situation, so stay tuned.
Forks up!
